Category Archives: News Section

Little Theatre Reports Lower Ticket Sales for Spring Season

News Progress Posted on by

As part of a routine financial report to the city, LTOTS still looking at how to cut costs, raise more funds

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

Members of the Little Theatre On the Square board and staff were in attendance to update the council on where the theatre is financially with their bills to the city and explain what they are trying to do to keep current with expenses.

John Stephens, executive artistic director for LTOTS, said the spring season had been well-attended and going into the production of Mermaid was the highest subscription show that LTOTS has had. Currently ticket sales are down from last year, and he has not been able to figure out what has caused this slump. The theatre has had to eliminate cost of living raises, look to ways to reduce cost, and has raised additional funds from theatre patrons.

Read More

Carriage Crossing Ribbon Cutting

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Keith Stewart Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Carriage Crossing, an assisted living senior community in Arcola, commenced its five-day grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning. Those in attendance included several owners, members of Arcola’s Economic Development, and managers of Carriage Crossing.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Carriage Crossing, an assisted living senior community in Arcola, commenced its five-day grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning. Those in attendance included several owners, members of Arcola’s Economic Development, and managers of Carriage Crossing.

Animal Control Program Kept; Computer Systems See Update

News Progress Posted on by

Outdated system will receive more than a $4,000 facelift

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

The decision to keep the animal control program was a relatively easy one for the Lovington Village Board Monday night.

“Things are working out pretty good,” said village president Jim Minor.

Pam Anklam also voiced her support for the program along with other board members.

Read More

Bethany Businesses Expect Increased Revenue from Liquor Sales

News Progress Posted on by

Several already interested in soon-to-be established licenses

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

With the anticipated passage of Bethany’s new liquor ordinance on the horizon, several local businesses have already showed interest in adopting the sale of alcohol as a lucrative source of new revenue. Based on discussions by village officials, a total of five licenses authorizing various forms of alcohol sales is expected to be made available to local business owners. In addition, special event vouchers are planned to be made available to local organizations and individuals, allowing the sale of alcohol for fundraising, celebrations, or other approved reasons for a 24-hour period. Mayor Bill Ashley, as well as the other members of the village council, had been clear during their deliberations on the new ordinance that at least three specific businesses and one organization formally showed interest in purchasing the available licenses on a yearly basis. As a result, much of the board’s legislating reflected their desire to accommodate these establishments or organizations, though some efforts were made to provide an attractive environment for new business in the future.

Read More

Discharge Hearing Involving Alleged Juvenile Offender and Victim

News Progress Posted on by

Next Tuesday's hearing could set the stage for jury trial if defendant found fit

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A discharge hearing involving a 16-year old juvenile who allegedly assaulted (sexually) a seven-year-old boy will be held Tuesday at the Moultrie County Courthouse. Though found unfit to stand trial after a psychological report was completed by clinical psychologist Dr. Jerry Boyd, which found the boy to likely suffer from Asperger's Syndrome, the 16 year old, if found not innocent, could be forced to undergo further treatment. A two-year window would then follow, in which the defendant, if deemed fit for trial, could be subjected to a jury trial, facing three charges, including aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of criminal sexual abuse.

Read More

Tuesday Night Rally Full of Vigor as Seniors Question Upcoming Frozen Meals

News Progress Posted on by

Full VFW room echoes with questions of "why?" as Oct. 1 deadline looms

by Katie A. Davis
Sullivan Reporter

Photo by Keith Stewart Katherine Butt of Sullivan listens as area seniors took to the VFW in Sullivan Tuesday night, filling its banquet hall in order to ask questions as well as vent about their frustration over the expected shift to frozen meals come October 1. After Eastern Illinois University announced earlier this year that it would cease sponsoring the Senior Peace Meal Program, a bidding process began that eventually awarded CRIS Healthy Aging Center of Vermilion County.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Katherine Butt of Sullivan listens as area seniors took to the VFW in Sullivan Tuesday night, filling its banquet hall in order to ask questions as well as vent about their frustration over the expected shift to frozen meals come October 1. After Eastern Illinois University announced earlier this year that it would cease sponsoring the Senior Peace Meal Program, a bidding process began that eventually awarded CRIS Healthy Aging Center of Vermilion County.

Local seniors want to keep their hot meals.

That was the sentiment expressed by local senior advocates at a Tuesday rally to save Peace Meal, a senior nutrition program that provides hot meals to local seniors in need four days a week.

Peace Meal will serve its last meals Sept. 30. Starting Oct. 1, the CRIS Healthy Aging Center, based in Vermilion County, will provide frozen dinners for distribution to local seniors, to be delivered twice a week.

Eastern Illinois University announced earlier this year it would no longer continue sponsorship of the Peace Meal program, sparking a bidding process that included a new sponsor for Peace Meal, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.

Only two bids -- CRIS Meals and Peace Meal -- were submitted to the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, which funds the senior nutrition program, and according to Mike O’Donnell, the agency’s executive director, the CRIS bid exceeded marks for many categories such as the number of meals it projects to serve.

Read More

Durbin honored with Illinoisan of the Day

News Progress Posted on by

August 16 to be named John W. Durbin Day by Gov. Quinn

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

“I never realized I did that much.”sz-Durbin
Those humble words belong to Lovington resident John Durbin, who says he was surprised when he received a phone call informing him that he had been named Illinoisan of the Day, an honor created in 2009 by the Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation that seeks to applaud 10 outstanding Illinois residents each year; the decision is largely based on volunteer service.
“It is the key ingredient,” says Doug Kamholz, a member of the foundation.
And Durbin has a whole pantry full of just those ingredients.
When he lived in Sullivan, Durbin performed Read More

New Progress in Your News Progress, both print and web

News Progress Posted on by

Redesign aimed at creating fresh look, while integrating web and print

by Kevin Strongafur
NP Contributor

If you're reading this, you might have noticed something, well, different. That is the News Progress's hope anyway, as this week they rolled out a completely new look to both their print and web editions.
"We're really excited for our readers," said Managing Editor Keith Stewart.
Nearly six months in the making, the redesign was first considered by Stewart when he first arrived back in August of 2011.
sz-NP CreativeTeam"At the time I was just the sport's editor, so I had other things to consider, but in the back of my mind, I wanted to change the look of the paper. I'm a big serif fan, especially for headlines and mastheads. Having a sans serif font just never appealed to me, and I didn't feel like it commanded the reader's attention."
Not in the position to make those changes, however, Stewart put the idea aside until he was made managing editor in February 2012.
"It was an overwhelming period stepping into those shoes," he admitted. "But I'd be lying if I said the redesign didn't immediately pop back into my mind. I knew then that I wanted to, in time, make it happen."
But Stewart would need more than Read More