News Progress

•December 4, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development has developed a new cooperative program between local businesses and high school students proficient in social media.
This was prompted by Spark’s Retail and Dining group recently identification of a need in the business community to further connect with social media.
“A lot of our local businesses are having problems keeping up with social media and maintaining their web sites,” SCED Executive Director, Laurrie Minor, explained. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Fair displays a water jug from the Monk’s Mound in Cahokia. Small arrowheads on wall behind him.

•December 4, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress

Randy Fair’s grandmother was a full Cherokee Indian.
His grandfather had a drawer full of Indian axes and arrowheads that fascinated Randy at an early age. He believes that his love of collecting Illinois Indian artifacts was in his blood from the beginning.
It all began as a youth. “I was into hunting, fishing, trapping and finding Indian artifacts. In the 1980’s farmers were still deep plowing and I could find 20-25 pieces in a field a day. Now I’m lucky to find 2 or 3.”
Fair would spend at least 200 days a year walking the fields covering some 8 miles a day in search of arrowheads ancient clay trading pipes and other items.
Fair decided to specialize in the pottery of Illinois Indians from what is known as the Mississippian Era when Indians began to populate both sides of the Mississippi in Southern Illinois and the lower Ohio River valley.
The greatest settlement of this period from 700 AD to 1600AD was Cahokia Downs near St. Louis which, at its peak, had a population of 20,000.
The Native Americans chose the fertile flood plains to raise most of their food which consisted of maize, beans, pumpkins and squash.
They needed vessels in which to store and serve their food. Read More

•November 27, 2019•
The Lovington village board met Oct. 14 with Pastor Mike Carriger of Maranatha Church on North Broadway, Lovington offering to get involved in community events.
Pastor Carriger explained the church offered hot dogs, chips, a drink and a treat as a drive thru project for Halloween. Trustee Pan Anklam, who is an officer in Sparrows, offered to get with the pastor to let him know the needs in the community.
In the absence of President Roger Walker, trustee Dennis Garmon reported that the sidewalk project is nearing completion.
Trustee Gary Clem noted the good price the village received from Brad Eaton allowed additional sidewalks on High Street.
Garmon reported the village could clean up the burned house on State Street and attach a lien to the property.
Roots that clogged the storm sewer on the Rte. 32 curve will have to be removed and the drainage tile replaced with Trustee Clem reporting President Walker was working with several people on the project. Read More