Understanding Illinois: The Opportunity Costs of Health Care

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March 25, 2015 By Jim Nowlan Outside Columnist When I was a boy in the 1950s, health care was simple. If you got sick, you went to the family doctor. If you were really sick, you went to the local hospital and stayed until you got better or died. If you could afford it, you might go to Mayo’s for the latest in care. Most costs came out of a family’s pocketbook. Today, especially as one ages, health care involves a cavalcade of trips to specialists, hands full of daily pills and robotic-driven surgeries to exorcise diseased growths. As relatively … Read More

The Romance of Railroading: Folklore Continued

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March 25, 2015 by Jerry Ginther NP Columnist As stated in my first article, the conductor is the boss. Every member of the train and engine crew is subordinate to him, and the engine crew is under the direction of the brakemen/trainmen. The engineer is strictly a power operator and moves the train only when instructed to do so by a trainman or the conductor. The fireman, when they were used, was under the supervision of the engineman. Post steam engine era the fireman’s position was used to train future engineers or fulfill a union contract. When the train picked … Read More

Sullivan Sends Signal to Start the Season

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Redskins demo Mattoon in baseball opener March 25, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Friday evening’s season opener at Mattoon certainly didn’t appear to be so for the Sullivan baseball club. The Redskins put on a stellar showcase all evening long, whether it was catcher Matthew Sparrow diving to catch a foul ball, Brody Elder smacking one over the left field wall in the game’s second at-bat, or Nick Frerichs knocking all the pins down with his grand slam in the fourth inning. Those were just a few of the dozen or more game-changing plays that concluded with a 15-2 thumping … Read More

Obituaries 3-25-15: Anita Bowers

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Anita Bowers Anita H. Bowers, 87, of Lovington passed away at 7:45 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2015 in Mason Point in Sullivan. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 27 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Thursday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery in Lovington. … Read More

Extended Hours For Absentee And Early Voting, Grace Period Registration, Voting This Saturday

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March 25, 2015 Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England will hold special Saturday hours Saturday, March 28 for absentee and early voting and for grace period registration and voting (grace period is for individuals who have moved or changed name and need to transfer/update their registration, or for individuals who are not registered to vote, to actually register with valid identification.  Grace period registrants must vote at the time of registration if they wish to vote in this election; they cannot vote at the polls this election.) The county clerk’s office will be open for special Saturday hours for absentee/early/grace voting … Read More

Lady Red to Compete Friday

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March 25, 2015 The SOV girls’ track team will compete at the Illinois Top Times indoor meet Friday in Bloomington. There, the team is top ranked in several events, including Amanda McClain in the 200m (1st), 400m (1st), and long jump (2nd). Emily Neuhauser will enter ranked third in both the 60m and 200m, and the 4×200 relay team is ranked fifth. Be sure to look in next week’s News•Progress for results. … Read More

2015 Easter Egg Hunts and Celebrations

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March 25, 2015 Below are various upcoming area Easter egg hunts and celebrations: • First Christian Church in Bethany will host an egg hunt  Saturday April 4 at 10 a.m. • New Life Church in Sullivan will host an egg hunt  Sunday April 5 at 9 a.m. and will be open to those ages two through fifth grade. There will also be a real bunny give away and a springtime petting zoo. • Petersen Health Care will have their annual Easter Carnival at Sullivan Rehabilitation & Health Care, Saturday, April 4 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The egg hunt … Read More

Obituaries 3-25-15: Debbie Barker

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Debbie Barker Debbie Kay Moore Barker, 59, of Sullivan passed away at 9 p.m. Monday, March 23, 2015 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28, 2015 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. … Read More

Lady T-Wolves Open Home Season with Win Over Paris

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Solid defensive outing goes the duration March 25, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Okaw Valley’s bats were hot to start, but their gloves were warm all evening long last Wednesday when the Lady Timberwolves opened the season at home with a 7-3 win over Paris. The strong supporting cast was behind pitcher Amanda McClain for all seven innings, committing just one error that helped lead to one of the Tigers three runs. As for McClain, going the distance included two earned runs, six hits, five strikeouts, and four walks. Perhaps her most impressive stat was the 135 pitches she threw, … Read More