Photo by RR Best
Mighty Mites Basketball
Mighty Mites basketball player Aiden Burgess (above) looks for someone to pass the ball to during Sullivan action last weekend. The introductory program for 5-8 year olds teaches basic skills, team work and good sportsmanship.
•March 3, 2016•
The Strasburg Lions Club will hold an all you can eat fish fry on Friday, March 11th. The Lions will be serving fried fish, scalloped potatoes, applesauce and slaw from 4:30 to 7 pm at the Strasburg Community Center (East of Marathon Gas Station). The AYCE fish fry will be free will donation. Donations go towards park improvements and upkeep.
Photo by RR Best
Snow Geese Migration
A sign that spring is on its way is when the snowbirds start to return north on the central flyway. Soon area “snowbirds” will be returning from warmer climates in the south, just as these snow geese are traveling north. Caught outside Sullivan this flock is on its way from the marshlands of the south to northern Alaska and Canada breeding grounds. Weather changes and abundant feeding from grain left on the prairie has allowed the goose population to increase over the past decade.
Area Agencies Respond
•March 2, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Moultrie County Emergency Services and Disaster is coordinating an Active Shooter Training exercise with Sullivan schools March 9.
Local ESDA Coordinator Jan Haegan said this full scale exercise will involve radio chatter during the time period.
“This is an active shooter attempting to enter the school,” Haegan said, explaining the radio conversations will be identified as a simulation, and the general public shouldn’t be alarmed.
Haegan also cautioned residents they shouldn’t try to come to the scene of the training exercise.
He explained that the area will be restricted with first responders from the police, sheriff, fire, paramedics, health department, coroner, the state police and District #10 Rapid Shooter response team all on hand along with ESDA coordinators.
School districts and emergency services are required periodic training with an operation of this scale required only every eight years.
March 9 is an inservice day with school dismissing at noon. The active shooter scenario will be conducted at the high school following dismissal with elementary and middle school teachers acting as students.
“A retired police officer will pose as the intruder,” Haegan said, noting each agency will go through established procedures as if the event were actually happening. Read More
Photo furnished
Windsor Scholastic Bowl
Mitch Haddock, a senior at Windsor High School, made first team all-conference for the Scholastic Bowl season in the NTC conference. Maranda Tarvin, a freshman at Windsor High School, made second team all-conference fconference. Pictured L to R: Mitch Haddock and Maranda Tarvin.
Photo Submitted
•March 2, 2016•
By Nick Fiala
For the News Progress
Decatur Memorial Hospital recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The January first date was also a celebration of a Bethany woman who dedicated a significant portion of her time and energy to birthing the establishment a century ago.
Sue Hagaman (1841-1919) was known as “The Mother of the Hospital” by those who took up the task of finishing DMH’s construction after her.
The plans for the project began as early as 1901 with the encouragement of many prominent physicians of central Illinois. Finally, in 1916, she was present to literally turn the first shovel of dirt and witness the laying of the hospital’s cornerstone.
This inspirational effort came after Hagaman had already served for 35 years as a Sunday school teacher at the First Methodist Church of Decatur, as well as raised two biological children and no less than eight adopted orphans. Read More
Photo by RR Best
What a Difference a Week Makes
White out conditions hit the area last week, with travel slow when traffic was moving at all. Moultrie County sheriff’s deputies kept busy with roadside assists while Sullivan police handled calls concerning road conditions February 24 and 25 which kept first responders busy. Interstates 57, 72 and 74 were closed at various times with District 10 Illinois State Troopers assisted by various federal, state, county and city agencies.
Photo furnished
Bethany Tournament Winners
“Iron” Mike Bryant and Josh “The Hitman” O’Brien were co-winners of the American Legion Post 507 Poker Tournament held Feb 20. Bryant and O’Brien bested a field of 58 players to bring home the victory!
•March 2, 2016•
Sullivan IGA and Agri-Fab are joining forces to help raise funds for the CEFS Food Pantry through March 12.
“When we found out Agri-Fab was planning a food pantry drive from Cindy, one of our cashiers, it just made sense to see if we could work together,” IGA manager Pat Stinson said of the new approach to helping the CEFS Food Pantry in Sullivan.
From March 6-12 the Sullivan grocer will give people a chance to round up their grocery bill to the next dollar. That amount will be donated toward purchasing food for the pantry.
Agri-Fab volunteers will be on the Sullivan IGA parking lot from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 12.
In addition to their own collection efforts among employees, Agri -Fab will provide reusable food bags for individuals to fill and donate to the food pantry. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Who reached 21 first? C.J. Walker (right) actually turned 21 February 14, before great-grandfather Tom Florey turns 21 on February 29.
Finally Turns Twenty one
•February 24, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Thomas Addison Florey is a Leap Year child, and February 29, 2016 is his 21st birthday.
That’s correct; the Bethany native was born February 29, 1932, and he is technically not old enough to drink.
Still living in Bethany and driving around in his recently purchased Chrysler Town and Country Caravan, Tom will be joined by his family 2-4 p.m. Sunday, February 28 for an open house at the Bethany Firehouse.
“You know I don’t get too excited about it anymore,” the soon to be 84 year old Florey said.
He explained his middle name Addison was shared by his father and grandfather.
“When I was a kid, my family always celebrated my birthday on March 1,” he said, recalling his great-aunt who lived in Flora was also a Leap Year child.
Florey said when he met Darlene Dick and they were married June 17, 1951, friends and family kidded her about robbing the cradle.
“Shoot, I didn’t turn four years old until February 1952,” he said with a laugh. Read More