News Progress

•October 24, 2018•

Beth Pruitt Democrat Circuit Clerk candidate
My husband of 30+ years passed away from cancer in 2011. Four years ago I married John Pruitt. John is the owner of Sullivan Auto Body. We have a blended family consisting of five adult children and three grandchildren.
I began employment in Moultrie County as a licensed court reporter in 1992. I was elected President of the Illinois Court Reporters Association and received the Distinguished Service Award.
Appointed Circuit Clerk May 1, 2018, by unanimous vote of the County Board, I began serving as your Circuit Clerk.
“What does the Circuit Clerk do?” The Circuit Clerk functions as the Clerk of the Court. The “Court” is whichever Judge happens to be hearing a particular case. We maintain the files of the Court and follow through on whatever orders the Court issues. I was humbled to be endorsed for the position of Circuit Clerk by four judges for whom I have worked during my career.
My experience in the court system is not limited to certain types of cases. Having participated in every type of court case, I am uniquely qualified to continue serving as Circuit Clerk. Read More

Photo furnished
Bob Patient takes Wyman Lake plunge.

•August 29, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Eight people baptized in the river behind Lehman farm in 1883 marked the beginning of the First Baptist Church of Sullivan.
To celebrate its 135th anniversary, the First Baptist Church has planned a community homecoming service and potluck on Sunday, September 9 at the church located at 215 East Harrison in Sullivan.
The service will begin at 10 a.m. with guest speaker the Rev. Paul Gibson, Executive Minister of the Great Rivers Region, delivering the sermon.
The potluck will follow in the church’s Fellowship Hall, and the public is cordially invited.
The First Baptist Church is one of Sullivan’s oldest churches. In June, 1883 S.S. Graham of Springfield; W. E. Barker, Sheldon Boyer and A. Hicks of Cooks Mills, W. F. Sharpe and J. Whitacre met with 14 other people to adopt the Baptist Articles of Faith.
This meeting was held in the Sullivan Armory Hall upstairs in the building on the southeast corner of the square. In 1885 they occupied the hall over the Index store. The Rev. Barker was the first pastor, and the first Sunday School was organized in 1886.
By 1890 the members felt the need of a church home. A $1,000 loan was secured from the Baptist Home Missionary Society with the members and townspeople raising another $1500. The church was designed after the Cooks Mills church and was dedicated in 1890. It was located at the corner of Hamilton and Adams streets. A fire caused by lightning damaged the building, and the tower was removed some years later. The building was later sold and demolished. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Maurine and Don Sanders at Don’s produce stand located in front of Fashions 4-U in downtown Dunn on Highway 121.

•August 8, 2018•

By Tommy Stillfigure
for the News Progress

Fashions 4 U has been a thriving business in Dunn for the past 42 years, but business is starting to pass by like the traffic zooming by the store every day on Hwy 121.
Maurine Sanders was recently widowed from Henry Munch when she returned to Sullivan to raise her children and try to make a living more than four decades ago. After spending five years working at the courthouse, Maurine knew it would take more to feed and keep clothes on the backs of her kids and began looking into starting a business.
She took over an empty antique store in Dunn which is located between Bethany and Sullivan along highway 121.
“I took my little car to those outlets in the Carolinas, and I returned with it filled with clothes,” Maurine said of her first shopping trip for the Dunn store. “I had about $5000 worth of clothes in that car, came back and sold every stitch by the end of the weekend.”
That is when Maurine knew she was on to something.
Over the years she ran small display advertisements in all the area newspapers, and soon people were driving from all around to shop for her specialty sweatshirts and Alfred Dunner clothing for women which became one of her most popular lines. Read More

•June 6, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

A combination of factors led Albert to develop his talent for public speaking:

First, he was blessed with a strong work ethic, a clear mind and outstanding memory, all of which contributed to his development as a fine speaker.

Second, that natural talent was nourished by hearing the Fourth of July and Memorial Day speeches that typified holiday celebrations in central Illinois.

Third, he was impressed by the Methodist church services. Allie wrote in his draft autobiography about those services: “The ‘mourner’s bench’ was a very genuine thing in those days. The churches of every denomination were always having revivals — at least they had revivals every winter. At these revivals the Methodists would shout in an ecstasy of religious exultation or groan in the depths of a real repentance. … Every winter there would be joint debates in the schoolhouses between some two farmers of prominence who were conspicuous bible readers about this, that and the other passages of the Scriptures.”

Fourth, he attended political as well as religious debates. “The political meetings were very lurid. No speaker was popular who did not abuse the other side. …. ‘Fellow Democrats: I do not say fellow citizens because there might be some black Republican here who thinks he is a citizen and I don’t want to speak to anybody but honest men. This black Republican administration is made up of scoundrels. Old Grant is a thief. John A. Logan is a horse thief.” “Of course, however, all of these people were really very good citizens and at heart wanted the very best things for their country.” Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Kate’s Kars, Inc. in Arthur prepares to welcomed everyone to open house from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28. Open house included free lunch and a chance to win one of two trailers besides huge discounts on select Hustler and Spartan mowers. Kate’s crew pictured from left: Kirk Herschberger, Abby Foreman, Larry and Kate Miller, Harold Herschberger, Cami Herschberger and Eldon Herschberger.

•May 2, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Kate’s Kars in Arthur celebrated their recent business expansion with an open house celebration April 28.

With a sales record of 1,450 trailers sold last year, the expansion was much needed. They have moved the business across the highway on Route 133.

From three acres of trailers on display to 10 acres, Kate’s Kars has much more to offer.

They are stocking between 600-700 trailers and 60-100 lawn mowers. The types of trailers stocked include flatbed trailers, gooseneck trailers, enclosed trailers and dump trailers. Read More