A Warm Reception for a Cold War Veteran

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Navy veteran Bill Zoetvelt was in the Iron Angel squadron serving on aircraft carrier Bon Homme Richard during the Cold War era.

•July 5, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Bill Zoetvelt hadn’t thought about taking the Lincoln Honor Flight for veterans in June until he met Marsha Bowyer.

Bowyer from Sullivan, a nurse who has been on six honor flights as guardian, saw Zoetvelt’s hat from his Iron Angel’s Navy squadron and asked if he had considered going on the June flight.

He explained they were both at Dr. Dennis Costerisan’s office in Mt. Zion so he went home, discussed it with his wife Marilyn, and decided to go.

“It was fantastic, from the reception at the airport in Springfield to the memorials we visited in Washington,” Zoetvelt said of the Honor Flight on which Bowyer accompanied him as guardian. She also went as guardian for Gordon Wood of Sullivan. Read More

ALAH Amended Budget Approved, State Owes $1.4 Million

News Progress Posted on by

Student fees announced

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board approved an amended 2017-18 budget at the June 21 meeting.

Superintendent Kenny Schwengel reported the total of all the funds in the ALAH district was $3,279,199.97. This past month, there were $128,887 in bills, and the transportation fund had a deficit of $290,000. In order to bring the fund out of debt, the district borrowed $325,000 from the Education Fund. Presently, the state of Illinois owes $1,437,592.48 to the ALAH school district.

The board also discussed the new rates for the 2017-2018 school year. Students in grades one through eight will have a $35 book fee. High school students - $10 per book;  new English class, Best Sellers, will have a $10 fee. It is the only English class with a fee. Read More

Knee High

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by RR Best
Knee High
Betty Mode and Judy Featheringill prove the old adage “Knee High by the 4th of July”.
Shown here standing in a field farmed by Dennis Smith of Sullivan which was planted in late April, the corn has already tasseled.

Broadband Expansion Gets a Boost in Lovington

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Matt Johnson, VP of Moultrie Independent Telephone/Shawnee Communications, (right) and Keith Adams, the USDA assistant administrator of telecommunications programs.

•July 5, 2017•

High speed internet is coming to Lovington in a big way with the kickoff of a $5 million Fiber to the Home project announced by the Moultrie Independent Telephone Company June 29.

Matt Johnson, VP of parent company Shawnee Communications, explained fiber optic service will expand to 800 customers by adding 80 miles of line.

The Fiber build-out is made possible with a $1 million capital investment by Shawnee and a $4 million loan through Rural Utilities Service, a division of U.S.D.A.

Keith Adams, the USDA assistant administrator of telecommunications programs, emphasized the importance of connecting rural america to fiber optics.

“Enhanced broadband can help rural communities bring young people back home,” Adams said, noting USDS has invested $116 million in partnerships such as the one with Moultrie Independent Telephone Co. since 2010. Read More

Hand In Hand Kids Camp Makes For Happy Campers

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Hand in Hand
The Hand in Hand group enjoys camp. See story on page 1.

•July 5, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Every child should grow up happy – it should be their unalienable right. Reality, however, is grim and often unfair. Special needs children face daunting challenges and some of these include not being asked to join teams or to sleepovers or to join other activities.

In Sullivan these children have two angels- Christine Grohler and Monica Green who received grant funds 15 years ago to found Hand in Hand Kids Camp for special needs children. Read More

Life is a Carnival

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Life is a Carnival
Sullivan children gathered at the Civic Center parking lot beginning at 6:00p.m. Friday enjoying rides from Conner Family Amusements of Beardstown. The new carnival sponsored by the Sullivan American Legion drew enthusiastic crowds during the city’s Fourth of July celebration that ended with a big bang.

Sunken Garden Work

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Sunken Garden Work
Garden club members along with OVHS students helped spread mulch and worked in the sunken garden June 12. OV students who volunteered their time were Garrett Tippit, Dalton McGill, Ethan Macklin and Jacob Brewer. Wes Wise, OV agriculture teacher assisted the students.
Pictured - OVHS agriculture teacher - Wes Wise, Dalton McGill, Ethan Macklin, Garrett Tippit, and Jacob Brewer.

Agricultural Advocacy Award

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Agricultural Advocacy Award
Okaw Valley High School’s agriculture department was recognized with the presentation of the Agricultural Education Advocacy Award in Bloomington last week at the Illinois Association for Vocational Agriculture Teachers meeting. Pictured are award recipient OVHS Principal Matt Shoaff and Agriculture teacher Wes Wise.

Thoroughly Modern Millie is Thoroughly Entertaining

News Progress Posted on by

•June 28, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The music was written by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlon and it was based on the 1956 British musical, “Chrysanthemum”. The pre-Broadway promo starred Kristin Chenoweth as Millie and the redoubtable Bea Arthur as Mrs. Meers. It had nearly 1,000 performances and won six Tony awards including Best Musical and Best Actress.

Basically, it is a small town Kansas girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York in the 20’s to marry for money and not love. She takes delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel run by a washed-up stage star who is reduced to a life of crime in a white slavery ring in China.

Having never seen this musical before I came prepared to be wowed. Thoroughly Modern Millie is thoroughly, magically magnificent.

The musical opens on a beautiful blue and grey New York backdrop, and above the stage is a marquee which sets the scenes and also translates the Chinese language of some characters so pay attention to the marquee! Read More

New Superintendent for Sullivan District #300

News Progress Posted on by

•June 28, 2017•

In a 7-0 vote, the Sullivan Community Unit School District #300 Board of Education approved the hiring of a new superintendent at a special meeting Thursday, June 22.

Ted Walk, who has served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal in the district over the last 11 years, will begin as Sullivan’s superintendent July 1 under a four-year contract at $122,500 annual salary. He is replacing Brad Tuttle who recently accepted a position with the Jerseyville School District.

The hiring of Walk follows a search by the district that included input from a meeting of various stakeholders, including members of the community, faculty, and staff in order to determine the qualities that the next superintendent of Sullivan schools should possess. Utilizing the results from this meeting, the board reviewed applications and supporting documentation and conducted interviews which led to the selection of Walk as the district’s next superintendent. Read More