•August 2, 2017•
The Okaw Valley High School band is working hard at band camp and is looking forward to a successful marching season. This year’s band is comprised of 34 students.
Teresa Colclasure is the band instructor. Drum majors are Connor Powers and Caleb Hildebrandt; David Hagerman, visual coordinator; Monica Maybell, color guard and Courtney Boyd, percussion. Read More
•July 26, 2017•
The Sullivan Education Association (SEA) and the Sullivan Board of Education came to a tentative contract agreement Tuesday, July 11. The contract was ratified by the SEA on Wednesday, August 2 and approved by the Board of Education in a special meeting held July 20.
The contract is a three-year agreement on language, which highlights an addition in contract language for those Sullivan teachers who live out of district, a waiver for their children to attend Sullivan. Other changes or additions in language were to workload, evaluation, and a reduction in TRS (retirement) contributions by the board due to new legislation. Read More
•July 26, 2017•
City Administrator Dan Flannell reported that someone has been dumping major amounts of grease and cooking oil into the sewer system recently.
He said that an attempt was made to locate the source, but the city has been unable to do so; although, they do believe that it came from the north half of the city because the grease came from the west side of the sewer plant. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Dalton City Car Show
Rick Schoonover of Decatur and his granddaughter check out Carl and Joyce Patrick’s 1947 Ford Coupe at the 7th annual Dalton City Car Show held July 23. Crowds and cool cars gathered on a hot summer day to enjoy festivities while many spent the afternoon in air conditioning at Harley’s Hide Out and the Shamrock which are main sponsors of the annual event.
Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat
•July 26, 2017•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Joseph was not Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first musical, but it was the first publicly performed. Webber devised a winning formula to showcase his prodigious knowledge of musical genres, and it was so successful that he used it again in other hits such as “Starlight Express” and “Cats”.
In “Joseph” we have such styles as parodies of French ballads (“Those Canaan Days”), Elvis inspired rock and roll (“Song of the King”), country western (“One More Angel in Heaven”), 1920s Charleston (“Potiphar”), Calypso (“Benjamin Calypso”), jazz (“Joseph’s Dream”), and 1950s music (“Go,Go,Go,Joseph”). Something for everyone!
If you haven’t seen the musical several times you probably do know the biblical story in Genesis of Joseph and his 11 brothers, his many-colored coat so coveted by his brothers that they sell him into slavery in Egypt. But, Joseph has a talent – he is a seer and can foretell the future. He curries favor with the Pharaoh who elevates him to a high position. He returns triumphantly to forgive his brothers and bring joy to his grieving father. Read More
Photo furnished
The kids participating in Vacation Bible School at Lovington First Baptist Church got in the spirit of giving as they donated their daily offering to Sparrows.
•July 26, 2017•
Children attending Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church of Lovington demonstrated the true gift of giving.
Some 65-70 kids attended the week long VBS program, learning, participating in crafts and enjoying a meal during the 6-8:30 p.m. sessions each evening. The greater giving came after members of Sparrows of Lovington told them about the volunteer community help organization.
Donna Walker is involved in the community volunteer organization and explained that Sparrows representatives helps provide toys and other gifts for children in Lovington who might not otherwise afford them. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera Mid-Illinois Senior Services Executive Director Kathi Shackles is shown painting a rock.
•July 26, 2017•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Inspired by the July 13 News Progress story on Sullivan Rocks, the Mid-Illinois Senior Services will offer rock painting for seniors.
The classes will be officially offered starting in August, but anyone may come in now to paint rocks. The center has river rocks, paints, brushes, color pens, glitter, lace, ribbon and all manner of things for decorating – all you need to bring is your inspiration. No political or religious messages, please.
Executive Director, Kathi Shackles, said, “We were just taken with the story and wanted the senior citizens to participate,” she added. “I was so happy to find river rocks at Walmart. Otherwise, I was considering liberating some from someone’s rock pile.” Read More
Photo by RR Best
Tragic Crash
Services were held Tuesday for 41 year old Robert Day of Hammond. Day, a member of the Hammond Fire Department, died as a result of a 6:30 p.m. July 20 crop sprayer/train accident on CR2000N near the Hwy. 121 intersection south of Dalton City. First responders from Sullivan, Bethany, Mt. Zion, Dora Township and Illinois State Police assisted at the scene. Area first responders formed the processional from Hammond to St. Isidore Catholic Church Cemetery.
Photo furnished
European Vacation
Young adults from Sullivan recently traveled to London, Paris, Florence and Rome with Marsha Kirby through Education First Tours. Pictured from left: Lexi Elder, Kelsey Clark, Katie Webb, Jon Gavin, Brendan Rau. The students were able to visit many historical sites including Buckingham Palace, the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, Trevi Fountain, and Pompeii. Kirby is currently putting together a trip to Germany, Austria & Switzerland for the summer of 2018 and a trip to Washington D.C. for summer 2019. This is not limited to students but is open to all members of the community. Those interested should call Marsha Kirby at 217-853-6842 for more information.
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
What Is This?
Every time motorists drive north on Route 32 to Lovington they pass a monument on the right side of the road, but they may not have noticed it. It is a memorial to Charles R. France who donated some 200 acres to Masonic Charities. The inscription on the plaque reads:
Charles R. France, Apr. 1, 1888 Jan. 17, 1968.
Memorial Farm: By his widow Mrs. Enid R. France. A freemason of the past, who provided for those of the future by dedicating this farm to Masonic Charity.
This plaque erected by the Illinois Masonic Home AD 1980 AL 5980