Category Archives: News Briefs

Remember When? 3-27-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

The new ramp has been completed outside the Moultrie County Courthouse to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Lori Shasteen, a seven-year employee of Horn Insurance Agency, passed the Illinois state exams for life and health as well as property and casualty insurance to become a licensed insurance agent for all lines of insurance.
The fourth annual Young Authors Program, sponsored by the Sullivan PTO, was held at Sullivan High School and Middle School. Those students reading their manuscripts are Kindergarten, Monica Giberson and Stephanie Lane; First grade, Stephanie Austin, Sarah Donoho, Caleb Hawbaker and Wyatt Jenkins. Third grade: Elizabeth Kellog, Deana Sides, Matthew Vail, and Ashlee Walton. Fourth Grade: Chris Crawford, Drew Miller. Becky Moore, and Cindi Reed. Fifth Grade: Emily Feeler, Lisa Lilly, Amanda Russell, and Mary VanDuersen. Sixth Grade: Chase Arnold, Christal Norton, Angela Perry and Lena Singer. Seventh Grade: Derek Elder, Nikki Hingson, Keath Murray, Melissa Steward. Eighth Grade: Missy Gillon, Jim Highland, Casey Matthews and Abbie Rodgers
Jalee Fifer is the Moultrie County Spelling Bee Champion. Read More

April Is National Social Security Month

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•March 27, 2019•

By Jack Myers
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

It’s National Social Security Month and this year we’re highlighting some of the time-saving features of the my Social Security account. Once you create an account, you’ll see that we already have your work history and secure information to estimate what you could receive once you start collecting benefits. With your personal my Social Security account, you can also: Read More

Superintendent-Y Stuff: A Walk with Mr. Walk

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•March 27, 2019•

Supt. Ted Walk,
Sullivan CUSD #300

There has been a lot of variation in dates of attendance for schools in Illinois over the years.
Currently, a district is required to schedule 180 days, with an additional five days reserved as Emergency Days for instances when school has to be closed due to weather. Apart from a standard Pupil Attendance Day, schools may use some of these days for items such as Teachers Institutes, School Improvement, or Parent-Teacher Conferences. Read More

Mayor Responds to Forum Questions

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•March 27, 2019•

Editors Note: In the March 20, 2019 article on the candidate forum held March 14 Sullivan Mayor Ann Short’s answers were incomplete. In the effort to provide her an equal opportunity to respond, the News Progress is publishing the mayor’s complete responses to the SCED forum questions. Our duty at the News Progress is to allow each candidate fair and equal coverage.

Question 1 TIF districts
Tax Increment Financing is confusing to the general public. It is an economic development tool that was created by the State for municipalities to use. We created TIF 1 in 1986 and TIF 2 in 1991. The will be expiring in 2011 and 2026. TIF 3 was created in 2001 and will expire in 2024.
On your property tax bill about ½ of the amount goes to the schools and the remaining ½ is divided u-up between the City, Fire and Ambulance, County and Lake Land. However, since some properties are located in a TIF district, the distribution of those amounts are treated differently by the County. We have worked with 57 different individual developers who came to the City and expressed a desire to increase the value of their property. We have signed agreements with them and they have increased the value of their property. When they pay their increased property taxes annually, the initial amount paid before TIF goes to the various taxing bodies in the county. That difference between the two amounts is the Increment. That is paid to the City Tax Increment Fund. We can then share that back with the developer, through a signed agreement, to meet the eligible costs he incurred in making the improvements. The balance of the funds can then be used for City improvements which are allowed under the original and amended plan. We hire a TIF attorney to determine what reimbursements to the developers are allowed and also what City expenditures are allowed. Those must follow what is allowed by State Statute. Read More

Menus 3-27-2019

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Monday, April 1 - Biscuits and gravy, breakfast pattie, baby bakers, fruit juice, warm fruit compote
Tuesday, April 2 - Fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/gravy, black-eyed pea salad, Texas toast, pineapple tidbits
Wednesday, April 3 - Brat sandwich, corn, broccoli and cauliflower, bun, fruit salad
Thursday, April 4 - Chili w/beans, lettuce salad w/spinach, pears, crackers, cake or brownie
Friday, April 5 - Beef and noodles, mashed potatoes, Italian green beans, whole grain wheat, apple slices

Peace Meal Editors Note
Editor’s Note: In the March 13 edition of the Moultrie County News Progress the continued story from page 4 - Restaurant Opens …ended up on page 8 above the weekly Peace Meal menus. Unfortunately some readers mistakenly thought Fairways Family Restaurant had become the Senior Peace Meal provider. Peace Meal menus remain a separate program providing meals for senior citizens.

February WHS Students of the Month

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•March 27, 2019•

February Students of the Month at Windsor schools include Pyrintha Ballinger, a senior and the daughter of David and Paulette Ballinger. She is involved in Student Council, WYSE, and Spanish Club.
Seventh grader Hannah Gossard is the daughter of Todd and Delaine Gossard. She participates in volleyball and hopes to one day become a designer or doctor.

Letter to the Editors 3-27-2019

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To the Editor,

During this election cycle one contest that has been “flying under the radar” is that of the Sullivan school board. Some people who live outside of the city limits don’t realize that they are eligible to vote in this contest.
This letter is one way to get the word out and encourage people to vote. Read More

Life Advocacy Day

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Photo furnished
Life Advocacy Day
On Wednesday, March 20 Catholics from throughout the Diocese of Springfield gathered together with Bishop John Paprocki for the annual Life Advocacy Day. Parishioners from St Columcille in Sullivan, and Immaculate Conception in Mattoon joined a large crowd in the Illinois State Capitol building to give a voice to the voiceless by letting the legislators know they disapprove abortion.

Okaw Valley Featured

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•March 27, 2019•

The March Issue of IASA Leadership Matters recently hit the desk of every school superintendent in the state.
It features Okaw Valley Supt. Kent Stauder and erg instructor Wes Wise on the front cover and has a great article inside about the many projects underway at OV. The Okaw Valley/ Lake Shelbyville CORPS cooperative projects are focused in a special video link https://user-39430906818.cld.bz/March-2019-LM-19039/1

Area Student Makes Indiana State Dean’s List

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•March 27, 2019•

Indiana State University has announced its dean’s list for the fall semester of 2018. To be eligible for the list, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
The area student making the dean’s list is Dalton Armes of Gays.