Category Archives: Top Stories

After 59 years, the News-Progress has New Owners

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Kathy Best and R.R. Best at University of Illinois (Springfield) Alumni Achievement Award presentation to Kathy. The Best family operated the newspaper since 1961 and recently sold to Paddock Publications.

•March 4, 2020•

After 59 years, the News-Progress has New Owners.
Bob and Kathy Best last week sold the paper their family has owned since 1961 to Paddock Publications, an employee-owned newspaper company based in Arlington Heights, Ill. Paddock will continue to publish the News-Progress.
“As we have in other communities, our goal is to continue to honor the legacy of the former longtime owners by doing what we do best: local coverage of the people and institutions that call Sullivan and Moultrie County home,” said Stefanie Anderson, senior vice president/general manager of the community newspapers division for Paddock.
The News-Progress, which can trace its roots back to 1857, will continue doing business out of its offices at 100 W. Monroe in Sullivan. Mike Brothers, Barry Morgan and Rachael Van Dyke are staying with the new ownership.
Bob Best, who has managed the operations of the paper since his father’s death, will help with the transition for a few weeks, but then head off for new ventures. Read More

Four-way Stop Ahead for Howie’s Intersection

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Deadly intersection on Route 32 south of Sullivan at Findlay/Bruce Rd (Howie’s intersection) was the scene of a deadly crash in 2019. IDOT has approved a four way stop for the intersection.

•February 26, 2020•
After conducting a detailed study of safety issues and past accidents at the intersection of Illinois 32 and Bruce-Findlay Road, IDOT has agreed to convert the intersection to a 4-way stop.
IDOT officials have released the results of Rural Safety Assessment (RSA) on the intersection of Illinois 32 and Bruce-Findlay Road (Moultrie County Road 800 N).
The study was conducted in response to local leaders concerns about the safety of the intersection, including a September 2019 accident when a 56-year-old woman and a 5-year-old child were killed when an SUV hit a school bus.
After the completion of the study, IDOT has agreed to build a 4-way stop at the intersection. Read More

Dual Directors Appointed for Sullivan Civic Center

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
From left Melissa Krieger new Aquatic Director and Wendy Elzy new Director for the Sullivan Civic Center.

•February 19, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

Wendy Elzy was recently appointed Director of the Sullivan Civic Center and Melissa Krieger was promoted to Aquatic and Program Director.
Elzy grew up in Shelbyville and she and her husband moved to Sullivan following his military service.
Eight years ago, former Director, Sue Weaver, asked Elzy to be an assistant.
“Customer service has always been my forte and interacting with the members has been the best part of my job,” Elzy explained.
Melissa is Sue Weaver’s daughter and began working at the Civic Center when she was 14 year old.
“I really wanted the aquatic job,” Krieger said. “I love teaching the swimming classes and working with the little kids. Everyday here is different and I enjoy those challenges.” Read More

Moultrie County Jury Returns Guilty Verdict in Attempted Murder Trial

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•February 12, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

A Moultrie County jury found Alvan Booths, 33, guilty of attempted murder, and home invasion Tuesday afternoon following a two hour deliberation.
The trial began Feb. 3 in Moultrie County Circuit Court with the Honorable Hugh Finson officiating and ended with Booths testimony and closing arguments yesterday.
Judge Finson received the guilty verdicts for the two attempted murder and one home invasion charge from the jury at 1:40 p.m. Feb. 11..
“This was a team effort across departments and counties, and I am thankful for the efforts of all involved. ” Moultrie County State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver noted in a press release following the trial. Read More

SHS Mirror Images Present GROW at The Little Theatre

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Troubled Family
Gunyr Fitzgerald ( as Paul Wiseman), Peyton Isaacs ( as Damien Wiseman), and Miriah Booker ( as Tanya Wiseman) are a troubled family on their way to school at the opening of the play.

•January 29, 2020•
High school isn’t easy, growing up is hard, and everyone can grow and become a better person.
These are just three of the issues addressed in GROW, an original play written and performed by students in Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images under the guidance of Rebecca Lawson, SHS English teacher.
The public performance of GROW will be Friday, January 31, at 7 p.m. at the Little Theater on the Square. Admission is $5, and the doors will open at 6:30. Tickets may be purchased at the door or from members of the cast and crew.
The story follows the lives of nine students through a school year. They have problems with their parents, interesting incidents in their classes, and stressful and exciting times with each other, including auditioning for and performing in a school talent show.
Junior Anna Mathias noted, “Writing the play, we knew we wanted to do something about growth from the beginning. As said by my character Heather Prauer, ‘High school is a time for you to change, grow, and try new things.’ We wanted to bring that message to the student body at Sullivan High School and the general public in the form of a play aptly named ‘Grow.’ This is one of my favorite shows written and performed by the Mirror Images group so far, and I can’t wait to show you everything we’ve worked on.” Read More

Wyman Park Splash Pad Gains Local Funding Support

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Summer Fun in Sullivan could be centered around a Splash Pad at Wyman Park. Becky Ogle is leading the SPARK effort to fund the project.

•January 22, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

Hot summer days dashing around the lawn sprinkler seem meager when compared to the possible summer fun from a Splash Park.
When we were young without air conditioning on scorching days Dad would cut loose the cooling waters into the circular and arc sprinklers that graced our lawn.
For the next hour my sister joined me and neighborhood kids and even the dogs and birds would frolic like shrieking sprites running through the sprinklers, hosing each other and jumping about in the puddles that accumulated in the grass. This was our water wonderland.
The water world of today is a growing number of splash pads or splash parks with an array of colorful sprinklers, showers, bubbling pads, geysers, soakers, sprays and all manner of fanciful structures for aquatic play. Children are drawn to them like moths to a flame.
Such a splash park is envisioned by the Parks and Recreation Committee of Sullivan SPARK for installation in Wyman Park.
Becky Ogle and her family moved here four years ago from Paris, IL where that city started with a $250,000 splash park and has added to it over the years. It is now one of the largest splash parks in the area. Read More

Not Spending Titus Money

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•January 15, 2020•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Council approved a 12 month moratorium on spending the Titus proceeds at the 6:00 p.m. January 13 meeting held at Elizabeth Titus Library.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook recommended the moratorium on spending the $10,971,883.00 from sale of the 928.1 acre Winifred Titus-Sentel Trust farm in November.
Prior to the vote Commissioner Mike Fowler ask if the city shouldn’t wait until they receive the money from the sale before deciding not to spend it.
“This way we won’t be hit up with all these spending ideas,” Mayor Glazebrook explained, noting passing the 12 month moratorium would give the Council a chance to review the city’s needs. Read More

Sue Weaver-Three Decades at The Sullivan Civic Center

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Sue Weaver

•January 8, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

December 23 was the final day of a successful 32-year career as Director of the Sullivan Civic Center for Sue Weaver.
Her retirement leaves only Bill White as the last member of her original 1987 staff.
“I can’t think of a better job than here in this community where my kids could go to school where I worked” Sue said in reflection. “I will truly miss the staff and all the kids.”
Weaver grew up in Princeton, IL and majored in recreational administration at Eastern Illinois University where she met her husband. Although her mother was a P.E. teacher Sue knew she didn’t want to teach but wanted to stay active in recreation.
For two years she worked in Decatur at the YWCA and in 1987 the Assistant Director position became available at the Civic Center which was perfect because she and her family lived in Sullivan. Two years later she was appointed Director.
Weaver lost no time implementing water exercise classes and swim lesson programs in cooperation with the elementary school to expand Civic Center offerings. Read More

Sullivan Spark’s Big Vision: A New Baseball Complex

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Spark is helping the community move forward with the ideas like a new sports complex. Austin Hunter has approached the city council along with Chamber Ameri Corp representative Kathleen Preissing.

•January 1, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the New Progress

Sullivan has always been a baseball kind of town. A men’s team has existed at least since 1901 and 102-year-old Genny Sutton coached the first girls’ team as early as 1939.
Wyman Park was built in 1945 and Park Recreation Board was appointed. In 1946 Frank Shack was hired as Recreation Director of the park summer program which included baseball on the newly built baseball field.
Now the Park and Recreation group of the community action group Spark is proposing a four-diamond baseball/softball complex with a concession stand for Sullivan.
Committee leader Austin Hunter explained the need and outlined the development of the plan.
Two years ago Hunter and seven other parent coaches formed the Sullivan Sizzle which is a traveling baseball team of 25 girls in the 12 years and under group. Another 25 are in the 14 and under age group.
The teams travel to places such as Olney, Mattoon, Arthur and as far as Santa Claus, Ind. to play in 12-16 tournaments during the summer months.
Some of the tournaments involve five games played over the entire weekend. Read More