Moultrie County History Center Hosts Holocaust Survivor
•May 31, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Holocaust survivor William Gingold gave a presentation Thursday, May 18 as part of the Center’s monthlong hosting of the “The Auschwitz Experience In the Art of Prisoners.” He began by introducing members of his family and noted that he is the only immediate survivor of the Gingold family. Gingold’s mother was about 5 ft 1 or 2 inches tall, and his father was approximately 6 ft 2 inches. His mom never went to school, and his father had education up to fourth grade.
His mother worked as a baker both before and after the war. Gingold’s father worked at a seltzer making company before the war and a steel mill after the war. He noted that in the Jewish culture they believe in one god and have a commitment to social equality and equity. Gingold said cultural traditions, history and heritage are important as well.
“Even though my parents lacked formal education, they prompted their children to learn as much as they could under circumstances so as to pass it on to others,” he said.
Gingold noted that all the persons he mentioned were born in Warsaw, Poland. On September 20, 1939, he was born and given the Hebrew name Baruch. One day after he was born, the hospital in which he was born was bombed and destroyed by the Nazis. His father, anticipating something bad happening in Warsaw, took him and his mother out of the hospital.
Families were fleeing trying to reach the Russian encampments, and he noted that those traveling on the roads took a direct hit and were killed. Gingold said they traveled in areas that were not targeted. The Russians put them on German trucks and took them back to Warsaw. Read More
Moultrie County History Center to Host Holocaust Art Exhibition
•April 19, 2023•
“The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners” art exhibit will be on display at the Moultrie County History Center in Sullivan from May 2 through 29. A Grand Opening for the exhibit will be held on Thursday, May 4, from 7 to 9 p.m.
“The Moultrie County Historical & Genealogical Society is honored to be partnering with the Champaign – Urbana Jewish Federation to bring this special exhibit to our county,” said History Center Museum Director Pam Wood.
“We hope seeing this exhibit will start important conversations about the Holocaust, antisemitism, the Moultrie County veterans who served during World War II and their experiences, and what was happening here during World War II and the Holocaust,” Wood added. Read More
Remembering Krista Lewin: a Friend and Mentor
•August 17, 2022•
By Scott Lockwood
Special to the News-Progress
Back in the fall of 2008, I was longing for an opportunity to show what I could do as a full-time sportswriter.
After putting in applications all over the country, I was digging a hole to install a new irrigation system at my job near the beach when my phone rang with a 217 area code. It was a welcome break from the searing Sarasota, Florida heat.
On the other end of the call was a warm, jovial personality that was drawn to some of the auto-racing related stories that I had sent in as samples for what I was hoping for a new career path. Read More
Tabeling Project on Route 32 South Progressing
•August 3, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Last week representatives for the Tabeling Development, Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development and a business owner gathered at the site of the project to check on its progress. According to Austin Tabeling operations manager for the Tabeling Development, they are currently accepting rental applications for 2 and 3-bedroom units for January 2023. The units are listed on Zillow and apartments.com. Read More
New Business Brings Axe Throwing to the Community
•April 27, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Axes are used for many things...chopping down trees, chopping firewood and at a new business in Sullivan you can throw them at a target. 32 Axe Lounge opened on January 22 in the old VFW building on Route 32. Last November, they began remodeling the inside of the building and working 40 or more hours a week, owner Kasey Mowry and her husband Rob redecorated.
“We wanted to bring something fun to offer the community,” she said. The Mowry’s came back to the community after Rob retired from the military. He started doing volunteer work and wanted a way to give back to the community. Read More
Local Residents Organize and Deliver Thanksgiving Food Baskets
•December 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A group of local residents gathered to organize and deliver Thanksgiving baskets for those in need on Tuesday, November 23. This year Rob and Michelle Young, Phil and Lisa Ozier, Melissa Hughes and Jeff Webb gathered in a garage to fill the baskets with all the fixings for a meal. According to Rob, all the food items were purchased from IGA, pies and cinnamon rolls from Moultrie County 4-H and the baskets from Dollar General.
The group raised over $3,000 to fund the baskets this year. They post that they are doing this on Facebook and people with a need request a basket or a family. Items in the baskets included turkey, ham, potatoes, canned yams, canned corn, french fried onions, cool whip, marshmallows and more.
The Young’s and Ozier’s both own businesses in the county and see this as an opportunity to give back to the community.
Panther Pride Parlor Now Open in Lovington
•October 20, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A new business has opened in Lovington for video gambling called the Panther Pride Parlor. The business has six machines that contain 10-15 games each. The machines were provided to the business by J&J Gaming.
The business provides free soda and water to those gambling, however there is a charge for alcoholic beverages. According to owner John Renfro, both bars in town also have video gambling but some people don’t like the bar atmosphere. “The people that come in here want to relax and gamble,” he said.
The Panther Pride Parlor is located at 117 W. State Street in Lovington. Their hours are Monday-Saturday 9am to 9 pm.
Faith Lutheran Church Welcomes Pastor Cullen
•September 22, 2021•
Pastor Justin Cullen was born and raised along the Chesapeake Bay in Hampton Roads, Virginia and spent half of his childhood in the city of Hampton before moving to Urbanna, Va. Cullen grew up mainly around extended family (aunts, uncles, and cousins), who still live along the east coast. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA), Yorktown, Va. and attended an LCA turned ECLA parochial school in Hampton until the third grade. When he was a teenager, his parents moved to the LCMS because of developing doctrinal differences with the ELCA, and they attended a small LCMS church in Urbanna, Va.
Cullen graduated from Middlesex High School in 2002 with a class size of 47. His college experience was a little untraditional. Cullen joined the Virginia Army National Guard after graduating from high school and became a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Russian. However, Cullen transferred to the regular Army after only completing two academic years. While on active duty, he completed an Associate in General Studies from Central Texas College, a Bachelor of Science in Religion from Liberty University, and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. This was accomplished through night classes and distance learning. Read More
Chamber Holds Ribbon Cutting for Racehorse Flats Wind
•September 15, 2021•
The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Racehorse Flats Wind Wednesday, September 8. Racehorse Flats Wind is a new 400-megawatt wind farm in development in southern Macon and western Moultrie counties.
Currently in the early stages of development, Racehorse Flats will put enough clean electricity on the grid to power the equivalent of more than 128,000 U.S. homes and represents a $450 million capital investment in the area. Annual tax revenues for all taxing districts in the area are projected at more than $2.25 million, and the project will bring in additional revenue for the counties and other local taxing districts for its projected 30-year lifetime. Read More
Meadowview Herbs Adds Organic Produce and Whole Foods To Offerings
•June 23, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
One Arthur business has recently added organic produce and whole foods to what they offer in their store. Meadowview Herbs has been in business for five years and until recently has focused mostly on herbs and essential oils.
Owners William and Elizabeth Schlabach decided to shift their focus slightly to include organic foods. According to William, a few years ago his wife Elizabeth contracted Lyme’s disease and was very sick. One of the ways that she treated it is by eating organically. “Proper food is key in staying well,” William said. Read More