Category Archives: News Section

Beat “Cabin Fever” at Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library

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Escape Room Opens Daily

•November 29, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The weather has gotten cooler, and you may be looking for activities to do indoors. You don’t have to look any further than your neighborhood library. Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library has some fun activities for you and your family during these cold winterlike days.

Keep in mind, if you need a little warming up, the library has free coffee everyday. Enjoy a couple cups of coffee, and then catch up on your emails and news of the day with their free WiFi. If you are feeling creative, don’t forget that they have their 3-D printer to create three dimensional objects. Read More

The Bitter Side of Sweet is the One Book 

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Photo by Mike Brothers
One Book One Sullivan announcement at a middle school assembly Nov. 21: Ryan Villalobos addresses the school along with One Book One Sullivan director Rikki Ray and committee members. Back row left to right: Clayton Schmohe and Sammantha Montague; front row left to right: Lane Richardson, Lilly Graham,  Carlyn Fitzgerald, Elora Mast and high school media specialist Annie McClellan.

•November 29, 2017•

From five selections came one, and the reveal was made by One Book One Sullivan committee members to a Sullivan Middle School student assembly Nov. 21.

Members of the Sullivan Rotary Club, primary financial sponsors of the community reading program, attended to make a surprise announcement and present an award.

Rotary Club President Dan Fultz pointed out one person has remained dedicated to One Book, One Sullivan for the past 11 years, and that devotion has been instrumental in making the community reading program successful.

Fultz then announced that One Book, One Sullivan founding coordinator Rikki Ray was being honored by the Rotary Club for those years of devotion to duty and made the award presentation before the assembled middle school students. Read More

WHS Homecoming Royals

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Photo furnished
WHS Homecoming Royals
Windsor High School will host a homecoming dance 8-11 p.m. December 9. The theme will be “To the Moon and Back,” and the coronation will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the high school. This year’s royalty are pictured (left to right) freshmen attendants Adilyn McCray and Sam Boyer, sophomore attendants Hannah Morlen and Brandon Milligan, junior attendants Maranda Tarvin and Emil Hartman, queen and king candidates Morgan Lesko, Dalton Armes, Mikayla Haddock, Gage Sattler, Kasey Bean, and Brad Farmer.

Rotary Planting Help

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Rotary Planting Help
Sullivan Rotary Club donated 13 Sycamore and Tulip Poplar trees for homes in the Habitat for Humanity subdivision, and last week Scott Bales’ Sullivan Middle School fifth hour physical education class grabbed shovels to help with the planting. Keith Fryman, John Voyles, Zach Dalbey, Justin Gilbert and Dmitiri Tull got to relocate a Blue Spruce and replace it with a new Sycamore tree. The Sullivan Rotary tree planting program is made possible with the help of a $1500 grant from District Rotary.

Skyzone Math Exercise

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Skyzone Math Exercise
Okaw Valley’s tech math class took a field trip to Skyzone in Springfield recently. The students examined different math and science applications which included calorie burn, percent of increase of heart rate, volume of foam pit, number of foam squares , angle of incline for the crazy ladder, long jump, trampoline jump height and basketball free throw.

Sullivan Council donates $500 to Santa’s Workshop

News Progress Posted on by

Casey’s Drive Expansion Approved

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

Santa’s Workshop will celebrate its fifth year at the American Legion. It is not only a fund-raiser for Dove but an event for the entire community.

Mary Hughes of Dove approached the Sullivan City Council requesting a donation to assist in sponsoring the event for 2017. Last year Santa’s Workshop served about 300 children. Hughes stated that this event helps with tourism within Sullivan as children from nearby areas travel to Sullivan to participate in the event.

The council made a motion to donate $500 towards the cost of sponsoring Santa’s Workshop. It was approved.

Other items that were discussed or voted upon:

-Citizens are reminded to not blow their leaves into the road because they could easily fall into the gutters. Leaves are also not to be burned in the road.

Read More

Sullivan Community Economic Development Elf Hunt Is Back! 

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Elves are back. Melinda Calhoun-Hurt and SCED Exec Director Laurrie Minor with the Elf on the Shelf.

•November 22, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

From Nov. 10 through Dec. 10 the Sullivan Community Economic Development’s second Elf on the Shelf contest will be held in 22 member stores throughout Sullivan.

“We are just thrilled to have so many members participating this year — it more than doubles last year,” SCED Executive Director, Laurrie Minor, said

Each one has contributed a gift card, gift certificate or merchandise from their store to a huge gift basket that is valued at more than $500 for a lucky winner.

How do you win this gift basket?  Read More

Veterans Honored at Sullivan Senior Center

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured are some of the veterans who attended a Veteran’s Appreciation luncheon at the Mid Illinois Senior Center.

•November 22, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

“Wear a Poppy”,  a poem by Betty Toops of Neoga, expressed the sentiment at the Mid Illinois Senior Center Veterans observance Nov. 15.

With tables decorated in red, white and blue the Peace Meal staffers Barbara Brown and Blake Sanders from Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Services hosted a Veterans Appreciation luncheon for 60 veterans, their wives and widows.

“This is our eighth Veteran Appreciation luncheon this month in Moultrie County, and we are just honored to thank our veterans with this complimentary meal,” Sanders said.  Read More

Sparrow Volunteers

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Photo by Darian Hays
Sparrow Volunteers
Volunteers of all ages, including Moultrie County Circuit Judge Brad Rau, gathered Saturday, Nov. 18 for the annual Sparrows Unlimited fruit basket prep and delivery day. In all, 150 baskets were assembled and delivered in and around Lovington. Sparrows’ 23rd annual fundraising auction will be held December 2 at Jerry’s East End in Lovington.

Turkey Time

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Turkey Time
Sullivan IGA delivered 100 turkeys purchased as a result of customer donations received during the annual roundup fundraiser for the Moultrie County Food Pantry just in time for Thanksgiving. IGA Shoppers rounded up their tickets, donating toward the turkey purchases. On Monday Nov. 20 IGA meat dept. employees Seth Cobb, meat dept. manager Barry Golden, Emmalee Hortenstine, Gary Portwood and Matt Martin joined Food Pantry Director Kristy Dawson displaying some of the items received in the Thanksgiving basket from the Food Pantry.Those turkeys went out to 100 families who had signed up previously with the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Included in that Thanksgiving basket from CEFS are ingredients for green bean casserole , stuffing mix, noodles and chicken broth, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, marshmallows and yams, fruit, cranberry sauce, pumpkin filling and pie crust mix.