Category Archives: News Section

Harry Potter Theme for OVHS Homecoming

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Photo by Jeni Yantis
Okaw Valley Homecoming Candidates Front - Junior Attendant Kailey George, Senior Queen Candidates Paige Robinson, Natalie Jeffers, Hannah Landreth and Grace Harlin, Sophomore Attendant Baylie Wagner and Freshman Attendant Tali Roberts.  Back - Junior Attendant Garrett Tippit, Senior King Candidates Dylan Holt, Garrett Fritz, Hayden Francisco and Tanner Coleman, Sophomore Attendant Canaan Christensen and Freshman Attendant Luke Vander Burgh.

•August 30, 2017•

Okaw Valley High School Student Council has announced that their annual Homecoming Week is September 5-9 with the theme “Harry Potter”.

Each day will highlight a special theme at OVHS, and students are encouraged to participate accordingly. The week kicks off Tuesday as the students dress for “Quidditch Team Day”, whereby they will be encouraged to wear their favorite team jersey. Wednesday’s theme is “Defend Your House Day” with the “Powder Puff” football games beginning at 11:40 a.m. followed by the “Powder Tuff” volleyball games.  Read More

Partnering With Community to Develop Long Term Growth

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Photo by Ellen Ferera
Brenda Crowell of My Garden waters one of the planters sponsored by the Chamber. My Garden and Buxton’s Flowers alternative care of the city planters each year.

SCED Part II

•August 30, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Last week’s article on SCED focused on the Chamber’s work with tourism and restoration enhancement. The other half of their work involves events and economic development.

“I am especially proud of our economic development efforts to beautify the city, our No Jobs Left Behind and our partnership with the city”, said SCED Executive Director, Laurrie Minor. ‘We absolutely couldn’t do it without the city’s commitment”.

As previously mentioned, SCED’s budget is $140,000 with $70,000 provided by the city which may only be used for economic development. All other projects are made possible by members’ dues, fund-raising, grants and private donations.

A good place to learn of the Chamber’s economic development is their website where you will find how to write a business plan, a list of real estate for sale, job listings, resources, area events and upcoming events. Read More

Steel Magnolias – Strong as Steel, Fragile as Magnolias

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•August 30, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the news progress

They told me it was a chick-flick, but I really enjoyed it”, said Weldon Brown. Mitch Miller said, “I thought it was really well done” as they exited the Little Theatre after seeing “Steel Magnolias”.

And, indeed,” Steel Magnolias” has a cast of six southern women whose friendships are old as dirt and just as permanent. Their standing Saturday appointments at their she-shack, Truvy’s beauty salon, are never to be missed. “The beauty salon is women’s territory”, says M’Lynn. And, unlike the movie, the male characters are only alluded to and never seen.

The author, Robert Harling, is well-known for his sensitive portrayals of women’s relationships in other movies such as “Terms of Endearment”, The Evening Star”, and “First Wives Club”. “Steel Magnolias” was written about his sister’s death from diabetes and his need to tell her son how very special she was. The title suggests that the female characters are strong as steel but fragile as magnolias. Read More

Rose Meets Rotary

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Rose Meets Rotary
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) met with local officials and community leaders from Moultrie County in Sullivan Aug. 22. Rose discussed jobs and economic growth initiatives for the area during the Sullivan Rotary Club luncheon.

Oil Rises to Top of City Council Discussion

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•August 23, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

City commissioners revisited the discussion concerning cooking oil dumped into the city’s sewer system back in July.

Commissioner Grant Wade reported that the city ran tests to determine the type of oil clogging the sewer system. A portion of the cooking oil partially clogged the system and then came through later. Wade stated that it had taken at least three truckloads to remove all of the oil. Presently, there has been no more disposing of the oil.

A motion was made to give the Sullivan Blue Dolphins a $3400 donation after their very informational report that they presented at the previous meeting. It was stated that the team contributes greatly to the community and the Civic Center.

Other items that were discussed/voted upon: Read More

Chalk Art

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan third grader Ellie Lehman works diligently on her Chalk Art creation along with 40 other entries during the Sullivan Chamber and Sullivan Area Arts Council contest held last Friday.

Eclipsing Temperature

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Eclipsing Temperature
As the solar eclipse brought students out with special glasses and viewing devices at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon Sullivan eighth graders Samantha Montague and Lilly Graham calculate the temperature drop as part of a field test for middle school science teacher Troy Rogers. As the sun darkened, the cicadas began chirping, the streetlights came on and the temperature dropped by a couple of degrees.

Chamber Of Commerce Helps Keeps Sullivan Vibrant

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So Many Projects

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development director Laurrie Minor and assistant Malinda Calhoun Hurt stop by Washington Plaza, one of the featured projects of the chamber’s streetscape efforts, enticing those visiting the Little Theatre on the Square to return.

•August 23, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

As you look around the Streetscapes or take a break at Washington Street’s Plaza, hints of Sullivan Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to make the city better are all around.

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce has one full-time staff, one part-time staff and a modest annual budget of $140,000. The 183 members of Chamber and Economic Development generously donate their time to serve on the board and committees such as Restoration Enhancement and Events. This is in addition to working at their full-time jobs and donating thousands of dollars in products for community activities.

The Chamber does so much for Sullivan, and a lot of it goes unnoticed. A considerable amount of staff time is also spent pursuing projects that never materialize.

So, what does the Chamber do? The focus is in four main areas: Economic Development, Tourism, Events and Restoration Enhancement; although, there is so much more as will be revealed in a series of articles on the Chamber.

Community Enhancement is an important aspect of the Chamber’s programs. An attractive, vibrant downtown appeals to both tourists and potential businesses/residents.  Read More

News Teachers at Sullivan Community Unit #300

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News Teachers at Sullivan Community Unit #300
Front L-R: Kristie Hardimon, Tiffany Swalls, Allison Wright, Ashlee Florey, Melissa Nichols, Heather Moore-Hinton, Erin VanDeursen, Nichole Watkins Back L-R: J.D. Graham, Andrew Kerley, Chris Wilson, Susan Kuhn, Tabitha Davis, Sarah Atchison, Shaun Schaefers

R.S.V.P. Unites Seniors With School Children

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•August 23, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When Mary Lou Kidwell retired some 25 years ago, she was restless so she began Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) and set about creating activities that would unite seniors with the youngest elementary school children in the county.

For the past 24 years, the Senior Sewing Club has met and handsewn nap quilts, totes and little pillows for every kindergarten child in Moultrie County. This year nearly 200 of these were delivered to children in Bethany, Sullivan and Lovington the first week of school.

During the year five ladies at the Senior Center, two at Courtyard Estates and seven at the Allenville Christian Church cut out 4”x4” squares of brightly colored material which are pinned together in batches of nine squares. The volunteers then mix and match the solid colors and patterned squares and hand sew them into colorful little quilts that eventually measure 3’x5’.  Read More