Category Archives: News Section

Community Comes Together for Pastor and Family

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pastor Brandon Zoll and wife Jeanette with Lucas, Phoebe and five-month old Obediah.

•May 9, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Ministerial Association is holding a benefit cookout for Pastor Brandon Zoll and his family from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 2 in the Sullivan IGA parking lot.

It was a cool November day when Pastor Brandon Zoll of the Church of God went for a run in preparation for an upcoming marathon.

In his mid-thirties and a longtime runner, he had always enjoyed good health and the day’s run had gone well. A short stop at the IGA and then he would return home.

When he came to, he was lying on the floor in the IGA break room surrounded by concerned people. He tried to stand up but lost consciousness again. He thought he hadn’t eaten enough breakfast.

An ambulance was called, and he was taken to the hospital where a CAT SCAN showed a tangerine-size mass in his brain. An MRI and a biopsy confirmed a grade II astrocytoma- a very aggressive, malignant brain tumor or, as his surgeon said, “a time bomb ticking in your head.” Read More

Schools Prepare for Graduation

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•May 9, 2018•

Graduation time approaches for area high school seniors.

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond schools observe baccalaureate service  at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 20 with 63 high school seniors scheduled to graduate outdoors at 7 p.m. Friday, May 25.

Okaw Valley High School has 47 senior candidates for graduation. The commencement ceremony is 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27 in the OVHS gymnasium. Quinn Michael Brooks is valedictorian. Grace Catherine Harlin, Hannah Beth Landreth, and Ethan Johannes Macklin are salutatorians. Read More

ALAH Changes to PE Uniforms, Starts Dance Club Next Year

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•May 9, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School students will be changing their style in physical education starting next school year (2018-2019). It will be required that students wear uniforms in class.

“It will make the program more inclusive, and everyone will look the same. We won’t have to worry about students wearing shorts that are too short or other clothing malfunctions,” stated high school principal Steffanie Seegmiller.

Students will have a chance to order uniforms each semester. They may purchase multiple ones if needed.

Principal Seegmiller also spoke about a new form that will be made available for students who might be questionably under the influence. The school nurse will be responsible for analyzing students and filling out the form. If it is found that a student is under the influence, parents will be called and shown the data on the form.  Read More

WHS 2018 Prom Royalty

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Photo furnished
WHS 2018 Prom Royalty
Windsor High School crowned their Prom royalty on Saturday, May 5th. Pictured Front row (L to R): Crown bearer Addisyn Clark, 2018 Prom Queen Kasey Bean, 2018 Prom King Gavin Bennett, and Crown bearer Toby Bennett. Back row: Queen Candidates Mackenzee Hooten and Morgan Lesko, and King Candidates Dalton Armes and Gage Sattler.

Sheep to Clothing Event Spins at Illinois Amish Heritage Center

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154 year old Spinning Wheel Displayed

Photo by Mike Brothers
Bernadine Yoder displays the spinning wheel made by E.J Miller in 1864 and found in the attic of the Moses Yoder home. The oldest home in the Amish community is on display at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center near Arthur. Inset photo shows spinning wheel parts that will also be on display June 2.

•May 9, 2018•

By Shag Wooley
for the News Progress

As the spinning wheel turns the history of Illinois Amish Heritage is revealed in a Sheep to Clothing event Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There is no charge for the event, but donations will be accepted at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Route 133, east of Arthur.

The fascinating process behind spinning wool fibers into thread will be demonstrated live that day as the Amish family histories revealed in the patchwork of the quilts.

A spinning wheel made by E.J. Miller in 1864, traveled from Somerset Co., Pa. with the founding three families of the Amish settlement in the Arthur area.

It was recovered from the attic of he Moses Yoder home and will be on display during the Sheep to Clothing event.

That spinning wheel spent many years in the attic of the oldest home in the community, the Moses Yoder home, and will be on display.

“It’s a wonder it’s together at all,” Ervin Yoder, grandson of Moses said. “When we were kids, we used to play with it all the time.”

Ervin’s father Abraham was one of nine children in the Moses Yoder family and his wife Bernadine has joined Wilmer Otto, Brian Karrick, Troye Kauffman, Beth Elgelbrecht Wiggans, Karen Miller, Myrna Madigan, Merle Gingerich and Marie Kuhns to make the spinning event possible at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. Read More

Congressman John Shimkus Visits OVHS

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Photo furnished
Congressman John Shimkus Visits OVHS
Fifteenth District Congressman John Shimkus visted Okaw Valley High School May 2. He stopped by to discuss the corps partnership and to learn about the new ag facility that will be built this summer. He also addressed the ag students and answered questions pertaining to the agricultural field.

SHS Prom Court 2018

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Photo courtesy Wurtsbaugh Photography
SHS Prom court
Sullivan High School prom was held Saturday, April 21 with Lizzie Green crowned queen and Andrew Matlock king. Pictured from left: Tanner Tarr, Zdenek Roza, Jordan Bassett. King Andrew Matlock, 2017 king Nicholas Carroll, 2017 queen Shelby Freeman, Queen Lizzie Green, Laine Cameron, Tate Fultz, Christina GIlbert, Montana Roberts, Blake Eller.

Future ALAH Entrepreneurs Shine at First Trade Show

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Photo by Ariana Cherry
Visiting mentors Ty Mosier, Timmy Valentine and John Stephens from the Arthur General Store/ Astoria pose with ALAH entrepreneur Madyson Hepner of the “Goat Queen.” They mentored some CEO students and attended to shop for students’ products.

•May 2, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Folks who attended the Douglas County CEO Trade Show April 25 got a chance to see what the future of business in this area could potentially hold.

ALAH senior students presented businesses which they developed themselves as part of a project in the CEO class that the high school began offering this school year.

Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) facilitator Stepheny McMahon of Sullivan explained the inaugural program includes high school students from Arthur, Arcola, Tuscola and Villa Grove.

“There are some incredible business leaders in Douglas County.” McMahon said of economic developers who committed to $1000 per year for three years to help finance the cooperative program introducing students to the business world.

“Touring these businesses for first hand experiences plus the soft skills learned can open doors for these young entrepreneurs,” she continued.

The 12 participating students meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Mondays at various business and manufacturing locations in Douglas County. Fundamental skills such as the proper hand shake and showing up on time to meetings are among the soft skills developed as the students work on their own businesses. Read More

Sullivan Pencil Pals Meet Each Other for the First Time

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Photo furnished. Pencil Pals Ellen Ferrera, Landon and Charlie (l to r) get acquainted.

•May 2, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Elementary School gym was filled with first and second graders on April 25 as they met with their volunteer Pencil Pals for the first time.

My little scribes, Charlie and Landon, were sitting in one of the 20 circles and began chatting away about their pets, siblings and other things we have shared in our monthly missive exchanges. Landon is moving to Florida, and Charlie has dogs and cats that he loves. The gym was abuzz with the sounds of laughter and conversation from the over 120 attendees.

Pencil Pals was started 25 years ago by Mary Lou Kidwell mainly to connect first and second graders with senior volunteers but also to help children improve their writing skills.  Read More