Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Chief of Police Jim Waggoner directs students a safe distance from Sullivan schools with city administrator Dan Flannell in background joining teachers, additional city employees and first responders to help keep the situation under control last Friday afternoon.

•March 28, 2018•

A threatening note led to early dismissal of Sullivan Schools for Easter break Friday. No credible threat was discovered with the responsible student taken into custody.

According to a press release from Supt. Ted Walk a note was discovered Friday, March 23, indicating a possible bomb threat to Sullivan High School. The credibility of the threat could not be immediately determined, and Sullivan schools dismissed students starting at 1:15 p.m.

Students were relocated to the American Legion and Sullivan Civic Center for parent reunification.

Law enforcement and school administration conducted a search of the buildings and grounds, and no evidence of a bomb was found.   Read More

•March 21 2018•

Lovington village board approved up to $7000  donation to the village fireworks show, following the Saturday, June 16 Community Club fish fry.

Lisa Kamm told board members the Fireworks fund raiser was set for the American Legion on March 17. Last year the Fireworks community donated $3000 toward the show and anticipates the same donation for the coming year, Kamm explained. The additional donation from the village will allow a $10,000 fireworks program Saturday, following the Lovington Community Club Fish Fry. Read More

•March 21 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The Sullivan City Council approved the preliminary plat for the new Burdick sub-division at the March 12 meeting.

The new sub-division will lie along the east side of Patterson Road and south of the White Heath Subdivision to the four way stop at Country Club Drive which is about a half mile east of Route 32 South. The driveways will back into Patterson Road.

Near the White Heath sub-division, Burdick sub-division consists of nine one to two acres sites.

Developer Darin Burdick noted a couple of sites were larger with one lot about three acres and another five. The city is installing utilities andthe subdivision has been zoned residential with “high-quality” homes. Read More

•March 14, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County treasurer and judge candidates expressed their views at the candidates forum held Thursday, March 8 at Sullivan First United Methodist Church.

Sponsored by Sullivan Economic Development and the Moultrie County News Progress, Sullivan Unit #300 Supt. Ted Walk moderated the forum which was streamed live on News Progress FaceBook. Each candidate presented opening remarks, asked three questions, then allowed to close with a one minute statement.

County treasurer Marci Thompson is retiring with two candidates competing for the Republican nomination and two candidates competing for the Democrat nomination on the March 20 ballot.

Michelle Liddiard and Stephanie Helmuth are running on the Republican ticket;

Pam Wittkowski and Diane Waggoner are running on the Democratic ticket. Read More

•March 7, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

At the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting members of the board discussed the possibility of reorganizing the grade school buildings within the district.

Presently, the junior high students have been bused to the high school building for physical education, and high school students have been having to find other additional rooms for study hall such as the cafeteria.

The district has considered converting the current grade school into an “attendance center,” which would contain specific grades in each center.  Read More