Category Archives: News

The Prairie Then and Now Was a Calling

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Dan Guillory’s Tenth Book

•July 10, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Before there were tall buildings, before there were cities and before the hustle and bustle of life took over our everyday world, there was.... the prairie.
Author Dan Guillory has published his 10th book, “The Prairie: Then and Now,” which also includes artwork by his wife, Leslie Guillory. His book was released by Mayhaven Publishing, an award-winning small press located in Mahomet. The company has published several books on the history of Illinois as well as those about former president, Abraham Lincoln. Mayhaven Publishing has nearly 150 works in print to its name. Read More

Sullivan Girls State Delegates Accept Leadership Posts

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Sullivan High School students Adalee Nichols(l) and Miriah Booker recently attended Girls State at EIU.

•July 3, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Adalee Nichols was elected a National Party Leader and Miriah Booker was elected State Sheriff at the weeklong Girls State convention at Eastern Illinois University.
For Nichols, it was the highest office anyone from Sullivan has achieved at Girls State.
“Each year we select and sponsor two girls who have just completed their junior year in high school to attend,” Melanie Byers of the American Legion Auxiliary said. “We look at their grades, their interest in politics and recommendations from their teachers.”
The American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State (ALAIGS) is a program of the American Legion Auxiliary which is the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world.
Illini Girls State was first presented in 1957 and is one of the most respected and coveted experimental learning programs presented in the U.S. The goal is to develop young women as future leaders and is grounded in patriotism and Americanism. Read More

Booths Trial set for October

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•July 3, 2019•
Alvan Booths, 32, of Mattoon appeared in Moultrie County Circuit Court for a hearing on motions in limine before the Honorable Judge Hugh Finson.
State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver and Booth’s public defender Marvin Hanson agreed to 9:30 a.m. September 24 for a hearing on limine motions. The motions set limits on the amount of information allowed to be introduced at the trial. Read More

Early Morning Fire Destroys Lovington House

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Photo by R. R. Best
Firefighters from Sullivan and Arthur assisted the Lovington Fire District in fighting the fire at the corner of East State and North High in Lovington.

•July 3, 2019•

A 5:00 a.m. fire at the corner of East State and North High streets destroyed an unoccupied home in Lovington Thursday.
Assistant chief Bill Harlin said the two story frame home was totally engulfed when Lovington firefighters arrived at 5:06 a.m.
“I called Sullivan and Arthur for mutual aide,” Harlin said.
Sullivan was there with a water tanker by 5:15 and Arthur at 5:20. Read More

Bethany Village Board Approves Liquor Changes

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•June 26, 2019•
The Bethany Village Board approved an additional Class E liquor license at the regular June meeting.
That allows for the sale of beer, wine and spirits by the drink for consumption on the premises (bar license). The total count for Class E licenses is two, allowing the village to approve a previous request from the Bethany American Legion. Read More

A Century of Fourth of July Celebrations

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File photo
Cool rides are in store for Sullivan kids when Conner Family Amusements opens the Fourth of July Celebration from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 7 (1:00 - 5:00 p.m.).

•June 26, 2019•
A century of Sullivan fireworks is celebrated during the July 3-7 Fourth of July celebration.
American Legion Post 68 continues its 100 year tradition with Central States Fireworks of Athens unloading $17,000 in fireworks into the July 4th sky above Wyman Park in Sullivan on July 4.
That is the finale to a celebration that begins with the arrival of Conner Amusements carnival from Beardstown on July 3.
At high noon July 4th the celebration parade kicks off thanks to coordination by Justin “Bubba” Farris and his crew of Legion, Sons of American Legion and Auxiliary volunteers. Terry Warren will prepare lunch for parade participants (more than 350 were served last year).
At 2 p.m. the watermelon eating contest, sack races and turtle races occur. Read More

ALAH School Board Presented Random Drug Testing Proposal

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Supt. Schwengel’s Last Meeting

•June 26, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

At the last board meeting the Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond school board looked into changes to the student handbook which included drug testing, student parking and use of electronic devices.
The ALAH School Board held a hearing for the FY 2019 amended budget after it had been available to the public for the past 30 days. A few minor adjustments were made to supplies and expenditures as well as transferring money from the education department to transportation.
Superintendent Kenny Schwengel commented that funding for transportation may come in after July. After the hearing, board members voted on the budget and passed it for approval.
Schwengel informed the board that the district’s current balance is $4,525,647.87 and that the funds were in pretty good shape.
High school principal Steffanie Seegmiller discussed some of the changes to the high school student handbook. Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, students will be required to register their car and pay for a $2.00 parking tag. They also increased parking spaces for faculty and reserved parking space for visitors. Read More

Electric Dept. Salaries Improve, Still No Chickens in Sullivan

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•June 26, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan’s City Council improved Electric Dept. salaries and removed employee residency restrictions but said no to chickens in the city.
Public Property Commissioner Mike Fowler proposed the journeyman lineman base rate increased to $39.05 per hour. Fowler explained lack of competitive wage for journeymen has made it difficult to hold skilled electricians in the department.
The wage restructure is based on the entry journeyman lineman rate with first apprentice 65% at $25.38; up to fourth step apprentice $33.19.
Fowler noted seven day on call service was set at a flat $275 along and removal of residency were also approved changes to the current IBEW Local 51 contract. The modified IBEW contract was unanimously approved by the council. Read More

A Hard Rain Falls, Flooding Part of Bethany Last Wednesday

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Shelby County Dive Team rescues Brittany Landreth and her two daughters from flood waters that threatened their home on N. Church Street in Bethany.

•June 26, 2019•
What happens when four inches of rain falls in half an hour?
Bethany was hit with four inches of rain within half an hour on June 19 that left streets flowing like an angry river and residents still dealing with flood conditions.
With a torrent of water rushing down North Church Street, Bethany Fire District called on the Shelby County Dive team to rescue Brittany Landreth and her two daughters by boat, while Bethany personnel escorted son Alex from Tamara Lillico’s house next door, utilizing guide ropes to steady the team against the rushing water.
“It came on all at once,” Bethany Fire Chief Tom Rucker said of the 1 p.m. deluge of water. “Firefighters turned out well for the middle of the day, and we first went to the grade school where water got inside the building.” Read More

Sullivan School Board Ok’s High School Band Trip

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•June 19, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The Sullivan School Board was presented at their recent meeting with a proposal from the Sullivan High School band for a field trip to New Orleans for the 2020-2021 school year
Some of the opportunities presented for this trip include playing at a public venue, receiving a clinic from a collegiate institution, watching a performance of the Preservation Jazz Band and learning about the culture, history and architecture in the New Orleans area. The band also has plans to visit some of the museums and go on a few tours as well. The trip is scheduled during spring break of April 5-9, 2021. By planning and scheduling the trip for another year, it will enable families the ability to financially plan and give students some chances to do some fundraisers as well. School board members Erik Stollard, Jason Florey, Tyson Grooms and Jeff White unanimously passed the proposal stating that students would need to set up accounts in which to place money for the trip. Norm Wood, Zak Horn and Steve Poland were absent. Read More