Bethany Welcomes Two New Part-Time Officers to Force

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Will work two days a month •August 5, 2015• by Joash Tiarks Bethany Reporter While the scars and immeasurable loss of September 11 will likely always weigh heavily on the nation, and especially the community of law enforcement, for two local public servants this date now carries positive significance as well. Joshua Ekiss of Sullivan and Thomas Lehew of Bethany applied for the position of part-time police officer with the village of Bethany and were hired on September 11 of 2014. It is nearing the completion of this first year since local law enforcement welcomed these additional two officers into … Read More

Windsor Harvest Picnic Begins Next Week

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Annual community tradition starts Thursday •August 5, 2015• by Nick Fiala Reporting in Windsor Central Illinois is a land of rich history and deep traditions. One such tradition is taking place in the town of Windsor next weekend. Virtually every year since 1896, the town has held an annual Harvest Picnic on its park grounds with music, entertainment, and plenty of good food for the large crowds regularly in attendance. This year it will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, August 13 and run through 9 p.m. Saturday. Of course, keeping a 119 year-old tradition going strong is no small feat. … Read More

“Addams Family”, the Best Showing at Little Theatre Yet

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•July 29, 2015• By Dan Hagen NP Theatre Critic Truth is not only stranger than fiction, but stranger even than the Addams Family. The New Yorker magazine cartoonist Charles Addams once dated a widow named Jacqueline Kennedy, and even proposed marriage to her. “No,” Jackie replied, adding drily, “What would we talk about? CARTOONS?” Broadway has never shared Jackie’s condescending attitude on that subject. Both comic strips and Broadway musicals are American inventions, and both display the brash energy and optimism that are part of the national spirit. L’il Abner, Little Orphan Annie, Peanuts, Doonesbury, Superman and Spider-Man all went … Read More

Health Screenings August 20

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•July 29, 2015• SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, August 20 at the Senior Center in Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212.  … Read More

Board of Appeals Given Appreciation Bonus

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Decision comes after lengthy hearings on wildlife park •July 29, 2015• by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Earlier this month the county board unanimously approved an appreciation stipend or bonus for the zoning board of appeals for the time spent deliberating and attending lengthy meetings regarding the Aikman Wildlife Park. The $100 bonus was given to four of the five board of appeals’ members, with Howard Sanders excluded since he did not attend the June meetings due to a conflict of interest. Those receiving the bonus include Tyson Grooms, Neil Hinkle, Paul Roney, and Mike Sheehan. “They spent a lot of time … Read More

Understanding Illinois: A Pox on Both Your Houses

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•July 29, 2015• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest  Columnist The relative handful who follow Illinois politics closely are captivated by the unresolved mano a mano tussle between Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Mike Madigan over the failure to enact a state budget. The policy outcome is not in much doubt: a somewhat trimmed budget and a bump back up in the income or other taxes, to be hammered out sometime before Labor Day. The open question is whether Rauner will, as part of the deal, achieve any of his “turnaround agenda” of business-friendly changes and votes on term limits … Read More

Growing Up in Sullivan: Our Neighborhood

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•July 29, 2015• by Jerry Ginther NP Columnist Many of my age group will remember the two small grocery stores on Blackwood St. One of them was Jake Marble’s grocery located just east of Seymour St. and the other, first known to me as Murphy’s grocery, was located just west of McClellan St. There wasn’t much difference in their size or the items they offered for sale, and today they would probably be categorized as convenience stores. Then, they were just neighborhood groceries owned by local proprietors who either lived next door or on the same property. From the time … Read More

Remember When? 7.29.15

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25 Years Ago This Week Chantel Scherer of Sullivan, a member of the Northern Illinois University golf team, was recently named NIU Sportswoman for 1990. She received her award for sportsmanship, academic and athletic contributions to the Lady Huskies golf team. Thirty-nine youngsters participated in the 1990 4-H Fishing Derby held July 10 in Wyman Park. Travis Bunch won a tackle box for catching the biggest fish, and Chelsey Peters won a bait box for catching the most fish. Other awards were won by Dane Jackson, who won a mini tackle for being the first 4-H’er to catch a fish; Karen … Read More