Category Archives: News

Mamma Mia! Brings the Music of ABBA to Sullivan’s stage

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Photo furnished
The Music of Mamma Mia comes alive at The Little Theatre on the Square through August 20.

•August 9, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Mamma Mia closed on Broadway in 2015, but it’s open now at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan through August 20.

The 14-year run on Broadway grossed over $2 billion worldwide and was seen by more than 60 million people.

With words and music written by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, former ABBA band members, it showcases the legendary hit songs of ABBA.

This is a happy, fun-filled musical essentially about a young girl (Sophie) searching for her father, but it is also about reunions – Sophie reuniting with her friends, Donna and her former pop group members and Donna and her former lovers, Sam, Bill and Harry – one of whom is Sophie’s father. Read More

County Weighs Different Approaches to New Salary Schedule

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Longevity Increases Proposed

•August 9, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board personnel committee heard different views on how to approach future salary schedules among the 20 courthouse employees.

Jeff Birch, supt. of highways, was appointed to chair an ad hoc committee consisting of courthouse elected and appointed officers by county board chairman Dave McCabe to make recommendations of the future salary structure for courthouse employees.

Birch presented the committee chair Bill Voyles and members with a schedule that would tie county employee salary increases annually to the consumer price index. Birch plotted the scale based on the CPI from 2009 to 2016. By increasing salary levels with the CPI the $19,000-21,000 starting based recommended would have improved to $21,215-$23,455 range for first year courthouse employees. Read More

Teachers Dig Deep To Help Support Student Learning

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Elementary teachers such as Cindy Yoder and Micah Meddins of Sullivan join educators all over Illinois by digging into their own pockets for school supplies to help their students learn.

•August 9, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The amount of money teachers spend out-of-pocket every year for their classrooms is growing.

In Sullivan Unit #300 schools 53% of elementary students are at poverty level leaving the burden for providing basic school supplies on others. And who are the people closest to these children in need - teachers.

Each of the teachers interviewed reported spending $500-$1,000 each year to fill another education funding gap. Parents of elementary school students spend $45 per student for required school supplies with the amount growing to $70-$80 per middle and high school student.  Read More

Students are Going to High School While Attending College

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OVHS Dual Credit Program Expands

•August 9, 2017•

By Brody Sparks
for the News Progress

Dual credit programs allow students to earn college and high school credits simultaneously by participating in college level courses.

These courses are taught by high school teachers who are certified to instruct college classes. Okaw Valley High School is on the forefront of making these opportunities available to students.

“Okaw Valley High School is one of the leading schools in the area when it comes to dual credit offerings,” said OVHS principal Matt Shoaff. “Last year OVHS offered 50 hours of dual credit, and that increases to 65 for the 2017-2018 school year.”

Dual credit classes are available for Okaw Valley students in a variety of subjects including nine credit hours in agriculture, nine hours in business, 12 credit hours in English, 26 hours in math, six hours in social studies, and three hours in science. Generally, an associate’s degree requires 60 credit hours (around 20 college courses).  Read More

Low Jobless Rate in Moultrie 

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•August 2, 2017•

Moultrie County recorded the lowest non-seasonal unemployment rate in the area with 3.9 percent for June.

Moultrie’s unemployment rate in June 2016 was 4.2 percent, which was the lowest of 11 reporting counties in central Illinois.

Iriquois County was next lowest with 4.1 percent improving from 4.7 percent in 2016.

Douglas County improved one tenth of a percent over the 4.5 percent rate from 2016 to 4.4 percent in 2017.

Piatt County is 4.2 percent in June 2017 compared to 4.8 percent unemployment in 2016. Shelby County improved to 4.5 percent in June 2017 from 5.3 percent in June 2016.  Read More

Pedal Tractor Pulls Bring Competition to Tabor Park

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Photo by RR Best
Tot Rod Pedal Pull coordinator Paul Callan encourages Callum Welty as the young peddler powers his way to second place in the 3-4 age bracket at Tabor Park.

•August 2, 2017•

Tabor Park in Sullivan came alive with pedal tractor pulling Saturday, July 15 as young peddlers from three to 12 tested their leg power.

Tot Rod Pedal Pull. which is operated by Paul and Stefani Callan of Assumption, organized the competition with prizes awarded in five different age categories. The Altgilbers brothers traveled from Sigel winning each of the three age brackets they entered. Read More

OVHS Band Getting Ready for Marching Season

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•August 2, 2017•

The Okaw Valley High School band is working hard at band camp and is looking forward to a successful marching season. This year’s band is comprised of 34 students.

Teresa Colclasure is the band instructor. Drum majors are Connor Powers and Caleb Hildebrandt; David Hagerman, visual coordinator; Monica Maybell, color guard and Courtney Boyd, percussion.  Read More

Sullivan Teachers and School Board Approve Contract

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•July 26, 2017•

The Sullivan Education Association (SEA) and the Sullivan Board of Education came to a tentative contract agreement Tuesday, July 11. The contract was ratified by the SEA on Wednesday, August 2 and approved by the Board of Education in a special meeting held July 20.

The contract is a three-year agreement on language, which highlights an addition in contract language for those Sullivan teachers who live out of district, a waiver for their children to attend Sullivan. Other changes or additions in language were to workload, evaluation, and a reduction in TRS (retirement) contributions by the board due to new legislation. Read More

Grease Dumping Fouls Sewers

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•July 26, 2017•

City Administrator Dan Flannell reported that someone has been dumping major amounts of grease and cooking oil into the sewer system recently.

He said that an attempt was made to locate the source, but the city has been unable to do so; although, they do believe that it came from the north half of the city because the grease came from the west side of the sewer plant.  Read More

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is Amazing!

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Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat

•July 26, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Joseph was not Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first musical, but it was the first publicly performed. Webber devised a winning formula to showcase his prodigious knowledge of musical genres, and it was so successful that he used it again in other hits such as “Starlight Express” and “Cats”.

In “Joseph” we have such styles as parodies of French ballads (“Those Canaan Days”), Elvis inspired rock and roll (“Song of the King”), country western (“One More Angel in Heaven”), 1920s Charleston (“Potiphar”), Calypso (“Benjamin Calypso”), jazz (“Joseph’s Dream”), and 1950s music (“Go,Go,Go,Joseph”). Something for everyone!

If you haven’t seen the musical several times you probably do know the biblical story in Genesis of Joseph and his 11 brothers, his many-colored coat so coveted by his brothers that they sell him into slavery in Egypt. But, Joseph has a talent – he is a seer and can foretell the future. He curries favor with the Pharaoh who elevates him to a high position. He returns triumphantly to forgive his brothers and bring joy to his grieving father. Read More