Area Graduation Information 2015

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Sullivan High School Baccalaureate.-May 10, 7 p.m. Graduation-May 17, 5 p.m. Okaw Valley High School Baccalaureate-May 17,  7 p.m. Graduation-May 24, 2 p.m. Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School Baccalaureate-May 31, 5 p.m. Graduation-June 5, 7 p.m. Windsor High School Baccalaureate-May 17,  7 p.m. Graduation-May 22, 7 p.m. The News•Progress’ graduation issue will come out on June 10. Happy grad ads may be submitted up through Friday, May 29. For more information, please call 217-728-7381. … Read More

Nadler’s “Moonshot” Powers Redskins to 9-0 Victory

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Harris also highlights with throwout at home April 29, 2015 By Matt Kracht NP Sports Reporter Levi Nadler can hit the ball a long ways, and Effingham St. Anthony had front row seats to that power when Nadler hit a mammoth three-run homer in the bottom of the first Tuesday at Leon Lane Memorial field. Nadler bounced a 400 ft. drive midway up the scoreboard in center field that gave Sullivan a 3-0 lead. The three runs were all pitcher Dakota Clayton required. Clayton got the win after pitching five innings of one-hit baseball with Nick Frerichs locking down the … Read More

Okaw Valley Middle School Baseball Coach Charged with Sexual Abuse

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Rural Shelbyville man arrested Thursday in Findlay April 28, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com An Okaw Valley middle school baseball coach was arrested last week after allegations surfaced that he had sexual relations with a 13-year old girl. According to court records, Wade T. Burch, 25, of rural Shelbyville was arrested last Thursday by Illinois State Police special agent Rodney Slayback after an investigation into allegations that he was sexually involved with a 13-year old OVMS student. According to the probable cause affidavit, Burch voluntarily met with both Findlay police chief Chris Nichols and Slayback last Wednesday afternoon at the … Read More

Redskins Summer Football Camps Set for June, July

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April 29, 2015 A football camp for both Sullivan and Okaw Valley students will be held this summer in both June and July. Those who will be a freshman-senior beginning next fall are encouraged to attend the camp which will be held between June 8-11 and July 20-23 from 7-9 a.m. There is a fee associated with the camp. For fee information as well as application forms, contact Sullivan High School at 728-8311. Applications need to be returned by May 4 and may be mailed to Gerald Temples, Sullivan High School, 725 N. Main Street in Sullivan. … Read More

Theft Reported at Sullivan Liquor Store Saturday

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Two male subjects are wanted in the connection to a theft that occurred Saturday night in Sullivan. According to Sullivan police chief John Love, a 911 call was made at approximately 10:11 p.m. Saturday regarding a theft in progress at the Sullivan Package Liquor store located at 619 S. Hamilton. According to the police report, two male subjects entered the business with one eventually purchasing two energy drinks and a bottle of whiskey while the other stole a bottle of rum valued at $20. Love says that no arrests have been made as of Monday afternoon and that the incident … Read More

Obituaries 4-29-2015: Ellen Rhoads

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Ellen Rhoads Celebration of Life services for Ellen C. Rhoads, 79, of Olney, formerly of Findlay, were held at 11 a.m. Friday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Felix Hagerman and Vanessa Patient officiating. Burial was in Wright Cemetery in Findlay. She died at 7:25 a.m. Tuesday April 21, 2015 in Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney. … Read More

Timberwolves Baseball Sharp in 9-1 Victory over LSA

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Still, still undefeated from the mound April 29, 2015 By Matt Kracht NP Sports Reporter Okaw Valley starter Devon Still (7-0) won his seventh game in as many starts while improving the Timberwolves overall record to 18-1, after defeating Decatur LSA. Still had an all-conference day fanning 10 of the opposition over seven innings of one-run ball, and helping his own cause at the plate going 4-4 with three RBIs. Coach Andrew Hagerman expected nothing less from his senior lefty. “Devon pitched well which is no surprise. He located all his pitches, and he played like a senior, and he … Read More

Loop Lake Shelbyville Bike Ride June 13

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April 29, 2015 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Lake Volunteers Association are hosting the second Annual Loop Lake Shelbyville bike ride on Saturday, June 13. All rides will start from the Lake Shelbyville Visitor and will include options for a 22 mile, 52 mile or a 65 mile ride. Proceeds for the ride will benefit the Lake Volunteers Association (LVA). The LVA provides education, historical interpretation, recreational and environmental improvements at Lake Shelbyville. … Read More

Understanding Illinois: Why Can’t They Be Like Me?

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April 29, 2015 By Jim Nowlan Outside Columnist I travel the state a lot. On Amtrak, from western Illinois into Chicago’s Loop, I pass from left-behind rural towns and through new middle-class housing tracts on the suburban fringe. Next come older, wealthy suburbs like Hinsdale and farther on the mostly Hispanic towns like Cicero and Berwyn. After that it is the mean streets of poor, black and Hispanic Chicago before reaching the golden, gleaming city center on the lake. These varied worlds don’t communicate much with one another. Few in tony Hinsdale have in their world view the poor, often … Read More

Obituaries 4-29-2015: Mary Nolan

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Mary Nolen Celebration of Life services for Mary F. Nolen, 78, of Sullivan were at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Jonathan Creek Cemetery in Sullivan. She passed away at 6:55 p.m. Friday April 24, 2015 in St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur. … Read More