Bluebirds Abound in Tabor Park

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•June 6, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The trees in Tabor Park are alive with the sounds of four pairs of nesting bluebirds.  They are there because Bill Burger saw one while running one day and set about to attract more. To date, he has built and installed 14 bluebird boxes in the park and Greenhill Cemetery.

A retired speech pathologist from Mattoon High School, Burger has always been an avid outdoorsman and does a lot of woodworking. It was natural to combine his two interests to benefit the park where he runs almost every day.

In the process he has learned a lot about bluebirds. He notes, “They are fun to watch. The male will show the female several boxes, but she makes the selection of which box to use. The male gathers the preferred pine needles or prairie grasses, but the female weaves the most exquisite little nest with every strand perfectly in place.” Read More

June Walk Around For Fourth Fireworks Fund 

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•June 6, 2018•

Fourth of July in Sullivan introduces a 55 foot Ferris wheel during the 2018 American Legion Post 68 sponsored event.

Conner Family Amusements of Beardstown is ushering in their second year by introducing the Ferris wheel along with a variety of kid friendly and adult thrilling rides.

Central States Fireworks of Athens is presenting the fireworks display in Wyman Park for the third year. Read More

Validating the Importance Of a Moment and a Memory

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Photo by Ariana Cherry
Valedictorian and ALAH Class president Macy Hollingsworth addresses graduating classmates during commencement exercises held May 25 in the Arthur gymnasium.

•May 30, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
of The News Progress

The gym was filed with high energy and excitement as the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond class of 2018 walked down the aisle to graduation – the last chapter of their lives as school students which they had been anticipating for so many years.

Summer had set in early, and waves of commencement programs fluttered back and forth as family, friends and school faculty fanned themselves to stay cool. It was time to send another class of students out into the world. Sitting there, it was easy to reminisce of my own personal high school graduation so many years ago as well as, thinking into the future, when my own daughter will be graduating high school the following year.

These students have created so many memories in the last 14 years…and now, they were about to create one more. Read More

Summer Reading Kicks Off At Elizabeth Titus Library

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•May 30, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

School is out, summer is here and the kids are home for the next couple of months.

Before the summer “boredom” kicks in make sure they pick up a book and join in the reading fun at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan.

The summer reading kick off is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, June 1. There will be no cost to the public-everything is free!

The kids will have plenty of fun with kid carnival type games, two inflatables, a life-sized Candyland game, a book walk, crafts, cotton candy and snow cones. During the reading kick-off, the public is invited to join in all the activities and sign up their children for the summer reading program. This will be a wonderful way to make reading fun and build up excitement for the kids. Read More

A Time to Honor and Remember Those Who Gave All

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
March to Greenhill Cemetery
American Legion Post #68, Honor Guard, Sons of American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary members led the Memorial Day parade from the Sullivan square to Greenhill Cemetery ceremonies on Memorial Day.

•May 30, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

We watched them approach in the distance with flags unfurled taking measured steps as they marched down Water Street towards Greenhill Cemetery.

The American Legion Honor Guard and a Boy Scout troop entered the cemetery to the intermittent command of “hut, hut” and took their positions for the solemn memorial services.

After a prayer, Marine Corps Major Lynn Lowder addressed the crowd of some 100 people. A graduate of Sullivan High School and a frequent speaker there, he noted that both his parents and grandparents are buried in Greenhill.

Major Lowder recalled that his first military ceremony was here, and he knew it was important because of all the flags and the music. Read More

OVHS Commencement

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Photo by R. R. Best
OVHS Commencement
Okaw Valley High School graduation for 47 senior candidates was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 27 in the high school gymnasium in Bethany. Quinn Michael Brooks was the class of 2018 valedictorian and addressed his classmates along with salutatorians Grace Catherine Harlin, Hannah Beth Landreth and Ethan Johannes Macklin.  Above graduates Tanner Coleman, Cody Drake, and James Burns. switch tassels at the end of the ceremony.

City Council Approves Purchase of Body Cameras for Police Department

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Grant Could Assist

•May 23, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Sullivan City Council and members of the police force discussed purchasing body cameras for the police department at their last meeting.

The police department has been using  AXON body cameras since September with the video feed used during their presentation. The software for the body cameras allows individual’s faces to be blurred for privacy and show more clearly whether a weapon is being carried. Allowing for live-streaming and being wireless were among some of the features discussed. Read More

St. Jude Dash n Bash: Four Years and Still Running Strong

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Photo by RR Best
Devoted St. Jude Runner training at 3 below zero.

•May 23, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

St. Jude Dash n Bash in Sullivan kicks off its fourth year Saturday, June 2 in Wyman Park with more than 90 percent of everything raised going to the St. Jude, Memphis and Midwest Affiliate in Peoria.

Over the past three years the event has given $32,000 to St. Jude Hospital Stephanie Helmuth, Sullivan event founder, said of the success.

St. Jude’s no cost treatment for children with the most serious health issues is offered regardless of race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

Helmuth’s realization of what that meant came after the birth of her youngest child River who required infant heart surgery at the St. Jude Midwest affiliate in Peoria.

“Sitting in that hospital room let me understand what others faced,” said Helmuth of her incentive to start the run in Sullivan to help St. Jude.

She and other Sullivan area runners had participated in the St. Jude Mattoon/Peoria run so eight volunteers got together the first St. Jude Dash n Bash. Read More

Power Out

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Photo by R.R. Best
Power Out
Around 1:00 p.m. Tuesday a John Deere with folding disc attachments, owned by Terry Warren, caught a power line at the corner of South Market and West Eden Streets in Sullivan, knocking out power to both Agri-Fab and Hydro-Gear, according to Sullivan Police Chief Jim Waggoner. City Administrator Dan Flannell commended Sullivan Electric Dept. employees who responded immediately and were able to replace the pole and restore power within 40 minutes.

Sullivan Schools Hire Coach and Music Teacher

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•May 23, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community District #300 school board met May 14 hiring a head football coach and an elementary music teacher.

Following interviews by Sullivan and Okaw Valley athletic directors Ryan Aikman and Brooks Inman, high school principal Erik Young recommended employing Jeff Myers as head football coach. Myers replaced Andy Kerley who lost his job due to teaching staff cuts after one year.

Myers has previously coached at Central A&M and St. Teresa High School in Decatur. He resides in Shelbyville. Board members present approved including Steve Poland, Tyson Grooms, Erik Stollard, Zak Horn and president Jeff White. Read More