•May 9, 2018•
David Smart, 45, of Canton was released from Dept. of Human Services custody following a Moultrie County jury’s verdict Wednesday, May 2. Read More
WHS 2018 Prom Royalty
Photo furnished
WHS 2018 Prom Royalty
Windsor High School crowned their Prom royalty on Saturday, May 5th. Pictured Front row (L to R): Crown bearer Addisyn Clark, 2018 Prom Queen Kasey Bean, 2018 Prom King Gavin Bennett, and Crown bearer Toby Bennett. Back row: Queen Candidates Mackenzee Hooten and Morgan Lesko, and King Candidates Dalton Armes and Gage Sattler.
Sheep to Clothing Event Spins at Illinois Amish Heritage Center
154 year old Spinning Wheel Displayed
Photo by Mike Brothers
Bernadine Yoder displays the spinning wheel made by E.J Miller in 1864 and found in the attic of the Moses Yoder home. The oldest home in the Amish community is on display at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center near Arthur. Inset photo shows spinning wheel parts that will also be on display June 2.
•May 9, 2018•
By Shag Wooley
for the News Progress
As the spinning wheel turns the history of Illinois Amish Heritage is revealed in a Sheep to Clothing event Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There is no charge for the event, but donations will be accepted at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Route 133, east of Arthur.
The fascinating process behind spinning wool fibers into thread will be demonstrated live that day as the Amish family histories revealed in the patchwork of the quilts.
A spinning wheel made by E.J. Miller in 1864, traveled from Somerset Co., Pa. with the founding three families of the Amish settlement in the Arthur area.
It was recovered from the attic of he Moses Yoder home and will be on display during the Sheep to Clothing event.
That spinning wheel spent many years in the attic of the oldest home in the community, the Moses Yoder home, and will be on display.
“It’s a wonder it’s together at all,” Ervin Yoder, grandson of Moses said. “When we were kids, we used to play with it all the time.”
Ervin’s father Abraham was one of nine children in the Moses Yoder family and his wife Bernadine has joined Wilmer Otto, Brian Karrick, Troye Kauffman, Beth Elgelbrecht Wiggans, Karen Miller, Myrna Madigan, Merle Gingerich and Marie Kuhns to make the spinning event possible at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. Read More
Congressman John Shimkus Visits OVHS
Photo furnished
Congressman John Shimkus Visits OVHS
Fifteenth District Congressman John Shimkus visted Okaw Valley High School May 2. He stopped by to discuss the corps partnership and to learn about the new ag facility that will be built this summer. He also addressed the ag students and answered questions pertaining to the agricultural field.
SHS Prom Court 2018
Photo courtesy Wurtsbaugh Photography
SHS Prom court
Sullivan High School prom was held Saturday, April 21 with Lizzie Green crowned queen and Andrew Matlock king. Pictured from left: Tanner Tarr, Zdenek Roza, Jordan Bassett. King Andrew Matlock, 2017 king Nicholas Carroll, 2017 queen Shelby Freeman, Queen Lizzie Green, Laine Cameron, Tate Fultz, Christina GIlbert, Montana Roberts, Blake Eller.
Future ALAH Entrepreneurs Shine at First Trade Show
Photo by Ariana Cherry
Visiting mentors Ty Mosier, Timmy Valentine and John Stephens from the Arthur General Store/ Astoria pose with ALAH entrepreneur Madyson Hepner of the “Goat Queen.” They mentored some CEO students and attended to shop for students’ products.
•May 2, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
Folks who attended the Douglas County CEO Trade Show April 25 got a chance to see what the future of business in this area could potentially hold.
ALAH senior students presented businesses which they developed themselves as part of a project in the CEO class that the high school began offering this school year.
Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) facilitator Stepheny McMahon of Sullivan explained the inaugural program includes high school students from Arthur, Arcola, Tuscola and Villa Grove.
“There are some incredible business leaders in Douglas County.” McMahon said of economic developers who committed to $1000 per year for three years to help finance the cooperative program introducing students to the business world.
“Touring these businesses for first hand experiences plus the soft skills learned can open doors for these young entrepreneurs,” she continued.
The 12 participating students meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Mondays at various business and manufacturing locations in Douglas County. Fundamental skills such as the proper hand shake and showing up on time to meetings are among the soft skills developed as the students work on their own businesses. Read More
Sullivan Pencil Pals Meet Each Other for the First Time
Photo furnished. Pencil Pals Ellen Ferrera, Landon and Charlie (l to r) get acquainted.
•May 2, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The Sullivan Elementary School gym was filled with first and second graders on April 25 as they met with their volunteer Pencil Pals for the first time.
My little scribes, Charlie and Landon, were sitting in one of the 20 circles and began chatting away about their pets, siblings and other things we have shared in our monthly missive exchanges. Landon is moving to Florida, and Charlie has dogs and cats that he loves. The gym was abuzz with the sounds of laughter and conversation from the over 120 attendees.
Pencil Pals was started 25 years ago by Mary Lou Kidwell mainly to connect first and second graders with senior volunteers but also to help children improve their writing skills. Read More
Moultrie County Judge Sentences Chad Matheson to Ten Years in Prison
•May 2, 2018•
Chad Matheson, 43, of Sullivan was sentenced April 17 to 10 years in the Dept. of Corrections for burglary.
Matheson, who is an inmate at Sheridan Correctional, appeared with attorney Walter B. Lookofsky at Macon County along with Moultrie County State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey and Judge Hugh Finson.
Matheson withdrew his guilty plea from the original forgery charge and was sentenced for burglary, a Class 2 felony. Read More
OVHS Driver Education Students Attend Safety Program
Photo furnished
OVHS Driver Education Students Attend Safety Program
Okaw Valley driver education students traveled to McLeod Trucking in Decatur to learn about traffic safety. “Teens, Trucks, & Traffic”, a division of the Illinois Trucking Foundation, is a program that further educates teen drivers on traffic safety. The program not only reinforces what teens already learn in driver’s education class but also educates teens about the NO-Zone areas around a commercial motor vehicle and brings about a hands-on experience regarding traffic safety.
Circuit Clerk Takes Oath
Photo by Mike Brothers
Circuit Clerk Takes Oath
Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Beth Pruitt was officially sworn in by Moultrie County Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Hugh Finson at 8:30 Tuesday, May 1. Circuit Clerk Pruitt will run for the unexpired term vacated by Democrat Cindy Braden, who accepted a position in the Adminstrative Office of the Illinois Court in Springfield. Attending were: Left to right Pam Jesse, Court Bailiff; John Pruitt; Marci Thompson - Treasurer; Beth Pruitt - Circuit Clerk; Georgia England - County Clerk; Jeff Waite - Administrative Assistant; Dan Flannell - City Administrator and former Chief Judge; Hon. Hugh Finson - Circuit Judge; and Leroy Seelhoffer - Court Bailiff.