Category Archives: Top Stories

Above and Beyond the Call for a Great Habitat Supporter

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Habitat for Humanity volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan, Bob Gillespie CAV Leader from Michigan, and Lowell McGregor of Lovington replaced Pastor Paul McGghghy’s roof in the off season.

•November 1, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Habitat for Humanity volunteers are going above and beyond the call of duty replacing the roof of one of their greatest supporters.

Pastor Paul McGhghy stepped down from the pulpit at Faith Lutheran Church earlier this year due to health reasons. When Moultrie County Habitat volunteers and Habitat Care-A-Vanners learned he needed a roof at his Eastlawn home, they stepped up to help the man who had helped so many.

“This is not a Habitat official function,” Bob Gillespie, Care-A-Vanner team leader, said. “We’re just doing this for a friend who has made a huge impact on all of us and been a great supporter of Habitat for Humanity.”

Gillespie and his brother Jeff traveled from Michigan a week ago Sunday to join Moultrie County Habitat volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan and Lowell McGregor of Lovington on Pastor McGhghy’s roof replacement. Read More

Sullivan Chamber’s Oktoberfest Celebrates Autumn in Style

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Feudin’ Hillbillys performed under the tent Friday.

•October 25, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

You know fall has arrived in Sullivan when it’s Oktoberfest, and the air around the square is redolent with chili bubbling away in big pots and folks waitin’ ‘round for a taste.

Summer is fading, the harvests are in and time to celebrate the changing of the seasons with one, big two-day community party just loaded with fun activities for everyone to enjoy. Oktoberfest is sponsored by the Sullivan Chamber of Economic Development.

A perfect, cool Friday evening welcomed firstcomers to the vendor booths, food trucks, wine and beer tasting and fine toe-tapping music by them Gringos and the Feudin’ Hillbillys. Read More

Bus Crash Prompts Prison Term

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•October 18, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

A crash that sent a busload of Teutopolis students skating down Rte 32 in February resulted in a two year prison sentence for Scarlett A. McKinzie in Moultrie County Circuit Court Tuesday.

McKinzie, 37, appeared before Judge Hugh Finson Tuesday afternoon for sentencing following her Sept. 12 guilty plea to a Class 4 felony aggravated driving under the influence charge.

Charges stemmed from a Feb. 10 crash at the intersection of Rte 32 and CR 800 (Findlay Road) when the van McKinzie was driving hit the side of the bus traveling north. The bus containing the Teutopolis basketball team, cheerleaders and coaches went out of control on Rte 32 and flipped on its side. Read More

Rainbow of Fun at Titus Manor Family Color Run

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Photo furnished
Titus Manor Annual Family Color Run engulfs Wyman Park in cloud of color.

Color Fight Ensues Using Leftovers

•October 11, 2017•

The Titus Manor Annual “Family Fun Color Run” was held Saturday September 30. At 9 a.m., all runners were lined up and ready to go at Wyman Park. Some ran a 5K and some a 3K. Those who didn’t want to run, could walk.

“This is a really great time for families to get together and do something fun and healthy,” said Lisa Smothers, office manager. “It was a nice crisp fall day and we had a great turnout.”

After the run, awards and trophies were presented to the individuals with the fastest time in both the 5K and 3K categories. In addition to that, medallions were awarded to those who came in first in their age category.  Read More

Family Magic Brings Tears of Laughter to Sullivan Crowd

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Good sport Sullivan Elementary School Principal Daniel Allen allowed SHS graduate and Magician Daniel Lusk to have a little fun as he strapped on this goofy mask which also gave him a helium like voice. The crowd of parents and students were kept in stitches throughout the evening performance.

•October 4, 2017•

By Harry Houdini
for the News Progress

If laughter can help build a better world, Sullivan schools was on the way to utopia with magician Daniel Lusk last week.

Lusk and his rabbit in the hat, Twinkie, entertained a seat-filled high school gymnasium Sept. 19 with magic and homespun witticisms from his life.

The Indianapolis based magician and funny man performed his Family Night Magic Show involving students and adults with humor laced magic along with an important message about how to treat one another.

Lusk, a 1997 Sullivan High School graduate, had elementary school children engaged in his Leggo My Magic show earlier in the day. Leggo building exercises with the students helped Lusk point out how respect, being a friend and achieving your personal best can help build a better world. Read More

Sullivan Alumni Honored

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Alumni master of ceremonies Joseph Schrodt presents Jodell Foley Seagrave with Hall of Fame award at the annual banquet held at the V.F.W. Paul Sager was named Who’s Who.

•September 27, 2017•

Sullivan High School Alumni honored Paul Sager and Jodell Foley Seagrave before a crowd of 150 past SHS grads at the V.F.W. Saturday night.

Sager became a member of Alumni Who’s Who. The 1943 SHS graduate enlisted in the Army even though he had a Class C farm deferment.

When he received a 10 day pass following basic training because he volunteered to go oversees, he returned to Sullivan and married Anna Jane.

Rather than a honeymoon, he was shipped to France with the Army’s 30th Division in communications. As the Battle of the Bulge raged, Sager was helping set up a central communication switchboard. While stringing wire to an outpost from a spool hauled behind his Jeep, a German plane spotted him. Read More

Sixth IGA Round up for Food Pantry

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•September 20, 2017•

It’s round up time at Sullivan IGA, giving everygrocery purchaser a chance to donate to the food pantry and help families have a thankful Thanksgiving.

“There is a big need at the food pantry now, so we decided to kick off the sixth annual Round up a little early,” IGA manager Pat Stinson said of the October 1 through 7th fundraiser.

During that week customers at Sullivan IGA can round up their grocery bill to the next dollar, which goes toward purchasing Thanksgiving turkeys.

Those round up donations totaled $1298 last year and supplied 125 families with Thanksgiving turkeys last year. “We understand with school starting and the holiday season closing in money is getting tight for some people and this a way we can to our part to help out,” Stinson said. Read More

Trees May be Memorials

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•September 6, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Memorials at city-owned parks and cemeteries for loved ones prompted discussion about offering a tree memorial program.

Sullivan City Council was led to the discussion following a request for a memorial for Logan Riley in Wyman Park. They agreed that some type of ordinance should be in place to ensure consistency when it came to special memorials. Often, some memorials put in place require upkeep which some families follow up on, but as time passes, often these memorials fall into the hands of city workers.

During their discussion, the idea for tree donations was proposed. Families could choose from a variety of different trees and have one planted as a memorial for their loved one.  Read More

Harry Potter Theme for OVHS Homecoming

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Photo by Jeni Yantis
Okaw Valley Homecoming Candidates Front - Junior Attendant Kailey George, Senior Queen Candidates Paige Robinson, Natalie Jeffers, Hannah Landreth and Grace Harlin, Sophomore Attendant Baylie Wagner and Freshman Attendant Tali Roberts.  Back - Junior Attendant Garrett Tippit, Senior King Candidates Dylan Holt, Garrett Fritz, Hayden Francisco and Tanner Coleman, Sophomore Attendant Canaan Christensen and Freshman Attendant Luke Vander Burgh.

•August 30, 2017•

Okaw Valley High School Student Council has announced that their annual Homecoming Week is September 5-9 with the theme “Harry Potter”.

Each day will highlight a special theme at OVHS, and students are encouraged to participate accordingly. The week kicks off Tuesday as the students dress for “Quidditch Team Day”, whereby they will be encouraged to wear their favorite team jersey. Wednesday’s theme is “Defend Your House Day” with the “Powder Puff” football games beginning at 11:40 a.m. followed by the “Powder Tuff” volleyball games.  Read More

Chamber Of Commerce Helps Keeps Sullivan Vibrant

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So Many Projects

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development director Laurrie Minor and assistant Malinda Calhoun Hurt stop by Washington Plaza, one of the featured projects of the chamber’s streetscape efforts, enticing those visiting the Little Theatre on the Square to return.

•August 23, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

As you look around the Streetscapes or take a break at Washington Street’s Plaza, hints of Sullivan Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to make the city better are all around.

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce has one full-time staff, one part-time staff and a modest annual budget of $140,000. The 183 members of Chamber and Economic Development generously donate their time to serve on the board and committees such as Restoration Enhancement and Events. This is in addition to working at their full-time jobs and donating thousands of dollars in products for community activities.

The Chamber does so much for Sullivan, and a lot of it goes unnoticed. A considerable amount of staff time is also spent pursuing projects that never materialize.

So, what does the Chamber do? The focus is in four main areas: Economic Development, Tourism, Events and Restoration Enhancement; although, there is so much more as will be revealed in a series of articles on the Chamber.

Community Enhancement is an important aspect of the Chamber’s programs. An attractive, vibrant downtown appeals to both tourists and potential businesses/residents.  Read More