Sullivan Schools Approve Sport Coops, Change Kindergarten Assessment

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Testing After Spring Break By Mike Brothers Sullivan Community Unit District #300 school board met March 11 voting to continue existing sports cooperative programs. The football coop between Okaw Valley and Sullivan and the swimming coop between Shelbyville, Okaw Valley and Sullivan were approved for two years. Supt. Ted Walk recommended changes to the kindergarten screening tool and report card. He explained kindergarten teachers had collaborated with first grade teachers to improve the transition by giving teachers a better gauge of progress. Ali Elzy, senior in Cami Badman’s AP language and composition class, read her NPR radio “This I Believe” … Read More

Sullivan City Council Preview

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Sullivan, Village of Bethany, Lovington and Windsor plus School Board elections are Tuesday, April 2, 2019 •March 20, 2019• City Mayor Ann Short I am Ann Short and I am running for re-election as Mayor of Sullivan. I am married to my husband Bob. We have two children, Scott and Tracy, and two grandchildren. I grew up in Arthur, attended Millikin University, and came to Sullivan when we married. I started working in the City Treasurer’s office in 1961. I was appointed City Treasurer in 1975 and served there until I retired in 1999. My term as Mayor started in … Read More

Obituaries 3-20-2019: Sophie Woolen

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Sophie Woolen Sophie Woolen, 82, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, March 20) at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Sophie was born February 6, 1937 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Wasyl and Anastasia Haveskewicz Yaworski. She married H.C. “Chuck” Woolen, Jr. February 15, 1985, in Mattoon, and he survives. … Read More

Sullivan Council Approves TIF Funds to Help Library

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•March 20, 2019• By Ariana Cherry For the News Progress The Sullivan City Council approved the use of TIF funds to help Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library purchase new LED sign “We need to inform the people in Sullivan what the library does,” library director Michelle Nolen explained to the members of the council. “We have more than just books.” Along with members from the library board sitting in support, Director Nolen presented a quote and information about a new LED sign for Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library. She noted the sign was not the “whole puzzle” but was a way to … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Sophie Woolen

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Sophie Woolen Sophie Woolen, 82, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made in memory of Sophie to the Lake Land College Foundation: 5001 Lake Land Boulevard, Mattoon, IL 61938. Sophie was born February 6, 1937, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; the daughter of Wasyl and Anastasia (Haveskewicz) Yaworski. She married H.C. “Chuck” Woolen, Jr. … Read More

OV Girls’ Track Team Competes at Charleston

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•March 13, 2019• The Okaw Valley girls’ track team competed with teams from all over the state in the Charleston Invitational Saturday. Kylie Stauder took fourth place in pole vault at 8 feet 6 inches, and Madalyne McPheeters ran the 200 dash in 28.99 for eight place. The 800-relay team of McPheeters, Kylie Stauder, Karlie Staude and Danae Nave placed seventh with a time of 1:58.2. The Timberwolves are scheduled to compete in a Mt. Zion Mini-meet Thursday, March 14. … Read More

Eight Return This Season For OV Softball Team

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•March 13, 2019• By Jason Brown NP Sports Editor After losing Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest first-team all-conference infielders Grace Harlin and Natalie Jeffers to graduation, Okaw Valley softball coach Dave Benning will have to adjust from last year’s line-drive and power hitter to a more traditional offense. “I think we have good team speed, possibly better than last year’s team,” said Dave Benning. “I foresee us playing more traditional softball by bunting more and stealing bases. In previous seasons we had more line drive hitters with home run power.” OV returns eight players from last year’s 14-13 squad. In … Read More

Haystack Supper and Auction

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•March 13, 2019• The 17th annual benefit auction and Haystack Supper is Friday, March 15 at the Otto Center south of Arthur. The Haystack Supper is from 4-8 p.m with the auction beginning at 6 p.m. In addition ice cream, soft pretzels and popcorn will be available as well as bake sale items and books. Auction items will include furniture, quilts, tools, crafts, new items and gift certificates. Those interested in making donations may contact Lewis Otto 217-962-0596; Loyd Gingerich 217-273-0751 or Wayne Schrock 217-620-4267. The event is sponsored by the Gospel Echoes Team Prison Ministry with proceeds going toward … Read More