Author Archives:

Sullivan Schools’ Amended Budget Improves by Nearly Quarter Million

News Progress Posted on by

Final budget later this year could improve even more says superintendent

April 29, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

In what is a typical move for most school districts across the state this time of year, the board unanimously approved a tentative amended budget at their April 13 meeting.
In it, the budget decreases the district’s deficit spending by $242,305 when compared to the initial budget passed last September. Overall, the decrease in deficit spending can be largely traced to contingencies the district had inserted into the September budget that have now been pulled out after Superintendent Brad Tuttle found them to likely no longer be a possibility. He said that he hopes the district can further pull out more contingencies as the school year nears its conclusion. Read More

ALAH Softball Falls to Cerro Gordo-Bement 6-0

News Progress Posted on by

Defensive shortfalls part of the loss

April 29, 2015

by Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

The Lady Knights are ready for warmer weather as the team struggled to score in a cold loss Friday. Macy Hollingsworth battled for seven innings to keep her team in the contest, but mistakes on defense cost the freshman a chance at the win.
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond head coach Jerry Lane complemented his freshmen starter after the game for firing strikes for seven innings.
“Macy throws strikes; she moves the ball around, hits certain spots and tries to change speeds,” he said. “She did that for the most part. We had a couple innings where the defense let us down in a couple situations.” Read More

Two Vehicle Wreck Sat. Near Howie’s

News Progress Posted on by

No serious injuries reported

April 29, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A wreck occurred Saturday night after a vehicle entered route 32 and collided with an oncoming car south of Sullivan.
According to Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims, a 17-year old was heading east on county road 800N at approximately 9:15 p.m. Saturday and proceeded onto route 32 on which a vehicle operated by Jessica Todd was traveling southbound. Read More

Lady Red Softball Goes 1-2 on the Week

News Progress Posted on by
April 29, 2015

Last Wednesday Sullivan’s varsity softball team travelled to take on Tuscola and fell 8-6 despite taking an early 2-0 lead, which included a solo home run by Heidi Clements. However, Tuscola would score five in the fourth to take the lead. Down 8-3 going into the seventh, Sullivan strung together three runs with a base-clearing double by Elissa Stewart, but the Redskins would not complete the comeback. Read More

Lady T-Wolves Continue Romp Through LOVC

News Progress Posted on by

Another early outing for OV with win over Arcola

April 29, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Another early go of it, and another conference win.
Okaw Valley tallied their sixth conference win last Wednesday over Arcola, defeating the Lady Purple Riders 13-1 in just four and a half innings. Hinging on two big offensive-producing frames, Okaw Valley improved to 6-0 in the LOVC northwest standings and 14-1 overall.
The Timberwolves’ ace Amanda McClain claimed yet another win on the year, going all five innings allowing one earned run and one hit along with one walk and six strikeouts. Read More

SOV Competes in Non-Scored Clinton Meet Tues.

News Progress Posted on by
April 29, 2015

The SOV girls and boys had several strong performances at a non-scored 10-team meet in Clinton Tuesday evening.
For the Lady Red, Emily Neuhauser won the 200 meter dash in 26.1 seconds. Alyssa Marshall won the 800 meter run in 2:35 and the 4 x 200 relay of Neuhauser, Bailey Turnbaugh, Ashlynd Risley and Amanda McClain won in 1:50. McClain also finished second in the High Jump at 5 feet 2 inches and the 200 in 26.3 seconds. Other second place finishes went to Neuhauser in the 100 (13.1), the 4 x 800 of Kennedy Lucas, Caity Ohm, Tori Murphy and Abby Cravatta (12:05) and the 4 x 400 relay of Nuzzo, Marshall, Risley and McClain in 4:24. Megan Dash was fourth in the HJ at 5-0. Fifth place finishes went to Laine Cameron in the 300 Hurdles (53.3), Dash in the triple jump (29-5), Murphy in the 1600 (6:38) and Nuzzo in the Pole Vault (8-0). Read More

Amended ALAH Budget $1.4 Million Off From Tentative

News Progress Posted on by

Nearly $500,000 in cuts not helping

April 29, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

This month’s regular Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond board meeting revealed that the tentative budget approved last fall, was nearly $1.5 million off from current estimates. In the next breath, superintendent Kenny Schwengel informed the board that the school district along with every other in the state, would not be receiving their final two mandated categorical grants from the state. That coupled with the Governor’s 2.15 percent cut to K-12 aid means ALAH will not receive approximately $464,000 for this fiscal year–money that last fall they were told they would receive. Read More

Bethany Approves TIF Loan for Hired Hand and Echoes

News Progress Posted on by

Village grants $48,000 five-year loan

April 29, 2015

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

Earlier this month, village officials voted to approve another round of TIF funding to renovate the noted but aging buildings on East Main Street. This time however, funding will be aimed at improving two of the easternmost buildings on the block, which house some of the village’s newest businesses—the Hired Hand Winery and Saloon and Echoes Studio.
In a 4-2 vote, members of the village board approved an agreement with the establishments’ ownership, granting a $48,000 five-year forgivable loan. The two dissenting votes came from council members John Book and Jeannie Ruppert. Read More

Tri-County Meet Sees SOV, ALAH Finish within Proximity

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Keith Stewart Abby Cravatta eyes the bar during her pole vault attempt Tuesday. She would finish fourth reaching a height of 7-0.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Abby Cravatta eyes the bar during her pole vault attempt Tuesday. She would finish fourth reaching a height of 7-0.

SOV boys finish highest in fourth

April 22, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Hosting their second meet of the year, the SOV boys’ track team placed fourth, while the girls settled for fifth. Neighboring Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s boys took fifth, while their girls were also a spot back in sixth.
The boys team finished with 72 points, and leading the Redskins was Zane Uphoff, who finished first in the triple jump going 40 feet, 3 inches. Uphoff also earned third in the long jump with a distance of 18-8. Teammate Cody Drake took second in the event with a jump of 19-0. The 4x200 relay of Uphoff, Charlie Goss, Luke Bowman, and Calen Landrus finished in second with a time of 1 minute, 38.26 seconds.
Other top four finishes included Zach Devore (fourth, 300m hurdles, 46.03), Bowman (third, long jump, 5-10), Drew Harris (fourth, long jump, 5-10), JT Bland (fourth, 800m, 2:13.94), Logan Pedigo (third, pole vault, 10-6), and the 4x4 relay of Uphoff, Goss, Landrus, and Devore (fourth, 3:46.42). Read More