Joe Phillips Field Named for Softball Hall of Fame Pitcher

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•June 7, 2017• By Mike Brothers Hall of Fame pitcher Joe Phillips of Sullivan spent his career sweating on the south softball diamond at Wyman Park. At 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 9 the city of Sullivan is honoring those years of sweat and devotion to the game by naming Joe Phillips Field after the fast pitch softball star who was inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame in 1995. The Sullivan Chiefs fast pitch softball team was inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame in 2015. Phillip’s son Terry will be at the dedication ceremony June 9 and recalled growing … Read More

Townwide Rummage

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•June 7, 2017• The Sullivan townwide rummage sale begins Friday, June 9 and continues through Saturday, June 10. It is that time of year when the residents of Sullivan get to combine their efforts and see what they have lying around they don’t need and might earn a little money. Dig in those basements, garages and closets, break out what could be a treasure for some Sullivan townwide rummage sale shopper in June. Don’t forget the Lincoln Trail boy Scouts cook out both days on the Sullivan IGA parking lot. Townwide rummage is sponsored by First Community Bank, Sullivan IGA … Read More

Annual Amish Country Tractor Cruise

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•June 7, 2017• The 78h Annual Amish Country Tractor Cruise will be held Saturday, June 17 in Arthur. A 46-mile cruise will take riders on a picturesque cruise through the Heart of Illinois Amish Country that will include the communities of Arthur, Lovington and Sullivan. Registration for the cruise will begin at 6 a.m. at Yoder’s Kitchen located on IL 133 in Arthur and departs at 8 a.m. A rest stop will be at Berle and Linda Casteel’s farm north of Lovington, and lunch will be served at Terry Warren’s farm southwest of Sullivan before returning to Arthur at approximately … Read More

Obituaries 6-7-2017: Lowell Sorrell

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Lowell Sorrell Lowell Sorrell, 82, of Shelbyville died at 5:36 p.m. Friday June 2, 2017 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services for the former Findlay resident will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 8 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Visitation is 7-9 p.m. today (Wednesday). Burial will be in Findlay Cemetery. … Read More

Lovington Public Library June Happenings

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•June 7, 2017• A Summer Reading Adventure” registration will begin Thursday, June 1. Adults and youth will be able to register and begin reading on this date. Special Thursday programming begins June 22 with “Stories in the Stars” with Douglas Hart Nature Center (animal guest); June 29 “Adventures with Beekle” with story and painting with artist David Zoberis. Preregistration is required for the painting event. The Lovington Public Library is currently looking for empty shoe boxes for a summer reading craft. An adult coloring club will be held 3:45-4:45 p.m. each Friday. The library will provide new coloring sheets, pencils, … Read More

Amish Heritage Center Hosts Steam Threshing

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•June 7, 2017• The first Steam Threshing Show will held at the Amish Heritage Center west of Chesterville on Route 133, July 21-22. The event featuring historic Amish farming practices includes: steam and gas threshing, field demonstrations, wagon and carriage rides, a food tent, demonstrations of various early farm equipment, gas powered ice cream making, and tours of the newly restored 1882 Daniel Schrock house. The Daniel Schrock house was built in 1882. It has unusual two-story porches typical of Somerset County in Pennsylvania where Schrock immigrated from. Above, the Schrock house is shown arriving at the new Amish Heritage … Read More

Pork Tour Aims to Increase Foreign Sales

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•June 7, 2017• The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hosting 31 international buyers from various countries including China, Myanmar, Mexico, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Vietnam,  in an effort to increase export sales for the Illinois pork industry. Industry tours, such as the Illinois Pork Tour, teach potential trade partners about the benefits of Illinois agriculture and reinforces the advantages of buying high-quality Illinois products. For more than 20 years, the tour has generated over $12 million in sales for participating Illinois agribusinesses. The tour kicks-off with participants meeting with representatives from Cedar Ridge in Red Bud. The farm was … Read More

Remember When? 6-7-2017

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25 Years Ago This Week “The first rose plucked from the Broadway bouquet marking the 35th season at the Little Theatre On The Square is both ambitious and highly entertaining,” wrote News Progress editor Marion Best of “Singin’ in The Rain”. Sullivan residents Joanna Cole and Gracie Fultz were recognized for their many years of service as organizers of Sullivan’s Red Cross bloodmobile. Cole served 18 years as chair with 37 total years as a volunteer. Fultz was an event organizer for 26 years. They turned leadership over to Joe and Joan Pound. Thirteen Sullivan women organized a chapter of Beta … Read More