Category Archives: News Section

“Empowering Women” Showcases  Women in Business

News Progress Posted on by

•March 7, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Elizabeth Houser of Country Financial and Cathrine Craig of Cathrine’s Gallery of Sullivan are showcasing women business owners in Moultrie County, Friday, March 16.

“We have so many resources in Sullivan that people don’t even know about,” Houser said, noting a recent conference on leadership she attended inspired the ideas for “Empowering Women”. “The group is a way for women business owners to come together and share their ideas and products with each other and the  public.”

She explained that many people don’t know, for example, that Country Financial can write 401K plans for companies. Read More

ALAH School Board Discusses Possible Elementary Reorganization

News Progress Posted on by

•March 7, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

At the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting members of the board discussed the possibility of reorganizing the grade school buildings within the district.

Presently, the junior high students have been bused to the high school building for physical education, and high school students have been having to find other additional rooms for study hall such as the cafeteria.

The district has considered converting the current grade school into an “attendance center,” which would contain specific grades in each center.  Read More

Sullivan Civic Center Options Reviewed 

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•March 7, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The design won architectural awards when it opened in 1964, but the Sullivan Civic Center has had a tortured history of repairs and renovations.

IGW Architects Riley Glerum and Rick Krall of Urbana presented an assessment of the center’s condition and possible solutions for the Sullivan City Council to consider during a special meeting Thursday, March 1 at Elizabeth Titus Library.

City administrator Dan Flannell first dispelled rumors about the civic center to the room filled with 50 citizens.

“In spite of rumors and FaceBook posts you may have heard or seen,” Flannell began, “there is absolutely no plan to close the Civic Center. The Civic Center will remain open well into the future.”

The question that remained at the end of the session is just how much is the community of Sullivan willing to pay in order to keep the facility or one like it opened? Read More

Okaw Valley Schools Take Threat Hoaxes Seriously

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•March 7, 2018•

Okaw Valley High School students learned recent threats that have caused lock downs at area schools were not acceptable in the Valley.

Principal Matt Shoaff opened the March 1 assembly by pointing out 12 schools in the area had been on lock down recently for threats made over social media.

“This is unacceptable and gives all of us a black eye,” Shoaff said. “We want to come to school to learn and have a good time.”

Supt. Kent Stauder made it clear there would be consequences for anyone making threats on Okaw Valley students.

“Every morning when I make the rounds, it is to make sure your safety is number one,” Stauder said, explaining safety is why outside doors to the school are locked. Read More

OV Visits SIU-E

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Photo furnished OV Visits SIU-E Thirteen juniors and seniors from Okaw Valley visited SIU-E March 1. Students toured the campus and learned more about what SIU-E has to offer. Sarah McDowell, OVHS science instructor, Misi Jones,PE, and SIU-E alumni accompanied the students on the trip.

One Book Draws Many to Sullivan Discussion

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Photo by Mike Brothers
One Book One Sullivan middle school students coordinated the community discussion of Bitter Side of Sweet at First United Methodist Church last Thursday.

•March 7, 2018•

The Bitter Side of Sweet brought 130 people of all ages together at the First Methodist Church March 1 to discuss the One Book One Sullivan annual read.

“We are always nervous about how many will turn out for the community discussion,” Rikki Ray, OBOS coordinator said. “This is the best crowd we have had.”

One Book One Sullivan volunteers were bringing out additional tables and chairs to facilitate the growing crowd.

The community/school annual novel read sponsored by Sullivan Rotary began 12 years ago and has grown from the initial group of middle school reading students to include high school as well as elementary students along with community participants.

Sullivan Rotary financing made The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan available throughout the community. The announcement was made in November with the discussion on March 1 concluding the OBOS reading event. Read More

The Lynching of Grant Atteberry on the Moultrie County Courthouse Lawn 

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•March 7, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

Editors Note: This is the third is the series of articles about the 1896 lynching of Grant Atteberry in Moultrie County. The series was researched and written by Sullivan historian, native and retired attorney Robert Eden Martin.

Late Wednesday evening, February 12, a crowd of some 20 masked men gathered in the basement of the South Side High School building, later known (after 1927) as the Lowe School. There they agreed on a plan for breaking into the jail and taking the prisoner.

There were at least two reports by eyewitnesses to the events leading to the lynching of Atteberry. One was written by an unnamed reporter for the Decatur Herald Dispatch, published Tuesday, February 13, 1896. The second was published by the Sullivan Herald, edited at that time by John P. Lilly.

Copies of the issues of the Sullivan Herald from that period have not survived, but the Herald’s account was quoted extensively by the Decatur Daily Republican, Friday, February 14, 1896. Lilly later testified at the coroner’s inquest as a witness to the events. He was thus likely the author of the Sullivan Herald account. Read More

Four Injured in Coles Station Crash

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Photo by R.R. Best
Four Injured in Coles Station Crash
A two-vehicle collision on Highway 121 at Coles Station 11:00 p.m. March 3 sent four people to area hospitals. Aydin Garcia, 18, of Mattoon was northbound on Hwy. 121 and Adrienne Powell, 29, of Mattoon was westbound on 1000N. Powell struck Garcia’s vehicle at the intersection. Emergency medical service crews took Garcia and his passenger, Makayla N. Watkins, 19, and Powell and Powell’s passenger, Lori R. Flinspach, 56, to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for treatment of injuries. Powell’s other passenger, Kerri J. Roley, 48, was taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. The investigation of the crash is pending. Coles County deputies were assisted at the scene by personnel from Mattoon, Sullivan and Wabash fire departments, Dunn’s and Windsor ambulance, Mattoon Police Department, and Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept.

Sullivan Gold Slip Winners

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Photo furnished
Sullivan Gold Slip Winners
Gold Slip winners at Sullivan Elementary School for the month of February (pictured from left to right): October Artrip and Avery Casteel were picking up trash from the bleachers before school. Mikaeylah Cunningham immediately went up to a new student, introduced herself and asked to be friends. Cannin Hall saw a teacher ask for a responsible student to help one of her students get back to his classroom. He eagerly volunteered and was very kind to the boy, placing his hand on his back and guiding him gently while speaking reassuringly to him. DaCorey Austin saw a kindergarten student trip and fall while leaving the cafeteria. He stepped out of line, helped her up and made sure she was okay.

Sullivan Visitor

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Photo furnished
Sullivan Visitor
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) hosted Rudy Huber (right), from Sullivan, as his guest for the day at the Capitol Feb. 27. Huber sat alongside Rose on the Senate floor during session and met other lawmakers and staff.