Category Archives: News Briefs

Remember When? 1-16-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department recently received a new tool to use in the war against drugs . . . A DARE MOBILE! The 1989 Nissan truck had been seized by Illinois State Police from a cocaine dealer who had put uncountable hours and a lot of money into customizing it. Dare officer Jeff Thomas feels that it helps to reinforce the DARE message that drug dealing does not pay.
A new law took effect January 1, 1994 that if your windshield wipers are on your headlights must be on.
Six area families along the Festival of Lights Starflake Trail were recently presented with checks for $250 each after winning the Trail lighting contest. Pamela Conley was the winner in the area from Findlay to Sullivan and Lloyd Long of Lovington won the Sullivan to Arthur connection. Other winners are Forrest and Joan Herron, Leonard Beachy, The Vigoro Plant and Lloyd, Freda and Sherilyn Noll.
Sullivan Civic Center raquetball player Bev Powell of Lovington is a nationally ranked player, according to the American Amateur Raquetball Assn. Powell is the number two player in the nation in the women’s 45-plus bracket following Agatha Falso of Florida.
Moultrie County’s trainjacker, Pedro Ramirez of Chicago, pled guilty to criminal damage to property and illegal possession of cannabis. He was arrested July 29 near Cadwell when he commandeered a train and caused damaged to the switching mechanism. He was sentenced to the DOC. Read More

Menus 1-9-2019

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Senior Peace Meal

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

Monday, January 14 - Chili mac, tossed salad w/dressing, dinner roll, warm cinnamon peaches
Tuesday, January 15 - Tyrkey pot roast w/baby carrots & celery, broccoli cauliflower bake, dinner roll, tropical fruit
Wednesday, January 16 - Chicken casserole, peas and carrots, seasoned green beans w/pimentos, whole grain wheat (1), chunky applesauce
Thursday, January 17 - Roast beef in gravy, mashed potatoes, cabbage and tomato au gratin, dinner roll, overnight fruit salad
Friday, January 18 - Ham loaf, frosted sweet potatoes, midori blend veggies, whole grain wheat (1), fresh fruit

Superintendent-Y Stuff: A Walk with Mr. Walk

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•January 9, 2019•

By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300

This past week, staff members of Sullivan Schools had the opportunity to receive ALICE training during our Teacher Institute Day.
ALICE is an active shooter civilian response training available to various organizations including schools, businesses, and churches.
It provides preparation and a plan for individuals and organizations on how to more proactively handle the threat of an aggressive intruder.  Read More

SES Gold Slip Awards

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Photo furnished
SES Gold Slip Awards
Every month, Sullivan Elementary recognizes students who go above and beyond expectations by awarding them “Gold Slips.”  Pictured are the gold slip winners from the month of December:  Karen Szachnitowski has been very helpful to her peers who have needed some extra guidance in math. She has offered to help during classtime and even recess. Christian Ogle was awarded a book to take home for winning a game. He picked one and then said he got it for his sister because those books are hard to find.

Meyer Earns Grant to Study Abroad

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•January 9, 2019•

Paisley Meyer grew up in Sullivan and went to high school in Mattoon experiencing life on the prairie without much exposure to the rest of the world.
Now a student at the University of Illinois, the thought of studying abroad that seemed out of reach is suddenly within grasp.
That changed late last year with an email from the State Department which wrote to inform Meyer that she was among 12 UI students selected to receive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, which provide grants of $2,500 to $5,000 to students with limited financial means to spend a semester studying or interning abroad. Read More

Remember When? 1-9-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Dee and Wayne Claytor won first place in the Bethany Lighting Contest. Second place went to Carroll and Sandy Ray, and third place winners were David and Kathy Doty. Mark and Judi Seeley won the award for best decorated outdoor tree, and Crowder Insurance won top honors as best decorated business.
The overall winner of Lovington’s Lighting Contest is Carl Elzy. Lloyd Long was the winner of the contemporary division, Karen and Tom Webb took second, and third place went to Murray and Lisa Kidwell. In the religious category Guy and Joyce Elder were the first place winners while Alma Fair won second, and third place went to Dick Nelson.
Over 30 Sullivan citizens recently chartered an Optimist Club to serve the youth of the area. Officers in the organization were the first to become charter members of the international club. They include Lisa Muirheid, Jamie Isaacs, Debbie Preston, Laura Sutton, Jon England, Rick Dunscomb, Gerry Wood, Wayne Turner and Mary Ann Hargis. Read More

Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare?

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•January 9, 2019•

By Jack Myers
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

Sometimes it’s confusing to know who to contact and for what. Social Security and Medicare offer related services, so people aren’t always certain who does what. This “cheat sheet” can help.
Contact Social Security to:
• See if you’re eligible for Medicare; Read More

Millikin University Choir Embarks on Winter Tour

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•January 9, 2019•

The 43-voice nationally recognized Millikin University Choir will embark on a 16-day tour this January with stops in Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. The 2019 Winter Tour began with a performance on Jan. 5 at Central Baptist Church in Springfield.
The tour concludes with a finale concert on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church located at 407 E. Eldorado St. in Decatur.
All concerts are free to the public and free-will offerings are accepted.
The flagship of the Millikin choral fleet, the University Choir features upper-class students from a variety of majors. In recent years, the choir has also toured internationally to Spain, Ireland, Scotland, England, China, Taiwan, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The Millikin University Choir has gained national recognition, due in part to six invitations to perform at national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Their performances have fostered new conversations in response to their approach to tone, style and programming. The choir has six recordings on Millikin’s First Step Records label. Read More

Remember When? 1-2-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Shirley Geiling, the new owner of the new “Time Out, Skin and Body Care”, offers a relaxing way to spend your Christmas cash. Along with facials, she offers pedicures, body waxing, massages and non-surgical facelifts.
The roof and the wall studs are up for the new American Legion building in Sullivan. Members hope to have the new building ready for occupancy early next year.
Bethany firefighters and Moultrie County dive team members were on scene of a fatal crash near the Okaw River Bridge. Gary Winskill, Mark Seeley, Rick Matthews, Dave Brewer and Mike Kidwell were able to rescue the victims 65-pound dog from the partially submerged vehicle. The dog tried but was unable to come across the slick hood of the truck on his own.
Doug and Alicia DeLong have the first baby born at Carle Hospital in Urbana. Sarah Claire DeLong arrived at 5 a.m. January 1, and she is the couple’s first child. Read More

Thinking About Health: Ruling Against the ACA Would End Needed Benefits

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•January 2, 2019•

By Trudy Lieberman
Rural Health News Service

Right before Christmas a U.S. District Court Judge in Texas ruled the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, was unconstitutional. What’s more, the judge didn’t just throw out the controversial provision that nearly every American is required to carry health insurance, he tossed out the entire law with its myriad provisions.
“Nearly everyone would be affected in some way if the Texas judge’s ruling that the entire ACA is unconstitutional is upheld,” said Larry Levitt, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “It would also be a big deal if only the ACA’s preexisting conditions were thrown out as the Trump administration has argued.”
Indeed, it would. Although I’ve argued there are many flaws in the Affordable Care Act, its greatest contribution may be that it opened the door for sick people to get insurance. Until the ACA came along, anyone who needed to buy coverage in the individual insurance market had to pass tough medical scrutiny by insurers. Even a seemingly minor condition like an ear infection could disqualify someone from getting a policy.
There’s no going back to the past on this one. The principle that everyone needs health insurance, whether sick or well, and has a right to get it is now becoming more firmly planted in American health insurance. As proof, we have to look no further than the public outcry that surfaced when Congress tried to repeal the law in 2017, and the importance it took on all over the country in the November midterm elections. Candidates who were on record as opposing the ACA tried to convince voters they really were for letting sick people buy health insurance after all. Read More