Category Archives: Standalone Photo

Hot Fun

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Photo by R.R. Best
Hot Fun
Sullivan’s Fourth of July celebration was blessed with summer heat and a sprinkling of rain June 30 through July 4. Conner Family Amusements of Beardstown introduced the 55 ft tall Ferris Wheel to Sullivan along with the Rock -O-Plane. Crowds enjoyed the carnival throughout the week with the American Legion Honor Guard leading the Fourth of July parade through town followed by activities at Wyman Park and the grand finale fireworks show from Central Illinois Fireworks Co. at dark. More on Page 7 of the News Progress.

Jackpot Winner

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Jackpot Winner
Sullivan Economic Development and Chamber Executive Director Laurrie Minor presents Darrian Sparrow with the annual Fourth of July raffle grand prize of $4891.00. The winning ticket number was 14242.

Fire Contained

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Photo by R.R. Best
Fire Contained
Findlay Fire Chief Ed Voltenburg was returning home from a mutual aid call to Shelbyville at 4:20 a.m. Saturday, July 7 when he noticed a burning garage west of the Findlay Marina. He called out Findlay firefighters just getting home from the earlier call, and they responded quickly and were able to get the garage owned by Nancy Beam cooled down until help arrived from the Sullivan, Windsor and Bethany fire departments.

Art for Children

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Art for Children
An art camp for children going into first grade through sixth grade was held at the Sullivan Masonic Lodge June 24-28. There were 39 students from Sullivan, Bethany, Lovington, Arthur, and even two from Texas. Camp ran Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with young artists painting pottery, making collages, doing T-shirt designs, painting and hiding rocks, as well as creating a canvas painting. Eight high school and middle school volunteers helped make the camp possible. Molly Reeder-Foust, a local artist and high school art teacher in Decatur, conducted the class.

Knee High Plus 35

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Photo by R.R. Best
Knee High Plus 35
Colleen Zenk is pictured with Boo and Little Theatre Executive Director John Stephens beside Tony Sager’s crop in this year’s annual News Progress Knee High by Fourth of July photo monitoring central Illinois corn yields. Zenk starred in “Hello, Dolly!” at the Little Theatre in 2018. In 1983 she was headlining “They’re Playing Our Song” along with Michael Crouch and was photographed by R. R. Best on Guy Little’s farm south of Sulilvan.

Summer Refreshment

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Summer Refreshment
These Sullivan entrepreneurs decided to take advantage of extra traffic created this week due to Sullivan Independence Celebration setup across the street at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. Above Alaina Moore (left) and partner Kendall Penberthy create a special mixture of grape Kool-Aid and lemonade as a signature summer drink. Lemonade, grape Kool-Aid or any mixture of the two is only 75 cents this week on Main Street in Sullivan.

Muddy Good Time!

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Photo by R. R. Best’
Muddy Good Time!
Cody Carlson right and Wesley Bone put forth the true spirit of mud volleyball competition at the Bethany Celebration held this past weekend. The Friday and Saturday events also included three on three basketball and ended with Saturday evening fireworks at Crowder Park.

First Grade Visits Ballard Center

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First Grade Visits Ballard Center
Sullivan Elementary School’s first grade recently went on a field trip to Ballard Nature Center in Altamont. They spent the day exploring and learning about Illinois habitats. This is all thanks to the Illinois Biodiversity Grant—Daniel and Ada Rice Foundation, The Independence Tube Corporation, D.F. and M.T. Grohne Foundation and others.

Lovington Junefest

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Photo by Darian Hayes
Lovington Junefest
If it’s June, it is time for the annual Lovington Junefest Fish Fry. Above crowds braved warm summer temperatures to enjoy fish, fellowship, and this year the event was topped off with the annual fireworks show after dark. Above Ralph Zancha and Steve Fleming fry fish for an appreciative Lovington crowd.

Community Band Performs

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Community Band Performs
The Sullivan Community Band will present a free concert at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28 at the south end of Wyman Park in Sullivan. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy some patriotic and popular tunes. This 40-member group comprised of both adult and student musicians sounds fantastic and is presenting only one concert this summer; don’t miss it! Rain plan venue is the Sullivan Middle School gym. See the Sullivan CUSD 300 Facebook page for rain plan announcement.