Category Archives: Top Stories

The End of an Era in Sullivan Government

News Progress Posted on by

•April 24, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

It was the end of an era in Sullivan city government.
The April 22 meeting was the last one for City Clerk Monte Johnson, Mayor Ann Short, as well as commissioners Mike Mossman, Mike Kirk, Grant Wade and Jerry Risley.
City Administrator Dan Flannell remarked on the importance of Monte Johnson’s 22 years of service to the city.
“Each and every citizen will feel the loss of Monte for years to come,” Flannell said of the person who brought Sullivan into the 21st century with his IT knowledge. “The citizens of Sullivan should prepare for a lack of efficiency for a while.”
Flannell continued addressing the existing council, which is being replaced as result of the last city elections. Read More

A 70 Year Honor for Harry Woolen who Survived Two Wars

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Photo by Mike Brothers
70 year Sullivan American Post 68 veteran Harry Woolen and wife Bette with Post Commander Bob Sims (background) who presented the displayed certificate. Woolen was joined by family and friends who waited patiently for him to cut the cake.

•April 17, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Harry Woolen is a veteran’s Veteran and American Legion Post #68 presented him with his 70 year membership pin on Wednesday, April 3.
A good crowd joined wife Bette, family and friends at the Sullivan American Legion to celebrate the event. Post 68 Commander Bob Sims made the official presentation which included a certificate commemorating Woolen’s service.
What’s a celebration without a cake, which was baked by his daughter. While operating a busy television repair business and volunteering at the American Legion and VFW, Harry and Betty (who passed way in 2008) raised five children: Charles Michael, Cynthia Diane, Harry Wayne, Vicki Jo and Lori Louise in Sullivan.
Children and grandchildren filled the Legion with stories, food and celebration of a man who not only served Sullivan but also served in two wars. Read More

Swan Song for Bethany Foods

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Bethany Foods owner Ata Abbed is pictured with former employee Lois Traster.

•April 10, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When Ata Abbed retired from General Motors after 26 years of service, he was still young enough to have a second career.
His brother was in the grocery business and had seen an ad for a grocery store in the small town of Bethany, Illinois. It turned out to be a 29-year adventure for Abbed and his family.
“We were so very fortunate to have had the best neighbors, like Jerry and Kay Ward, that anyone could ask for,” Ata recalled. “We had wonderful employees like Della Lowe, Hope Snyder, Lois Traster and the support of the community.”
“The community has been very supportive of the grocery store, and we can’t thank all of our customers enough for their support and friendship over the years,” he continued.
It was a good place to raise a family.
“In 1989 the community welcomed us and enabled us to work, build a home and raise a family here. Leaving all our friends and customers is the most difficult part of our retirement decision,” wife Linda added.
On Saturday, April 6 some of those customers came to shop or say “goodbye”. Read More

New Mayor and Board for Sullivan

News Progress Posted on by

•April 3, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

The city of Sullivan has a new mayor and board of commissioners following the Tuesday, April 2 elections.
Richard Glazebrook won the mayor’s race with 521 votes followed by William Burger with 223 and incumbent mayor Ann Short with 209 votes.
Abbey Sherwood is Accounts and Finance Commissioner with 507 votes over incumbent Mike Mossman with 443.
Chuck Woodworth won the Health and Safety Commissioner’s seat with 484 votes to Grant Wade’s 448.
Peggy Hargis led the three way race for Streets and Public Improvements with 524 votes. Edna M. Bailey received 210 votes and Nancy Barker 185.
Michael C. Fowler became Public Property Commissioner with 408 votes. Austin Hunter was second with 348 and incumbent Mike Kirk received 193 votes.
In the Sullivan Community School Board #300 race the three way race for township 12N range 5E Jeff White received 1,101 and Justin R. Florey 987 winning those two seats. Nancy J. Elder received 665 votes in that race. Joshua E. Green won his unopposed seat with 671 votes.
Okaw Valley CUSD #302 proposed a $6.5 million bond referendum for new construction with 351 Moultrie County residents voting no and 185 yes.
The Dora Township tax proposition was approved 48-25.
Of the 8,698 registered voters 2,333 ballots were cast for 26.85%.[/s2If]

Tabor Park Erosion Continues as Long as the Water Flows

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Asa Creek is a powerful force during spring rains with water eroding the banks of the waterway that runs through Tabor Park.

•March 27, 2019•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Tabor Park has been a favorite site to visit to both residents and out-of-town visitors in Sullivan.
Its beautiful scenery, the calming path along the creek and forest-like setting is like a “mini-getaway” within the city. So it was only natural when a resident of Sullivan showed concern about erosion in the park and brought it to the attention of the city council.
With Tabor Park being such a vital part of Sullivan, it is important that the park be maintained as nature attempts to take its course.
To begin dealing with the erosion issues at Tabor Park, Herb Bricker, met with Wayne Kenney, a Stream Specialist of Midwest Streams from Oakdale, Illinois on February 12.
The two also met with park commissioner Mike Mossman and a contractor who was employed to remove unwanted vegetation from the stream corridor. Most of the unwanted vegetation consisted of bush honeysuckle. Read More

Battle of Badges Pleases Crowds, Recognizes First Responders

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Photo by R.R. Best
Cheers all around for the members of the Law Enforcement basketball team at Battle of the Badges held at Sullivan High School gymnasium March 14 to benefit the Sullivan Elementary P.T.O. Above Coach Don Typer, Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims, Sullivan Chief of Police Jim Waggoner and Illinois State Trooper Thomas Houser applaud the win.

•March 20, 2019•

The Battle of the Badges was a crowd pleasing fund-raiser for the Sullivan Elementary School P.T.O. on March 14.
Moultrie County’s law enforcement team won the game over the Sullivan Fire Protection District. The game, which benefits school children, is a spirited competition that still has some players feeling muscle pain .
Members of the Larry and Ruby Schrock family, whose daughter was severely burned during a home explosion in February, attended the event to witness awards presented to first responders for their efforts above the call of duty on that day.
Sullivan Fire District Chief Mike Piper recognized Josiah Davison, Drake Grubb, Travis Reed and Derek Carter of the SFPD; Mark Risely, Caleb Smith and Brandon Beckwith of the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. and Tom Lehew and Brody Bickle of the Sullivan Police Dept. Read More

Yost Gets New Attorney

News Progress Posted on by

•March 13, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

An aged and heavier Michael Yost sat alone at the defense table in Moultrie County court Thursday, March 7 as the Honorable Judge Hugh Finson appointed Walter Lookofsy of Shelbyville to defend him.
He will return to Moultrie County Court at 3 p.m.Tuesday, April 2 after consulting with his new attorney.
The Illinois Appellate Court directed the Krankel hearing in Moultrie County to determine whether Yost, 45, was ineffectively represented by counsel during his Sept. 2016 trial. Read More

Yost Gets New Attorney

News Progress Posted on by

•March 8, 2019•

An aged and heavier Michael Yost sat alone at the defense table in Moultrie County court Thursday, March 7 as the Honorable Judge Hugh Finson appointed Walter Lookofsy to defend him.
He will return to Moultrie County Court at 3:00 p.m.Tuesday, April 2 after consulting with his new attorney.
The Illinois Appellate Court directed the Krankel hearing in Moultrie County to determine if Yost, 45, was ineffectively represented by counsel during his Sept. 2016 trial.
Judge Finson asked States Attorney Tracy Weaver about the Krankel filing in Moultrie County Court which she noted was made in 2016.
At that point a shackled Yost approached the bench, providing Judge Finson with his original Sept. 2016 Krankel filing.
In that filing, upheld by the Appellate Court on Jan 18, Yost maintained that public defender Brad Rau should not have represented him since he had previously represented murder victim Sheri Randall in a court proceeding.
Yost went on to request private counsel be appointed since his filing was based on incompetent representation by the court appointed public defender.
After Judge Finson dismissed Moultrie Co. Public Defender Marvin Hanson because had been involved in a previous case with Yost, Walter B. Lookofsy was appointed Yost’s new attorney with a 3:00 p.m. April 2 court date set to continue the Krankel hearing.
Those attending the proceedings were Randall’s family, friends and DOVE Domestic Violence counselors.
Yost was sentenced to 75 years by Circuit Judge Dan Flannell with the Illinois Dept. of Corrections in Oct. 2016 for the murder of 43 year old Sheri Randall of Sullivan.

A Cold February Day is a Good Time to Make Maple Syrup

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Bob Waelde taps maple and walnut trees from mid February to get enough sap to make maple and walnut syrup.

•March 6, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The bitter cold of February sends most of us scurrying to the warmth of our homes, but Bob Waelde ventures forth to collect buckets of sap from maple and walnut trees to make maple syrup.
Why does he do it?
“My grandfather used to make maple syrup and, as a child, I would follow him around as he collected his buckets,” Waelde recalled. “About five years ago I decided to try making my own.”
The process of making maple syrup today is the same as it was hundreds of years ago when Native Americans introduced it to early immigrants. Waelde took me through his particular process.
Collecting the sap usually begins in February and runs six weeks into March. The flow is best when below freezing nights are followed by above freezing, sunny days. When the nightly freezes end and the trees begin to bud, the season is over.
Maple and walnut trees are the best, Waelde explained. You may also use birch, but the sap flow isn’t as good. According to articles found on the internet the tree should be about 40 years old and 15” in diameter (not circumference). The larger the tree the more taps may be inserted but usually no more than three. A healthy tree can produce a gallon a day on a good day. Read More

Eagle Creek Resort Becomes Fire Training Ground

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Photo by R.R. Best
Firefighters from Sullivan, Bethany, Lovington, Windsor and Shelbyville removed chemicals from the shuttered Eagle Creek Resort over the weekend as local departments prepare to burn the mold infested resort in three different training sessions over the next two months.

•February 20, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

Eagle Creek Resort could be little more than a memory following an IDNR decision to allow area fire departments to burn the structure and haul it away.
Over the weekend Sullivan Fire Protection District fire fighters traveled to the resort for preliminary inspection of conditions and removal of chemicals and some equipment prior to the training exercise that includes: Bethany, Lovington and Windsor, Shebyvlle and Arthur firefighters.
“Following an earlier assessment of the Eagle Creek resort facilities, IDNR worked with local officials to determine the best path forward for the community,” Ed Cross IDNR Dir. of Communications, said in a release.
“That plan includes the demolition of the resort buildings and seeking out development proposals for a modern resort in the area. IDNR is also partnering with the Illinois Fire Service Institute and local officials to allow firefighter training on the resort complex and to ensure the site is cleared for redevelopment.” Read More