ALAH Students Sending Care Packages To Hurricane Victims

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•January 31, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Macy Hollingsworth, president of the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School National Honor Society, was the guest speaker at the recent school board meeting. She spoke about care packages that they were putting together to send out to those who have been victims of some of the recent hurricanes.

The ALAH students also reached out to other schools within the area encouraging them to join the relief effort.

Hollingsworth has asked other students to write encouraging letters that could be included in the packages to help lift the victims’ spirits during such a difficult time. The effort includes elementary students who might be interested in drawing pictures to put inside.  Read More

Sullivan Drive In was the Perfect Family Night Out

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In the June 13, 1952 Moultrie County News Woodrow Spaugh is shown demonstrating one of the individual loud speakers installed at the Sullivan Drive-in theater.

•January 31, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Drive in opened northeast of town on June 6, 1952 by Lee Norton, who had owned the Grand Theater on the square since 1944.

With successful drive in theaters operating in Shelbyville and Mattoon Norton saw a chance to join the trend in Moultrie County.

The opening Friday night feature was “At War with the Army” with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and the Saturday late show was “Murder, My Sweet”.  Prices were 50 cents for adults and children under 12 free. Special favors were given to the kiddies on opening night, and there were always two cartoons on every program. Read More

Sullivan Learns of a Way to Map Community’s Future

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•January 31, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Council learned of a way to be proactive in planning the future of the community at a recent city council meeting.

Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Laurrie Minor explained the Management and Planning Programs Involving Nonmetropolitan Groups (MAPPING) starts with a community steering committee. Read More

Globe Theater Draws Large Saturday Night Crowd

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•January 31, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

Editor’s Note: Former Sullivan resident and author Eden Martin has compiled a history of theaters in Sullivan. This second installment starts with the opening of the Globe Theater.

On October 23, 1909, the Decatur Daily Review reported as follows: Sullivan is to have a new up-to-date moving picture show which will be absolutely fireproof and have a raised floor with opera chairs which is something better than has ever seen here before. S.T. Herman of Monticello is the manager, and it will be known as the Globe theater and will be ready for business Saturday night in the old post office building on the south side of the square.

The new Globe apparently got off to a great start. On November 8 the Decatur newspaper reported that it “had the largest crowd at the performance Saturday night that they have had since starting their moving picture show here. At the three performances there were people standing out in the street waiting to get on the inside. S.T. Herman, the manager and owner, has put in the nicest moving picture show which has ever been in the city and deserves a good crowd. He has a raised floor and opera chairs to add to the comfort of those visiting his theater.” Read More

ALAH FFA Students Place at Section Public Speaking Contest

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ALAH FFA Students Place at Section Public Speaking Contest
Submitted by: Katie Gingerich,
ALAH FFA Reporter
The Section 17 FFA Public Speaking contest was held January 24 at Monticello High School. Makenna Green competed in Varsity Extemporaneous Public Speaking, and Zane Crist in Prepared Public Speaking.
Green drew a topic out of a hat and had 30 minutes to prepare a speech. She then presented her speech and answered questions about her topic. “It is really fun to have to think on your feet. I would definitely recommend it to kids to step outside of their comfort zone and learn to defend what you know and fly by the seat of your pants. And learn to conquer the fear of talking in front of people,” Green said.
Crist prepared a speech about the excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus and stimulating the growth of algae. “These algae deplete oxygen from the water and eventually kill fish due to the low levels of oxygen. I liked it and I would recommend it,” he said.
Green and Crist each placed second in extemporaneous and prepared speaking respectively. They compete at the District 4 Public Speaking CDE in April.

District Spelling Bee Winners Advance 

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•January 31, 2018•

The 2018 Sullivan School District Spelling Bee was held Wednesday, January 24

in the Sullivan High School Commons. Students in grades 4-8 earned the privilege of representing their grade level in the bee.

The six winners and two alternates who are moving on to the Moultrie County Spelling Bee Feb. 14 are: Fourth Grade-Johnathan Iacobazzi, Fifth - Hannah Creek, Sixth- Nicole Lofland and Elora Mast, Seventh-Chloe Smith, Eighth Abby Kitkwood. Alternates Sixth Grade-Maverick Palmer and Seventh - Lara Hershberger. Read More

Early Grist Mill Donated To The Amish Heritage Center

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•January 31, 2018•

An early grist mill has been donated to the new Illinois Amish Heritage Center located one mile west of Chesterville.

Grist mills in the form of three-story buildings with large water-driven wheels were a central part of most 19th century communities. Often a mill was the first development in a new land, and a community sprung up around it. Farmers brought their grain, usually corn or wheat, to the local mill to have it ground into cornmeal or wheat flour. The miller kept a portion of the meal or wheat as his payment.

With the advent of steam-powered tractors in the late 19th century and gasoline powered tractors by the 1920s, portable, belt-powered grist mills were developed, and farmers then had the ability to grind their corn or wheat without leaving the farm. These portable grist mills provided even better-quality cornmeal and wheat than the water-powered mills of the past.  Read More

The Little Theatre Opened Sullivan Homes to the Stars

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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

SES Gold Slip Awards

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SES Gold Slip Awards
Pictured from back left to right: Ivan Moxley, Gavin Helmuth, Caidon Hill, Nixon Dundee, Tessla Ashbrook, Kendall Penberthy, Nevaeh Marlow
Front left to right: Avram Bates, Aiden Dinger At Sullivan Elementary School, students who go above and beyond expectations are awarded a “Gold Slip.”

Program Helps Access Local History for Bethany Students

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Mrs. Allen’s third grade class at Okaw Valley Elementary School.

•January 24, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Kathy Doty is a multi-talented teacher at Bethany Elementary School teaching K-4, music and computer technology.

Computer technology led her to develop an interesting history project for third grade students.

“I’m always looking for ways to partner with other teachers to enhance their class projects and, at the same time, increase the students’ computer skills and concepts,” she explained. Doty and third grade teacher Crystal Allen have collaborated on a history project to acquaint Allen’s students with Bethany history and folklore for the past four years

Doty discovered that the little book, “History of Bethany” by Jim Scott was available online. She and Allen prepared 10-12 questions for the students to answer by searching the book on computers. Their answers had to be written as entire sentences – not just one-word answers – as if they were writing a story. They then had to search google to find pictures that would illustrate the questions. Read More