Future Redskins Youth League Ends with Championship

News Progress Posted on by

Cavaliers pull away in 26-22 win by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Chester Reeder still remembers what is was like to be in fourth grade playing basketball. “I remember my coaches, and I still remember the plays that we ran,” he said. The first year SHS varsity coach, drawing on his still fond memories, decided last year to form the Future Redskins basketball league, a youth basketball league in Sullivan geared towards both building skills at an early age and getting the Sullivan youth interested in the sport. … Read More

Obituaries 3-12-2014

News Progress Posted on by

Geneva Briscoe Geneva Mae Butt Briscoe, 83, of Decatur, formerly of Bethany, passed away early Tuesday morning March 11, 2014 in Eastern Star Home surround by her family. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Bethany. Geneva was born Nov. 1, 1930 in Dunn, the only daughter of 10 children, to John Dale and Lillie Mae Powell Butt. She drove a school bus for the Decatur school district for more than 30 years. … Read More

Art Club Kicks Off 2014 Workshops Saturday

News Progress Posted on by

The Sullivan Art Club will begin its 2014 art workshop series Saturday, March 15 at the First United Methodist Church hall at the corner of Jefferson and Hamilton streets. Watercolorist John Madison of Bloomington will conduct the workshop and lead the group in painting transparent glass. More information about Madison and his artwork may be found at his website www.madison-art.com and his blogspot www.madisonart.wordpress.com. … Read More

Eagle Creek Contract Terminated by BMDD

News Progress Posted on by

Agreement to effectively dissolve March 15 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com The vendor that IDNR chose in 2010 to renovate and ultimately reopen Eagle Creek Resort has issued the state agency a notice of termination effective later this week. The contract that BMDD Resorts and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources entered into in July 2010 will be terminated effective March 15, according to Dennis Ballinger, CEO of BMDD Resorts out of Decatur. “We’ve tried not to make this a public issue, but finally, it had to,” said Ballinger in a phone interview Tuesday evening. … Read More

Last call for Monsanto Grant Nominations

News Progress Posted on by

The deadline is fast approaching for farmers to nominate rural public school districts to compete for a grant of up to $25,000, through America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Nominations will be accepted until April 6. Eligible farmers may nominate their school district by visiting www.GrowRuralEducation.com or by calling 1-877-267-3332. Grants are awarded based on merit, need and community support. The more farmers who nominate a school district, the more it demonstrates community support and can strengthen the school district’s application. This year the program has expanded to 18 new counties, for a total of 1,289 … Read More

Two Area Teams Take Plunge for Special Olympics

News Progress Posted on by

Bug Squashers raise most for team under five by Christina Whitford Sullivan Reporter During the frigid winter months, many people often dream about the time when they can go to the lake and plunge into the water. Few people elect to take that leap while there is still ice on the lake. However, when there is an opportunity to give back to an organization such as Special Olympics, most will brave the elements of winter to help out. This past Saturday, 555 supporters lined the bank of Lake Decatur to raise money for the Special Olympics by taking the Polar … Read More

Sullivan to See Live Comic Perform March 21 at Country Club

News Progress Posted on by

Aufderheide, featured on Bob & Tom, Comedy Central by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com A different form of on-stage entertainment is coming to the Sullivan area later this month. Stand-up comedian Zan Aufderheide, who has been featured on the Bob & Tom radio show, Comedy Central, and even performed at the Ryman Auditorium (formerly the Grand Ole Opry), will be coming to the Sullivan Country Club Friday, March 21 to perform with feature act Jesse Tuttle. Aufderheide, who is based out of Indianapolis, first performed in 2008 on the Generations of Laughter comedy tour. Working as a road comic, she then won … Read More