News Progress

25 Years Ago This Week

The Bethany Mustangs bats exploded for 32 runs in their first two games, while the pitching staff held opponents to three runs and three hits.
A 22-3 victory over Springfield Calvary and 10-0 shut out at Bement.
Against Springfield in the top of the first Phil Ozier (4 for 5 with 5 RBIs) knocked in Shane Martin for the first run. Aaron Osman used a bunt to score two runs. Bliss Schwartz smashed a single to center scoring a run. Jon Ashley knocked in Osman with a ground out.
Bethany voters bought at least three years life for their schools with a decisive vote facing steeper taxes. Voters approved a $1.25 tax rate increase 436-327 to prevent consolidation. Read More

•April 22, 2020•
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a mantra for many people. It’s difficult to imagine that just 50 years ago awareness of the state of the environment was not part of the collective consciousness.
An emerging public consciousness about the planet began amid environmental issues like increased air pollution and massive consumption of fossil fuels in the 1960s. The bestselling book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson also raised public concern for living organisms and the links between pollution and public health. The push for environmental reform gained even more momentum on April 22, 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated. Then-Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin put Earth Day on the national stage following a large oil spill that struck off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif. Before this disaster, recycling was not a word in the popular lexicon. But when the disaster struck, people began to reason that changes would have to be made to save the planet. Read More

•April 22, 2020•
“Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon. People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment. They should immediately go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here section to provide their information. Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance beneficiaries with dependent children and who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Wednesday, April 22, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly. SSI recipients need to take this action by later this month; a specific date will be available soon. Read More

•April 15, 2020•
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development is joining chambers and small businesses across the state of Illinois to launch the ‘IL’ove Local campaign to encourage people to support local businesses during the week of April 11 – 18, 2020.
While the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) is leading efforts to unite chambers across the state in the initiative, Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development is taking a leadership role in our community.
“Our local business are the heart and soul of this community. People from our local and neighboring communities come to Sullivan for the unique products and services they provide,” explains Laurrie Minor,Executive Director, SCED. “We want our local businesses to survive this shut-down.”
The statistics are staggering for small businesses following natural disasters: according to FEMA, roughly 40-60% of small businesses that close after a disaster never re-open. Read More

•April 15, 2020•
Julie Lauper of Dalton City was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.
Lauper was initiated at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lauper is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Read More