Crash in the Front Leads PO Customers Back

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Photo by RR Best Post office clerk Trisha Elder inspects the damage last Tuesday after a car jumped the curb and crashed into the Sullivan Post Office lobby door.

Photo by RR Best
Post office clerk Trisha Elder inspects the damage last Tuesday after a car jumped the curb and crashed into the Sullivan Post Office lobby door.

•December 2, 2015•

The front door of the Sullivan Post Office was crashed on November 24 and access to the front lobby limited since.

Postmaster Cindy Temple is sorry for the inconvenience to the public and then explained repairs should be complete this week.

“We recommended a Champaign contractor to the building owners in Chicago,” Temple said of the procedure to get the door repaired. “They are set to start work on the door and frame Wednesday (Dec. 2).”

Until then customers seeking lobby access will continue to ring the bell on the loading dock.

A postal clerk will retrieve mail from post office boxes.

“Our package season has doubled,” Temple said referring to the holiday package traffic at the post office.

“A postal clerk escorts the customer through the back room to the lobby access door,” she explained. “From there we can conduct business as usual.” Read More

Just Paint Class Comes to Sullivan

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Photo Submitted Students gathered at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library with artist David Zoberis, Sr. last week, and by following his “Just Painting” instructions they each produced a masterpiece.

Photo Submitted
Students gathered at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library with artist David Zoberis, Sr. last week, and by following his “Just Painting” instructions they each produced a masterpiece.

•December 2, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

Students learned to “Just Paint” at beginning acrylic paint class presented by artist David Zoberis, Sr. at Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library last week.

For a little more than two hours, a group of beginning acrylic painters and one reporter learned a few lessons of what it was like to “just paint” – as instructor and artist, David J, Zoberis Sr. said.

In front of the class sat a piece of artwork that featured an outdoor springlike setting with a table that had an antique tea kettle and a folded tablecloth sitting on it. Zoberis told the students that would be their project for the day.

To some, seeing such a professional painting created, could be overwhelming – for others, motivation to “just paint.” The final masterpiece was open to interpretation.

Zoberis provided materials for the entire class including paints, easel, canvas and paintbrushes. While everyone painted, he suggested different techniques that could possibly help a painter when creating a piece of artwork. Zoberis has conducted these workshops for more than two years for both adults and children. Libraries in Wisconsin started asking for adult painting classes. “I wanted to do what other artists didn’t do. None of the artists I know do workshops in the state of Illinois. I’d like to provide creativity to small libraries in Illinois and keep my studio,” he said.  Read More

Flying High

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Photo by RR Best Flying High Okaw Valley Timberwolves Pierce Bradford flies high for a block as the team faced Georgetown La Salette at home Nov 23, losing 65-48.

Photo by RR Best
Flying High
Okaw Valley Timberwolves Pierce Bradford flies high for a block as the team faced Georgetown La Salette at home Nov 23, losing 65-48.

Okaw Valley Teaches Drone Technology

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Photos by Mike Brothers With the Drone in the foreground the class learns how to maneuver. Pictured from left: Eric Mercer, Olivia Buxton, Conner Sheehan, Ethan Macklin, Kam Roley, Kyle Burford, T.J. Williams, Jackson Masters, Wesley Wise, ag instructor.

Photos by Mike Brothers
With the Drone in the foreground the class learns how to maneuver. Pictured from left: Eric Mercer, Olivia Buxton, Conner Sheehan, Ethan Macklin, Kam Roley, Kyle Burford, T.J. Williams, Jackson Masters, Wesley Wise, ag instructor.

•December 2, 2015•

By Derek Pope
For the News Progress

Agricultural technology has undeniably come a long way since its humble beginnings, perhaps more so in recent decades than at any other time in its history.

But this year could mark the advent of one particular technological wonder in agriculture that, before now, hadn’t quite taken off—the drone. With Moultrie County being the seat of some of the best farming in Illinois, it only seems appropriate that Okaw Valley High School’s ag department is poised to make the most of this emerging commercial technology.

Thanks to a grant from the Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System earlier this year, Okaw Valley was given funds to purchase a commercial style drone for the purpose of vocational training in its agriculture classes.

The school’s erg instructor Wes Wise said of the purchase, “Without question we are making advancements in the OV erg department that are going to put our students at the forefront of employment.”

The drone, which retails for roughly $2,000, will allow students to take aerial video and photography of local area farm fields to look for “water, insect, and disease damage” in unprecedented ways.

According to Wise, recent research has indicated that drone technology can increase crop yield by as much as 10% by recognizing these issues before they become a problem for farmers.  Read More

Civil War Historian Reflects on the Soldier’s Life

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Photo by Nick Fiala Pictured is Civil War historian Gary Blessman.

Photo by Nick Fiala
Pictured is Civil War historian Gary Blessman.

•December 2, 2015•

By Nick Fiala
for the News Progress

The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society’s annual dinner at the First United Methodist Church in Sullivan featured guest speaker Gary Blessman of Minnesota.

Blessman is a Civil War historian who recently authored a book on the 126th Illinois Infantry Regiment of Illinois, entitled Three Years Off the Farm. His great-great-grandfather, Edwin R. Grubbs of Hillsboro, was a private in Company D of that regiment.

Blessman began his research for what became Three Years Off the Farm in 2010. After the passing of his  last maternal aunt, Blessman’s family stumbled onto records of his ancestor’s life and military service.

The Regiment assembled at Alton in August of 1862, made up of 69 percent of farmers and another company of coal miners from Coal Valley, Illinois.

“The very first time they may have ridden on a train was when they went to war,” Blessman said.

The regiment went on numerous lengthy marches all throughout the midwest and the south, being joined by other regiments from as far away as Minnesota. This included long trudges around, over, or even through swamps and rivers that no doubt were contaminated with diseases that claimed the lives of many soldiers.  Read More

Secret Santa Uses Donations for Others

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Photo by Mike Brothers Sullivan IGA donated $500 to Secret Santa. IGA manager Pat Stinson (center) presents check to Secret Santa representatives Police Chief John Love (right) and Greg Foster.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan IGA donated $500 to Secret Santa. IGA manager Pat Stinson (center) presents check to Secret Santa representatives Police Chief John Love (right) and Greg Foster.

•December 2, 2015•

Secret Santa of Sullivan was presented a check for $500 from Sullivan IGA last week.

Accepting on behalf of the communitywide help organization was Greg Foster left and Police Chief John Love (right). IGA manager Pat Stinson presented the annual donation.

Chief Love said that 100 people have signed up for Secret Santa so far this season.

“People can still sign up for Secret Santa until Dec 5,” Love said, noting that the police department is handling all registrations for the program.

“Donations like the one from IGA help us bring Christmas to people who can’t otherwise afford it,” Love said, pointing out that the garage area at the police department will have toys on display for Secret Santa shoppers.

Secret Santa has grown from a couple of folks purchasing bicycles for Christmas to a community based help program all year round.

Love explained they have been able to help families in emergency situations with food, clothing and shelter in addition to making Christmas better for those who don’t have it so good. Read More

One Book, One Sullivan Unveils Community Read

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Book one Sullivan•December 2, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Middle School students greeted the One Book, One Sullivan novel unveiling with a standing ovation Nov 25.

Michael Vey-The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans was announced to the schoolwide assembly following a trailer prepared by the One Book One Sullivan group for the second year in a row.

One Book One Sullivan volunteers then handed out copies of the book to students with the following instructions: Read it. Enjoy it. Talk about it. Share it.

Rikki Ray teaches Language Arts and has spent the past nine years as coordinator of the volunteer community/school based book selection group.

“Students who volunteer have to commit to reading a book a week during the summer,” Ray said of the yearlong One Book, One Sullivan program.

More than 20 kids have volunteered from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Ray explained that the students and staff read and discuss selections from the Rebecca Caudill list.

“We meet once a week to discuss the selections in order to determine what will best appeal to the community,” she continued, explaining everything from story content to the book cover is considered before a recommendation is made.

This year’s selection won by only one vote to not only indicate the competition among books but to help students understand the meaning of democracy. Read More

Windsor FFA in Dairy Competition

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Windsor FFA in Dairy Competition Photo at left: On November 18th, the Windsor FFA attended the Dairy Foods CDE hosted by the Sangamon Valley FFA chapter. Windsor FFA attendants were Bailey Fleshner, Travis Fox, Mackenzee Hooten, Morgan Lesko, Whitney Pepperdine, Kendra Reed, and Gage Sattler. The sections of the CDE were cheese identification, artificial vs. real products, milker part defects, a written test and milk defects. The Windsor FFA team placed ninth overall.

Windsor FFA in Dairy Competition
Photo at left: On November 18th, the Windsor FFA attended the Dairy Foods CDE hosted by the Sangamon Valley FFA chapter.
Windsor FFA attendants were Bailey Fleshner, Travis Fox, Mackenzee Hooten, Morgan Lesko, Whitney Pepperdine, Kendra Reed, and Gage Sattler.
The sections of the CDE were cheese identification, artificial vs. real products, milker part defects, a written test and milk defects. The Windsor FFA team placed ninth overall.

Agronomy – ALAH FFA

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Photo Submitted Agronomy: Three ALAH FFA members competed in the Section 17 Agronomy CDE at Parkland College on November 10. Pictured are FFA members Makenna Green, Josiah Kinert, and Taylor Powell.

Photo Submitted
Agronomy: Three ALAH FFA members competed in the Section 17 Agronomy CDE at Parkland College on November 10. Pictured are FFA members Makenna Green, Josiah Kinert, and Taylor Powell.

4-H Shining Stars Using ADM Grant to Help Food Bank

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Photo Submitted Making the check presentation are Mike Schultz and Josh Snelling of ADM (Back row) with the 4-H Shining Stars. The member list includes: Anyssa Coffer, Gareth Coffer, Abagail Dean, Cora Emel, Lena Emel, Mitchell Hooten, Ellie Lehman, Kent Lehman, Rhett Lehman, Aidan Melvin, Alivia Melvin, Emily Miller, Hayden Moody,Julia Moody, Simon Parri, Devon Richardson, Lane Richardson, Gage Simmons, Peyton Simmons, Addison Stollard, Brady Stollard, Ethan Tice, Sophia Tice, Sarina Voegel, John Voyles, Kylie Voyles, Natalie Voyles, Claire Welch, Brycen Wildman Kolton Wiley.

Photo Submitted
Making the check presentation are Mike Schultz and Josh Snelling of ADM (Back row) with the 4-H Shining Stars. The member list includes: Anyssa Coffer, Gareth Coffer, Abagail Dean, Cora Emel, Lena Emel, Mitchell Hooten, Ellie Lehman, Kent Lehman, Rhett Lehman, Aidan Melvin, Alivia Melvin, Emily Miller, Hayden Moody,Julia Moody, Simon Parri, Devon Richardson, Lane Richardson, Gage Simmons, Peyton Simmons, Addison Stollard, Brady Stollard, Ethan Tice, Sophia Tice, Sarina Voegel, John Voyles, Kylie Voyles, Natalie Voyles, Claire Welch, Brycen Wildman Kolton Wiley.

•November 25, 2015•

Archer Daniels Midland Company recently donated $400 to Moultrie County Shining Stars 4-H Club.

The donation will go towards purchasing vegetable plants and seeds for the 4-H youth to grow in their individual gardens. The 4-H members will then donate the produce to the Moultrie County Food Bank where it will be distributed to local individuals.

”For our grant project we are combining agriculture and community service. We will grow gardens and donate the produce back to the food pantry. It will be rewarding to provide fresh vegetables for our local community” said Lane Richardson, president of the club.

The Moultrie County Shining Stars 4-H club was founded in the fall of 2015 and meets the second Tuesday of each month at the First United Methodist Church.  Read More