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Understanding Illinois: Get Kids Out of Violent Neighborhoods!

News Progress Posted on by

•March 6, 2019•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

A thoughtful, experienced educator friend of mine has a proposal for getting kids at extremely high risk of failure out of their violent neighborhoods—send them to boarding school!
The idea isn’t so nutty as it might appear at first blush. The state of Illinois already has experience with running a boarding school: The Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) near Aurora. And the expense of taking kids out of the worst of the worst neighborhoods during their formative years might cost less than prison.
Charles (Charlie) Roy of Peoria is a senior fundraiser for Bradley University. He returned to Illinois from California a few years ago to be close to family. In the Sunshine State, Charlie was president (headmaster) of Villanova Preparatory School, an Augustinian Catholic school favored by Hollywood celebrities and the like, as well as for a few poor kids.
Charlie says that children from poor backgrounds can do well at residential boarding schools. So, Charlie proposes that Illinois consider piloting one or more 7th thru 12th grade “prep schools” for kids identified as otherwise likely—maybe almost certainly—to end up in prison. Read More

Superintendent-Y Stuff: A Walk with Mr. Walk

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•March 6, 2019•

By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300

A few weeks ago, I wrote a little bit about Sullivan students’ participation in the Northwest Evaluation Association’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing.
At that time, I highlighted our Kindergarten and 1st grade test scores. This week, I wanted to highlight some accomplishments of our Sullivan Middle School students, particularly the 7th and 8th grade. Read More

Remember When? 3-6-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Work is coming along on the Clarion Inn at Eagle Creek. April 1 is the target date to begin hiring the staff. They plan to hire between 130 and 150 employees. Twenty percent of the rooms are booked with a tentative opening date of June 1.
Two computer systems are now online on the third floor of the Moultrie County courthouse. One is a fancy telephone modem which connects to West Law Publishing. Judge Dan Flannell says it’s kind of like having a law library from every state.
Several members of Sullivan High School’s Future Homemakers of America chapter attended the spring sectional rally at Shelbyville High School. Jason Dotson placed first in job interviewing and was also named most outstanding of the show. Sherry Voyles placed first in cake decorating. Sara Dodd placed first in semi-formal clothing, she and Cindi Ledbetter were elected to sectional offices.
The All Male Review featuring former original Chippendales are coming to Sullivan. One Night Only at the Sullivan Country Club. Tickets were $15 in advance. Read More

Recent Obituaries: Hal R. Harshman

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Hal R. Harshman

Hal R. Harshman, 85, of Sullivan, passed away at 1:44 p.m Monday March 4, 2019 in Aspen Creek in Sullivan.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Sunday in the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ with Vanessa Patient and Brigham Hagerman officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity, the Moultrie County Food Pantry or to the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Hal was born July 29, 1933 in Decatur the son of Romaine M. and Margaret M. Howell Harshman. He was a life long member of the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ and had been a board member for the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity. He had worked for George Tractor for two years and then he purchased Hagerman Company in 1960 and the continued to own what became Harshman, Plumbing, Heating and Electrical in Sullivan for over forty years and during that time he also did research for Alcoa on refrigerated grain bins. He married Phyllis G. Hord on May 9, 1953 in Sullivan.
Surviving are his wife Phyllis; daughters Linda (Lindsey) Parrish, Amy (Jim) Galligan and son Keith (Cindy) Harshman all of Sullivan; brother Ron Harshman of Sullivan, eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, three bonus great grandchilden and a great grandson on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents and son in law John Hagerman.

Trial Set for Accused Shooter

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•February 28, 2019•

Alvan L. Booths, 33, Mattoon, appeared before Honorable Judge Jeremy Richey in Moultrie County Circuit Court Feb. 27 on charges stemming from the Feb. 4 shooting of Otha Phillips in Sullivan.
Booths entered a not guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder, home invasion and attempted aggravated battery. Judge Richey set the jury trial date for April 29.
Illinois Sate Police Special Agent Kyle Border testified that Booths shot Phillips in the neck at Holley Simmons’ Sullivan home then pointed the gun at her, but the gun apparently misfired.
State's Attorney Tracy Weaver’s questioning revealed Phillips was Booths’ barber and was dating Booths' former girlfriend.
Public Defender Marvin Hanson questioned if Booths had forced his way into the Simmons’ home.
Attempted first-degree murder and home invasion charges are Class X felonies, attempted aggravated battery count is a Class 1 felony.

Six from OVHS are State Scholars

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•February 27 2019•

OVHS announced that six students have achieved Illinois State Scholar status for the 18-19 school year. In terms of enrollment OVHS is one of the top schools in the area with 14% of their senior class obtaining this prestigious honor. This year’s Illinois State Scholars are Elizabeth Herbord, Madison Vogel, Sadie Zimmerman, Bella Benning, Shelby Hagerman, and Kailynn Bobbett.
Over the last six years OVHS has had 29 Illinois State Scholars including a high of eight in 2017-18.
The six-year average has been five Illinois State Scholars with an average senior class size of 40.

Correction

News Progress Posted on by

•February 27 2019•

The Findlay Fire Department is coordinating Eagle Creek Resort clean up and fire training along with the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and the Illinois Fire Service Institute.
In addition to the fire departments previously mentioned in the Feb. 20 front page story in the New Progress firefighters from Assumption and Moweaqua participated in the Feb. 16 clean up.

Walk with Walk: Superintendent-Y Stuff

News Progress Posted on by

•February 27 2019•

By Supt. Ted Walk
Sullivan CUSD #300

Over the past few weeks, I was able to witness two events that epitomized the great things happening at Sullivan Schools and in our community. The first was watching our Girls Varsity Basketball Team compete in the Sectional Championship game. First and foremost, a big congratulations goes out to the athletes and coaches for their hard work that made this post-season run possible.  Read More