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CONSOLIDATED ELECTION RESULTS FOR 4/1/2025
Results will be updated as they come in.

Obituaries

See Recent Obituaries announcements from after publish date

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Recent Obituaries: Ramona L. Lesley-Hertlein

News Progress Posted on May 28, 2025 by webmasterMay 28, 2025

Ramona L. Lesley-Hertlein, 96, of Sullivan, passed away at 8:55 p.m. Tuesday May 27, 2025 in the Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Celebration of Life services will be at 12 p.m.  Monday June 2, 2025 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Rob Roy officiating.  Visitation will be Monday from 10 a.m. until service time.  Burial will be in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany.  Memorials are suggested to the Bethany United Methodist Church.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Ramona was born December 2, 1928 in Shawneetown, the daughter of Gordon and Beulah Hatcher Ozee. She had worked at the Bethany Grocery Store, Peters Market in Decatur, Svendsen Florist in Decatur and the Sullivan Senior Center  Ramona married Robert ‘Bob’ Lesley on September 13, 1947 and he preceded her in death on April 17, 1977.  She then married Eugene ‘Gene’ Hertlein on May 10, 2011 in Bethany and he preceded her in death on April 23, 2014.
Surviving are her daughters Helen (George) Levi of Effingham, Patti (Rieck) Kendall of Sullivan and Brenda Kirk of Sullivan; sister Doris Murphy of Shelbyville, brothers Roger Ozee of Shelbyville and Larry (Judi) Ozee of Arcola; grandchildren Lori (John) Thomas, Jennifer Levi, Alison Yoder, Kari (Troy) Rogers, Katy (Bryan) Fogerson, Adam, (Leann) Lesley, Michael (Marci) Kirk, Alyssa Kirk and Erin (Tim) Fricke; twelve great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, five brothers and a sister.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Obituaries 5-28-2025: Marilyn Elzy

News Progress Posted on May 28, 2025 by webmasterMay 28, 2025

Marilyn Elzy

Marilyn R. Elzy, 91, of Sullivan, passed away at 4:45 a.m. Monday May 26, 2025 in Shelbyville Manor.

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Obituaries 5-21-2025: Sabrina McCaughan

News Progress Posted on May 21, 2025 by webmasterMay 21, 2025

Sabrina McCaughan

Sabrina Johnson McCaughan, age 64, of Humboldt, passed away unexpectedly into the arms of Jesus on May 9, 2025 at her residence. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” II Corinthians 5:8

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Obituaries 5-14-2025: Rev. James Helton

News Progress Posted on May 14, 2025 by webmasterMay 14, 2025

Rev. James Helton

Rev. James R. Helton, 80, of Sullivan, passed away at 9:29 p.m. Friday May 9, 2025 in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday May 15, 2025 in the New Life Church, Sullivan with Pastor Dave Dolan officiating. Visitation will be 5 - 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the college fund for Gracee Helton. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.  

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Obituaries 5-14-2025:

News Progress Posted on May 14, 2025 by webmasterMay 14, 2025

Henry “Ted” Atkinson

Henry Theodore “Ted” Atkinson, of Bethany, passed away on Tuesday, May 6, at his home. He was 85.

Graveside services will be at 12 noon on Friday May 16, 2025, in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany with military rites conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post # 507. There will not be a visitation. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.

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Eta Aquarids meteor shower: Treat for Skywatchers

News Progress Posted on May 7, 2025 by webmasterMay 7, 2025

•May 7, 2025•

by DM Williamee

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower, known for its speed and bright, glowing trails, is an annual event, and the meteor shower is caused by debris from Halley’s Comet. It is visible each year from approximately April 19th through May 28th. The peak activity typically occurs on or around May 5th through 8th, with the shower offering good visibility, especially in the predawn hours. While the most vivid viewing will be in the Southern Hemisphere, it can be viewed globally. 

Unlike most major annual meteor showers, there is no sharp “peak” for this shower, but rather a broad maximum with good rates (number of meteors to view) that lasts for approximately one week and is centered on or around May 5th. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower can produce up to 60 meteors per hour in the Southern Hemisphere, and in the Northern Hemisphere (including the Sullivan area), the rate is typically lower, ranging from 10 to 30 meteors per hour. 

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Obituaries 5-7-2025:

News Progress Posted on May 7, 2025 by webmasterMay 7, 2025

Dennis Ferguson

Dennis M. ‘Denny’ Ferguson, 76 of Bethany, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2025 in his home.

Celebration of Life services were held Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Tom Hoskins officiating. Burial with military rites were conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507 in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials are suggested to the Moultrie - Douglas 4-H or the Bethany Peace Meal. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

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Obituaries 5-7-2025: Wayne Brown

News Progress Posted on May 7, 2025 by webmasterMay 7, 2025

Wayne Brown

Wayne M. Brown, 87, of Lovington, passed away 7:10 a.m. Monday, April 28, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur. 

Graveside services were held Friday, May 2, 2025, in Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

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Recent Obituaries: Dennis ‘Denny’ Ferguson

News Progress Posted on May 6, 2025 by webmasterMay 6, 2025

Dennis ‘Denny’ Ferguson

Dennis M. ‘Denny’ Ferguson, 76 of Bethany, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2025 in his home.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Tom Hoskins officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507 will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Memorials are suggested to the Moultrie - Douglas 4-H or the Bethany Peace Meal. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Denny was born on January 26, 1949 in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Warren G. and Luzetta J. Gaston Ferguson. Denny graduated from Bethany High School in the class of 1967. He took agricultural courses through Lake Land College. He enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1969.  Denny was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer his entire life in the Bethany area.  He spent a lot of hours on the road hauling livestock for Two Mile Commission company. He was a member of the Lincolnland Carriage Club and the Illinois Draft Horse and Mule Association.
Denny showed mules along side of his father which became a family highlight for his kids and grandchildren. He appreciated a good team of mules. He raised, handled and showed several grand champion mules in state and county fairs. He also judged several state and county mule shows over the years. He enjoyed driving mules in parades and taking rides throughout the countryside.
He looked forward in going to the livestock sales at Shelbyville Sale Barn and Two Mile Commission each week. It was a highlight to eat at the Bethany Diner visiting the guys at the liar’s table. He also enjoyed spending time with his high school friends eating lunch out monthly.
Survivors include his children Michael ‘Mick” Ferguson of Findlay, Dawn Redfern of Bethany and Alison Freeland of Hot Springs, Arkansas; grandchildren Janette (Canon) West of Japan and Garrett Ferguson of Bethany; brother in law Dean Craig of Sullivan and a niece and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Janet and a son-in-law T.G. Redfern.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Obituaries 4-30-2025: Nichole Scott

News Progress Posted on April 30, 2025 by webmasterApril 30, 2025

Nichole Scott

Nichole Moran Scott, 58, of Bement, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 8:37 a.m., Thursday, April 24, 2025, at her residence.   

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Stork pins awarded



News Progress


Stephane Poe presented Kayelene Goodbear and Steve Fleming with a stork pin for recently delivering a baby. This was Kayelene’s first delivery, born on May 2nd.


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