Joshua Black
Joshua Michael Black, 28, of Sullivan, passed away at 7:27 p.m., Monday, April 4, 2022, in his home. Read More
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State Fire Marshal Awards $2.5 Million in Grants to Illinois First Responders
•April 13, 2022•
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced the recipients of the 2022 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $2.5 million was awarded to 104 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.
Bethany Fire Protection District is a recipient of a $19,000 grant. “All communities deserve safety, and this program helps ensure our smaller and rural fire districts aren’t left behind when it comes to the tools they need to do their jobs,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m proud to be able to provide more than 100 districts with new lifesaving equipment. It’s another way we can demonstrate our gratitude for all that they do to help their neighbors live safely.” Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured is the Lovington High School baseball team. Team members pictured: front row left to right - Alan Sautelet, Kent Cole, Mike Reedy, Jerry Born, Jim Murphy, Ron Miller, John Mechling, and Joe Wm. Smith. Back row left to right - Chris Long, Manager, Allen Bell, Steve Wall, Jeff Simpson, Ed Webb, Steve Fleming, Dave Elliott, Phil Edrington, Allen Hall, Coach (not pictured are Sid Ferguson, Rick Phillips, Mitch Dawson, Bill Eads, and Dennis Woodard). 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.
On Punctuation and Perspective
•April 13, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Many of you are kind enough to share with me multiple forwarded collections of embarrassing headlines from other newspapers, unfortunate misspellings or captions, punctuation puns and dirty limericks.
Even I’ve shared a few. And I’ve gone so far as to debunk some headlines that were doctored to look bad when they were perfectly fine.
Today, I rooted around for my own truffles. I found something on Facebook that for the briefest of moments made me believe the social media leviathan might be redeemable: a group called “The English Teacher’s Daughter.”
Check it out. It’s a bit like a grown-up version of this column.
There I found a well-worn bit that proves the power of punctuation as well as our inherent biases. Read More
Remember When? 4-13-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
D. Joann Grove took her place at the center of the Bethany Village Board table replacing Bethany Village President Don Gibbons, who did not seek re-election. Punch Martin joined Grove at the table as a new village trustee. Incumbents Terry Muzzy, Norm Yoder and Village Clerk Shirley Underwood were also re-elected.
The Sullivan City Council adopted a new policy on overdue utility bills. The bill policy said that “all customers must pay their current month’s utility charges within the 20 days allowed. Any delinquent balance which has accumulated must also be paid.” Then it said they would also allow the customer until September to pay that delinquent balance in four equal installments. Read More
Easter Egg Hunt April 9, 2022
Photo by Crystal Reed
Hunting for Easter eggs
The egg hunt was held at 1 pm on Saturday, April 9. Pictured are two ladies running towards the eggs while carrying their children and containers to gather the eggs.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Enjoying the Egg Hunt
The Cummings family came to the Sullivan egg hunt and enjoyed getting a close up look at a tractor. Pictured are Lane, Kenzlee, Lydia, Luke and Lylah Cummings.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Antique Fire Truck
At Courtyard Estates of Sullivan’s egg hunt, children and their families were able to get a closer look at fire trucks and emergency vehicles from Sullivan Fire Department, IDOT plows, a tractor and an antique fire truck. Trying out the antique fire truck were Raelynn and Zander Dyer.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Petting Zoo
One of the activities at Courtyard Estates for the Easter Egg Hunt was a petting zoo. Children and their families could interact with chickens, goats, llamas and other animals. Pictured is Jasper Rhodes with one of the goats.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Easter Eggstravaganza
Courtyard Estates of Sullivan hosted an Easter egg hunt and bicycle raffle on Saturday, April 9. Pictured with the Easter bunny are Keely Warren and Haleigh Nation.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Balloon Artist
Patti Woods (right), of Paddi’s Air Filled Fun, was making balloon creations for children at the Easter Egg Hunt in Sullivan. Pictured with Patti are Kyle and Elijah Gabbard.
Farm Credit Illinois makes $25,000 Donation to Illinois Amish Heritage Center
Photo by Crystal Reed
Angi Carter,Vice President, Lending of Farm Credit Illinois (left), presents a check to Wilmer Otto, President of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center (right). Also pictured in back is local farmer Levi Yoder and Jim Fleming.
•April 13, 2022•
The 2022 season for the Illinois Amish Heritage Center (IAHC) began with a celebration lunch on April 5, during which Farm Credit Illinois presented a $25,000 check toward its $50,000 commitment. In recognition of their generosity, the Gathering Pavilion will soon have installed the Center’s first donor plaque on which Farm Credit Illinois will be honored. Read More
City Council Approves Net Metering Ordinance Amendment
•April 13, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council approved an ordinance amendment for net metering of the revised code of ordinances of the city of Sullivan during their meeting on Monday. The ordinance affects those who are producing solar energy in the city. There is currently one customer who does so, but they have had inquiries from other residents.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook noted that the ordinance has the city allowing solar with no caps. The intent is to put this in place. Commissioner Mike Fowler added that there are other parts of the ordinance which need to be cleaned up.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said the new ordinance is replacing the old ordinance. “There’s more to the solar than just the ordinance,” Fowler replied.
Glazebrook said they are going to net metering. Read More
Sullivan Schools Propose Facility Improvements
•April 13, 2022•
Submitted by Ted Walk
Superintendent of Sullivan CUSD #300
Sullivan Schools recently hosted three facility forums that culminated in Board action on Monday, April 11, to place a referendum on the ballot at the upcoming June 28th election for the replacement of the aging Sullivan Middle School. Formal discussions regarding possible facility improvements have occurred over the past few years. The discussion moved forward with rapidity after recommended architect estimates for repairs to Sullivan Middle School totaled just over $10 million. The Board engaged in a Facility Planning Session in November, and Facility Forums open to the community occurred throughout February and March. These three community meetings allowed for 188 people to give feedback on needs and wants of the future of Sullivan Schools. Read More
Sullivan Community Education Foundation Holds Staff Appreciation Banquet
•April 13, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan Community Education Foundation held a Staff Appreciation Banquet Thursday, April 7, at Building 1225. During that event, mini and major grants were presented, and staff and retirees were recognized for years of service. Grant Wade, chair of SCEF, presented the grants as well as announced donations that were integral to funding those grants this year.
Wade said last year the foundation received one of its largest donations in the amount of $86,000 from Lloyd and Helen Maurer. A memorial in honor of Gary Emel given by the Emel family made an extra $10,000 in grants possible. This year there were seven mini and eight major grants awarded.
Mini grants this year totaled approximately $4,764.00 while major grants totaled $25,504.45. Mini grants in the amount of $450.00 were awarded to Erin Van Deursen and Nichole Watkins for hands-on learning activities for kindergarten students; Courtney Leach/ Leslie Guyot for a portable public address system for SES staff and students in the amount of $499.00; John Bertetto for 10 licenses for cadaver dissection program for SHS students in Anatomy/Physiology courses in the amount of $510.00; Valerie Kalagian/Lauren Fultz/Rikki Ray for 13 document cameras/microphones for elementary school students in the amount of $742.50; Sarah Camp for a sensory table and materials for early childhood students in the amount of $755.00; Kelsey Elliott for flexible seating for fifth grade students in the amount of $839.00 and Sheri McCain for 21 keyboards for third grade students in the amount of $965.79. Read More