Local Korean War Vet Makes Honor Flight

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•August 17, 2016• By Emily Stutzman For the News Progress In 1950, tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States were defining the era we know as the Cold War. Although no direct fighting occurred between the two countries, the distrust and animosity began showing itself in the proxy wars, as they were called, that broke out in several small Asian countries. The Korean War was the first of these. It led to the creation of North and South Korea as two separate countries, split at the 38th parallel. After an armistice on July 27, 1953, the unrest remained. … Read More

Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale is Coming Up

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•August 17, 2016• The 55th Annual Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale will be held August 26 and 27 at the Otto Center, ½ mile south of Arthur. The activities will begin Friday at 4:30 p.m. with a pulled pork BBQ dinner and the auction at 6 p.m. On Saturday a pancake and sausage breakfast runs from 6-10 a.m., with the auction beginning at 8 a.m. The silent auction is from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The children’s activities begin Saturday at 8 a.m. and feature a train ride around the grounds. The children’s auction will begin at 10 a.m. … Read More

Remember When? 8-17-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens 25 Years Ago This Week Seven-year-old Jacob Thompson of Sullivan recently won the 1991 Decatur Razzle Dazzle coloring contest. As winner he will be crowned Prince of the Razzle Dazzle parade, which will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. Coronation will be held Friday night. Sullivan Pre-School “Little Sluggers-Part II” held a 4-H fair Friday, Aug. 2 at the preschool. The group of school aged children have held meetings and given talks and demonstrations during their class at the preschool this summer. Their leaders were Melissa Dolan and Jodi Hughes. Blue ribbon award winners in the club were … Read More

Menus 8-17-2016

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•August 17, 2016• Senior Peace Meal For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770 Monday, Aug. 22 – Pork burger sandwich with condiments, Creole black-eyed beans, seasoned greens, tropical fruit, bun. Tuesday, Aug. 23 – Taco salad w/lettuce, tomatoes, beans, sour cream, and taco sauce, pineapple tidbits, taco chips, cake. … Read More

Piano Playing Summer Ends at Titus Manor

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•August 17, 2016• By Kennedy Nolen For the News Progress Teen pianist, Reagan Crouse, shared his talent at the Titus Manor Friday afternoon on August 12. Crouse, 13, has been playing the piano for six years now, which means he started at the ripe age of seven. His interest in the piano began around age two, and his mom began to take notice. Since he had taken a liking to his plastic piano as a young child, his mom knew she had to let him begin lessons. He began lessons with Jay Durham of Effingham, and continued in Sullivan with … Read More

Obituaries 8-17-2016: Russell Wiley

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Russell Wiley Russell Glenn Wiley, 91, formerly of Sullivan and Mattoon, passed away at 7:34 a.m. Wednesday, August 10, 2016 in Heartland Christian Village in Neoga. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 15 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.  … Read More

Moodys’ Flight Story at MCH&GS

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•August 17, 2016• The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will hold their monthly general meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 18 in the Heritage Center in Sullivan. The evening program will be on the Moody brothers of Dalton City and how they set the world record for endurance flying by being in the air for 343 hours and six minutes in 1939. The story of Humphrey and Hunter Moody will be told by Bob Waddell of Illiopolis who was a friend of the of the young aviators and witnessed part of the flight. A social hour will follow the … Read More

Politics and Policy in Illinois: A Not So Typical History

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•August 17, 2016• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist This is the first in a series of eight essays about politics and policy-making in Illinois, which will run between now and the November election, interspersed here and there with a few columns on timely topics. Since we will see no presidential election campaign in Illinois (the race has been ceded to Hillary; campaign money will go elsewhere), election activity here will focus on a few contested state legislative races. [The Roman philosopher and politician Seneca said that, “All that’s past is prologue,” so I hope this series, a kind of … Read More

“Shear Madness,” Longest Running Play in U.S. History at The Little Theatre

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•August 17, 2016• By Cheryl Murphy For the News Progress How could murder be funny? Just imagine a Carol Burnett sketch in cahoots with Law and Order. “Shear Madness” is a present day, whodunit play that is interactive with the audience and where getting a haircut is murder. The play is loaded with improvisations (lines made up on the spot) that turn current events and local references into up-to-the-minute jokes. Some local references I enjoyed were about area towns, Amish buggies, Coroner Lynn Reed, Dollar General, and McDonald’s. A few of the current events I caught were about Gluten-free products, … Read More