Photo by Crystal Reed
Festive School Bus
The Sullivan School District bus garage decorated a school bus with lights, eyes with eyelashes and a mask last week for the scheduled Reverse Parade. Due to the weather the parade was cancelled so they displayed the bus in the elementary school parking lot last Friday to spread some holiday cheer.
•December 16, 2020•
The Moultrie County COVID-19 update for December 12-14, 2020 is 17 additional cases of COVID-19 with ages ranging from 6-60s. The total residents tested positive to date is 1,071. Total COVID-19 related deaths to date is 13.
•December 16, 2020•
The Sullivan Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, December 19 starting at 1 p.m. Lineup will be in the high school parking lot (rear). The parade will follow the regular route. Social distancing and masks are encouraged while viewing the parade. Those who would like to have an entry in the parade should contact Jeri Davis at 859-2101.
Photo by R.R. Best
Solid Rock Chapel Delivers Gifts and Meals
Solid Rock Chapel delivered meals, gifts and goody bags to residents at local CILA homes and Patterson House over the weekend. They took a wagon around town for 3 ½ hours to deliver the items. Normally the church holds a Christmas party for the CILA homes and Patterson House but were unable to do so due to the pandemic. They were able to raise over $4,000 to help make this possible.
Photo submitted
Kaden Huber utilizes one of the pedal desks in Mrs. Kuhn’s resource room. Kuhn was a recipient of a Sullivan Community Education Foundation grant this year.
•December 16, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Students in Susan Kuhn’s special education classes at Sullivan Middle School have a unique option for seating that wouldn’t be possible if not for grants from the Sullivan Community Education Foundation.
The classroom has several pedal desks which allow students, who may have trouble sitting still, to work seated while pedaling.
Kuhn has now received a $540.00 grant to buy additional pedal desks for her classroom. Prior grants have purchased a dry erase table, fidget stools, fidget desks, balance boards and white pedal desks. This year’s grant was used for more adult size pedal desks.
Having fidget items in her classroom has had an unexpected affect. “When I first got the fidget items for my classroom, the noise level dropped,” she noted. “It gives students the opportunity to move without being disruptive.” Kuhn said that she has a goal to get more pedal desks if possible but plans to keep at least four traditional desks in her classroom. Read More
Illinois Department of Labor Reminds Workers to Watch Their Wages
•December 16, 2020•
Illinoisans will ring in the New Year with an additional increase in the minimum wage to $11 an hour, and the Illinois Department of Labor is encouraging employees to watch their paychecks to ensure that time worked in 2021 is paid at the new rate.
Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation into law in 2019 providing a path to a $15 minimum wage by 2025. Minimum wage earners received two increases in 2020 to $9.25 an hour on January 1 followed by an increase to $10 an hour on July 1. The minimum wage will continue to increase an additional $1 an hour each January 1 until it reaches $15 an hour in 2025.
“We want to make sure that workers earning minimum wage are aware that the $1 increase should be reflected in their pay checks for any time they work after the first of the year,” said Michael Kleinik, director of the Illinois Department of Labor. “While we fully expect employers will pay the new wage, we also want workers to be aware of the change.” Read More
Pictured above is Santa visiting the Eastview nursing home in 1970 at Christmastime. 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.
•December 16, 2020•
Allenville Christian Church will host a Christmas Eve service at 8:00 pm on December 24. The church is located at 201 E. Allen Street in Allenville.
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Sullivan First United Methodist Church is inviting the community to join them for a drive-in Christmas Eve worship service December 24 from 5-5:30 p.m. in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church parking lot. There will be carols with candlelight, communion and an opportunity to experience the Christmas story with a live nativity. Each family will receive a “Bright” kit which includes candles for Silent Night, lyrics for the carols and communion elements. To join, simply RSVP with the church office at 728-4436 so organizers will know the number of kits needed. Participants will be notified in advance so their kits may be picked up before Christmas Eve.
•December 16, 2020•
The Moultrie County News Progress and The Fish Wrap will have early holiday deadlines for ad-vertising and news.For the Wednesday, Dec. 23 edition of the News Progress and Dec. 24 edition of The Fish Wrap deadline is noon Friday, Dec. 18.The following week Wednesday, December 30 and December 31 edition deadlines are noon Wednesday, December 23. The News Progress office will be closed on December 24 and 25. Have a Happy Holiday!
Jud Cameron
Judson J. ‘Jud’ Cameron, 84, of Sullivan, passed away at 3:53 a.m. Friday December 11, 2020 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Read More