Category Archives: News Section

Letter to the Editor 2-6-2019: A Corrected Version of the Titus Manor Story

News Progress Posted on by

•February 6, 2019•

Dear Sir:

In the January 30, 2019 issue of the News Progress it was reported in the article regarding the Titus Home that “...the first resident, Anita Gritzmacher, was welcomed February 6, 1967 by first administrator Erma Ferguson.”
That statement is incorrect. The first administrator of the Titus Home was my mother, Mrs. H. 0. Dick, who was hired in 1965. Please see attached article from, I believe, your newspaper.
I wouldn’t take issue except that I remember how honored Mother was to be offered the position and the long, dedicated hours she spent getting the house ready for occupancy. As a daughter, I seek only her rightful place in Sullivan’s colorful history. Read More

Home Explodes Killing Rural Sullivan Man

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Firefighters were joined by area police searching debris for victims of the Feb 1 home explosion and fire in rural Sullivan.

•February 6, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

A rural Sullivan home explosion Friday evening claimed the life of 20-year-old Jared Schrock and left a 16-year-old girl in a Springfield burn center.
Sullivan Fire Chief Mike Piper said the 9:53 p.m. call to 1416 CR 1700N reported an explosion and two missing people.
When firefighters arrived, debris was scattered some 200 feet from the burning family residence.
“We located the girl under debris outside the structure within about five minutes,” Piper said, noting she had severe trauma and has been transferred to Springfield Memorial Hospital for burn treatment.
Jared Schrock was found in the crawl space of the destroyed home directly below his second story bedroom. Read More

Sullivan Shooting Leads to Mattoon Man’s Arrest

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•February 6, 2019•

Alvan Booths, 32, of Mattoon is in custody following an 11 p.m. shooting in Sullivan.
Sullivan Chief of Police James Waggoner explained SPD and the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. responded to the home invasion with shots fired at a residence in the city.
Police arrived to discover Otha Phillips had been shot in the neck. He was transported by Sullivan Ambulance Service to the Decatur Memorial Hospital emergency room. Read More

High School Art Work Exhibited At Stifel

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
SHS art student Imogene Stidaham (L) and art teacher Melissa Nichols show student artwork.

•January 30, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress

More than 100 colorful and imaginative pieces of artwork from Sullivan High School students were displayed for public viewing at Stifel Company offices January 16.
The works were created in last semester’s drawing class taught by art teacher Melissa Nichols. Attractively arranged on the walls were creations in ink, pencil, colored pencil, water colors and oils.
Most were on paper, but a few drawings were done on corrugated tin. A pink octopus drawn on the rippled tin was especially interesting as the tentacles appeared to undulate over the tin.
Maggie McLaughlin drew a woman’s portrait in all black ink except for bright green eyes. There was a hint of the French pointillism style in the background. Read More

Out With the Old Begin With the New

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Drone photo by R.R. Best

•January 30, 2019•

It’s been a long time coming and in a short time gone.
The abandoned former location of Jackson Chevrolet that has marred the Jackson Street view for the past few years is gone.
Overland Corp Missouri is developing the $1.4 property for Dollar General Stores. City administrator Dan Flannell explained plans submitted to the city for permit applications reveal the new Dollar General Plus store is approximately 2000 sq. ft. larger than traditional stores and includes meat and produce.
According to Dollar General completion of the 106 N. Main St store is expected in fall 2019. Read More

Titus Manor at Wyman Park Fades into Retirement

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Titus Manor, originally built in 1862, became a retirement home for ladies in 1967.

•January 30, 2019•

By Titus Sentel
for the News Progress

Titus Manor at Wyman Park in Sullivan is closing March 31, 2019 after serving 52 years as a home for retired Illinois women.
“We have made many friendships and served as home to 206 awesome ladies since the official opening in 1967,” Titus Manor Board of Managers chair Kathy Hawbaker said in a release following the board’s decision.
“The staff’s hard work and dedication not only to Titus Manor but to each and every lady who has graced its doors is greatly appreciated,” Hawbaker, who was also the Manor administrator from 2008-13, said. Read More

Understanding Utility Budget Billing with the City of Sullivan

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•January 30, 2019•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

If you are on a limited income or prefer to stick to a monthly budget, signing up for budget billing on your utility bills can be helpful.
The city of Sullivan offers budget billing for utilities to its residents as a way to help budget monthly expenses.
“Signing up for budget billing is completely optional,” said city treasurer Sarah Golden. While budget billing can be quite helpful, at times it might be difficult to understand if you don’t know the basics or if temperatures turn out to be more extreme compared to the previous year.
Recently, a customer who receives utilities from the city of Sullivan questioned their bill, discovering the fluctuation. They have been on budget billing for the past five years so they were familiar with the process.
After studying a few bills, the individual realized the numbers seemed a bit higher than usual – even though the person believed their usage had not changed. The higher amounts reflected on the customer’s bill had caused some confusion. Read More

If You Can Choose to be Anything, Choose to be Kind

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Mirror Images Celebrates 30

•January 23, 2019•

By Imagene Mears
for the News Progress

At the end of this year’s Mirror Images’ show, Mr. Newman says, “...if you can choose to be anything, choose to be kind.”
His student Jasmine replies, “Yup...and spread happiness like glitter.”
Spreading happiness and kindness, are in essence, what this year’s original play is about.
The public performance of If You Could Choose To Be Anything will be Saturday, January 26, at 7 p.m. at the Little Theatre on the Square. Tickets are $5 and will be sold only at the theater prior to the show.
“We’ve been writing the script since October,” said Rebecca Lawson, the Sullivan High School group’s advisor, “and I am incredibly proud of the hard work this group has put in to crafting an interesting and funny show. This is the first time we have ever written a show like this - no one dies, no one gets arrested, no horrible tragedies - just typical teen issues.”
The range of the issues covered in the show were determined by the group’s writers during brainstorming meetings back in October.
One issue being tackled is what’s a guy to do when the girl he likes has no interest in him at all and hates his loud gum chewing.
Another character battles poverty and food insecurity. Read More

Eden Martin Continues Supporting the Educational Mission of Sullivan

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Destiny Roe and Becky Batman view Eden Martin’s “Fragments of the History of Sullivan” which is on sale to benefit Sullivan Education Foundation.

•January 23, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Eden Martin recently published a new book, “Fragments of the History of Sullivan”.
Martin has donated 100 copies of his book to the Sullivan Community Education Foundation, and all proceeds from the sales will go to the Foundation. Copies are $35 and may be purchased in the high school office during regular business hours.
The following is an email interview with Martin:
Ellen: You have written several books on the history of Sullivan and maintain an informative local history website, edenmartin.com. What motivated you to research and write these histories?
Eden: I first became interested in my family’s history, and that inevitably led to a broader interest in the history of the communities where they lived. My Martin family came to Illinois before it was a state and moved to the Sullivan area before Moultrie was a county. Read More

Headon in Bethany

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Photo by R.R. Best
Headon in Bethany
A head on collision in Bethany Friday afternoon severely injured a Decatur woman and held up traffic for more than an hour. Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Gary Carroll reported the accident call on Highway 121 was received at 3:22 p.m. Jan. 18. According to the accident report Shirley J. Quinlan of Decatur was westbound at the Bethany curve west of town when her car crossed the center line into the path of the eastbound vehicle driven by Camden Coleman of Shelbyville. Bethany and Sullivan Fire and Rescue squads responded transporting Quinlan and Coleman to area hospitals.