•June 1, 2016• Jonathan Creek Christian Church at 1425 Jonathan Creek Road, Sullivan is having Vacation Bible School from 5:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 13-17. Pre-K through fifth grade students are welcome to join the fun, meet new friends and do amazing experiments. … Read More
•June 1, 2016• The Oak Grove Baptist Church on Wilborn Creek Road will hold their annual Memorial Day service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 5. Veterans will be recognized and music will be provided by State of Grace. … Read More
•June 1, 2016• Legislation introduced by Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) to update the way the United States assesses and manages the risks posed by chemicals and the products that contain them passed the House. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2576), is the culmination of a multi-year, multi-Congress effort to enact the first consequential update of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 40 years. The bipartisan legislation is expected to pass the Senate this week and the White House has said President Obama will sign it into law. “There is a widespread … Read More
•June 1, 2016• By Kirk Whitaker News Progress Sports For the second straight year the Okaw Valley softball Timberwolves advanced to the Sectional semis. And for the second straight year, they were eliminated without the chance to advance to a second game. This year’s opponent was none other than ranked fifth in Class 1A Casey Westfield, who used a combination of power hitting—many hard-hit balls, highlighted by a two-run, line-drive homer by senior Kyleigh Decker –and high quality pitching from fellow-senior and Parkland College commit Lexie Black. … Read More
•June 1, 2016• EDITOR’S NOTE: Sullivan native Kathy Best’s newspaper career is taking her to Missoula, Montana. The daughter of the Moultrie County News Progress late publisher and editor Bob and Marion Best has worked from coast to coast, leaving the family newspaper in Sullivan for brother Bob to tend. The following Montana Standard story by Darrell Erhlick announced her appointment this week. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kathy Best has been named editor of the Missoulian and the Ravalli Republic, Publisher Mark Heintzelman announced Wednesday. Best is currently the editor and vice president for news at The Seattle Times. In that … Read More
•June 1, 2016• By Brynna Sentel For the News Progress Since she began working at the Sullivan Civic Center, Sue Weaver has offered swim lessons to children three years of age and up. She does these swim lessons through the Red Cross Organization, the same organization in which she got licensed to teach swim lessons. Weaver utilizes the staff employed at the Civic Center, typically lifeguards, who have shown an interest in children, giving lessons, etc. When asked what her primary reason is for doing lessons year after year, Weaver explains, “I do it for the kids. I love kids!” … Read More
Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens 25 Years Ago This Week Piano students of Peggy Reeder performed May 19 in a recital at the First Christian Church in Sullivan. Playing were Alan Knobloch, Jennie Allen, Chester Reeder, Lena Singer, Jessica Dunphy, Heidi Crawford, Scott Light and Micki Winskill. Senior Girl Scout Tina Hogue of Sullivan will represent the Shemamo Girl Scout Council Wednesday May 22 in serving as honorary page in the state legislature in Springfield. Angela Gore of Sullivan will attend as an observer and Diane Gore will accompany them as an older girl program advisor. Three area athletes have qualified for … Read More
Katherine Johnson Katherine Janet Johnson, 81, of Sullivan passed away at 11:17 a.m. Sunday, May 29, 2016 in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. … Read More
•June 1, 2016• Plagued by two days of rain delays the 1A sectional baseball tournament in Danville had a dismal end to the Okaw Valley Timberwolves season. Even with the 4-0 loss to Salt Fork, denying a second Sectional championship to the Timberwolves, coach Andrew Hagerman’s teams have a 51-12 record over the past two seasons. Okaw Valley faced Crete Illinois Lutheran in first round Sectional play Saturday afternoon, after a two day rain delay. Senior Drew Fruchtl set the tone for a tournament of strong pitching backed by good defense, as he used five strike outs over six innings, … Read More