Ruth Massey “She was clothed with strength and dignity; she laughed at the days to come. She spoke with wisdom and faithful instruction was on her tongue. Her children arise and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31. Our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Betty Ruth Reider Massey, went to Heaven May 20, 2015. Surrounded by her family, she was loved into the arms of Jesus. … Read More
Larry Cuttill Larry Leon Cuttill, 75, of Decatur died May 24, 2015 in Heartland Manor Care in Decatur. … Read More
At $116,000, demolition to be completed by August May 27, 2015 by Derek Pope Bethany Reporter Demolition of Findlay’s old elementary school, which saw a brief stint as Okaw Valley Intermediate School following the consolidation of Bethany and Findlay school systems, began earlier this month after members of the board of education voted to dismantle the building during their April meeting. The old schoolhouse became disused back in 2010 when the decision was made to send elementary aged children living in Findlay to Bethany’s more modern and robust elementary school. The vote to demolish the building was unanimous despite several … Read More
Three individual crowns propel SOV to third place team trophy May 27, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Sure. The 400m dash and the long jump are both events in which SOV senior Amanda McClain was at the top of her class. But the 200m dash too? Saturday’s answer was “apparently so,” as she exploded down the big blue track at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston taking first in the 200m event and thus marking her third individual championship on the day. That coupled with Emily Neuhauser’s fourth place finish and an earlier sixth place in the 4×200 earned SOV a third … Read More
Pana’s pitching keeps Sullivan at bay May 27, 2015 By Matt Kracht NP Sports Reporter Sullivan baseball lost to Pana in their opening game of the Shelbyville Regional on Thursday. Jacob Piper had a shut out through five innings before a two-out solo home run in the top of the sixth breathed new life into the opposition. Pana would then rally for two more runs in the top of the seventh to steal the victory. Both pitchers dominated early as the score remained 0-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning. Dakota Clayton earned a leadoff walk before Drew Harris … Read More
Yeakley returns in two events May 27, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ track and field team will be sending three athletes to O’Brien Stadium in Charleston Thursday to compete in four events. “Obviously it’s great for all three to have qualified,” said head coach Ryan Whelan. “Going in to the sectional meet, that was the hope with things.” Leading the small pack is junior Colton Yeakley who advanced, again, in the discus, with a throw of 165 feet, 10 inches and taking second at the Pana sectional. But the junior also qualified for the shot put with a … Read More
Redskins get to experience Major League ball park for last game of the year May 27, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com The Mattoon Green Wave might have avenged a season opening loss by defeating Sullivan 6-3 on Sunday afternoon, but win or no win, nothing was going to take away from the experience of a lifetime that the Redskins were able to receive by playing ball in the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium. “It’s awesome. Playing on a field like this makes every ground ball easier,” said head coach Troy Rogers. “It makes pitching easier. You throw quicker. The adrenaline … Read More
May 27, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com The SOV boys’ track and field team competed at the Pana sectional last Thursday and came as close to sending one individual to the state meet by one spot. Junior Zane Uphoff led the Redskins with two third place finishes in both the long and triple jumps ( 18 feet, 10 1/2 inches and 39-8 3/4), but needed a top two finish in both events to qualify for Thursday’s state preliminaries. … Read More
Defeat Windsor/Stew-Stras 9-0 May 27, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Okaw Valley head coach Andrew Hagerman sort of knew how Saturday’s regional championship was going to go. More than just predicting or hoping for a win, the OV coach actually dreamed of how the final out would come. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Hatchets’ Devon Deremiah took an 0-2 count to third baseman Taylor Coleman, who promptly fielded the grounder and shot it to first base for the winner. Like Hagerman foresaw. “I actually had a premonition Taylor would get the last putout,” he said. … Read More
Warriors’ Watson the speedy difference maker May 27, 2015 By Matt Kracht NP Sports Reporter Regional host Sullivan faced off against Tuscola for the third time this season Saturday on the North Diamond but were unfortunately unable to muster enough offense to claim back-to-back regional titles. Heidi Clements gave up one earned run over six innings holding the potent Warriors’ offense to just four hits. Seleste Smith had Sullivan’s only two hits and drove in Elissa Stewart for the lone Redskin run. “I can’t say enough about these girls,” said head coach Ben Richter. “We played tremendous defense today. Our … Read More