•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

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

•July 19, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The natural beauty of Tabor Park and some of the recent destruction of its “natural state” was the topic of conversation at the last Sullivan City Council meeting.

Bill Burger shared his insight regarding the park. “It’s the best kept secret in Moultrie County,” he stated. “Every city has a Wyman Park (and it is a nice park), but very few cities have a Tabor Park,” he added.

Burger stated that it would be nice to see the park keep its natural prairie grass. He has been disappointed by the constant mowing and the tractor pulls that have been hosted there – as it has taken away some of its natural beauty.  Read More

Principal Nathan Ogle

•July 19, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Among Sullivan Supt. Ted Walk’s duties at his first Community #300 School District board meeting was to fill his old job.

During the regular school board meeting July 10, President Jeff White and members: Tyson Grooms, Zak Horn, Steve Poland, Eric Stollard, Ann Wheeler, and Norm Wood unanimously approved Walk’s recommendation of Nathan Ogle as new Sullivan Middle School principal.

Ogle started education as an English teacher and coach and has spent the past two years as assistant principal in the Sullivan school district. Read More

•July 12, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Coles-Moultrie 9-1-1 consolidation was recently completed with an open house held at the Dispatch Center across from Sarah Bush Lincoln in Coles County.

The highway 16 facility was open from 3-6 p.m. June 28 with Director Bernie Buttrum conducting tours and explaining the path to completing the enhanced 9-1-1 emergency communication system.

Included in the tour was a look into the dispatch operations located safely in the windowless basement of the building.

Assistant Director Amanda Williamson explained committing to being a dispatcher means giving up a lot since they work from 8-12 hour shifts and can not leave the dispatch center .

“What we try to do in the beginning is explain to the candidate what they are up against,” Williamson began, noting that many applicants have a glorified image of the dispatch job as displayed on television. Read More