•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
Chamber Holds Ribbon Cutting for Racehorse Flats Wind
Photo by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Racehorse Flats Wind on Wednesday, September 8.
•September 15, 2021•
The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Racehorse Flats Wind Wednesday, September 8. Racehorse Flats Wind is a new 400-megawatt wind farm in development in southern Macon and western Moultrie counties.
Currently in the early stages of development, Racehorse Flats will put enough clean electricity on the grid to power the equivalent of more than 128,000 U.S. homes and represents a $450 million capital investment in the area. Annual tax revenues for all taxing districts in the area are projected at more than $2.25 million, and the project will bring in additional revenue for the counties and other local taxing districts for its projected 30-year lifetime. Read More
Meadowview Herbs Adds Organic Produce and Whole Foods To Offerings
Photo by Crystal Reed
An outdoor view of the storefront for Meadowview Herbs located at 160 E CR 240 N in Arthur. They have recently added organic produce and whole foods to their store inventory.
•June 23, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
One Arthur business has recently added organic produce and whole foods to what they offer in their store. Meadowview Herbs has been in business for five years and until recently has focused mostly on herbs and essential oils.
Owners William and Elizabeth Schlabach decided to shift their focus slightly to include organic foods. According to William, a few years ago his wife Elizabeth contracted Lyme’s disease and was very sick. One of the ways that she treated it is by eating organically. “Proper food is key in staying well,” William said. Read More
Three Generations of Bales Build Ramps for AmBuCs
Photo submitted
Jim, Brock and Scott Bales are three generations of Bales that are AMBUCS members and also build ramps as part of the Sullivan AMBUCS chapter.
•April 14, 2021•
The small town of Sullivan and the surrounding area have been blessed with an active ramp building program of the local AmBuCs chapter. At the center of this activity is member “Big Jim” Bales, father and grandfather of two other members, making three generations of Bales AmBuCs.
The ongoing ramp building program is “as needed” with the requests for specific people arriving through the chapter network of about 50 members. There is plenty to do with measuring, designing and cost estimations of ramp material. The actual ramp build takes place with about one to two days for completion. Read More