New Athletic Facility for Okaw Valley Schools

News Progress Posted on by

•July 25, 2018•

The Okaw Valley CUSD #302 announced the approval of a $1.5 million athletic facility to be built at Okaw Valley High School in Bethany and unveiled its new school logos.
The OV School Board approved the use of existing district fund balance July 19 to construct the facility.
This construction is scheduled to start in the coming weeks and is scheduled to be finished for the 2019 spring sports season.
Included in the new facilities will be an eight-lane synthetic all-weather track, a new softball field for middle school and high school teams and a new baseball field with a synthetic turf infield.
“It is important to note that the synthetic baseball field will have the ability to host high school and middle school softball games in addition to middle school baseball,” said Okaw Valley athletic director Brooks Inman. “This new facility will be the first of its kind in the surrounding area and one of the first for a district our size in the state.”
Saturday, July 21, Okaw Valley unveiled its new logos on Twitter.
Jason Brown

The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow for Annie

News Progress Posted on by

 •July 25, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The great comic actor W.C. Fields had a rule of never performing with children or dogs. If you see “Annie’’ at The Little Theatre you will know why. They steal the show! The children (and dog) are such polished performers and just carry the show in ways you don’t expect.
If you have or know children who have never seen musical theater, please give them the gift of a ticket to “Annie”. You will open a whole new world of wonder and enchantment for them.
Those of a certain age first met Little Orphan Annie with her big zero eyes in the Sunday comic strips. In 1977 she got her own Broadway musical and endeared herself to new generations of fans.
In this episode she is in an orphanage with 12 other girls under the heavy hand of Miss Hannigan. Annie manages to escape but is caught and returned just as Oliver Warbucks’ secretary, Grace Farrell, arrives. She selects Annie to be the only girl invited to Warbucks’ annual Christmas party.
The brusque billionaire cannot resist Annie’s adorableness and soon wants to adopt her. But Annie only wants to find her parents who left her at the orphanage with a note and a locket – important clues later. Warbucks enlists the help of no less than President Roosevelt, Elliott Ness, J. Edgar Hoover and an offer of $50,000 to anyone proving they are Annie’s parents. Read More

Jeepin’ for Jesse

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Photo by R.R. Best
Jeepin’ for Jesse
Volunteers for Operation Secret Santa were ready to roll in the annual Jeepin’ for Jesse fund-raising event. Sign up was 11 a.m. July 14 at the Toy Bar in Sullivan. Operation Secret Santa kicked off at noon followed by silent and live actions with DJ tunes providing music at The Toy Bar to close the evening. Operation Secret Santa has grown to not only help those in need at Christmas but serves those in need around Moultrie County throughout the year.

Bethany Village Board Increases Utility Rates

News Progress Posted on by

•July 18, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

In a regular meeting on July 12 the Bethany Village Board voted unanimously to raise the rates 4% each for water, sewer, electric and gas services.
The board also approved a minimum wage ordinance and an ordinance adding 50 cents to utility bills for recycling.
In other business, Police Chief Chris Nichols reported that a $13,000 grant had been received toward the purchase of a new Ford SUV police car. The village, however, will have to pay for equipping the car with items such as a computer and video camera. Read More

V-Roy, The Master Of Mystery from Bethany

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Photo furnished
Local magician V-Roy in action.

•July 18, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Virgil Roy Hampton, V-Roy, was born in Lake City in 1906, but his family soon moved to a 42-acre farm in Bethany.
He became enchanted with magic at an early age and was earning such a good living from legerdemain that he quit high school just before graduating. He felt the diploma would not help him in his career.
By the end of that career he was considered the new Harry Houdini, but he actually patterned his act after Ed Reno whom he considered the best.
At just 20 years old, he hit the road in 1926 with the John Robinson Circus doing magic as a side show. He also played cornet in the circus band, and this sparked his interest in show business. A fine musician, he also played with the Bethany Concert Band and the Alfonzo Carnival Band.
In 1928 he made a parachute jump at the Moody airport in Dalton City. Such stunts were rare in those days, and it attracted a large crowd. He continued doing air stunts such as walking on the wings.
During the war he toured with the USO and also with bond rallies for the war. He was famous throughout Canada and central Illinois, and in the 1950s he did a 14-month tour of Europe. In 1943 V-Roy did over 200 shows in Illinois high schools. He did a lot of fairs in the U.S. and Canada, and his one regret was that he never played the Illinois State Fair. Read More

County Board Receives Tourism Report, Approves Reimbursement

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File photo
Lake Shelbyville Operations Manager Jon Summers

•July 18, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The third time was a charm for Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development with the Moultrie County Board agreeing to reimburse $18,809.26 in expenses at the July 12 meeting.
In this third attempt to get reimbursed for money already budgeted by the county board Chamber executive director Laurrie Minor, Lake Shelbyville operations manager Jon Summers and Matt Condill of the Great Pumpkin Patch explained efforts by the Chamber to improve tourism in all of Moultrie County.
Summers began by explaining the partnership at the Chicago Camping and RV with the Chamber had benefitted the lake and the county by reaching 25,000 potential visitors during the four day event.
He explained the Corp has invested $3.2 million in recreation areas including updates at Sullivan beach and Wilborn Creek.
“The more we can partner with Sullivan Chamber and places like the Great Pumpkin Patch the greater our chances to improve tourism for the whole area,” Summers explained.
He indicated partnerships with Okaw Valley schools and the Fish Habitat Alliance are examples of ways the lake has successfully extended its involvement in the communities that surround it. Read More

Council Learns of Erosion Threat to Tabor Park Trees

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•July 18, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

A comment pertaining to an erosion problem at Sullivan Tabor Park opened the last meeting of the Sullivan City Council. By showing some photographic evidence, it was brought to the attention of the council that about 39 trees are possibly being affected by erosion in the park. Concerned council members noted that they would be looking into the situation.
The East Central Illinois Development Corporation gave a presentation about tax credit housing that could create new housing development for families with lower income.
Tax credit housing is also ideal for transitional housing for those trying to getting started at new jobs. The corporation has been around since 1984 and has shelped with housing issues in 11 different counties within the area: (Christian, Shelby, Effingham , Jasper, Cumberland, Crawford, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Edgar, Clark and Crawford). Read More

Dance Station at Disney

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Photo furnished
Dance Station at Disney
Dance Station dancers from Sullivan performed on stage at Epcot and in a parade at Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Florida last week. Pictured are: Mileigh Brown, Judith Beery, Katie Smith, Olivia Wilkinson, Hannah Snow, Elizabeth Rutan, Ruby Schorey, Rose Wade, and Lindsey Ozier. The dancers rounded the circle in front of Cinderella’s castle during the parade with director Angie Neal walking alongside.

Mauck Promoted to Sergeant

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Mauck Promoted to Sergeant
John Mauck of Sullivan was recently promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Sergeant Mauck has been stationed at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, since January 2016, where he is attached to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, First Marine Aircraft Wing. Sergeant Mauck enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 2015 and is a 2013 graduate of Sullivan High School. He is the son of Dr. Greg and Kim Mauck and a grandson of Roger and Verna Tice and the late Sgt. James and Kathleen Mauck, all of Sullivan.

Sullivan Schools Prepare for the Coming Year

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•July 11, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The Sullivan Community District #300 school board learned that transportation reimbursements were improving along with student numbers.
Supt. Ted Walk reported operating funds were in the black in the tentative 2018-19 budget approved by the board.
The superintendent noted an increased enrollment trend could improve the state funding amount for the coming school year.
Anticipating future expenses he pointed out $150,000 was budgeted for capital improvements which could help with large expenses like track surfacing which is expected in five years.
Board member Zak Horn asked if the bond and interest income from bonds sold to the school for construction was included.
Supt. Walk noting that income was not yet included in the budget which was conservation on revenue while reflecting $250,000 in additional expenses. State aid formula figures have yet to be finalized to determine the amount of state funds expected for the coming year, the supt. added. Read More