News Progress

Continued from our December 27, 2017 edition

•January 3, 2018•

May 31, 2017

Sullivan city is receiving a $445,980 block grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grants are designed to stabilize neighborhoods and provide affordable housing.

Susan Rauch, Joe Keller, Dave Cole, Bill Highland, Dan Fultz and Brad Pullen plant the first tree donated by Sullivan Rotary to the Habitat subdivision in Sullivan. Sullivan Rotary received a $1500 grant from District Rotary to help with the project.

Angie Ward was honored by a reception at First Christian Church in Sullivan. Ward, also a Prairie Winds participant, has been a member of the choir for 58 years.

Sullivan Township cemeteries records have been updated through the Gravediscover website. Judy Sumner and Alex Menke worked together to complete the Sullivan township project.

Members of the Sullivan High School band performed at Memorial Day services in Greenhill Cemetery with Post 68 American Legion Honor Guard leading the salute and veteran Paul Stone presenting the keynote address. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Brad(l) and Gary Emel display centennial recognition at the Coon Creek farm.

•December 6, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When the first settlers arrived in central Illinois, they were greeted by waves of tall prairie grass as far as the eye could see, vast herds of bison and native Indians.

The Kickapoo Indians were among the first settlers, and they were skilled hunters and farmers – the latter skill they taught to the first white settlers.

Today the prairie grass is gone, the nearly 60 million bison hunted close to extinction and the Indians driven out by the military by 1834. But the land-the land remains and has been handed down from generation to generation since about 1815 in Moultrie County.

In 1972 the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) began setting up programs to honor these heritage farms and the contribution agriculture has made to the state.

Centennial farms are those that have been in the same family for 100 years. Sesquicentennial farms (150 years) are the second program, and in 2016 the Bi-Centennial program to honor 200- year- old farms in the same family was instituted. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Jeffrey Lyn Anderson dancing with wife June Brown.

•November 8, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Jeffrey Lyn Anderson, a third degree Mason, retired to the Illinois Masonic Home in 2002 shortly before it was purchased by Petersen Health Systems and became the public retirement facility of Mason Point.

He became the last Mason to take up residence at the Illinois Masonic Home.

In January 2017 June Brown came to Mason Point and, as they both say, “It was love at first sight.”

“We hit it off immediately,” June confessed, “What I love most about Jeffrey is his smile”.

“She is just a super lady with a heart as big as Alaska,” Jeffrey added. Read More

Ellen Ferrera photo
Silhouette of John Stephens in front of the new movie screen.

•October 18, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Remember the Grand Theater which once occupied the Little Theatre space?  The glory days of movies in Sullivan will soon return only bigger and better.

“I’m so proud of the community effort that allows us to now use the space for movies during the winter months,” Executive Director John Stephens said of the Little Theatre expansion.

Last week some 12 volunteers, including high school students, struggled to hoist the 14’ tall movie screen into position. The screen has been generously provided by Hydro-Gear. An anonymous donor provided the very expensive projector as was the popcorn machine and concessions.

The Sullivan Education Foundation awarded a generous grant, and a large amount of money has been raised from community contributions.

It has, indeed, been a community effort that enriches us all. Read More

Photo furnished
McTeacher Night
Connor Powers, O.V.H.S. student and McDonald’s employee, and Bonnie Scott, O.V.H.S. Family and Consumer Science teacher, look forward to serving the next customer at the McTeacher night.

•October 4, 2017•

The Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) held a fundraiser Wednesday, September 27 in conjunction with McDonald’s of Sullivan. A McTeacher Night was held which allowed teachers of the Okaw Valley School to work behind the counter in exchange for a donation from McDonald’s to help support the work that S.A.D.D. does. This work involves presenting positive lifestyle messages to the students regarding consumption of alcohol and other drugs, the dangers of smoking, and the importance of safe driving habits. Angie Matlock is the owner of the Sullivan McDonald’s.

Teachers who participated in the McTeacher Night were able to handle the ordering counter, the drive-thru windows and did some preparation in the kitchen. Teachers and students of Okaw Valley school gave out attendance prizes including free ice cream treats, cups, pens, ice scrapers, and key chains. This entire experience was not only a fun time, but it will have ongoing benefits when the donated money is used to further the work of the S.A.D.D. organization. Read More