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Birdseye View
The Findlay Walleye Festival enjoyed perfect weather July 26-27. This R.R. Best drone photograph shows the giant American flag displayed during the Saturday parade while the OVHS band played. The festival featured walleye meals and breakfasts, kiddie tractor pulls, garden tractor pulls, a car show and music from Identity Crisis, Battle Creek, Big Spike Hammer, Sounds of Swing, Billy Coalt and the Blues Deacons, The North Enders and the Feudin’ Hillbillies.
High school roof project discussed
•July 31, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
In the July meeting, ALAH Community School District new superintendent, Shannon Cheek and retiring superintendent Kenny Schwengel, attended the July school board meeting.
“I want to start off my report by saying thank you to the many people involved in welcoming us to the school district and the four communities,” Superintendent Cheek opened his report. He went on to thank Haley McGrath, his administrative aide, as well as Kelly Creek, Ken Munds, the board of education, all the administrative staff, the custodial staff and the community.
“You have made my family feel right at home from the very beginning,” he added.
In a separate interview Cheek explained what interested him in the ALAH district.
“My interest in the superintendent position here centered around the communities’ support for education and dedication to the students,” he began.
“It’s that level of dedication that I wanted to be a part of and lead.” Read More
•July 25, 2019•
The Sullivan City Council will have a special meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 31 at the First United Methodist Church.
Purpose of the meeting is to discuss and take action, if any, on the manner of distribution of the assets of the Winifred Titus-Sentel Trust, including farm real estate and Titus Manor property.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Blue Dolphin swimmers, coaches, supporters and community leaders gathered at the Sullivan Civic Center to distribute thousands of cans of food to the local food pantry.
•July 24, 2019•
By Trout Flipper
for the News Progress
It takes teamwork to win and Sullivan Blue Dolphins coach Jason Drury extends that philosophy from competing in the pool to helping the community.
That is what led to the collection of a record breaking 3,612 cans of food for their annual donation to the Moultrie County Food Pantry and other area food banks.
Swimmers, coaches, parents and civic leaders were invited to distribute the food from the Sullivan Civic Center on July 12.
For more than a decade the Sullivan Blue Dolphins have been holding an annual food drive for the local food bank.
Head coach Drury believes in the team giving back to the community who supports them and also teaches the swimmers more then just swimming. Read More
SES Principal
Heather Ethell
•July 24, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
Heather Ethell, new principal at Sullivan Elementary School, grew up in the Chicago suburb of Mt. Prospect. Her mother was a librarian, and her favorite school subjects were science and math. She also remembers loving to play all sorts of card games.
Ethell entered the University of Illinois planning to be a pediatrician but decided a career in teaching seemed more practical.
Looking back, she recalls, “All went well until the student teaching segment. It was a horrible experience. There was little supervision, and I didn’t connect with either the students or the teachers.”
She returned home that summer and told her mother that teaching was not going to be her career. “Mother reminded me that they had invested a lot in my education, and that I should make use of it. Mom encouraged me to apply at her school for a paraprofessional position.”
This experience was a revelation. Read More
•July 24, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
If you have seen and loved a production of “Les Mis” you will stand up and cheer for “Newsies” playing at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan through July 28.
“Newsies” is the inspiring story of the historic strike by news hawkers against the most powerful publishers of the time.
Act One opens on a stunning set of the gritty, grimy underbelly of New York where many of the newsboys live.
In the background is a beautiful scrim of old, enlarged newsprint, and the proscenium arch is a crumbling brick wall. Scenic designer Alexander Capeneka has created magic from lumber and pipe fittings.
The newsboys’ leader, Jack Kelly in the musical, is rousing his crew for their day’s work.
Jack, played by Bradley Cashman, has a dream beyond his present lot. He gazes into the horizon and passionately sings of “Santa Fe” where there is space and things and clean and green. He longs to go there. Read More
•July 17, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Three hundred will be honored during dedication ceremonies at the American Legion Walk of Honor in Sullivan.
On Sunday, July 21 Post 68 is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the public is invited to the American Legion Hall for the dedication of the new Memorial Walk of Honor.
Post Commander Bob Sims emphasized that “Our Walk of Honor is not just for veterans. The memorial bricks can honor anyone, be it a fireman, policeman, classmate, or a special person in our life. One family dedicated their brick to the three Eagle Scouts in the family. We have over 300 bricks that will be dedicated in this first installation.” Read More
•July 17, 2019•
Starting salaries for Moultrie County employees became a stumbling point for county board members attempting to set a salary for an assistant animal control warden.
County board chairman Dave McCabe opened the topic when he moved to approve a $25,000 starting salary for the position. The motion died for lack of a second.
Personnel committee chairman Billy Voyles noted the starting salary for county courthouse employees is set by policy at $19,000 to $21,000. Read More
•July 17, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The first week in June, like lemmings to the sea, Sullivan’s children ages 5-12 migrate from their classrooms into sunny Wyman Park to participate in an eight-week recreation program that has endured for over 60 years.
Recreation Director, Jake Haegen, recounts, “My father was in the program when he was young, and I have been involved for over 20 years. My wife and Co-Director, Melissa, joined the staff nine years ago. Both she and her father grew up in the recreation program so it has been in existence for some time.”
A cooperative effort between the Park District and the Civic Center, the program serves, on an average, 100 children a day with a top of 155. The program is entirely free except for a $1 fee for swimming on Fridays. Through a state-sponsored program the children are provided a free lunch each day at the high school.
“We are so fortunate to be able to take advantage of this meal service. Many of the children would not have food during the summer without this program which also provides breakfast for those not having a breakfast at home,” Jake points out.
The recreation activities run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from June through July. A typical week’s activities might include the following with lunch at noon: Read More
Photo furnished
SCED Executive Director Laurrie Minor and Little Theatre Executive Director John Stephens discovered magazine travel editors in New York City were interested in Sullivan.
•July 17, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
Sometimes being a little duck in a big pond pays off.
That’s what Little Theatre on the Square and Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development executive directors John Stephens and Laurrie Minor discovered at the Meredith Corporation tourism promotion in New York City last week.
Sullivan’s advertisement in Meredith Corp owned Illinois Country Living tourism magazine earned the SCED an invitation to the two day event. Sullivan was the smallest among eight representative tourism locations in Illinois represented in NYC.
“We were the smallest city represented,” Stephens began, noting Sullivan was competing for tourism attention among the magazines owned by Meredith among much larger tourism operations.
Minor explained exhibits from the Illinois Dept. of Tourism, Chicago Metro area, Rockford, and Starved Rock represented much larger populated areas, but Sullivan stood out drawing more attention than the bigger players. Read More