Category Archives: News Section

Understanding Patriot’s Day

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•September 16, 2015•

First Responders honored

By Mike Brothers

Even though many of the Sullivan High School and Middle School students who assembled in the gym for Patriot’s Day were too young to remember the attack on America they went away Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 with a better understanding of what it means.

Rebecca Lawson’s high school Career English students made sure of that honoring first responders from Sullivan Police, Fire and Ambulance Service along with the Moutrie County Sheriff’s Dept. and National Guard in an afternoon of song and reflection.

Illinois National Guard recruiter and keynote speaker David Kiefer had been called up when 9/11 happened and recalled what it was like.”It was a time that changed my life forever,” he began. “Instead of that attack on our freedom breaking us, everyone pulled together to prove what a great nation we live in,” Kiefer told the assembly.

Career English student David Conklin worked with classmates since the beginning of school on this program. “What I didn’t realize is just how much that attack brought this country together then,” Conklin commented.

Jordan Tuttle explained that each of the individual first responders were presented with gift bags prepared by students and community members. A reception honoring attending Sullivan first responders and Illinois National Guard was held in the media center prior to the program.

Each basket contained treats from the Sullivan Baking Brigade, who baked for the Illinois National Guard training in Sullivan a few weeks ago, and notes from 150 high school and middle school students thanking the first responders for their service to the community.

Aryn Rousser is a14 year old freshman who performed the original song “Twenty-four/Seven” for the Patriot Day assembly.

“Miss Lawson wrote the lyrics to the song honoring the great service of first responders,” Rousser said, noting freshman Dylan Sanders wrote the music.

Additional music included “You Raise Me Up” by Grant King and Dani Boyer, accompanied by Kelly Sullivan and “Danny Boy” by Emilee Elder, accompanied by Dylan Sanders.

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Remember When? 9-16-2015

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25 Years Ago This Week

Butler Heating, Plumbing and Hardware changed ownership last week when former Bethany residents Terry and Sharon Muzzy purchased it from longtime owners Francis and Gloria Butler. Muzzy, the son of Doris Muzzy of Bethany, returns to Bethany after many years in Florida, where he worked for 20 years in air conditioning and commercial refrigeration.

Three area students earned practical nursing pins during a recent ceremony at Lake Land College. They are Macia Ann Epperson and Susan S. Quick, both of Sullivan, and Olga Yaworski of Lovington.

Marsha Ward, daughter of Bill and Angie Ward of Sullivan, received her master of arts  degree Aug. 10 during summer commencement at Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Mo.

The Sullivan Redskins earned the right to keep their number 10 state ranking—thanks to some quick thinking and extra effort. The Redskins, lead by Schascle Yochim’s 126 yards rushing, defeated Macon 30-12 Friday on the Ironmen’s home field. Touchdowns by Yochim, quarterback, Billy Harris, Nate Hutchings and Josh Crowe highlighted the contest as Sullivan finished the evening with 257 running yards. Read More

Patriots Day in Sullivan Schools

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kaleb more training

kaleb fire training after

Jeff Waite special gift

gift baskets

fire ems police mil

Photos by RR Best Patriots Day in Sullivan Schools Sullivan High School and Middle School observed Patriot Day Sept. 11 with a program prepared by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English students. Upper left photo: first responders from the Sullivan area were honored during the assembly in the high school gym. Right upper photo: Jeff Waite was presented gift bag from Lawson. Waite helped prepare the first Patriot Day observation six years ago. Center left: School volunteer Scott Bales (left) and fireman Kaleb Randall demonstrate fire extinguisher use for students. Right center photo: all the first responders and helpers who made Patriots Day possible. Bottom photos left: Kaleb Randall sets up various fire extinguishers for student training session. Right: Lawson and students present Sullivan first responders Larry Edwards and Andy Pistorius with gift baskets prepared by the class.

Photos by RR Best
Patriots Day in Sullivan Schools
Sullivan High School and Middle School observed Patriot Day Sept. 11 with a program prepared by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English students. Upper left photo: first responders from the Sullivan area were honored during the assembly in the high school gym. Right upper photo: Jeff Waite was presented gift bag from Lawson. Waite helped prepare the first Patriot Day observation six years ago. Center left: School volunteer Scott Bales (left) and fireman Kaleb Randall demonstrate fire extinguisher use for students. Right center photo: all the first responders and helpers who made Patriots Day possible. Bottom photos left: Kaleb Randall sets up various fire extinguishers for student training session. Right: Lawson and students present Sullivan first responders Larry Edwards and Andy Pistorius with gift baskets prepared by the class.

Truck Meets Tain

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Photo by RR Best Truck meets train When a truck meets a train, usually the truck loses. On Saturday, September 12 at about 1:44 pm. the truck and driver lost. Sullivan police were called to the train crossing at Jackson and Fuller streets. There they discovered a GMC pickup against the front of a Union Pacific train locomotive. Following impact the truck was relocated 250 feet south of Jackson Street. The driver, a 69 year old male, was transported to a area hospital by Sullivan Ambulance Service.

Photo by RR Best
Truck Meets Tain
When a truck meets a train, usually the truck loses. On Saturday, September 12 at about 1:44 pm. the truck and driver lost. Sullivan police were called to the train crossing at Jackson and Fuller streets. There they discovered a GMC pickup against the front of a Union Pacific train locomotive. Following impact the truck was relocated 250 feet south of Jackson Street. The driver, a 69 year old male, was transported to a area hospital by Sullivan Ambulance Service.

Sullivan’s Blue Dolphins Celebrate Fifty Years

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Photo Courtesy of the News•Progress Archives Pictured are six members of the 1983 Blue Dolphins Swim team which qualified for the Junior Olympics that March. Those who qualified were, clockwise from the top, Heather Highland, Darren Powell, Brad Voltz, now current Blue Dolphins Head Coach Jason Drury, Trenton Guyot, and Justin Dunscomb.

Photo Courtesy of the News•Progress Archives
Pictured are six members of the 1983 Blue Dolphins Swim team which qualified for the Junior Olympics that March. Those who qualified were, clockwise from the top, Heather Highland, Darren Powell, Brad Voltz, now current Blue Dolphins Head Coach Jason Drury, Trenton Guyot, and Justin Dunscomb.

•September 16, 2015•

Open House Friday

Fifty years of Sullivan Blue Dolphin swimmers have trained at the Civic Center, and this Friday, September 18 an open house commemorates the occasion.

Everyone is invited to the Sullivan Civic Center from 4-7 p.m. Friday to help the Blue Dolphins celebrate their Golden Anniversary.

Swimming heritage started the day the doors opened at the Civic Center with 525 splashing in the Olympic sized pool.

When Charles Smith came in as director, the school district allowed students to receive swimming lessons. This led to the eventual birth of a competitive swim team.

Early competitions involved surrounding counties and included Olympic swimmer Lynn Alsup of Bloomington.

By 1974 Steve Ludwig reorganized the team into the Blue Dolphins.

Now, as in the beginning, the city of Sullivan has supported the swim team providing them a free pass for all practices and competitions.

Blue Dolphins coach Jason Drury is a Sullivan native who swam for the team in the 1980s.

He was among the first Blue Dolphins to compete at the state level.

Drury has been with the Blue Dolphins for the past 10 years, building it from 20 to 80 swimmers.

“Swimming is a progression,” he told Joash Tiarks in August. “In the early years, it does not matter how fast you are…using the correct form and stroke is the key.” Read More

County Approves Wine Serving for Pumpkin Patch

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•September 16, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County Board members allowed wine to be served at the Farm to Fork Dinner held at the Great Pumpkin Patch Sept. 27.

Following a recommendation from Liquor Control Commission chair David McCabe the board unanimously approved the Special Event License “G” for Wine on Vine LLC during the annual event in Jonathan Creek Township.

Building and grounds chair Gary Smith recommended Jason Salvato’s bid of $2,580 to repair flooring in the courthouse ladies’ room. The measure passed unanimously.

A motion was made by budget and finance chair Ron White to engage Coles County Regional Planning Commission to do a fee study for the county. Cost of the study is not to exceed $3000. The motion passed with Kevin McReynold’s abstaining.

Road and bridge chair McReynolds moved to approve preliminary engineering agreement with HLR for inspection of lake bridges in water too deep water for the county highway dept. equipment.

He also recommended approval for county engineer Jeff Birch’s salary following state recommended guidelines. Birch will receive a 1.5% increase for an $85,200 annual salary.

Both McReynolds recommended motions and the resolution to appropriate funds for the engineer’s salary were approved unanimously.

Legislative committee chair Tim Rose moved to appoint drainage district commissioners with terms through Sept. 2018. Included were Daniel L. Gingerich-Cadwell Drainage Dist.; Gary Emel-Dist 1 of East Nelson; Chris Yoder-Dist 1 of Lowe; Steve Jurgens-Lowe Special Dist.; Henry Herschberger- Mast Union Dist. 1; Ed Hogan Moultrie, Coles, Douglas Dist.; John C. Yoder -Lowe Dist. 2; Daniel L. Gingerich - Lowe Dist 5; R. Dennis Miller - Lowe Dist. 7; Levi Yoder - Lovington, Lowe, and Jonathan Creek Special drainage district. All received unanimous vote approval.
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Lovington Grade School to Extend Bus Lane

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Safety is #1 concern

•September 16, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
Reporting from Arthur

“Safety is the number one issue ,” said Lovington principal Brandon Stone at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s most recent school board meeting as they discussed the possibility of extending the drive that runs through Al Best at Lovington Grade School.

Parents who are dropping off their children at the grade school are competing with bus traffic, and it has become a problem and safety issue for students who are walking into school.

If the bus lane gets extended, the buses won’t be meeting oncoming traffic. “It would be a good plan for the time being,” said Stone. Extending the bus lane would require the removal of a tree and shed and installing a culvert. Superintendent Kenny Schwengel estimated the construction of the lane to be an eight week process. Work may not begin until next spring or summer. The new extended lane would be for bus traffic only. The board voted to move forward with plans to extend the drive at Lovington Grade School.  Read More

Antique Tractors Honor Farm Progress

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Photo by Mike Brothers Tom Gregory’s antique tractors form a line behind him and along Highway 121 in Bethany to honor the Farm Progress Show in Decatur. Gregory returned the tractors to the shed after the show and replaced the display with some of his favorite Model A Ford cars and trucks.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Tom Gregory’s antique tractors form a line behind him and along Highway 121 in Bethany to honor the Farm Progress Show in Decatur. Gregory returned the tractors to the shed after the show and replaced the display with some of his favorite Model A Ford cars and trucks.

•September 9, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Tom Gregory honored the Farm Progress Show in his own way.

For the past six Progress Shows in Decatur Gregory rolled out his antique tractor collection for display at the south entrance to Bethany.

“It takes a bit of doing, but if I can, I honor farm progress in my own way,” Gregory said of the units ranging from 1929 through the early 30s.

As he walked the line beside Highway 121 Gregory stopped at a tractor that looked like a car. It was a Model A “Doodlebug”. With a tractor kit, a “shade tree mechanic” as he put it, he converted a Model A fire truck into this pulling tractor.

“I bought it from a guy in Wisconsin and entered in the Arthur slow pull contest last year,” he recalled. “I only had it about a month. It wasn’t running right, and I didn’t even know for sure what gear I was in, but I won the contest.” The winning Doodlebug was built in 1939.

On down the tractor line is a mini Caterpillar. He got this 1929 Cat 10 from a guy in Canada and is one of the smallest trak Cat’s ever manufactured. It was used primarily for pulling road graders in the early 30s. Gregory got to display it during a Decatur Caterpillar open house.

A 41-year employee of Caterpillar, Gregory was invited to display this rare tractor in front of the plant.

Included in the tractors are some John Deere Johnny Poppers that are for sale, but one 1936 John Deere Model D that is sentimental.

“That tractor was built the year I was born so I’ll probably just hang on to it.” Read More

Okaw Valley Homecoming is Under the Big Top

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Photo by Jeni Yantis Homecoming king and queen candidates at Okaw Valley High School are (front to back - left to right): Front row: Gretchen Macklin, Hannah Dicken, Charli Uhlrich, and Nicole Miller. Back Row: Alex Martin, Justin Johnson, Nick Tipsword, and Race Underwood.

Photo by Jeni Yantis
Homecoming king and queen candidates at Okaw Valley High School are (front to back - left to right): Front row: Gretchen Macklin, Hannah Dicken, Charli Uhlrich, and Nicole Miller. Back Row: Alex Martin, Justin Johnson, Nick Tipsword, and Race Underwood.

•September 9, 2015•

Okaw Valley High School student council has announced their annual Homecoming Week activities September 14-19. The overall theme to this year’s festivities is “Under the Big Top”. Each day will highlight a special theme at OVHS, and students are encouraged to participate accordingly. The week kicks off with Monday as “Pajama Day” day and Tuesday as “Crazy Dress-Circus Side

Photo by Jeni Yantis Homecoming attendants at Okaw Valley High School are: Front Row: Sydney Hagerman (junior), Grace Harlin (sophomore), Gracie Weybright (freshman) Back Row: Jon Gentry (junior), James Burnes (sophomore), Sam Hagerman (freshman).

Photo by Jeni Yantis
Homecoming attendants at Okaw Valley High School are: Front Row: Sydney Hagerman (junior), Grace Harlin (sophomore), Gracie Weybright (freshman) Back Row: Jon Gentry (junior), James Burnes (sophomore), Sam Hagerman (freshman).

Show” day. Wednesday’s theme is “Class Color Day” with the “Powder Puff” football games beginning at 11:30 am. The Marching Timberwolves will perform their competition show at halftime of the powder puff game. Thursday is “Clown Day”, where students are to dress as their favorite clown. Thursday evening will be the annual bonfire. The bonfire along with a pep rally will begin immediately following the Okaw Valley varsity girls’ volleyball game vs. Villa Grove. Friday is “SOV Spirit Day”.

The classes will compete with homecoming float building during the day along with a school wide cookout. Other events on Friday will include the annual homecoming parade at 3 pm (line up at 2:30 behind the high school). This year’s parade will use the same route as the Bethany Celebration. The varsity SOV football game will begin at 7 p.m. on the Sullivan High School football field. The SOV jr. varsity football team will play at 6 p.m. Monday on the Okaw Valley High School football field. Read More