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Sullivan Schools Facility Needs Forum

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•March 16 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer

The second meeting of the public forums on Sullivan school facility needs was held in the middle school gym 6:30-8 p.m., March 8.
The 80 attendees were again assigned to groups of 10 people at eight tables with school superintendent, Ted Walk, leading the meeting.
At the previous session a survey was taken, and there were 70 respondents to the 20 questions regarding needs in terms of importance. The top10 were ranked in order of importance as follows:
• additional classrooms for the elementary school
• replace the middle school
• increased energy efficiency
• larger new gym Read More

MCRTA Receives Award

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•March 16 2022•

Word has been received from Jim Bachman, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) Executive Director, that the Moultrie County Retired Teachers Association (MCRTA) Unit is being recognized as a 2021 IRTA “Unit of Distinction.”
This program is a voluntary program based on the honor system that is designed to help guide and direct local unit leaders, as well as recognizing IRTA units that are the best in the state. Units receiving the “Unit of Distinction” Award will be recognized at the IRTA Biennial Convention, in the IRTA Action, in the e-Newsletter, and on the IRTA website. The local MCRTA unit will also receive a gift of $250.
The MCRTA Executive Board met on March 4, 2022. Locations of future meetings, brunches, possible programs and speakers were discussed. Two fundraisers were listed for April 26 and October 18 at Monical’s. Committee chairs were asked once again to report at the meetings. Proposed changes to three MCRTA Amendments were presented by Don Lockwood. The next full membership meeting will be held on April 6, at the Smith House in Tuscola for a meal, speaker, and business meeting. Contact Jane McKown or Marlene Wirth for questions.

Village of Bethany Board Meeting

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•March 16 2022•

The Village of Bethany had a board meeting on Thursday, March 10. Bethany mayor Jonathan Book said that during the meeting a water improvement fee was approved. Starting in May, water customers will see a $16 charge on their water bill each month. Money from the water improvement fee will go towards the village’s water improvement project. The village board also approved a policy on net metering. The policy now says that the village can’t limit the amount of customers with solar panels. In other business, Tim Moon came to the village about the possibility of bringing in rock on Jefferson Street next to the library. Book said that they will work with the township and library on this project.

Bake Sale to Raise Money for Aid in Ukraine

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•March 16 2022•

The Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary Unit 68 and The Baking Brigade of Sullivan are holding a bake sale on Friday, March 18, at the Legion to raise money to donate for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. It will be held at the Friday night fish fry held by the Sullivan Sons of the American Legion. Sullivan American Legion Post 68 and SAL are supporting the bake sale. Two area families have connections to Ukraine and we are working with them to select groups to receive donations.

Preschool Roundup in Lovington

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•March 16 2022•

Project H.E.L.P. will be offering free developmental screenings for two to five year olds, including vision and hearing screenings on Friday, April 1. To make an appointment call Lovington Elementary School at 217-873-4318.

Recent Obituaries: Julia Shasteen

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Julia Shasteen

Julia Rose Shasteen, 85, of Sullivan, passed away at 6:36 a.m. Wednesday March 9, 2022 at the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home in Mattoon.

Celebration of Life services will be at 10 :00 a.m. Tuesday March 15, 2022 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Monday.  Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Thrift Store, the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home in Mattoon, the Alzheimer’s Association or to the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Julia was born August 19, 1936 in Ashmore, the daughter of John Hubert and Luella Leola (Jones) Moffett. She had been a bookkeeper for Shasteen Motors in Sullivan and then a bookkeeper for the City of Sullivan Water and Sewer Department. Julia was a member of the Sullivan First Christian Church. She enjoyed working outdoors and tending to her flower garden, searching for treasures at garage sales, rummage sales and auctions and a good cup of coffee on the front porch. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Julia married Charles ‘Buddy’ Shasteen on October 2, 1954 and he preceded her in death on April 26, 1996.
Surviving are her daughters Carletta ‘Kim’ (Duane) Voegel and Kristie Short and significant other Robert DeMars of Sullivan; brothers Donald Moffett of Cowden, John (Diana) Moffett, Jr. of Illiopolis and David (Jackie) Moffett of Decatur; sister Barbara Wiley of Mattoon; grandchildren Sean (Tiffany) Voegel, Nicholas (Ginger) Voegel, Jennifer Voegel, Katie Voegel and Dylan (Ariel) Short and great grandchildren Carly Voegel, Jonathan Voegel, Sarina Voegel, Miah Voegel, Aston Johnson, Kinley Short and Keller Short.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant sister Luella Moffett, brothers Wayne Moffett, Dwight Moffett and Tom Moffett and sister Illeana Yeager.

Moultrie Co. 2022 Mobile Home Privilege Tax

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•March 9, 2022•
Tax bills will be mailed on March 16, 2022 and are due on May 16, 2022. Taxes may be mailed to Moultrie County Collector, 10 South Main, Suite 10, Sullivan, IL. 61951. Taxes may also be paid at all Moultrie County Banks: Scott State Bank Bethany/Dalton City/Sullivan/Mt. Zion, State Bank of Arthur a Division of Morton Community Bank, Arthur Community Bank, First National Bank of Arthur, First Community Bank of Moultrie County in Sullivan and Lovington and First Mid-Illinois Bank Sullivan. Read More

Hershberger/Miller Barn Work Progresses

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Working on the roof
The first week of disassembling the Hershberger/Miller barn involved the removal of roof panels.

•March 9, 2022•
Work to disassemble the Hershberger/Miller barn started the week of February 14, and, as of last Friday, there was very little left to be taken down. The timbers will be shipped to the facilities of Trillium Dell Timber Works in Galesburg for restoration or replacement as needed. A traditional barn raising is planned for the fall. This will be coordinated by Trillium Dell staff and involve interested public and Amish from the local as well as other Amish areas.
The Hershberger/Miller barn was constructed three miles west of Arthur in 1879. The large, five bay, Pennsylvania-style barn features the typical forebay overhang on the east side and a drive-in threshing floor on the west side. On the lower level are stalls for six draft horses, pens for various livestock and the milking bay along with grain and feed bins. The upper level is open for hay and grain storage. Read More

Sullivan Schools Begin Public Series on Facility Needs

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•March 9, 2022•
By Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer

The Sullivan Middle School gym was the location for the first of a three-part series of public forums to assess future facility needs for all three schools.
The meeting was held 6:30-8 p.m., Monday, February 28. Eight large tables with seating for 10 people each were arranged in the gym. All seats were filled with an almost equal number of teachers and community members. Read More

Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Improvement Day

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•March 9, 2022•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance will place donated Christmas trees and artificial structures into Lake Shelbyville to enhance the fisheries on March 26, 2022. Volunteers with large jon boats are needed as well as volunteers on shore to help bundle and place trees in boats. To volunteer, meet at the Wilborn Creek Recreation Area boat ramp parking lot by 8:30 a.m. Volunteers are required to sign in prior to starting work at 9:00 a.m. A free lunch will be provided. Read More