•July 20, 2016•

By Cheryl Murphy
NP Columnist

If you’re a true Elvis fan, you’ll have fun. Even if you’re not, as several patrons expressed, you’ll still have fun as this is NOT a showcase for an Elvis impersonator.

True, “All Shook up” is inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley; it’s a jukebox musical full of 50’s and 60’s hit songs from ballads to blues to rockabilly. Some of Presley’s biggest hits are performed such as “Jailhouse Rock,” “Love Me Tender,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” and the title’s song. But you’ll find quite a diverse group, too; these come from Presley’s soundtracks and LPs that would be unfamiliar to non-Elvis fans.

Amongst all this vintage singing and dancing there is a story that has a host of characters all searching for love. It is set in the 1950’s, somewhere in the Midwest where one girl’s dream and a surprise visit from a leather-jacketed, guitar-playing, motorcyclist helps a small town discover the magic of romance and the power of Rock N Roll.

One critic commented the dialogue seems to just set up the next song, 24 in all, and it’s too much music to make it on Broadway or with the general theatre audience. I disagree; I saw a complex plot to completion with lots of amazing singing and dancing in the normal time frame. Read More

Photo by Darian Hays
Hunter Kamm returned to Lovington with a mission. He not only designed but also shot the fireworks return for Central State Fireworks during the rescheduled event July 9.

•July 13, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Hunter Kamm’s childhood love of fireworks turned into a full time job, designing shows for Bethany, Arthur, Sullivan and Lovington this Independence celebration season.

Kamm, who works for Central States Fireworks in Athens, is in the busiest of the fireworks season.

“I always dreamed about being able to design and shoot a display,” Kamm said, noting this year he was happy to lead the new Sullivan fireworks program.

At 19, the Lovington native is an assistant pyrotechnist, which allows him to design and set displays but not shoot. Fortunately, his father Jake is lead pyrotechnist with Hunter taking care of design and set up for the Sullivan show as well as others in the area.

Last weekend Hunter brought fireworks back to his hometown of Lovington in a big way.

Gene Clark created a series of ground fireworks displays that were the hallmark of the village fireworks for years. When Clark passed away eight years ago, Hunter began the process of restoring some of those displays and was able to bring “The Chief” back for the rescheduled July 9 Lovington fireworks show.

“He had some unique ground displays over the years, and my goal is to eventually get them restored and returned to service,” Kamm said of Clark’s memorial.

Lovington fireworks followed the spectacular show in Sullivan on July 4. Read More

•July 13, 2016•

By Emily Stutzman
For the News Progress

Living in central Illinois, weather conditions such as tornados, flash floods, and thunderstorms are abundant.

In order to maintain public safety, hazardous weather conditions are commonly broadcast on radio and television; however, most of these warnings are general, and cover sizable, generalized areas.

As Moultrie County ESDA coordinator, Jan Haegen, puts it, “That’s too general, and people don’t take heed. It’s like crying wolf.” Addressing the need to reach only the specific groups of people affected by these occurrences, ESDA employs an innovative alert service called CodeRED.

CodeRED is a nationally used warning service that not only warns citizens of weather conditions but can also be used to send out warnings about dangerous situations such chemical spills, fires, and missing person situations, to name only a few.

Haegen recalls implementing the service several years ago, calling it a “worthwhile investment.”  Read More

•July 6, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

As the 60th anniversary of the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan approaches motion pictures will return.

“This theatre opened to silent movies in 1928 so adding movies to the live performance schedule brings us back to our heritage,” John Stephens, Little Theatre executive director began.

Adding blockbuster movies to the existing live show season will help the theatre operate 52 weeks a year.

“We are excited about the possibility of adding a new revenue stream to help sustain the theatre through the year,” Stephens said, noting the five month three week season limits Little Theatre’s operations ability.

“When the season is over, the expenses for the operation continue,” he said of the reasoning behind initiating the $1.2 million capital campaign for the movie project and to help get the Little Theatre’s house in order. Read More

ALAH Principal Steffanie Seegmiller

•June 29, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

After serving on the district school board for seven years, a strong dedication to education pushed Steffanie Seegmiller toward Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s new high school principal position.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity,” she said. “I’m invested in this district and community. I believe we are fortunate when students call our high school home, and it’s our job to provide them with the best education possible,” she said.

Her educational background began with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University, Master of Science in Educational Administration from the U of I in Springfield.

Six years of experience teaching undergraduate education courses in areas of instructional analysis and design and best practice in assessment,  seven years of teaching and supervising student teachers allowed her experiences from different fields.

Not only does Seegmiller excel in experience, but she has the drive and motivation to overcome the challenges in education while working with students and teachers. Read More