My Father Lives on in a Legacy Money Can’t Buy

News Progress Posted on by

•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

County Board Rejects Car Lot, Kennels and Chicago

News Progress Posted on by

•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

Rally Supports LGBTQ Pride

News Progress Posted on by

Droneography R.R. Best
Rally Supports LGBTQ Pride
A group rallied in front of Sullivan Church of God June 14 in support of Chierstan Burns who served as a youth leader there until she was dismissed for coming out as bisexual.
June 28 is the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ traditions. June is Lesbian,Gay Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride month. Burns posting was in honor of the observation and prompted the church’s action when it caught the attention of the church’s pastor.
On June 11 the Church’s board of elders, it’s pastor, and other church leaders held a meeting, requesting Burns resignation over the posts. She refused, but was told she could no longer serve as the church’s youth leader.
The peaceful group stood in support of Burns and the sex based discrimination while services were conducted Sunday

A Wedding Brings Celebration During Time of Corona Virus

News Progress Posted on by

•June 17, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Their May 23 wedding date was postponed but on Saturday, June 13 at 11:30am Shania Whitrock and Bradlee Todd were united in marriage in the first wedding at New Life Church since its closure in March.
To the skirl of a lone bagpiper Shania was accompanied to the pink and silver balloon-decorated altar by her father-in-law to be, Leslie Todd.
Her attendants were twin sister Brooke Whitrock, Mary Canroy, Suzzanne Reimer and Kelsey Knopp.
The attendants wore pink chiffon, floor-length gowns and carried bouquets of multi-colored summer flowers. Read More

Townwide Tradition

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Photo by Barry Morgan
Townwide Tradition
The Boy Scout Cook out on IGA parking lot is a tradition that goes along with Sullivan Townwide Rummage Sales. On Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6 Sullivan opened up to one of the largest Townwide Sale crowds ever and the cook out went on. Due to COVID 19 restrictions boys scouts were replaced by scout leaders and fathers at the grills with everyone enjoying the food and friendship.

Moultrie County Adds 15th Positive COVID-19 Case

News Progress Posted on by

•June 15, 2020•
The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has confirmed the 15th case of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Moultrie County. The patient is a male in his 50s and is recovering at home in isolation. Public health officials are contacting all close contacts.
To date 577 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 15 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. Of the 15 Moultrie County citizens affected by this virus, 12 have been released from isolation.
Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include: Fever, Fatigue, Dry cough, Chills, Body aches, Headache, Sore throat, Loss of smell or taste.
Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if they experience difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or a bluish color in the lips or face.
If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival.
For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.

Flag Day

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Flag Day
Flags were flying outside the Moultrie County Courthouse prior to the Tuesday storm. June 14 is Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the United States Flag on June 14, 1777, which is also the birth date of the U.S. Army. In 1861 George Morris of Hartford, Connecticut organized the first observation of Flag Day. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day and Congress established National Flag Day by act Aug. 3, 1949.

Jibby’s is Coming Down

News Progress Posted on by

•June 10, 2020•
By Fred MacMurray
for the News Progress

Jibby’s Restaurant was the place to go in Sullivan, but that was long ago.
Now the famous building on Main Street where you could have a peppercorn steak and rub elbows with the stars playing at the Little Theatre on the Square has seen better days.
Vacant and deteriorating since Doug Wilson tried to revive the popular gathering place, Sullivan was faced with a future expensive demolition problem outside city hall’s back door. Read More

Shopping at Home Will Do More to Open Moultrie Co. Businesses than Berating the Governor

News Progress Posted on by

•June 10, 2020•
By Ann Wheeler
NP Guest Columnist

When driving around Sullivan, I see the signs that support opening businesses in Moultrie County and those berating Gov. Pritzker for sucking the life out of these same businesses due to his shelter-in- place order.
I assume that people who put these signs in their yards are concerned about the local businesses that have had to temporarily close or require safe protocols because of the COVID 19 virus.
Such concern is understandable as small businesses are the lifeblood of towns like Sullivan, Lovington, and Bethany.
Having grown up in Sullivan, I have watched shops and businesses close, leaving storefronts empty and buildings vacant. This loss of small businesses, however, had nothing to do with the actions of any governor, be he Republican or Democrat. More than a few of them closed because they were not supported by the community. Read More

Sullivan Approves Economy Kick Start

News Progress Posted on by

•June 10, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Council approved a program to kickstart businesses and help citizens with their utility bills.
At the June 8 city council meeting Commissioner Abbey Sherwood moved the RIPPLE (Resident Incentive for Purchases to Promote the Local Economy) program be implemented for two months (June 15-Aug. 15).
Adapted from a local economic incentive plan from Frankfort in northern Illinois, any utility customer of the city of Sullivan is eligible.
Sherwood proposed that utility customers who present $100 in local restaurant receipts are eligible for a $25 utility credit from the city. Read More