Understanding Illinois: Distressed Downstate Matters: Does Metro Chicago Realize It?

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist I appear to have struck a positive chord among many readers with a recent column that worried Downstate Illinois is becoming irrelevant to the power brokers of Illinois, nearly all of whom reside in metropolitan Chicago. More emails than typical have been coming my way saying, in effect, “You’re right on, Jim!” One well-known statewide figure, whom most of you would recognize, called to declare that I was “spot on” in my column, adding: “Jim, I talk to audiences all over Illinois, including in Chicago, and you are absolutely right: Downstate … Read More

Sullivan Pencil Pals Meet Each Other for the First Time

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• By Ellen Ferrera for the News Progress The Sullivan Elementary School gym was filled with first and second graders on April 25 as they met with their volunteer Pencil Pals for the first time. My little scribes, Charlie and Landon, were sitting in one of the 20 circles and began chatting away about their pets, siblings and other things we have shared in our monthly missive exchanges. Landon is moving to Florida, and Charlie has dogs and cats that he loves. The gym was abuzz with the sounds of laughter and conversation from the over 120 attendees. … Read More

Wilda “Wid” Hale is The Arthur Home April Resident

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• Wid Hale was born March 6, 1927 the daughter of Les and Neva Murphy. She was born, raised and resided in Lovington until moving to The Arthur Home. Hale has four sisters and two brothers. In 1943 she married Cliff Hale, raising two sons Jack and Gary, and she has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Wid enjoyed being a housewife and stay-at home mother when the boys were young while also helping Cliff farm. As the boys got older, Wid worked as a rural mail carrier retiring after 20 years. … Read More

Burcham and Nuzzo First at Pana Triangular

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• The Sullivan boys’ track and field team placed third in a triangular at Pana Monday and competed in the St. Joseph-Ogden Boys’ Spartan Classic Friday. In the Pana triangular, the Redskins scored 26.5 points. Leighton Burcham took first place in the long jump and triple jump, and Jadon Nuzzo won the pole vault competition.  … Read More

Moultrie County Judge Sentences Chad Matheson to Ten Years in Prison

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• Chad Matheson, 43, of Sullivan was sentenced April 17 to 10 years in the Dept. of Corrections for burglary. Matheson, who is an inmate at Sheridan Correctional, appeared with attorney Walter B. Lookofsky at Macon County along with Moultrie County State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey and Judge Hugh Finson. Matheson withdrew his guilty plea from the original forgery charge and was sentenced for burglary, a Class 2 felony. … Read More

WSS Softball Earns Top National Trail Conference Seed

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg softball team, which is ranked No. 7 in Class 1A, earned a top seed in the National Trail Conference Tournament and blew out three teams by at least 10 runs this past week. The Hatchets shellacked Dieterich Monday, St. Elmo/Brownstown last Friday and Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City Thursday, April 26. WSS outscored its opponents 42-2 those three games. In the first round of the National Trail Conference Tournament on the West Diamond at Evergreen Park in Neoga, WSS took out Dieterich 15-0. The Hatchets scored seven runs in the first inning and seven … Read More

Do You Have All The Property Tax Exemptions For Which You Qualify? 

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• • General Homestead Exemption (Owner Occupied) (35 ILCS 200/15-175) — This exemption is for those who own and occupy residences or have a leasehold residence. This is a $6,000 reduction in EAV. If there is a leasehold residence, Lessee or Lessor must obtain an application from the Supervisor of Assessment Office. • Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (Elderly) (35 ILCS 200/15-170) — This exemption is for those who own and occupy residence or have a leasehold on residence and are 65 years of age or older. This is a $5,000 reduction in EAV. • Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze … Read More

OV Softball Team Battles Back for a Pair of Wins

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports After losing three straight games, the Okaw Valley softball team battled back to win two straight games this week. OV defeated Cerro Gordo/Bement Monday and Sullivan on Saturday but lost to Charleston and Argenta-Oreana in a doubleheader earlier in the week. Against CGB at Crowder Park, OV plated two runs in the first inning, which left the score 2-0 until the fifth and sixth innings when the Timberwolves scored three more runs each. CGB scored its two runs in the top of the seventh. The final score was 5-2. Grace Harlin and … Read More

Redskins Shut Out Bulldogs for a Conference Win

News Progress Posted on by

•May 2, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports The Sullivan baseball team finished the week 5-1 with losses to Clinton, Okaw Valley, Shelbyville, Tuscola and Maroa-Forsyth. The Redskins defeated St. Teresa last Wednesday. Against the Bulldogs, Sullivan shutout St. Teresa 7-0 for a Central Illinois Conference win. Sullivan scored two runs in the first inning, one run in he second and one run in the third for an early 4-0 lead. The Redskins scored three more in the sixth inning for the final score. Dalton Rogers, Spencer Johnson and Gavin Sullivan each recorded two hits. Johnson added two runs scored … Read More