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Prison Sentence Commutations Raise Questions in Springfield

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Prisoner Review Board Signs Off

•April 22, 2020•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois

Illinois Senate Republicans are calling for greater communication from the governor’s office when he commutes prison sentences, but Gov. JB Pritzker has not indicated he will make any voluntary changes to the process, which is spelled out in state law and also goes through the state Prisoner Review Board.
The Chicago Tribune reported Pritzker commuted 17 sentences between March 11 and April 9. Another two commutations were conducted on April 13, according to the Prisoner Review Board.
“We have learned through the media that you have reduced the sentences of some violent criminals, including seven or more convicted murderers,” eight Senate Republicans wrote in a letter to the governor on April 16. “We are concerned that you have done so without informing the victims, their families, witnesses who testified against them, local law enforcement leaders, the judges who decided their sentences, or members of the General Assembly. Are all of these commutations because of the COVID-19 crisis? We believe that the public deserves to know.” Read More

City is Assisting Businesses Seeking Help

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•April 22, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

As the Covid-19 closings affect more and more businesses the city of Sullivan is looking into ways to help.
Since the announcement of potential small business grants, Sullivan Economic Development Chamber director Laurrie Minor has worked with six local businesses.
“Although several of our local businesses have had to close, many do not have enough full-time employees to qualify,” Minor explained.
Of the six potential businesses, three will be able to move forward in the Downstate Small Business Stabilization program funded by federal Community Development Block Grant funds.
On Monday, April 27 a public hearing will be held before the city council at the Elizabeth Titus Library for The Little Theatre on the Square and Sullivan Dance Studio LLC. Both are seeking $25,000 for working capital to address the urgent needs due to COVID-19 emergency. Read More

How Earth Day and Environmental Conciousness Have Evolved

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•April 22, 2020•
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a mantra for many people. It’s difficult to imagine that just 50 years ago awareness of the state of the environment was not part of the collective consciousness.
An emerging public consciousness about the planet began amid environmental issues like increased air pollution and massive consumption of fossil fuels in the 1960s. The bestselling book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson also raised public concern for living organisms and the links between pollution and public health. The push for environmental reform gained even more momentum on April 22, 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated. Then-Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin put Earth Day on the national stage following a large oil spill that struck off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif. Before this disaster, recycling was not a word in the popular lexicon. But when the disaster struck, people began to reason that changes would have to be made to save the planet. Read More

Sullivan Graduation and Prom Tentatively Scheduled

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•April 22, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Tentative dates for possible graduation ceremonies at Sullivan High School are Sunday, June 28 or Sunday, July 26th.
A plan is being made to hold a virtual award’s night on Wednesday, May 6 and a virtual Decision Day ceremony on Friday, May 16.
Prom is tentatively being rescheduled for Saturday, June 13 with a contingency date of Saturday, July 18.
“There are a number of items that are very much on the minds of our community and our school personnel that still do not have answers,” Supt. Ted Walk told the school board April 13.
“This is an ending to a school year unlike any that we could have imagined. Though we have planned for the end of the school year, there is still so much learning that is yet to take place. I continue to encourage all students to try their best. I continue to urge all parents to help to the extent you are able, but I want you to understand that we will have protocols in place over the summer or in the fall to help make certain your students continue to see the academic success that we expect from students at Sullivan Schools.” Read More

Courthouse Reopens May 4

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•April 22, 2020•

Moultrie County Board chairman Dave McCabe announced the courthouse in Sullivan would return to full time hours Monday, May 4
Access will still be limited to the north entrance. Social distancing, temperature checks and hand sanitizing practices will still be observed.
“After conferring with Judge Richey, Sheriff Sims and Angie Hogan of the health department I notified elected officials and department heads that we would returned to full time hours,” McCabe said.

Beacon Shines

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Photo furnished
Beacon Shines
Early in April the Moultrie County Beacon held parades to help connect during the stay at home order. Half of the Cila houses organized a parade on one day challenging the members of the other Cila houses to top their effort during the second parade. It had been a month since they had been able to see friends, with the parade letting everyone exchange waves and greetings.

Sullivan School District is Committed to Serving Students and Community

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•April 22, 2020•
By Supt. Ted Walk
Sullivan CUSD #300

Governor Pritzker has announced that all public schools in Illinois will be closed for the remainder of the academic year. It is truly heartbreaking that we will not be able to interact with our students as we normally would again this year. The Sullivan School District remains committed to serving our students and community throughout these unprecedented times.
While additional information may cause modifications to our plan moving forward, we did want to update our students, parents, and community with the following tentative information. Read More

Sycamore at Tabor

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Sycamore at Tabor
Mayor Richard Glazebrook and Sullivan Park Supt. Ed Moody wrestled a Sycamore tree into its new home at Tabor Park on April 20. The new tree commemorates Earth Day Wednesday, April 22 and was donated to the park from the mayor’s back yard.

Social Security Recipients Should Start Getting Checks

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•April 22, 2020•
“Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon. People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment. They should immediately go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here section to provide their information. Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance beneficiaries with dependent children and who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Wednesday, April 22, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly. SSI recipients need to take this action by later this month; a specific date will be available soon. Read More

Secretary of State Extends Expiration Dates

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•April 15, 2020•

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced today his office filed emergency rules extending expiration dates for driver’s licenses, identification (ID) cards, vehicle registrations and other transactions and document filings for at least 90 days after Driver Services facilities reopen. The previous extension was for 30 days.
“Extending expiration dates by at least 90 days after Driver Services facilities reopen is the right thing to do,” said White. “It will ensure driver’s licenses, ID cards and vehicle registrations remain valid during this pandemic and will help alleviate the rush of customers visiting facilities once they reopen.”
Following Governor Pritzker’s Stay-at-Home order, White closed Driver Services facilities to the public through April 30. While facilities are closed to the public, White is encouraging residents to go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com to take advantage of many online services – such as renewing vehicle registration stickers – from the comfort of their own home. People who conduct online transactions will further help to reduce the number of face-to-face transactions that will occur at Driver Services facilities once they reopen.
Some of these online services include:
· renewing a vehicle registration;
· applying for a vehicle title and registration;
· obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card;
· obtaining a driving record abstract;
· renewing a standard driver’s license with the Safe Driver Renewal program.
“My commitment is to do everything we can to help protect the health and safety of our residents, while still providing services to the people of Illinois,” said White. “This will, and must, continue to be the guiding principle of our decision making.”