Running a Tight Ship

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•August 19, 2015• Running a tight ship is a challenge for the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department, and recent uncertainties in state funding are putting more pressure on a limited staff. “With eight deputies covering the county 24-7 we are already running pretty close,” Sheriff Chris Sims said, noting that similar sized surrounding counties operate with up to 40 percent more staff. “We also have lake traffic and marinas adding to coverage,” he explained. “Now with the pitiful state economy everybody is trying to get by on less.” In spite of recent cuts in state police coverage and 33 cuts from … Read More

Blankets to Sleeping Bags

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•August 19, 2015• Blanket donations from December are paying off during the heat of the summer for the Bag Ladies of Findlay. For the past 13 years a half dozen ladies gather Tuesdays and sew at the United Methodist Church in Findlay. And they use blankets donated in December to make sleeping bags for the homeless. ‘When everyone can show up we make three to four sleeping bags a day,” Lillian Beckett from Sullivan said, noting the group has made 1500 sleeping bags since they started. … Read More

Children and Domestic Violence

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•August 12, 2015• Provided by Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Tommy isn’t doing well in daycare. He can’t sit still. He keeps running to the door and looking out the window. And yesterday he kept picking fights with the other kids. He’s normally such a good boy. What’s changed? Well for one thing, over the weekend, the police were called to Tommy’s house twice for “domestic disturbance.” Domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence, is a pattern of abusive behavior that is used by one person to gain power and control over another person. The target of the abuse is usually … Read More

Ode to a Lackthereof

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•August 12, 2015• by Keith Stewart Yes, I’m leaving. And soon it will be last week’s news. After four years here at the News•Progress, I have decided to step away as managing editor, editor, sports reporter, designer, photographer, website manager, et al. Replacing me (and as explained somewhere nearby), is Mike Brothers, who literally trumps me in experience 10-fold. And I feel good about putting the paper in his hands. Last week when he and I were in Findlay, Mike, spur of the moment, jumped out of the car and began delivering complimentary issues of our paper door to door … Read More

A Fitting End to the LTOTS Season with Miss Daisy

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•August 12, 2015• By Dan Hagen NP Theatre Critic How appropriate that the play “Driving Miss Daisy” should cap the 2015 summer season here, because the venerable Little Theatre is the venue that integrated the town of Sullivan. “The first African American actor Guy Little hired was an Equity actor from New York, Michael Wright, who, ironically, was from Shelbyville, a somewhat larger town 20 miles southeast of Sullivan,” wrote Beth Conway Shervey in her book, “The Little Theatre on the Square: Four Decades of a Small-Town Equity Theatre.” “Collective memories of people in Sullivan in 1961 recalled either a … Read More

Area Arts Get Boost From Bikers

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Sullivan Area Arts got a boost from a bunch of bikers on Saturday, August 8 •August 12, 2015• By Mike Brothers The Sixth annual Cruisin’ the Cornfields bicycle tour fund-raiser sponsored by SAArts had 48 riders. “The ride went really well this year,” event coordinator Stepheny McMahon said, noting the weather was perfect and all the roads were clear and smooth. Starting at Wyman Park in Sullivan riders were given two choices for the ride. The 16 mile tour began at Wyman and went to Okaw Valley Orchard. “The Okaw Valley Orchard is a good rest stop where riders can … Read More

When Ink Gets in your Veins

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•August 12, 2015• Mike Brothers is coming to the Sullivan News Progress to serve the community as managing editor. With some 30 years of history in area newspapers, Brothers’ return is marked by the fact that once ink flows through a person’s veins they are never the same. “It’s a business that gets under your skin,” he said. “I enjoy getting local news and taking pictures around the community.” … Read More

Obituaries 8-12-2015: Genelle Fleener

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Genelle Fleener Funeral services for Genelle V. Fleener, 94, of Lovington were held at 3 p.m. Monday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Burial was in Hammond Cemetery in Hammond. She passed away at 9:20 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2015 in Mason Point in Sullivan.  … Read More

Faith Lutheran Church VBS Aug. 22 and 23

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•August 12, 2015• Faith Lutheran Church vacation Bible School Circus is Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23. Heroes of the Bible is the theme and includes stories of David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah and Daniel and the Lions Den. Children from age three to fifth grade entry are encouraged to attend. Circus continues through Sunday with a VBS children’s service followed by a picnic/potluck at 11 a.m. … Read More