Category Archives: News Section

“Rhymes Climbing Through Time” Presented to Mo Co Historical and Genealogical Society

News Progress Posted on by

•October 4, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

“To rhyme or not to rhyme?  That is the question... “ I had the pleasure of presenting my program, “Rhymes Climbing Though Time,” to the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society Thursday, September 21.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous when member Charlie Steck asked me. In the past, I’ve mostly performed poetry readings with members of my poetry club and had never thought about creating an actual presentation about poetry.

That Thursday evening I began my program by sharing some history of poetry and how people used it as a way to communicate. Poetry was used to share family stories, traditions and sing songs.  Read More

City Moves Forward with Emergency HVAC Repairs at Library

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Fields Wright Gets Reprieve

•October 4, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Sullivan City Council members learned at the Sept. 11 meeting that the library cooling issue required system replacement.

City administrator, Dan Flannell reported that the air conditioner at Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library is beyond repair. “Bids were solicited,” Flannell began, “but nobody can handle a project of this magnitude.”

The present system is more than 40 years old. The total estimate of the project (for both the AC and furnace) is $83,890 with King Lar of Decatur doing the project. The furnace will be done first and then the air conditioning system.

Flannell met with the library board the Tuesday after Labor Day, and they decided to wave the bidding and move forward since this is an emergency. Library director Michelle Nolen said at least half of Sullivan’s population have library cards and that many of its patrons use the computer.  Read More

OVHS Marching Timberwolves Compete

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Photo furnished
OVHS Marching Timberwolves Compete
Okaw Marching Timberwolves competed at the Sage City Invitational in Class C/D recently. Band director Theresa Colclasure; visual coordinator David Hagerman,color guard Monica Maybell, and percussion director Courtney Boyd prepared the 37 member band and six color guards for the competition. The Marching Timberwolves show was The Blues Brothers Movie including Gimme Some Lovin, Minnie the Moucher, Think/I Can’t Turn You Loose.

Ribbon Cutting in Sullivan

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Photo furnished
Ribbon Cutting in Sullivan
On Thursday, September 28 the Decatur Memorial Hospital and Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development hosted business after hours at the DMH Sullivan Medical Center, 1220 W. Jackson St. Dr. Steven Bridges and Mo Tababaei, PA provided tours of the facility with attendees enjoying hors d’oeuvres prepared by Cafe’ DMH. Those attending also registered to win a FITBIT.

WHS FFA Delivers Farmer Care Packages

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Photo furnished
WHS FFA Delivers Farmer Care Packages
Farmer care package delivery from Windsor FFA. Pictured from back row left to right: Tristan Boehm, Brandon Milligan, Hannah Morlen, Kimberly Henon, Lillian Sims; front row: Kendra Reed, Mackenzee Hooten. Windsor FFA chapter recently delivered care packages to local farmers who were in the field. The care packages contained things such as bottled water, cookies, and other snacks as well as a small list of tips for farmer safety. Several members attended to help benefit and thank local farmers for their year round hard work and support.

Sullivan School Song Was Pounded Out 63 Years Ago

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•September 27, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Even though Sullivan lost its homecoming game, at some point in the evening fans stood up and sang “Hail Red and Black”, that familiar school song known to all who attended SHS since 1954.

Back in 1954 all SHS English students had an opportunity to submit an entry for a school song. The student council members selected the winner and two honorable mentions. The winner was Joe Pound ( a student council member) then a junior. Honorable mention went to Emma Lee Anderson and Sally Tabor. Pound recently recalled, “ They were sore losers, and one of them didn’t speak to me for three months!” Read More

Sullivan Alumni Honored

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Alumni master of ceremonies Joseph Schrodt presents Jodell Foley Seagrave with Hall of Fame award at the annual banquet held at the V.F.W. Paul Sager was named Who’s Who.

•September 27, 2017•

Sullivan High School Alumni honored Paul Sager and Jodell Foley Seagrave before a crowd of 150 past SHS grads at the V.F.W. Saturday night.

Sager became a member of Alumni Who’s Who. The 1943 SHS graduate enlisted in the Army even though he had a Class C farm deferment.

When he received a 10 day pass following basic training because he volunteered to go oversees, he returned to Sullivan and married Anna Jane.

Rather than a honeymoon, he was shipped to France with the Army’s 30th Division in communications. As the Battle of the Bulge raged, Sager was helping set up a central communication switchboard. While stringing wire to an outpost from a spool hauled behind his Jeep, a German plane spotted him. Read More

Moultrie Co. Counseling Center Earns Three-Year CARF Accreditation

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Photo furnished
Moultrie Counseling Center staff: front row left to right Penny Arthur, Pam Lawyer, Audrey Mosier, Tabitha Sill, Hollie Atchison, Katrin Lynn; back row left to right: Dave Cole, Marie Luedke, Valerie Brumfield, Aimee Crask, Jeremy Nolen, Angie Schmohe

•September 27, 2017•

CARF International announced that Moultrie County Counseling Center has been accredited for a period of three years for its Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults) and Outpatient: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents) programs. The latest accreditation is the seventh consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has been given to the Moultrie County Counseling Center. This announcement follows a two day review completed recently. Read More

Lines Drawn

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Photo by RR Best
Lines Drawn
With the aid of a helicopter, Ameren’s transmission line upgrade continues near the Roney farm north of Sullivan. The helicopter lowers a worker to prepare insulators for new power lines from the Andrews Street substation east of Dalton City to the Kansas Ameren substation as part of a major upgrade of service in central Illinois.

Local Boy Is Class Hero For Childhood Cancer Awareness

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An act of courage

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Cylus Booker (front) and buddies Nolan Hower (l), Sawyer Booker and Marshall Robison with the poster Cylus made.

•September 27, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) and this month nine-year-old Cylus Booker learned that he is now five years clear of the cancer that attacked him when he was four years old.  His journey has been a profile in courage, faith and love.

His family had just moved from Sullivan to Princeton, Kentucky where his father was employed by Hydro-Gear, and his mother was just starting her teaching career. Cylus began complaining of pain and became incontinent. On September 14, 2012, he was diagnosed with a severe form of leukemia.

He had no white blood cells and, therefore, no immunity, and was airlifted to a children’s hospital. His mother remembers being so frantic she couldn’t find her car in the parking lot and that their pastor Brother Dwayne was standing there, and she believes that was an omen. Read More