News Progress

•March 7, 2018•

Okaw Valley High School students learned recent threats that have caused lock downs at area schools were not acceptable in the Valley.

Principal Matt Shoaff opened the March 1 assembly by pointing out 12 schools in the area had been on lock down recently for threats made over social media.

“This is unacceptable and gives all of us a black eye,” Shoaff said. “We want to come to school to learn and have a good time.”

Supt. Kent Stauder made it clear there would be consequences for anyone making threats on Okaw Valley students.

“Every morning when I make the rounds, it is to make sure your safety is number one,” Stauder said, explaining safety is why outside doors to the school are locked. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
One Book One Sullivan middle school students coordinated the community discussion of Bitter Side of Sweet at First United Methodist Church last Thursday.

•March 7, 2018•

The Bitter Side of Sweet brought 130 people of all ages together at the First Methodist Church March 1 to discuss the One Book One Sullivan annual read.

“We are always nervous about how many will turn out for the community discussion,” Rikki Ray, OBOS coordinator said. “This is the best crowd we have had.”

One Book One Sullivan volunteers were bringing out additional tables and chairs to facilitate the growing crowd.

The community/school annual novel read sponsored by Sullivan Rotary began 12 years ago and has grown from the initial group of middle school reading students to include high school as well as elementary students along with community participants.

Sullivan Rotary financing made The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan available throughout the community. The announcement was made in November with the discussion on March 1 concluding the OBOS reading event. Read More

•February 28, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When the settlers began arriving to the vast prairies of central Illinois in the early 1800’s, they found a land of bountiful opportunity for their entrepreneurial spirits.

By 1850 Sullivan was an incorporated village and already bustling with such tradesmen as millers, bakers, lawyers, carriage makers, blacksmiths, a dentist and Joel Earp’s saloon among others.

Added to these were other businesses in Moultrie County with a coal mine in Lovington, a sorghum mill in Bruce and a bottle making plant in Sullivan.

There was a very rich vein of coal running lengthwise through Illinois, and a number of small mines sprang up in central Illinois. Chief among those in what was called the Lovington Triangle, was the Lovington Coal Mining Co. which started operation June 24, 1901. Read More