Registered Voters who are not able to vote on Election Day March 18 are able to vote before that date either by Absentee Voting or Early Voting in the County Clerk’s office, 10 S. Main, Sullivan. Absentee Voting: February 6 through March 17 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the Clerk’s office remaining open until 5 p.m. on the last day of absentee voting. 

Early Voting: March 3 through March 15, 2014 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Special Saturday hours on the last day of Early Voting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A voter must present valid identification when voting, but does not have to have an excuse to participate in either of these methods of voting.

Grace Period Registration/voting: February 19 through March 15, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with special Saturday hours on the last day of grace period registration/voting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grace period is an extension of regular registration in which a person may register to vote or transfer their registration due to a name change or an address change. This method of registration is available only in the County Clerk’s office during regular office house; and if a person wants to vote in the upcoming Election, they must vote at the time of grace period registration. Registration requirements: U.S. Citizen; 18 years of age by election day; resident of your precinct 30 days prior to election day; two forms of identification, one showing current address.

Special Saturday hours for absentee/early voting and grace period registration/voting only will be Saturday March 15 between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the County Clerk’s office.

The last day a signed absentee application can be accepted in the Moultrie County Clerk’s office, for an absentee ballot to be mailed, is Thursday, March 13.

If you have any questions pertaining to Absentee, Early or Grace Period voting, please call the County Clerk’s office at 728-4389.

The Sullivan Elementary School PTO is hosting Family Fit Night 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 13 in the elementary school gym. All families with elementary age children are welcome to attend. The goal for the event is to promote healthy lifestyle choices and show families what healthy options are available in the community. Local businesses and organizations providing fitness or nutritional services will set up displays of information and conduct fun activities for the children. Students will also have the opportunity to win prizes for participation.

Anyone interested in being a vendor for Family Fit night may contact Lauren Calandrilla at lrcalandrilla@gmail.com.

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

After enjoying a three-way tie for 10th place in class 2A last week, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team was booted by none other than Mt. Carmel, who boasts Tyra Buss, and who ousted Sullivan last year in the opening sectional.

“I guess I was a little surprised not to see us ranked in the top 10 anymore after only two losses for the year,” said Sullivan head coach Sheri McCain Thursday in an email.

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Freshmen orientation for next year’s freshman class will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 26 in the high school commons. For more information, contact the high school at 728-8311. 

The city of Sullivan in partnership with the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association (IMUA) is again offering a scholarship competition program for eligible high school seniors. Each eligible applicant is asked to submit an application and an essay of 500 words or less addressing their choice of one of four utility-related questions.

Applicants must be high school seniors whose parents or legal guardians are residential customers of the city of Sullivan municipal utility.

According to public property commissioner Mike Kirk, the program has a dual purpose: 1) to promote and recognize scholastic achievement; and, 2) to create greater awareness among young adults of the many issues facing consumers and public power municipalities today.

“Today’s energy providers, including municipally-owned and operated utilities, face a myriad of economic, environmental, and other challenges, which warrant creative and innovative solutions,” Kirk said. “Creating a great awareness of these issues among tomorrow’s leaders can be the first step in helping to determine effective, long-term solutions, both now and into the future.”

This will be the 14th year IMUA has offered the program.

“Since its inception in 2000, IMUA’s scholarship program has proven to be a very popular and successful program for IMUA, its members, and the communities it serves,” said Kevin M. Gaden, President and CEO of the IMUA. “Public power communities offer their customers a number of cost, service, and other advantages compared to those served by other energy providers. IMUA’s scholarship program is another example of how municipally-owned and operated utility systems can help return value to their communities while at the same time provide a measure of financial assistance to those students who wish to purse a college education.”

The deadline for submitting applications and essays is Friday, March 7. A committee of municipal utility officials will select a total of four finalists, each of whom will receive a certificate and $500 scholarship award. Winners will be announced sometime in April.

Organized in 1948, IMUA is a statewide trade association that represents the unified interest of, and provides services to, nearly 60 municipalities that operate their own electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and wastewater treatment systems. Applicants may contact IMUA for more information at 217-789-4632.