Free Piano Concert At Methodist Church

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Free Piano Concert At Methodist Church
By Liberace
for News Progress
Sullivan piano man Dave Bratton is performing a free concert at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at the First Methodist Church in Sullivan.
Good will donations will go to the Cunnigham Children’s Home in Champaign.
Bratton was born into a musical family learning piano from his Uncle Jim. Dave’s mother Bertha was an accomplished fiddle player and member of the Illinois State Fiddle Players Hall of Fame.
While Bratton and wife Janet were raising their family he worked at Brach’s Candy and later for Hydro Gear never abandoning his musical background.
Dave played with various bands for extra cash, featuring compositions he and Janet had written together.
Bratton plays before and after Sunday services at the Methodist Church as well as special performances for favorite causes like the orphanage in Champaign featured at the April 19 concert.

Donations Not Gifts

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Donations Not Gifts
Instead of receiving birthday gifts this year, eight-year-old Gunner Bartels decided to ask his friends to bring a toy to his party on February 22 to give to a child in the hospital. The Mattoon second grader and his parents donated a wagon load of toys, including games, puzzles, action figures, coloring books, and crayons, to bring a smile to children who are hospitalized in the Women and Children’s Center at Sarah Bush Lincoln. “I was feeling bad for kids that are sick,” Gunner said. “I thought they might get bored in the hospital and toys would make them happy.” Parents Jaime and Travis Bartels are proud of their son’s selfless act and contributed a number of toys to the cause as well.

Obituaries 3-11-2020: Virginia Eaton

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Virginia Eaton
Virginia Lee Eaton, age 95, of Mattoon passed away at 12:50 p.m. Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Heartland Christian Village.
Memorial services honoring her life will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at East Side Church of the Nazarene, 2129 South 9th Street in Mattoon with Pastor Cameron Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Bethel Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church. Schilling Funeral Home in Mattoon is assisting the family.
Virginia was born May 8, 1924, in Moultrie County, Illinois, the daughter of Harry C. and Anna (Chaney) Pettit. She married Nehemiah Eaton August 1, 1959, and he preceded her in death in 2001.
Survivors include her children Joyce Baugher (daughter-in-law) of Neoga, Kenneth Phillips (son-in-law) of Mattoon, Teresa (Richard) Turner of Bartlesville, Okla., Marsha Beals of Columbia, Tenn., Cheryl (Greg) Poorman of Oklahoma City, Okla., Carol Edwards of Tulsa, Okla. and Julia (Kevin) Ricke of Bingham, Ill.; 17 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and children Jeannine Phillips, John Eaton and Roger Baugher.
Virginia was a housewife and worked at Brown Shoe Factory in Sullivan and General Electric and RR Donnelley in Mattoon. She was a member of East Side Church of the Nazarene in Mattoon. Virginia loved selling Sara Coventry Jewelry, Princess House Crystal, and Longaberger Baskets because she met new people and made new friends at every party. Most of all, Virginia enjoyed spending time with her family, especially all of her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Memorial donations in her honor may be given to East Side Church of the Nazarene.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.schillingfuneralhome.net or Schilling Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

What was the Origin and is the Destination of Sullivan Illinois 61951?

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•March 4, 2020•
By Joe Pound
Special to News Progress

The written record of the ORIGIN of City of Sullivan as the County Seat of Moultrie County Illinois is thin, yet there are sufficient records to tell us that March of 1845 is when the City of Sullivan was so designated by the Moultrie County Commissioners in an official meeting.
According to the records of I. J. Martin, resident and recorder of this city, the City of Sullivan was surveyed that month using 40 acres of vacant land that was sold by its owner to create this new City.
In the 175 years since that beginning, the City has grown to be a stable, comfortable place to live, work and play.
For a more comprehensive view of this interesting city, I refer you to Fragments of the History of Sullivan, Illinois written and published in 2018 by my friend, Robert Eden Martin (REM), former resident and now retired attorney located in the Chicago area. REM has an excellent web site for more historical details…EdenMartin.com. Read More

Leap Birthday

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Leap Birthday
Luthor Peck of Arthur FINALLY had a birthday on Saturday. Born February 29, 2016 he reach his first official birthday Feb. 29, 2020 and it will be 2024 when he gets his next one. He even posed with the waitress after eating his ice cream sundae. His sister made everyone a special pin back button to wear.

Early Voting Could be Good for Your Health

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•March 4, 2020•
Voters may prefer to cast their ballots early rather than risk health issues related to concerns over COVID-19.
“With the big “C” virus we want to encourage early voting,” Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England urged.
“Many people want to avoid large crowds or places where a lot of people pass through…the answer: Early Vote!” she emphasized. Read More

Colored Pencil Art Workshop Offered in Sullivan

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•March 4, 2020•
The Sullivan Art Club will kick off its 2020 season with a workshop on Saturday, March 21 at the St. Columcille Church hall located on the east end of the church at the corner of West Jackson and McClellan Streets.
There is a dedicated entrance to the hall adjacent to the parking lot. The workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with an hour break for lunch. Participants may bring a sack lunch or dine at one of the area restaurants. Read More

After 59 years, the News-Progress has New Owners

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Kathy Best and R.R. Best at University of Illinois (Springfield) Alumni Achievement Award presentation to Kathy. The Best family operated the newspaper since 1961 and recently sold to Paddock Publications.

•March 4, 2020•

After 59 years, the News-Progress has New Owners.
Bob and Kathy Best last week sold the paper their family has owned since 1961 to Paddock Publications, an employee-owned newspaper company based in Arlington Heights, Ill. Paddock will continue to publish the News-Progress.
“As we have in other communities, our goal is to continue to honor the legacy of the former longtime owners by doing what we do best: local coverage of the people and institutions that call Sullivan and Moultrie County home,” said Stefanie Anderson, senior vice president/general manager of the community newspapers division for Paddock.
The News-Progress, which can trace its roots back to 1857, will continue doing business out of its offices at 100 W. Monroe in Sullivan. Mike Brothers, Barry Morgan and Rachael Van Dyke are staying with the new ownership.
Bob Best, who has managed the operations of the paper since his father’s death, will help with the transition for a few weeks, but then head off for new ventures. Read More

SHS Academic Challengers

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SHS Academic Challengers
Sullivan finished second as a team in their division at the 2020 regional competition of the Academic Challenge hosted by Lake Land College. Individuals who placed in their respective subjects were as follows: Noah Bates - 1st Engineering Graphics, 3rd Biology; Paul Bates - 3rd Biology; Cooper Browne - 2nd Engineering Graphics; Reagan Crouse - 1st English; Gary Herschberger - 2nd English; Shyanne Hunter - 3rd English; Dasey Swiney-Frederick - 3rd Engineering Graphics; Noah Bates and Reagan Crouse also earned $1,000 tuition waivers from Lake Land College for having one of the top two scores in a given subject out of all competitors at the event.

SHS Students Work with Community to Support Deployed Graduates

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•February 26, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Sullivan High School Principal Daniel Allen told the school board about a new program where high school students and the community are working together to support graduates who are being deployed.
The group is especially focused on members of the National Guard 130th infantry and 82nd airborne the principal emphasized.
Melissa Nichol’s art students created a powerful display honoring all of them. It is displayed on the office door.
Rebecca Lawson and her students are coordinating with community groups to gather items to be shipped overseas to support former students.
On January 25 at 8:00 am, a special meeting of the school board was held to discuss some of the current needs of the schools in District 300.
Elementary School Principal, Heather Ethell discussed enrollment, class sizes, staffing, literary curriculum, and building needs that included a preschool playground, flooring and restroom upgrades. Read More