Recent Obituaries: Charles Hutchcraft, Sr.

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Charles Hutchcraft, Sr. Charles Evan ‘Chuck’ Hutchcraft, Sr., 86, of Sullivan, died 12:10 p.m. Wednesday (May 18, 2016) in Mason Point, Sullivan. Celebration of Life services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Eddie Miller officiating. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 – 5 p.m. Sunday evening. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Allenville Christian Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Chuck was born February 7, 1930 in rural Macedonia, (Franklin County) IL, the son of Harry and Mildred Carleton Hutchcraft. Chuck … Read More

Lake Shelbyville Hosts Woods Lake Grand Opening Celebration

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•May 18, 2016• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville is hosting a celebration for the grand opening of Woods Lake on Saturday, June 4. Many free activities are planned for the occasion including a ribbon cutting ceremony, kids’ fishing tournament, National Wild Turkey Federation archery and BB gun stations, canoe paddling lessons, boat rides, and many other activities. Woods Lake, owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is a 30 acre lake located five miles south of Sullivan off Illinois Route 32. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the … Read More

Sullivan Students Get Some Financial Help for Their Dreams

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•May 18, 2016• It takes more than money to chase your dreams, but it helps. Sullivan High School counselor Krista Smith pointed out $300,000 in scholarships plus an additional $40,000 in local awards were given during the annual Awards Night held May 4 in the high school commons. Some 86 separate awards were presented during the evening. As the awards were distributed, the locally funded scholarships demonstrated the community’s commitment to education in Sullivan schools. The David Elzy Memorial Scholarship was presented by Scott Bales and Elzy’s daughters Ally and Abby to Grant King. Elzy was a 1986 Sullivan High … Read More

Sullivan Historic Facade Program Winding Down

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•May 18, 2016• Sullivan has seen a lot of changes over the past 10 years, and many of those changes are due to the success of the Historic Façade Grant program that the city developed and adopted in 2006. The program which at its inception offered businesses a $3000 grant for façade improvements had zero applicants, and so the city amended the plan to grant up to $20,000 in matching funds for any business located in the historic downtown willing to invest in updating the appearance of their property. By 2013 the program was so successful that when businesses outside … Read More

Can a Solar Customer Operate Economically in Sullivan?

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Sullivan City Council researching net-metering policies •May 18, 2016• By Ariana Cherry For the News Progress Recently, resident Mike Fowler approached the Sullivan City Council about installing solar power in his home. Fowler has never had solar energy anywhere else, but he does know it can save money. “I have a niece and nephew-in-aw in the St. Louis area who installed a solar system two years ago, 2014, and I spoke with them, and they are very happy with their system and the amount of money they are saving on their electric bill,” he commented. “ During the summer months … Read More

Millikin University Spring Commencement This Weekend

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•May 18, 2016• Millikin University will celebrate its Spring Commencement with two ceremonies the weekend of May 21-22. Millikin’s traditional ceremony for students will be 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22 in the Decatur Civic Center. Millikin will host a ceremony for graduates of its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree Program and Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree Program at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 21 in Albert Taylor Theatre inside Shilling Hall on Millikin’s campus. Tickets are required for admission to both ceremonies. Traditional Student Commencement … Read More

Obituaries 5-18-2016: Patricia Parrish

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Patricia Parrish Patricia May Parrish, 77, of Lovington passed away at 9:50 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2016 in St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 19 in Keller Cemetery in Lovington. Burial will be held in Keller Cemetery in Lovington. Arrangements were made by McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. … Read More

Remember When? 5-18-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens 25 Years Ago This Week Several ribbons were awarded during the Festival of Stars sand sculpture contest Saturday in Sullivan. In the preschool category Emilee Sanders won first place for her volcano sculpture, and Andrew Crawford, with the help of his brother Chris won second place. Alex Knobloch and Matt Mossman won first place for their castle in the K-2 category. Second place went to Dane White. In the 3-5 category, Lori Halford won first place for her castle, and Casey Matthews and Norah Hanford won second for their turtle. Seventy-eight runners participated in the Festival of … Read More

Fourth for SOV Track at CIC Shelbyville Meet

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•May 18, 2016• The Sullivan Okaw Valley boys’ track team finished in fourth place at the CIC track meet May 10 in Shelbyville. Medal earners include Sebastian Smith and Jadon Nuzzo getting first and second place in pole vault and setting the new conference record at 12’6”. Because Smith earned first place, he is recognized as a CIC All-Conference track athlete. Zane Uphoff medaled in the triple jump with a second place finish. Performances and rankings: … Read More