Shuttle service takes off at Lake Shelbyville
Photo furnished
Derek Hayden one of the owners of Lake Shelbyville Shuttle Service waits for a group outside an area winery.
•June 19, 2024•
by Sharon Barricklow
A new business offering tours of local wineries and breweries is reaching area residents and tourists this summer with personalized trips.
Lake Shelbyville Shuttle plans five hour trips that take visitors to wineries and breweries. One of the owners, Derek Hayden, said the trips can be used for specialty parties and as a way for campers and other visitors to see what is available in the Lake Shelbyville area.
“We’ve had bachelorette parties, end of school year teacher parties and campers wanting to see more of the area,” he said. Read More
New thrift store Second Act opens in Arthur
Photo courtesy of Timmy Valentine
•June 12, 2024•
by Ariana R Cherry
Thrifting is a great way to save money on gently used items. In today’s economy, second hand shopping is an ideal way to find the clothing brands and products for your home at a fraction of its original price. At least 93% of Americans shop online for second-hand items and in 2023, the U.S. second-hand market generated an estimated amount of $53 billion according to Capital One’s thrifting statistics.
If you are a regular thrifter, you will notice that not all thrift stores are the same. The creative minds behind Second Act are the dynamic trio of Timmy Valentine, John Stevens, and Ty Mosier. These Theatre enthusiasts and artists have poured their hearts and souls into creating a thrift store that is as unique and creative as the plays that the Little Theatre produces.
“We wanted to create an experience, not just a thrift store,” Valentine noted. “We have everything displayed beautifully and theatrically. It’s not like walking into your average store,” he added. When you walk into Second Act, you might even notice the retro music lightly playing in the background which creates the perfect atmosphere when shopping for second-hand items. Read More
Moultrie County History Center Hosts Holocaust Survivor
Photo by Crystal Reed
Holocaust survivor William Gingold spoke at the Moultrie County History Center on Thursday, May 18. Pictured left to right are Gingold, Robin Goettel of the Holocaust Education Center of Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, Brian Kahn, Holocaust Education Center Co-Director and Becky Lawson.
•May 31, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Holocaust survivor William Gingold gave a presentation Thursday, May 18 as part of the Center’s monthlong hosting of the “The Auschwitz Experience In the Art of Prisoners.” He began by introducing members of his family and noted that he is the only immediate survivor of the Gingold family. Gingold’s mother was about 5 ft 1 or 2 inches tall, and his father was approximately 6 ft 2 inches. His mom never went to school, and his father had education up to fourth grade.
His mother worked as a baker both before and after the war. Gingold’s father worked at a seltzer making company before the war and a steel mill after the war. He noted that in the Jewish culture they believe in one god and have a commitment to social equality and equity. Gingold said cultural traditions, history and heritage are important as well.
“Even though my parents lacked formal education, they prompted their children to learn as much as they could under circumstances so as to pass it on to others,” he said.
Gingold noted that all the persons he mentioned were born in Warsaw, Poland. On September 20, 1939, he was born and given the Hebrew name Baruch. One day after he was born, the hospital in which he was born was bombed and destroyed by the Nazis. His father, anticipating something bad happening in Warsaw, took him and his mother out of the hospital.
Families were fleeing trying to reach the Russian encampments, and he noted that those traveling on the roads took a direct hit and were killed. Gingold said they traveled in areas that were not targeted. The Russians put them on German trucks and took them back to Warsaw. Read More
Moultrie County History Center to Host Holocaust Art Exhibition
•April 19, 2023•
“The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners” art exhibit will be on display at the Moultrie County History Center in Sullivan from May 2 through 29. A Grand Opening for the exhibit will be held on Thursday, May 4, from 7 to 9 p.m.
“The Moultrie County Historical & Genealogical Society is honored to be partnering with the Champaign – Urbana Jewish Federation to bring this special exhibit to our county,” said History Center Museum Director Pam Wood.
“We hope seeing this exhibit will start important conversations about the Holocaust, antisemitism, the Moultrie County veterans who served during World War II and their experiences, and what was happening here during World War II and the Holocaust,” Wood added. Read More
Remembering Krista Lewin: a Friend and Mentor
Photo by Scott Lockwood
Former News-Progress Sports Editor Scott Lockwood (left) and former News-Progress Managing Editor Krista Lewin (right) share a moment in the spotlight at Legends Day at the 2019 Indianapolis 500. Lewin, 52, passed away after a brief illness on August 6.
•August 17, 2022•
By Scott Lockwood
Special to the News-Progress
Back in the fall of 2008, I was longing for an opportunity to show what I could do as a full-time sportswriter.
After putting in applications all over the country, I was digging a hole to install a new irrigation system at my job near the beach when my phone rang with a 217 area code. It was a welcome break from the searing Sarasota, Florida heat.
On the other end of the call was a warm, jovial personality that was drawn to some of the auto-racing related stories that I had sent in as samples for what I was hoping for a new career path. Read More
Tabeling Project on Route 32 South Progressing
Photo by Crystal Reed
Representatives for the Tabeling Project, Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, City of Sullivan and a local business owner visited the Tabeling Project on Route 32 South last Tuesday morning. Front (from left to right): Laurrie Minor, Director of Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development; Susie Inman, owner of Susie’s Sweets, Brooks Inman. Back Row (from left to right): Sullivan Mayor Richard Glazebrook, Austin Tabeling, Operations Manager for the Tabeling Development and Storm Joop, Project Manager for Tabeling Development.
•August 3, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Last week representatives for the Tabeling Development, Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development and a business owner gathered at the site of the project to check on its progress. According to Austin Tabeling operations manager for the Tabeling Development, they are currently accepting rental applications for 2 and 3-bedroom units for January 2023. The units are listed on Zillow and apartments.com. Read More
New Business Brings Axe Throwing to the Community
Photo by Crystal Reed
Kasey Mowry, owner of 32 Axe Lounge, stands next to one of the targets at the business. Mowry and her husband wanted to bring something fun to the area to offer the community.
•April 27, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Axes are used for many things...chopping down trees, chopping firewood and at a new business in Sullivan you can throw them at a target. 32 Axe Lounge opened on January 22 in the old VFW building on Route 32. Last November, they began remodeling the inside of the building and working 40 or more hours a week, owner Kasey Mowry and her husband Rob redecorated.
“We wanted to bring something fun to offer the community,” she said. The Mowry’s came back to the community after Rob retired from the military. He started doing volunteer work and wanted a way to give back to the community. Read More
Local Residents Organize and Deliver Thanksgiving Food Baskets
Photo by Crystal Reed
A group of Moultrie County residents gathered to prepare and deliver 13 Thanksgiving baskets to families on November 23. Pictured are Michelle and Rob Young, Lisa and Phil Ozier, Melissa Hughes and Jeff Webb.
•December 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A group of local residents gathered to organize and deliver Thanksgiving baskets for those in need on Tuesday, November 23. This year Rob and Michelle Young, Phil and Lisa Ozier, Melissa Hughes and Jeff Webb gathered in a garage to fill the baskets with all the fixings for a meal. According to Rob, all the food items were purchased from IGA, pies and cinnamon rolls from Moultrie County 4-H and the baskets from Dollar General.
The group raised over $3,000 to fund the baskets this year. They post that they are doing this on Facebook and people with a need request a basket or a family. Items in the baskets included turkey, ham, potatoes, canned yams, canned corn, french fried onions, cool whip, marshmallows and more.
The Young’s and Ozier’s both own businesses in the county and see this as an opportunity to give back to the community.
Panther Pride Parlor Now Open in Lovington
Photo by Crystal Reed
Marsha Renfro, Bernita Huckstep, Tyler Dixson and John Renfro at the Panther Pride Parlor in Lovington. The new business has video gambling in a relaxed environment.
•October 20, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A new business has opened in Lovington for video gambling called the Panther Pride Parlor. The business has six machines that contain 10-15 games each. The machines were provided to the business by J&J Gaming.
The business provides free soda and water to those gambling, however there is a charge for alcoholic beverages. According to owner John Renfro, both bars in town also have video gambling but some people don’t like the bar atmosphere. “The people that come in here want to relax and gamble,” he said.
The Panther Pride Parlor is located at 117 W. State Street in Lovington. Their hours are Monday-Saturday 9am to 9 pm.
Faith Lutheran Church Welcomes Pastor Cullen
Photo furnished
Faith Lutheran Church welcomes their new pastor Justin Cullen. He is pictured with his wife Kimberly and four children: Allison, Benjamin, Nathan and Mary.
•September 22, 2021•
Pastor Justin Cullen was born and raised along the Chesapeake Bay in Hampton Roads, Virginia and spent half of his childhood in the city of Hampton before moving to Urbanna, Va. Cullen grew up mainly around extended family (aunts, uncles, and cousins), who still live along the east coast. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA), Yorktown, Va. and attended an LCA turned ECLA parochial school in Hampton until the third grade. When he was a teenager, his parents moved to the LCMS because of developing doctrinal differences with the ELCA, and they attended a small LCMS church in Urbanna, Va.
Cullen graduated from Middlesex High School in 2002 with a class size of 47. His college experience was a little untraditional. Cullen joined the Virginia Army National Guard after graduating from high school and became a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Russian. However, Cullen transferred to the regular Army after only completing two academic years. While on active duty, he completed an Associate in General Studies from Central Texas College, a Bachelor of Science in Religion from Liberty University, and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. This was accomplished through night classes and distance learning. Read More