Lady Pages Finish Third in 1A State Volleyball Tourney

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Defeat Seneca 25-20, 26-24 by Kirk Whitaker Reporting in Heyworth The Arthur-Lovington seventh grade volleyball team signed off as the third best team in class 1A Tuesday with a victory over Seneca. But they had to first win two prior state  matches to get there. Behind solid hitting from Taylor Powell and Marissa Herschberger, Arthur-Lovington’s seventh grade volleyball team first took down Blue Ridge 25-16 in the first set of Saturday’s Class 1A State Tournament in Heyworth. With a 22-16 advantage in the second, AL forced a Blue Ridge timeout, and it looked as if there would be déjà vu … Read More

Lady T-Wolves Win Home Opener

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McClain goes distance with 15 Ks, 1BB by Emily Scott Bethany Reporter In the first game of the season, timely hitting, consistent pitching, and a rally in the third inning allowed the OV Lady Timberwolves to get an opening win against the Central A&M Raiders. After two weeks of preparation for the game, OV coach Dave Benning said he expected to see moments where his team would struggle defensively as well as solid hitting. Both of his predictions came true. During the bumpy first inning, the T-Wolves allowed the Raiders to score when their leadoff hitter stole home base after … Read More

Garbage Collection Contract Issue a Wrap for Council

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Advanced Disposal cancels attendance at city council meeting by Joash Tiarks Reporting in Sullivan After passing an ordinance last month limiting garbage contracts to no more than one year, the Sullivan city council was told that a representative from Advanced Disposal–an area garbage collection service provider–would attend last week’s meeting. But a local residential representative with Advanced Disposal, instead, called the city prior to last week’s meeting inquiring about the ordinance. According to the council, Ed Worker, the representative, was read the ordinance over the phone by city clerk Monte Johnson, after which Worker explained that there would no longer … Read More

Understanding Illinois:Specialty Crop Growers Boost Rural Economy

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By Jim Nowlan Outside Columnist Rural Illinois is hurting. Rural and small town Illinois lost 12 percent of its population of persons under age 44 in the decade 2000-2010, according to the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs! Neighboring state rural populations declined as well, but only by half as much as in Illinois. No one seems to know why Illinois’ rural population fell by so much, but I am guessing one reason is that our big flatland farm operations grew significantly in size, as 24-row corn planters reduced the need for farmers. I visited recently with Lyndon and Kimberley Hartz … Read More

SOV Girls Take Fifth out of 33 in Indoor Track Meet

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ALAH’s Goodman takes first in shot by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com What better way to set the tone for the track season than with beginning it in an indoor meet just a building over from where it could all culminate come May’s outdoor state meet in Charleston? That is where both Sullivan-Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s girls’ track teams officially began the season Saturday, just two of 33 teams to compete in the Field House at Eastern Illinois University. … Read More

When “Storms” Hit, Social Security Has You Covered

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By Gerald Tilley Social Security District Manager You’ve probably noticed the unusually cold and stormy weather we’ve been experiencing this year. That makes it more appropriate than ever to recognize National Umbrella Month this March. National Umbrella Month is a time to celebrate a useful invention used by most everyone. It’s no coincidence that the month comes at the beginning of the rainy season. April showers may bring May flowers, but the rain starts pouring in March. When the rain pours, an umbrella has you covered. … Read More

J-Creek Church to Host Breakfast Sat.

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This Saturday, March 22, Jonathan Creek Christian Church will be hosting a breakfast. The ministry group Caring Christians will be hosting this as a fundraiser. The monies raised will be used to fund their “Weekend Snack Packs for School Children”. From 7 to 10 a.m. they will be serving egg casserole, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, juice and coffee. This is an all-you-can-eat breakfast. They are asking for donations only. Jonathan Creek Christian Church is located at 1425 Jonathan Creek road.  1 and 1/2 miles north of 121 on Cadwell Road.  … Read More

Obituaries 3-19-2014

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Jim Grove Memorial services for Jim Grove, 80, of Bethany were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with the Rev. Bill Gibbs officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by Bethany American Legion Post #507 was in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. … Read More

Lady Redskins Fall 5-0 Against Teutopolis in Home Opener

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Inman supplies lone Redskin hit by Kirk Whitaker Arthur/Sullivan Reporter Ten foul balls. The Teutopolis half of the fourth inning started with a 13 pitch duel, which ended in a bloop single over Elissa Stewart’s outstretched glove at short. The Lady Shoes used that hit for a breakout inning—scoring four of their five runs in that half—and virtually sealing the game. “I went and talked to Heidi after the ninth foul ball,” Redskins head coach Ben Richter said. “She was doing fine, and we talked a little strategy, but somebody had to come out on top in that battle and … Read More

Civil War Presentation Attracts Crowd to Elizabeth Titus Library

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Guillory speaks both of Lincoln and war’s longstanding effects on culture by Ariana Cherry Arthur/Sullivan Reporter “You have to understand the Civil War to understand the American lifestyle,” said author Dan Guillory at the “Civil War and Abe Lincoln” presentation he gave last Tuesday at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library. Guillory is a local author with nine published books that include “The Lincoln Poems,” which was honored in 2009 at the Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration. The book is also on display at the Ford Theater Museum in Washington, D.C. Guillory is Professor Emeritus of English at Millikin University, and it’s no … Read More