News Progress

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
David, Robin Keown Black, Susan Keown Van Praag and Mike Keown recall the years of Little Theatre actors staying in their home and display some of their mother’s collection of memorabilia as a longtime seamstress for the theatre.

•January 31, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

In the summer of 1967 Lee Norton made the decision to close the Grand Theater for the summer in order to concentrate on his drive-in. He had heard that a young man (Guy Little, Jr.) was looking for a venue for summer musicals so Lee rented out the Grand.

This one decision ultimately paved the way for a considerable economic ripple in Sullivan as Jibby’s restaurant flourished, the Ace Hardware prospered, hairdressers and manicurists tended to the movie stars, David Mobley found a career as the Little Theatre’s photographer and sometime chauffeur, and Little persuaded friends such as Art and Mamie Palmer to take in his actors as boarders. Those who prospered had extra funds to spend at other places in Sullivan thus creating a trickle-down economic flow throughout the community. Read More

Photo by R.R. Best
Megan Thompson is applauded by the child in her lap and supported by the crowd who surrounded her during the Sullivan Hoop Shoot.

•January 24, 2018•

By Jason Brown
for the News Progress

In 2014, former Sullivan resident Megan (Buxton) Thompson was watching an NFL game with her husband in mid-October during breast cancer awareness month. Players and coaches wore pink and she kidded about checking to make sure she didn’t have a lump.

She had been recently experiencing pain in her left chest so she jokingly performed a self-exam and found a lump.

“Within two weeks, I was diagnosed with (Stage 3b) breast cancer,” she said. “We don’t have any family history of cancer, and I don’t have the BRCA gene. My chances of getting breast cancer at 27 years old with no family history or genetic mutations was less than two percent.”

She decided no matter what the diagnosis, with the help of family, friends and faith, she was going to fight.

She went through a mastectomy, six months of chemo, six and a half weeks of radiation, and started on hormonal therapy. Read More

Ron White

•January 17, 2018•

Moultrie County Board members voted to accept the resignation of longtime board member Ron White during the regular meeting January 11.

Chairman Dave McCabe noted it was with deep regret that he accepts the 15 year board member’s resignation. The budget and finance chairman had overseen the construction of the jail and health department, McCabe said of his years of service. “I will miss his sound and usually sage advice.”

He went on to explain the chairman of the Republican party will have 60 days to name a successor. The appointment Republican will serve until the November 2018 election when a candidate will be elected to serve the remainder of White’s term which ends in 2020. Read More