•June 24, 2020•
By Fiery Works
for the News Progress
It’s the Fourth of July, why wouldn’t we be there,” American Legion Post 68 Fundraising Chair Mike Keown said of the club’s commitment to Fourth of July celebration for Sullivan.
Keown told Sullivan’s City Council that the parade and fireworks show will happen on the Fourth.
“The Color Guard, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles will be in the parade,” Keown said, noting safe distance guidelines would be observed. Read More
•June 24, 2020•
By Joe Pound
for the News Progress
Today I sat down with John Junior Green (Johnnie Green), who is being cared for by Lulubelle (Logue) Morris, my next door neighbor to the south. John is 94 years of age (born in 1926) and has a home elsewhere in Sullivan.
He is the son of Earl Lucion Green & Mildred Moran. Their children are Dorothy, John J., Robert, Billy, Jimmy and Inius, who died at birth. John’s children are Linda (Robinson) & John S.
John’s health is fragile and his hearing is minimal even with hearing aids, but his memory of his WW II experiences is excellent. To communicate Lulubelle speaks directly into his left ear the questions that I asked him. Even then he often needed her to repeat the question.
My purpose in visiting with John and Lulubelle, was to ask about his service in the U. S. Navy in the western Pacific during WW II. Lulubelle had advised me in an earlier backyard conversation about his many fascinating stories from his service during the great war. I was also encouraged to consider this history story by the June 2020 issue of the National Geographic magazine. The cover article is “The Last Voices of World War II.”
Johnnie Green is certainly one of those voices. Read More
Selects New Elementary Principal
•June 24, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for the news Progress
During the 2020-2021 school year, the Sullivan School district plans to move to a self-operated food service program.
A Food Service Director will be needed to operate the program.
The job description of a food service director is explained as follows: “ The food service director plans, directs and coordinates the activities of the district’s food service program. They shall be responsible for the completion of all obligations specified by county, state and federal laws and regulations, as well as other duties as specified by the superintendent and board. Some of the qualifications for the position include having a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent educational experience with an academic major in nutrition or culinary, completing at least 8 hours of food safety training, have a food service sanitation certificate that is up to date and basic understanding and experience with personal computers and programs. Read More
Mobilizing for Real Change
•June 24, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
On June 17 Mitchell Esslinger announced his Democratic candidacy for the Illinois House of Representatives District 102 seat with a speech outside the Moultrie County Courthouse.
Born in Champaign and raised in Strasburg, Mitchell attended Stewardson-Strasburg High School, Lake Land College, and the University of Illinois. At the University of Illinois, he worked with local law enforcement to protect student safety.
As a property renovator, Mitchell started at age 12 working for his family’s rental properties. As a tutor, he saw how important it is that we give our schools what they need to succeed.
He has volunteered to work in the campaigns of Barak Obama, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Read More
•June 24, 2020•
Alvan Booths was sentenced to 75 years with the Illinois Dept. of Corrections by Judge Hugh Finson in Moultrie County Circuit Court Tuesday.
Booths was previously convicted of two counts of attempted first degree murder and home invasion with a 15 year firearm enhancement.
State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver pointed to the great bodily harm suffered by victim Otha Phillips during the Feb. 4, 2019 home invasion, which helped Judge Finson decide on consecutive sentences for Booths.
Schools told to prepare for return to remote learning in case of surge
•Tuesday, June 23, 2020•
Jibby’s Rubble
Droneography by R.R. Best
The Metro Communications crew received the go ahead permit from the city of Sullivan at noon Monday, June 15 and by the end of the afternoon the back wall was gone, exposing second floor apartments with panoramic western vistas.
A few decades ago Jibby’s Restaurant was the place to eat, drink and meet the stars of the Little Theatre.
Those days are gone and the building was getting worse the longer it sat empty.
As the afternoon of demolition went on the parade of onlookers increased, creating parking issues for offices operating on Harrison Street.
One suggestion to offset the inconvenience for those businesses was to allow them to control onlooker seating.
A lawn chair in the shade on the back parking lot could go for about $10.00 if a bottle of water is included.
Metro owner Zak Horn acquired ownership of he dilapilated former restaurant which was home to the stars of the Little Theatre on the Square and is removing it along with a part of Sullivan’s past.
The past is the past and the city of Sullivan voted to contribute $20,000 toward the $40,000 demolition costs.
By July 4th Horn hopes to be the proud owner of an empty lot where Jibby’s used to be.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Class of 68 Award
Members of the Sullivan High School Class of 1968 gave the second annual scholarships recently. Class representatives Lou Ann Soper and Bill Standerfer presented Aubrey Tate with the $250 award. An incoming sophomore at SHS, Aubrey’s father Keith attended the presentation.
•June 17, 2020•
By Lou Ann Soper
for the News Progress
Tuesday, June 9th, the SHS Class of 1968 proudly presented the Second Annual Redskin Achievement Award to this year’s deserving recipients.
The surprised recipients were Aubrey Tate, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Tate and Terrance McRill, son of Bethanie McRill and Shawn McRill. Aubrey will be a sophomore this coming school year and Terrance will be a senior.
The first Redskin Achievement Awards were presented last year to Katherine Kite and Zane Gardner. Both students were juniors when the Awards were presented at the Decision Day Assembly last May. Read More
•June 17, 2020•
By Sarah Hudson Pierce,
NP Guest columnist
My Father, Roy Earnest Hudson, a native of Bethany, Illinois, an only child, born in 1895, the son of George Washington McClellan Hudson, a circuit riding minister who met and married my namesake, Sarah Alice Ritz, while on a revival in Licking, Missouri.
What a treasure trove of information in the first paragraph!
I knew so little about our daddy because he was so sick during my childhood up until he died, from congestive heart failure, at home in bed in what was then called the front room on March 19, 1958.
Also he was afflicted with chronic appendicitis for years.
I felt rootless and drawn to delve into the old family trunk because I sensed that there was much to be learned about our genetic lineage. I was very productive after the age of thirty, in 1978, while I located living long lost relatives with the aid of directory assistance and our old family trunk which was full of old family pictures, letters and other memorabilia. Read More
•June 17, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
A car lot across from the 4-H Center on Jonathan Creek Rd. attracted a number of neighbors to the Thursday, June 11, Moultrie County Board meeting.
Roger Tice represented the group and presented a 100-name petition asking the county board to deny the request by Janusz Toczydlowski to rezone 1404 Jonathan Creek from AG-1 to C-2 for a car lot.
Planning and zoning committee chairman Todd Maxedon explained the committee recommendation was to deny the rezoning request by Mr. Toczydlowski. The county board rejected the rezone request.
Two special use permits for dog kennels also ran into rejections from the county board.
For the past few years Special Use Permits for dog kennels have passed the county board routinely.
Planning and Zoning director Karen Cody explained the two requests before the board received some negative responses when she notified neighbors of the requests for kennel permits. Read More