↓
 

News Progress

More news about the people of Moultrie County than any other newspaper in the world

  • Home
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • Jail Report
    • Mo. Co. Most Wanted
    • Obituaries
  • Feature Stories
  • Sports
  • Editorials
  • Social
    • Video Archive
    • Poll Archive
  • Links
    • News Progress Staff
    • History of the News Progress
    • RR's Portfolio
  • Email Us
  • General News Submissions
  • Subscription
    • Members Area
    • Current Issue
    • Manage Your Profile
  • Login

Submit a news item, obituary, or legal notice to advertise@newsprogress.com

March 17, 2026 Election Results

Category Archives: News Section

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Sullivan Mulls More Flooding Issues

News Progress Posted on August 5, 2015 by webmasterAugust 5, 2015

Question remains, who is to pay for ditch repairs?

•August 5, 2015•

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

After receiving large amounts of rainfall over the summer, several parts of Sullivan experienced flooding, which in turn had members of the city council discussing at their July 27 meeting which areas were in need of repairing ditches and adding culverts.

“There are some places in town that need to be done such as the west end of town. There were lakes in everyone’s yards and there isn’t a culvert out there,” commented commissioner Ken Johnson.

“Scott Street doesn’t drain like it is supposed to. Roane Street and Wagoner Street are both bad and dangerous,” added commissioner Mike Kirk. Read More

Posted in News

Dedicated for Life

News Progress Posted on August 5, 2015 by webmasterAugust 5, 2015

Photo Courtesy the News•Progress Archives Pictured is Pauline Briney working inside the former Moultrie County News offices. Briney was not only an avid writer and reporter for area newspapers but also a serious public servant that always strove to represent Findlay.

Photo Courtesy the News•Progress Archives
Pictured is Pauline Briney working inside the former Moultrie County News offices. Briney was not only an avid writer and reporter for area newspapers but also a serious public servant that always strove to represent Findlay.

Pauline Briney remembered as loyal public servant

•August 5, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

 

This past Saturday morning, family members of the late Pauline Briney gathered at her residence on 304 E. Division St. in Findlay to go over the abundance of articles, poetry, and photos that the former Findlay mayor and unofficial historian had written and collected over her 90 years.

Just outside her home about a block west on the main drag, the Findlay Walleye Festival parade was beginning–emergency sirens sounding as residents sat in lawn chairs on the boulevard–a sight and sound Briney no doubt had taken in countless times before and would have again had it not been for her passing just a week earlier. More ironic yet, the very festival that was once again underway had at one point been established by a committee on which Briney had served.

Served.

A word, or verb rather, of which Briney was not only familiar, but one that these days is attributed to her more than ever.

Briney–Reporter and Writer

“She loved being around people,” described Brett Robinson, one of her five grandchildren. “She loved social interaction.”

For Briney, who was born in Sullivan in 1924, that also translated to a love for church-going, and in particular, her membership to Faith Covenenant Church, for which she was also responsible for writing the church bulletin up until being admitted to the hospital in late May. Read More

Posted in Top Stories

2015 Moultrie-Douglas 4-H Horse Show Results

News Progress Posted on August 5, 2015 by webmasterAugust 5, 2015

BenBushueBlaireMonroeChloeTiarksBrettBushue

Photos Submitted Moultrie-Douglas 4-H Horse Show Results The Moultrie-Douglas 4-H Horse Show was held Saturday, July 25. From top to bottom are the local award recipients. Benjamin Bushue of the Moultrie County Longhorns earned Grand Champion in Jr. Horse Showmanship, Trail Class-Jr., Pattern-Jr. Horsemanship, Jr. Flags, and Jr. Poles. Reserve Grand Champion in Pleasure-Jr. Horse and Jr. Barrels. Blair Monroe of the Sunnyside Flea Flickers earned Grand Champion in Halter-Pony Mare and Sr Horse Showmanship. Reserve Grand Champion in Pleasure-Jr. Horse, Pleasure Sr. Horsemanship, Trail Class-Sr., Pattern Riding-Sr, Sr. Barrels, and Sr. Flags. Chloe Tiarks of the Sunnyside Flea Flickers earned Grand Champion in Pleasure-Jr. Horse, Pleasure Jr. Horsemanship, Pattern Riding-Jr., and Jr. Barrels. Reserve Grand Champion in Trail Class-Jr., Jr. Flags and Jr. Poles.  Brett Bushue of the Moultrie County Longhorns earned Reserve Grand Champion in Halter-Horse Mare, Halter-Gelding, and Pleasure Jr. Horsemanship. Amy Monroe of the Sunnyside Flea Flickers earned Grand Champion in Halter-Pony Gelding, Halter-Gelding, Pony Showmanship, Pleasure-Pony, Pleasure-Sr. Horse, Pleasure-Horse Showmanship, Pleasure Sr. Horsemanship, Trail Class-Sr., Pattern Riding-Pony, Pattern Riding-Sr., Sr. Barrels, Sr. Flags, and Sr. Poles. Reserve Grand Champion in Sr. Horse Showmanship and Sr. Poles.

Photos Submitted
Moultrie-Douglas 4-H Horse Show Results
The Moultrie-Douglas 4-H Horse Show was held Saturday, July 25. From top to bottom are the local award recipients. Benjamin Bushue of the Moultrie County Longhorns earned Grand Champion in Jr. Horse Showmanship, Trail Class-Jr., Pattern-Jr. Horsemanship, Jr. Flags, and Jr. Poles. Reserve Grand Champion in Pleasure-Jr. Horse and Jr. Barrels. Blair Monroe of the Sunnyside Flea Flickers earned Grand Champion in Halter-Pony Mare and Sr Horse Showmanship. Reserve Grand Champion in Pleasure-Jr. Horse, Pleasure Sr. Horsemanship, Trail Class-Sr., Pattern Riding-Sr, Sr. Barrels, and Sr. Flags. Chloe Tiarks of the Sunnyside Flea Flickers earned Grand Champion in Pleasure-Jr. Horse, Pleasure Jr. Horsemanship, Pattern Riding-Jr., and Jr. Barrels. Reserve Grand Champion in Trail Class-Jr., Jr. Flags and Jr. Poles. Brett Bushue of the Moultrie County Longhorns earned Reserve Grand Champion in Halter-Horse Mare, Halter-Gelding, and Pleasure Jr. Horsemanship. Amy Monroe of the Sunnyside Flea Flickers earned Grand Champion in Halter-Pony Gelding, Halter-Gelding, Pony Showmanship, Pleasure-Pony, Pleasure-Sr. Horse, Pleasure-Horse Showmanship, Pleasure Sr. Horsemanship, Trail Class-Sr., Pattern Riding-Pony, Pattern Riding-Sr., Sr. Barrels, Sr. Flags, and Sr. Poles. Reserve Grand Champion in Sr. Horse Showmanship and Sr. Poles.

Posted in Standalone Photo

Counseling Center Using Reserves Amid State Budget Impasse

News Progress Posted on August 5, 2015 by webmasterAugust 5, 2015

Grant money held up so far

•August 5, 2015•

by Mike Brothers

The real life of recovery is something clients at Moultrie Counseling Center deal with every day, but the state’s budget stalemate is forcing the center to face its own real life dilemma.

How to continue providing needed mental treatment when funding sources are threatened is the problem.

Running without a state budget means the Sullivan based community mental health provider has not received $37,076 of its total state grant of $49,075 for contract services.

David Cole, center executive director, explained that is the money needed for psychiatric services. Funding from state Division of Mental Health is essential for paying doctors, who are required to evaluate clients.

“The psychiatrist is the centerpiece to successful mental health intervention,” Cole explained, noting that a third of Moultrie Counseling Center clients are required to have a doctor review medications periodically before prescriptions may be renewed.  Read More

Posted in News

Bethany Welcomes Two New Part-Time Officers to Force

News Progress Posted on August 5, 2015 by webmasterAugust 5, 2015

Photo by RR Best Pictured are Bethany’s two newest police officers Thomas Lehew (left), and Joshua Ekiss (middle) along with Bethany Mayor Bill Ashley.

Photo by RR Best
Pictured are Bethany’s two newest police officers Thomas Lehew (left), and Joshua Ekiss (middle) along with Bethany Mayor Bill Ashley.

Will work two days a month

•August 5, 2015•

by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

While the scars and immeasurable loss of September 11 will likely always weigh heavily on the nation, and especially the community of law enforcement, for two local public servants this date now carries positive significance as well.

Joshua Ekiss of Sullivan and Thomas Lehew of Bethany applied for the position of part-time police officer with the village of Bethany and were hired on September 11 of 2014. It is nearing the completion of this first year since local law enforcement welcomed these additional two officers into their ranks.

Lehew was born and raised in Decatur but has called Bethany home for the last 11 years. He is a self-employed contractor and construction manager and was drawn to the area because of Lake Shelbyville where, apart from the occasional day of fishing, he has enjoyed hunting over the past two decades.

Ekiss, now living in Sullivan, was part of the first graduating class of the consolidated Okaw Valley High School in 2002. His wife is from the Charleston area, and they have four small children. Ekiss works for MasterBrand Cabinets in Arthur and serves with the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department as well.  Read More

Posted in News

Board of Appeals Given Appreciation Bonus

News Progress Posted on July 29, 2015 by webmasterJuly 29, 2015

Decision comes after lengthy hearings on wildlife park

•July 29, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Earlier this month the county board unanimously approved an appreciation stipend or bonus for the zoning board of appeals for the time spent deliberating and attending lengthy meetings regarding the Aikman Wildlife Park.

The $100 bonus was given to four of the five board of appeals’ members, with Howard Sanders excluded since he did not attend the June meetings due to a conflict of interest. Those receiving the bonus include Tyson Grooms, Neil Hinkle, Paul Roney, and Mike Sheehan.

“They spent a lot of time and patience at all the hearings so I think it’s well deserved,” said vice-county chairman Ron White.

“They don’t get any stipend at all. They get paid mileage, [but] they spent a day-and-a-half at one hearing and then half a day at the other hearing,” said board chairman Dave McCabe at the budget and finance committee meeting July 6. “If we’re going to get volunteers to serve on these kinds of things, we need to show we appreciate their efforts when its above and beyond their normal call of duty.”

In particular, the four board members were rewarded for their time spent across two meetings held on June 5 and 17, which together spanned a little more than seven hours. The meeting on the 17th, however, began at 9 a.m. and then broke for lunch before then resuming at 1:15 and adjourning at around 3:30 p.m.  Read More

Posted in News

Renewing Wood Lake

News Progress Posted on July 29, 2015 by webmasterJuly 29, 2015

Upgrades come just as Lake Shelbyville is named top project in nation

Photo by Keith Stewart Volunteer members from the Sullivan AmBucs install decking at the new fishing pier at Wood Lake. The pier was completed as of this week. The volunteers will next construct a roof for the pier.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Volunteer members from the Sullivan AmBucs install decking at the new fishing pier at Wood Lake. The pier was completed as of this week. The volunteers will next construct a roof for the pier.

•July 29, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

These days, the Lake Shelbyville area is glistening and not just because of the hot sunshine beaming down on the water.

Two weeks ago this Thursday the US Army Corp. of Engineers announced that Lake Shelbyville had taken this year’s top spot as the Natural Resources Management project of the year.

And as if any further proof was needed, that same day, a small group of volunteers was working on installing a handicapped accessible pier at Wood Lake, just a half mile north of the Bruce-Findlay road–one of several upgrades to the 30-acre lake that when finished looks to make it a unique destination, particularly for fishing.

The volunteers constructing the pier come by way of the Sullivan AmBucs, a local chapter of the national service organization that has come to be best known for, not only providing ‘AmTrykes’ for disabled children, but also constructing ramps to make homes and businesses accessible.

And that’s where the group has drawn much of their expertise with their latest project–building a 50’x20’ handicapped accessible pier at Wood Lake that when finished, will not only allow fishing more than 45’ feet in, but also at night with the aid of solar-powered lights and a roof overhead.

“It’s a real opportunity for AmBucs to do some real good, not only for Sullivan, but the Shelbyville area,” said Denny Hutchings, a member of the Sullivan AmBucs group. “To have a facility like that as close as it is to Sullivan, open to the public and that is a nice fishery, it could be a real boom to the area, and it’s a chance for AmBucs to have a little wider impact. Just a great opportunity.” Read More

Posted in Top Stories

Sullivan Man Found Dead Friday

News Progress Posted on July 28, 2015 by webmasterJuly 28, 2015

Photo by Keith Stewart Sullivan Man Found Dead Friday Ryan J. Benton, 41, of Sullivan was found dead late Friday afternoon. According to Sullivan Police Chief John Love, his department was called to do a welfare check, and upon visiting Benton’s residence at 504 N. Van Buren, found the 41-year-old dead. Benton was pronounced deceased by Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed at 4:02 p.m. Friday. Sullivan police and Reed’s office are still conducting an investigation into Benton’s death but say that no foul play is suspected. Love declined to provide comment on a preliminary cause of death and instead said that they are awaiting both autopsy and toxicology reports. Pictured are both Sullivan police and officials from the coroner’s office preparing to enter Benton’s apartment.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan Man Found Dead Friday
Ryan J. Benton, 41, of Sullivan was found dead late Friday afternoon. According to Sullivan Police Chief John Love, his department was called to do a welfare check, and upon visiting Benton’s residence at 504 N. Van Buren, found the 41-year-old dead. Benton was pronounced deceased by Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed at 4:02 p.m. Friday. Sullivan police and Reed’s office are still conducting an investigation into Benton’s death but say that no foul play is suspected. Love declined to provide comment on a preliminary cause of death and instead said that they are awaiting both autopsy and toxicology reports. Pictured are both Sullivan police and officials from the coroner’s office preparing to enter Benton’s apartment.

Posted in Standalone Photo

Yard of July

News Progress Posted on July 28, 2015 by webmasterJuly 28, 2015

Submitted WHAT’S Yard of July Windsor’s yard of the month winner is Noel and Gloria Helton. Making good use of perennials and annuals in their flower beds makes this a favorite drive by spot of many in Windsor, and the new log siding on their home has been a long awaited goal. The WHAT group, Windsor’s Happenings Around Town, is a mapping group that is working on beautification of Windsor. The group encourages all residents to beautify their homes and yards. Nominations may be made by stopping by city hall or calling  273-5488.

Submitted
WHAT’S Yard of July
Windsor’s yard of the month winner is Noel and Gloria Helton. Making good use of perennials and annuals in their flower beds makes this a favorite drive by spot of many in Windsor, and the new log siding on their home has been a long awaited goal. The WHAT group, Windsor’s Happenings Around Town, is a mapping group that is working on beautification of Windsor. The group encourages all residents to beautify their homes and yards. Nominations may be made by stopping by city hall or calling 273-5488.

Posted in Standalone Photo

Trashy

News Progress Posted on July 28, 2015 by webmasterJuly 28, 2015

Photo by RR Best Trashy Pictured are several televisions that were dumped in a drainage ditch just north of Wyman Park sometime over the weekend. According to Sullivan road district commissioner Elmo Weaver, the televisions were left in the ditch in what appeared to be a result of complications with the Sullivan citywide electronic recycling event which was held Saturday. According to the city, the recycling company was not equipped to handle the large volume of electronics, which citizens brought to be recycled. “They should have taken them back home instead of dumping it on someone else,’ said Weaver. “It’s not right.” The city does plan to hold another electronics recycling day. Information on that event will be provided in the News•Progress once available.

Photo by RR Best
Trashy
Pictured are several televisions that were dumped in a drainage ditch just north of Wyman Park sometime over the weekend. According to Sullivan road district commissioner Elmo Weaver, the televisions were left in the ditch in what appeared to be a result of complications with the Sullivan citywide electronic recycling event which was held Saturday. According to the city, the recycling company was not equipped to handle the large volume of electronics, which citizens brought to be recycled. “They should have taken them back home instead of dumping it on someone else,’ said Weaver. “It’s not right.” The city does plan to hold another electronics recycling day. Information on that event will be provided in the News•Progress once available.

Posted in Standalone Photo

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

 

“Together, We Give Back to School”



News Progress


Photo Submitted

“Together, We Give Back to School”

Sullivan Elementary School recently received 60 backpacks filled with school supplies through Amazon’s “Together, We Give Back to School” campaign. End of the Line Tackle & Bait, an Amazon delivery partner, nominated Sullivan Elementary for the program, and the school’s submission was selected to receive the donation. Pictured (left to right) are Cameron Martin, Taylor Lilly, James Martin, Marla Martin and Angela McRill following the July 27 delivery.


© 2024 - News Progress
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

100 W. Monroe St., Sullivan, IL 61951 Phone: 217-728-7381 | Open: Hours Vary

↑