Durbin honored with Illinoisan of the Day

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August 16 to be named John W. Durbin Day by Gov. Quinn

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

“I never realized I did that much.”sz-Durbin
Those humble words belong to Lovington resident John Durbin, who says he was surprised when he received a phone call informing him that he had been named Illinoisan of the Day, an honor created in 2009 by the Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation that seeks to applaud 10 outstanding Illinois residents each year; the decision is largely based on volunteer service.
“It is the key ingredient,” says Doug Kamholz, a member of the foundation.
And Durbin has a whole pantry full of just those ingredients.
When he lived in Sullivan, Durbin performed Read More

New Progress in Your News Progress, both print and web

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Redesign aimed at creating fresh look, while integrating web and print

by Kevin Strongafur
NP Contributor

If you're reading this, you might have noticed something, well, different. That is the News Progress's hope anyway, as this week they rolled out a completely new look to both their print and web editions.
"We're really excited for our readers," said Managing Editor Keith Stewart.
Nearly six months in the making, the redesign was first considered by Stewart when he first arrived back in August of 2011.
sz-NP CreativeTeam"At the time I was just the sport's editor, so I had other things to consider, but in the back of my mind, I wanted to change the look of the paper. I'm a big serif fan, especially for headlines and mastheads. Having a sans serif font just never appealed to me, and I didn't feel like it commanded the reader's attention."
Not in the position to make those changes, however, Stewart put the idea aside until he was made managing editor in February 2012.
"It was an overwhelming period stepping into those shoes," he admitted. "But I'd be lying if I said the redesign didn't immediately pop back into my mind. I knew then that I wanted to, in time, make it happen."
But Stewart would need more than Read More

Bethany’s New Liquor Ordinance Nears Completion

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Just three licenses available with exceptions to include bar-like establishments

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

Members of Bethany’s village council drafted a preliminary version of a liquor ordinance following two special board meetings called to tackle the issue last week. The ordinance, which is on course for an August vote, was largely devised in less than a month’s time. Because it drew heavily upon ordinances from other local municipalities such as Sullivan, a framework was already in place for Bethany’s village board to build upon. Though passage of the new regulations will finally bring an end to the alcohol prohibition struck Read More

New sidewalks poured in downtown Sullivan as part of phase II of Streetscape Project

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Photo by Keith Stewart Feutz construction workers break up the old sidewalk in front of Chef Tippy's in Sullivan. The segment of sidewalk is just one of several areas to see newly poured concrete in the coming weeks as part of phase II of the Streetscape Project.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Feutz construction workers break up the old sidewalk in front of Chef Tippy's in Sullivan. The segment of sidewalk is just one of several areas to see newly poured concrete in the coming weeks as part of phase II of the Streetscape Project.

By: Amy Trussell

Sullivan Reporter

The downtown Sullivan area is experiencing some changes. As part of the second phase of the Streetscape Project, sidewalks are being repaired.

Read More

A/L applauds passage of annexation and sales tax

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by Ariana Cherry

Arthur/Lovington Reporter

The Arthur-Lovington School Board expressed their joy last Wednesday regarding the results from the April 9 election, which not only included the approval of consolidating Atwood-Hammond and Arthur-Lovington school districts, but also the passage of a one percent sales tax in Douglas County to help fund school facilities. Read More

Since Cook’s death, fate of Factory Arts up in the air

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by Florence Hallford

Lovington Reporter

Sullivan–The fate of the partnership between AB Seals and the Factory Art Studios has been a subject of discussion in the Sullivan community since the death of John Cook at the end of 2012. AB Seals, now in the hands of shareholders made up mostly of nieces and nephews of Cook, has to decide the fate of Factory Art Studios remaining in the building. Read More

Standalone Photo April 18th

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Photo by Keith Stewart CNA Graduates Mason Point held their second annual Certified Nurses Aides Graduation last week. The prospective CNAs underwent an eight week course, learning the 21 CNA skills and other valuable knowledge. Graduates were (left to right) Justine Grass, Terrence Harper, Stephanie Jenkins, Misty Lewis, Bobbie Miller, Katie Paddock, and Jennifer Wishart.

Photo by Keith Stewart
CNA Graduates
Mason Point held their second annual Certified Nurses Aides Graduation last week. The prospective CNAs underwent an eight week course, learning the 21 CNA skills and other valuable knowledge. Graduates were (left to right) Justine Grass, Terrence Harper, Stephanie Jenkins, Misty Lewis, Bobbie Miller, Katie Paddock, and Jennifer Wishart.

Sullivan places fourth at WYSE academic challenge state finals

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Submitted by Ted Walk The SHS WYSE team, which recently placed fourth at the state competition, consisted of (from left to right): Front row- Wyatt Grohler, Brock Bales, Travis Hanson, Adam Davis, and Cameron Jones. Middle row- Evin Lehman, Brent Mauck, Shawn Cody, and Shelbi Tingey. Back row- Reagan Miller, Sam Rousser, Lucas Mossman, John Mauck, and Patrick Hogan.

Submitted by Ted Walk
The SHS WYSE team, which recently placed fourth at the state competition, consisted of (from left to right): Front row- Wyatt Grohler, Brock Bales, Travis Hanson, Adam Davis, and Cameron Jones. Middle row- Evin Lehman, Brent Mauck, Shawn Cody, and Shelbi Tingey. Back row- Reagan Miller, Sam Rousser, Lucas Mossman, John Mauck, and Patrick Hogan.

The Sullivan High School WYSE team scored 365 points to earn 4th place in the 700 division at the State Finals hosted by the University of Illinois, a single point behind Macomb.
Pleasant Plains won the event while Monticello finished 2nd. Over 350 schools in Illinois participated in the Academic Challenge with over 100 schools in the 700 division. Trophies and medals were awarded to the top five schools in each division. Cameron Jones placed 2nd in engineering graphics, earning a $1000 scholarship to the Engineering program at U of I, and he also earned 6th place in mathematics. Sullivan’s had their first-ever state qualifying team in 2012, and this year was the first time that they placed in the top five. Read More