25 Years Ago This Week
Sullivan Schools are facing an $85,000 loss Supt. Richard Voltz told board members.
A significant increase in special ed students teamed with smaller average daily attendance combine to increase expenses to the district by $35,000 while receiving some $50,000 less in revenue.
Principal Rita Florey told the board the increase in special ed from 78 to 84 students accounted for the $35,000 expense increase.
In Tina Krigbaum’s store you can hear the birds sing.
You can also visit any time because there are no walls.
Krigbaum operates My Garden on the northeast corner of the Sullivan square in an employ lot owned by guy Little Jr.
By the way security is not a problem. One Sunday Tina drove by the My Garden site and plants were blown over. She was unable to stop, but when she returned someone had set all the plants back up. It’s that kind of place. Read More
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Corrected Clean up Dates
•July 1, 2020•
The city of Sullivan has authorized July 11 and 18 as City Clean Up Days.
The location of a citizen’s residence determines which day their items will be collected.
Items for all residents who live north of Harrison Street and on Pifers Ln. will be picked up Saturday, July 11. Those living south of Harrison Street will be serviced Saturday, July 18.
Those not living in the corporate city limits are not eligible to participate in the clean up day; therefore, any items set out will not be picked up.
Items must be on the curb by 7 a.m.
Students Can Apply to EIU for Free beginning July 1
•July 1, 2020•
Eastern Illinois University is strengthening its commitment to accessibility.
EIU leaders have announced that the university will shift to test-optional undergraduate admission for students interested in enrolling at the Charleston, Illinois-based university in fall of 2021 to further support student accessibility, opportunity, and success. In addition, merit scholarships will be made available specifically for EIU’s eligible test-optional admits, as well as those who include their test scores, under the University’s new policy. EIU’s test-optional application opens July 1, and prospective students can apply for free.
The announcement follows some national uncertainty about the availability of ACT/SAT testing as the world’s response to COVID-19 continues to evolve. When college assessment tests do resume, America’s educational leaders have questioned students’ capacity to perform well on them following such an unrivaled disruption in their junior year of high school. Read More
Jail Damage Yields Time
•July 1, 2020•
Kelvin Dees, 40, has resided in Moultrie County Corrections Center for the past 147 days will be there a while longer.
Dees was sentenced to seven years with the Illinois Dept. of Corrections on Friday, June 19, for criminal damage to government property, and will remain in Moultrie County custody until the state prisons start accepting prisoners again, following the COVID-19 restrictions.
Charges were filed after Dees damaged a window at the Moultrie County Correction Center.
Upon declaring the sentence Moultrie County Circuit Court Judge Jeremy Richey stated in the record.
Having regard to the nature and circumstance of the offense and history, character and condition of the Defendant, the Court is of
the opinion that the imprisonment is necessary for the protection of the public and probation or conditional discharge would deprecate the seriousness of the offense and would be inconsistent with the ends of justice. Defendant sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with a one year MSR. Defendant given credit for time served from January 24, 2020 to June 18, 2020. The Court waives the assessments. Defendant ordered to pay restitution in the sum of $5,065 to Moultrie County.
He was originally arrested Sept. 22, 2019 by Sullivan Police for unlawful delivery of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine.
Minimum Wage Increase Reaches New Level
•July 1, 2020•
Illinois’ minimum wage will make its second increase this year to $10 per hour beginning July 1. The Illinois Department of Labor urges minimum wage earners to make sure their checks reflect the increase following July 1.
Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation passed by the General Assembly providing a path to a $15 minimum wage by 2025. Minimum wage earners received the first increase of $1 to $9.25 per hour on January 1, 2020. Read More
City Approves Revolving Loan Fund
•July 1, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
In an effort to help local businesses Sullivan’s City Council is bringing back the revolving loan fund.
Approved unanimously at the June 22 meeting, loans will be available to businesses located within the city limits.
Amounts from $10,000 to $100,000 will be offered at between 2 to 6% interest over a seven year term. The council has $400,000 set aside for the Revolving Loan program. Read More
Pandemic May Bring Tech Upgrades to Courthouse
Work Station Security is Priority
•July 1, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Moultrie County courthouse employees working remotely during pandemic restrictions could change the county’s technology in the future.
During the COVID-19 restrictions employees were secured to their courthouse work stations by their physical home address, Neil Bryan noted, explaining the system was only as secure as the person’s computer at home.
Those were among concerns discussed when Chair Elizabeth Houser called the County Board Tech Committee into session Friday, June 26.
Members present included: Bryan, Mike Barringer, Karen Cody, Rick Matthews and James Sines, along with Board Chairman Dave McCabe. Read More
Fraternal Honors
Photo furnished
Fraternal Honors
The Shamrock Pub in Dalton City received two new ceiling tile honoring the Mt. Zion Oddfellows and Masonic Lodges. The tiles were presented as a donation from the Brothers Odd band performance in 2019. Pictured: Odd Brothers Dave Crisman, Brian Gee, Shamrock Manager Kristyl Novota, Greg Gadberry and Brett Dilbeck.
Corrected Dates for Sullivan Clean Up
•June 25, 2020•
The city of Sullivan has authorized July 11 and 18 as City Clean Up Days.
The location of a citizen’s residence determines which day their items will be collected.
Items for all residents who live north of Harrison Street and on Pifers Ln. will be picked up Saturday, July 11. Those living south of Harrison Street will be serviced Saturday, July 18.
Those not living in the corporate city limits are not eligible to participate in the clean up day; therefore, any items set out will not be picked up.
Items must be on the curb by 7 a.m.
Moultrie County Adds 16th Positive COVID-19 Case
•June 25, 2020•
The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has confirmed the 16th case of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Moultrie County. The patient is a male in his 70s and is recovering at home in isolation. Public health officials are contacting all close contacts.
To date, 709 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 16 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. Of the 16 laboratory confirmed coronavirus cases in Moultrie County, 13 have been released from isolation.
As public organizations and businesses reopen, it is important that everyone continues to use precautions to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 infection. To help contain the spread of COVID-19, the MCHD recommends that individuals: Wash their hands routinely ;Avoid touching their face ; Bypass nonessential trips into the public; Keep children at home; Maintain a physical distance of six feet from others; Wear a mask in public when physical distancing is not possible.
Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include: Fever, Fatigue, Dry cough, Chills, Body aches, Headache, Sore throat, Loss of smell or taste.
Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if they experience difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or a bluish color in the lips or face.
If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival.
For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth