A State Finals Run that Put Okaw Valley on the Map

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•February 28, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team brought home the first state basketball trophy in the school’s history to a reception of fans at the high school in Bethany Saturday, Feb. 24. Despite not being ranked in the top 10 all season, the Timberwolves took their fans on an incredible run that ended at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Tournament in Redbird Arena in Normal Friday and Saturday. Though OV lost both games, the players, coaches and fans got to experience how special a trip to state can be. “The … Read More

Movies Had A Heyday In Bethany

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•February 28, 2018• By Ellen Ferrera for the News Progress Sullivan had J. B Titus, who built an opera house, and his talented daughter, Winifred. Bethany had the brilliant Dr. James H. Vadakin who also built an opera house and his equally talented daughter Diamond. Dr. Vadakin was born March 30, 1861 in Sullivan. His grandfather Philip was one of the earliest settlers in Moultrie County, and he laid out a town in East Nelson. By the time he died, Dr. Vadakin had owned an entire block of stores in Bethany, built an opera house, invented “Casterole”, “Vadakin’s Instant Relief” … Read More

Corp. Learns More About OVHS Partnership

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Col. Bryan K. Sizemore along with other Corps of Engineer staff visited Okaw Valley High School to learn more about the Corps partnership. During the last three years Okaw Valley students have participated in a variety of projects around Lake Shelbyville. The following is a list of activities of which the OV students have been a part: timber stand improvement, general maintenance, agriculture lease work(including harvesting of beans/corn), control burns, removal of invasive plant species, planted cover crops as well as pollinators and hazelnut and chestnut trees, bee hives, built bat houses to be put around the lake and released … Read More

Obituaries 2-28-2018: Maudie Trussell

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Maudie Trussell Maudie Ruth Trussell, 84, of Sullivan passed away at 10:10 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 2018 in Mason Point in Sullivan. Funeral services were held at 7 p.m. Sunday, February 25 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Maudie was born May 16, 1933, in Tracy City, Tenn., a daughter of Charlie Bradford and Cora Haynes Kilgore Meadows. She was a member of New Life Church. She was a peaceful and happy person who loved her family dearly, and she was loved by all who knew her.  … Read More

Illinois Has Embraced its Role as the Land of Lincoln

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•February 28, 2018• By Kate Schott The State Journal-Register Abraham Lincoln may not have been born in Illinois but he clearly is among the state’s favorite sons. Lincoln came into the world on Feb. 12, 1809, in Hodgenville, Kentucky, but eventually spent several decades living in Illinois, and departed for the presidency as a resident of Springfield. He was a shopkeeper, postmaster, lawyer, and state and federal legislator before being elected president in 1860. He served as the nation’s 16th president from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. The bullet fired by John Wilkes Booth prematurely took one … Read More

DMH Holds Free Diabetes Event 

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•February 28, 2018• The DMH Diabetes Education Center will hold its annual Diabetes Update “Diabetes: A Disease of the Vessels” Thursday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Richland Community College’s Shilling Education Center. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning how to manage diabetes. Diabetes Update is designed for the newly diagnosed as well as long-time diabetics and their family members and friends. A1C screenings will be available for $35 each. Diabetic-friendly refreshments will be offered, as well as door prizes. Registration is requested but not required.  … Read More

After the Acquittal Atteberry Moved to Sullivan

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•February 28, 2018• By Eden Martin NP Guest Columnist Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles dealing with the lynching on the Moultrie County courthouse lawn researched and written by Sullivan historian, native and retired attorney Robert Eden Martin. As one newspaper put it, Grant Atteberry and family shook the dust of Shelbyville from their pedal extremities yesterday, going to Sullivan. If ever a man charged with crime played in big luck, Grant Atteberry was one of them. His escape from conviction was a surprise to all, including the attorneys who defended him and was due … Read More