Testing After Spring Break

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit District #300 school board met March 11 voting to continue existing sports cooperative programs.
The football coop between Okaw Valley and Sullivan and the swimming coop between Shelbyville, Okaw Valley and Sullivan were approved for two years.
Supt. Ted Walk recommended changes to the kindergarten screening tool and report card. He explained kindergarten teachers had collaborated with first grade teachers to improve the transition by giving teachers a better gauge of progress.
Ali Elzy, senior in Cami Badman’s AP language and composition class, read her NPR radio “This I Believe” contest winning essay to the board. Read More

•March 20, 2019•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

The Sullivan City Council approved the use of TIF funds to help Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library purchase new LED sign
“We need to inform the people in Sullivan what the library does,” library director Michelle Nolen explained to the members of the council. “We have more than just books.”
Along with members from the library board sitting in support, Director Nolen presented a quote and information about a new LED sign for Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library.
She noted the sign was not the “whole puzzle” but was a way to tell people in Sullivan what the library has scheduled on specific days. The library board decided on a double-sided LED sign with a quote of $24,700 which includes installation. It also has wifi capabilities which allows it to be controlled wirelessly. There was also some discussion about renting the sign to organizations or businesses that could go towards paying for the sign maintenance. Read More

•March 13, 2019•

By Bad Bad Leroy Brown
for the News Progress

When local musicians Jeremy Nolen, John Scott, Scott Mast and Cody Brumfield started “Camel Tofu” a year and a half ago, it was all in fun.
And the punk/rock band has gained a following for their original music over the year and will be playing at the East End Bar in Lovington on March 16.
But what happened last week has the band somewhat perplexed.
Camel Tofu and three other local bands practice on the second floor at the former Brown Shoe Factory.
In a text message from building owner AB Seals, the band was kicked out of the second floor practice location citing that “Evil Things” were happening in the building because of their presence. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan middle school student Claire Welch (left) listens as One Book One Sullivan leader Callie Standerfer questions participants who gathered at the First United Methodist Church about The Running Dream by Wendelin VanDraanen.

•March 13, 2019•

The Running Dream discussion drew more than 100 people to the First United Methodist Church in Sullivan March 7.
The latest One Book One Sullivan read by Wendelin VanDraanen was chosen from a list of second place books from previous years, OBOS coordinator Rikki Ray explained.
During the summer selection process 29 students with five staff members comprise the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Steering Committee when 20 books are reviewed and discussed to determine the best one for students and community.
“We had some members who were very passionate about their books,” Ray said, noting the inclusion of fifth graders into the middle school readership forced some of the more graphic selections aside this year.
As the selection process narrowed the book choices, she noted there were times students would be grasping each others hands wrought with emotion over whether their book would make the list. Read More

•February 28, 2019•

Alvan L. Booths, 33, Mattoon, appeared before Honorable Judge Jeremy Richey in Moultrie County Circuit Court Feb. 27 on charges stemming from the Feb. 4 shooting of Otha Phillips in Sullivan.
Booths entered a not guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder, home invasion and attempted aggravated battery. Judge Richey set the jury trial date for April 29.
Illinois Sate Police Special Agent Kyle Border testified that Booths shot Phillips in the neck at Holley Simmons’ Sullivan home then pointed the gun at her, but the gun apparently misfired.
State's Attorney Tracy Weaver’s questioning revealed Phillips was Booths’ barber and was dating Booths' former girlfriend.
Public Defender Marvin Hanson questioned if Booths had forced his way into the Simmons’ home.
Attempted first-degree murder and home invasion charges are Class X felonies, attempted aggravated battery count is a Class 1 felony.