The Chicago Bears NFL Franchise Began in Decatur as the Staleys

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•September 19, 2018• By Justin Conn Of the Decatur Herald & Review A.E. “Gene” Staley’s successful corn manufacturing company in Decatur was already producing starch, glucose, sugar and syrup in 1919 when it added professional football to the assembly line. Staley, owner of the Staley Manufacturing Co., would eventually make Decatur the “Soybean Capital of the World.” He was behind the creation of Lake Decatur, the Staley viaduct and the Staley Building (now the Tate and Lyle Building). But Staley’s legacy will forever be linked with the NFL’s Chicago Bears, originally the Decatur Staleys — a football team that grew … Read More

ALAH Volleyball Wins Conference Opener

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•September 19, 2018• The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond volleyball team defeated Sangamon Valley/Tri-City in its Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest opener last Thursday. The Knights lost the first set 25-21 but battled back to win the next two sets by the same score of 25-11. Taylor Powell’s four aces, 15 kills, 12 digs and 28 assists led the Knights. … Read More

Obituaries 9-19-2018: Gregg Taylor

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Gregg Taylor Gregg Alan Taylor, 67, of Sullivan, Illinois passed away in his home September 11, 2018 surrounded by his family. Gregg was a second generation Eastern Illinois alumni and married Evelyn Sandrisser in 1981. He is survived by their daughters Kali of Sullivan and Lauren of Evansville, Indiana and his sister Jan Nichols of Mattoon. … Read More

Okaw Valley Volleyball Team Picks Up Three Wins

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•September 19, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports Editor The Okaw Valley volleyball team picked up three wins and competed in the St. Anthony Tournament this past week. The Timberwolves knocked off Bement in three sets Friday (14th), losing the first 25-21 but winning the next two 25-11 and 25-20. Paige Coleman collected 12 kills, 16 digs, three blocks and five aces. Kate Jeffers had eight kills, five digs, three blocks and two aces, and Madison Voegel finished with six kills and four blocks. Sadie Zimmerman dished out 27 assists and had 10 digs, and Grace Bunfill finished with five … Read More

Injury Ridden Redskins Fight on Against Shelbyville

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•September 19, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports Editor Rather than the injury bug, the Sullivan-Okaw Valley football team has dealt with the injury monster. To enter the game against Shelbyville Friday at Victory Field, four SOV game-one starters were on the sidelines. “We are still pretty banged up right now,” said coach Jeff Myers. “We went into the game down four starters from week one and a quarterback still less than 100 percent from a week two shoulder injury.” The Rams scored first with just under a minute in the first quarter when Dominick Kimberlin caught a 58-yard pass … Read More

Obituaries 9-19-2018: Willard Yates

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Willard Yates Willard F. Yates, 88, of Bedford, passed away in Bloomington Hospital Sunday, September 16, 2018 after a brief illness. Born June 20, 1930, in Findlay, Ohio, he grew up in Sullivan and attended Blackburn College and the University of Illinois before entering the U.S. Army in 1952 where he was a combat engineer in the Korean War. Following military service, he enrolled at Eastern Illinois University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in botany. He was awarded a fellowship for graduate study at IU, earning a master of arts degree, then taught at the University of … Read More