•September 28, 2022•
by Ariana R. Cherry
NP Writer

Members of the ALAH School Board went into a closed session Wednesday, September 21, for a grievance hearing after opening their meeting and going over communication that was received. After a short time, the board returned and made a motion to deny the grievance.
Once again, a budget hearing was held for the tentative 2023 school district budget. Superintendent Shannon Cheek stated that nothing had changed with the budget, and it had been displayed publicly for the past 30 days. He reiterated what was mentioned at last month’s hearing.
“We tried to be as conservative as possible when we were building the budget and overestimated on expenses.” Last month Cheek informed the board that the ALAH District is considered a Tier 3 school and that it has been operating at 90% adequacy. Although he mentioned that the increase in funding received was pretty minimal as the district received only about $22,000 extra.
Some of the amounts calculated in the budget were as follows: the projected balances for 6/30/23 are as noted: Education Fund: $4,273,025; Operation and Maintenance: $1,738,757; Transportation: $375,056; Working Cash: 880,253 which makes the subtotal of operating funds at 7,267,091. Board members voted to approve the FY2023 Budget as presented. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan observed Homecoming and announced their attendants and queen candidates. Junior Jodi Pound; sophomore Georgia Rollins; freshman Amanda Martin; seniors Tiffany Bone, Erica Keown, Brooke Coy and Jennifer Sanner.

Phyllis Schultz of Arthur was selected as Moultrie County’s Outstanding Senior Volunteer.
The Arthur-Lovington Knights football team pounded Illiopolis 29-7 in Little Okaw Valley Conference play. Read More

•September 21, 2022•
Matthew D. Phelps, 35, of Kirksville has been sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
At a hearing on September 6, 2022, Judge Jeremy Richey accepted an agreement whereby Phelps pled guilty to Domestic Battery (Enhanced Sentence), a Class 4 Felony, in Moultrie County case 2022-CF-55 as well as Domestic Battery (Enhanced Sentence), a Class 4 Felony, in Moultrie County case 2022-CF-53. The charges stem from incidents on July 14, 2022, and on July 27, 2022, where law enforcement from the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Sullivan Police Officers responded to a residence in Sullivan regarding a domestic dispute involving Phelps. Read More

•September 21, 2022•
As we enter fall, the Illinois Departments of Agriculture (IDOA) and Labor (IDOL) remind all farm workers to stay safe, especially during the busy harvest season.
To this end, Governor Pritzker has proclaimed the week of September 18-24, 2022, National Farm Safety and Health Week in Illinois, with the theme, “Protecting Agriculture’s Future.”
The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the agriculture sector is one of the most dangerous in America. Each year the farming profession sees over 500 fatalities nationwide.
“It is important to bring awareness not only to the physical dangers of farming, but the emotional toll it takes as well,” said Jerry Costello II, Director, IDOA. “While we highlight roadway safety, confined spaces safety, and other traditional farming hazards, it is also important to encourage farmers to take care of their own health.” Read More