•August 26, 2015•
Linda Huber, an owner of C F & H Insurance Agency, Inc., in Sullivan has been named Pekin Life Insurance Company’s Health Agent of the Month for July 2015. She earned this honor by going Beyond the expected in the field of health insurance sales to make sure her clients are protected. Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week
Lovington Mule Skinners—Took care of the mules that were used to haul coal from the shaft mine in Lovington- The Lovington Coal Mine closed in 1924. this photo was donated by Roy Bolin. Partially identified: Top row from left Reenie Eckel, George Simpson, ?, (bottom) Ralph Morthland, Pearl Cantor, Mox Jurick, and Edra Morthland. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
•August 26, 2015•
Coal mining was once a leading industry in Moultrie County, and Lovington was the hub of that industry.
The Lovington Coal Mine began operation in 1910 and closed in 1924 due to flooding issues. There were more than 300 employed by the mine at its closing.
With the discovery of a nine foot vein of coal some 900 feet below the land surface outside Lovington, the Lovington Coal Mining Company began by selling stock for $25 per share.
The company owned 114 acres of surface land and leased 5000 of coal rights.
Once the funds were raised shaft drilling began. To reach the needed 1050 foot depth men worked from a steel cage lowered based on their progress each day.
Working in the 10 x 15 foot steel cage dirt was hauled up from the shaft in buckets as the men descended the shaft. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Back to School at LGS
Kindergartener Kade Ballinger stands next to his mother Melissa Nichols, who is seen holding her son Jace while school librarian Karen Smith-Cox gives directions last Wednesday, which marked the first day of school for ALAH CUSD 305.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Cruise night on the Square
A 35 year tradition comes to the square in Sullivan at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5. Cruisers from the Sullivan Street Machine Association such as Joe Scribner’s 1969 Plymouth GTX (right) and Rick Montague’s 1970 AMX will be leading the way. Far left is Joann Pratt’s 1966 Mustang, a potential cruiser. Cars, trucks, motorcycles and antique rides are welcome with a cash prize awarded most active cruiser. Shovelhead will provide live music. The AmBucs of Sullivan sponsored the event which first came to the square 10 years ago. Free popcorn from the Sullivan Boy Scouts and entertainment for the kids as well as more than $600 in door prizes will be given away. A trophy for spectator’s choice is awarded and a chance for everyone to see some cool rides cruising the streets of Sullivan.
25 years ago this week
Former University of Illinois basketball standout Kendall Gill signed autographs Saturday at The Depot in Sullivan. Chad Andrews of Decatur was one of the fans who stood in line for over an hour to see Gil. Andrews, the grandson of Mary Carnine and the great-grandson of Edith Shadow, both of Sullivan, brought a basketball program for the future NBA player to sign.
Amanda Bruce began the first step of her primary education Monday when she registered for kindergarten at Lovington Grade School with the assistance of her mother Cindy.
While most students spend the summer away from their studies, Sullivan High School junior Denise Elder furthered hers as a delegate to a national 4-H program in the nation’s capital. A member of the Moultrie County Clover Kids 4-H Group, Elder was among 88 state and 4,000 national 4-H’ers ages 15-19, who attended Citizenship Washington D.C. Focus July 14-21 to learn about the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens.
The photograph of a Moultrie County youngster illustrates an article in the September issue of Good Housekeeping which went on newsstands this week. Bailey Elliott, daughter of David and Patty Kay Elliott of Lovington, was captured on film by her mother as she smelled a bouquet of flowers. The photo was entered in a contest sponsored by the magazine and was selected as one of 25 winners throughout the nation. Read More
•August 26, 2015•
Bids are being taken for properties in Moultrie County up for delinquent tax sale.
Properties delinquent for 2011 and prior real estate taxes are eligible for sale.
All sealed bids must be in the Moultrie County treasurer’s office, located in the Moultrie County Courthouse Suite 10, no later that the close of business Friday, September 11. Read More
Thomas Polk, Sr.
Services for Thomas E. Polk Sr., 84, of Mt. Pulaski were held at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mt. Pulaski. Burial will be in Mt. Pulaski Cemetery at a later date.
He died at 3:28 p.m. Saturday Aug. 22, 2015 in Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Read More
Tentative budget also approved
•August 26, 2015•
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Between July and August, the Sullivan school board approved both a teacher’s union contract and a tentative budget for fiscal year 2016.
At their July 13 meeting, the board presented what is the first budget of the new fiscal year, which began July 1. Known as the tentative budget, it tries to predict not only what expenses the district will incur over the next year but also the much more tricky area of revenue at a time when state funding for K-12 education continues to be unreliable.
The budget does show the district spending more than $400,000 than it estimates bringing in, but Superintendent Brad Tuttle reported to the board that not only do tentative budgets usually contain contingencies that may later be taken out, but that this budget, in particular, is better than other tentative budgets in the past.
“Obviously this is a work in progress,” said Tuttle. “As you work a tentative budget, you have a lot of contingencies and a lot of things throughout that. This one in particular is better than what we’ve had in a while. It is showing a deficit…[but] “at this point I feel it’s in a lot better shape than what we have been in the past at this point.”
A look back at the FY15 tentative budget does support Tuttle’s comments. In particular, that budget estimated deficit spending of $464,213 compared to this year’s tentative budget, which anticipates $417,786. The estimated fund balance across the four major operating funds is also estimated to improve by more than $71,000 thanks, also, to more than $107,000 less in anticipated expenses. Read More
Amy Jamison
Amy S. Jamison, 43, of Ivesdale died Friday Aug. 21, 2015 in Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Roux-Hinds Funeral Home in Bement. Burial will be in Bement Township Cemetery. Read More
•August 26, 2015•
The American Red Cross team from Peoria will be at the Bethany Fire House on Route 121 2-6 p.m. September 1 to collect blood from donors. The drive is being sponsored by the Theta Psi Chapter. It takes approximately one hour and blood is desperately needed. To make an appointment, call 217-665-3457.