•September 23, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

With some 500 production related jobs opening in the next few years the need to train local students is in growing demand.

On Sept. 18 representatives of No Job Left Behind from Coles, Douglas, Shelby and Moultrie counties gathered at Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan to find out how to best meet that demand.

Dr. Mike Rudibaugh , GIS professor from Lake Land College, analyzed results from the 2015 gap survey sent to 131 employers in the region.

What Rudibaugh learned was the growing need for production employees is in a region that is experiencing a decline in population.

“One thing I think you will find is many communities have an aging population,” Rudibaugh said, citing Shelby County as one with 40% of its population over 50 years of age.

He went on to explain the present commuter trends across county lines indicate the need for training will require regional cooperation in order to attract major government funding.

“Production (manufacturing) still plays an important and vibrant role in our communities,” Rudibaugh continued. “And partnerships between production and education can help communities stabilize population by training workers for jobs that need to be filled here.”

Sullivan schools superintendent Brad Tuttle pointed to the recent success of the welding program in its first year at District 300 high school.

Aimed at preparing students for Agri-Fab and Hydro-Gear jobs in Sullivan the class has more than 12 students in its first year.The school has also enjoyed success with the summer intern programs at these local facilities.

Deacon Patient of Agri-Fab said he would like to utilize more internships if some funding sources could be located to grow that program.

Joe Sheiner of Hydro-Gear noted they opened the tour to include more than the manufacturing side of the business. Hydro-Gear utilized the summer intern program to help fill a receptionist vacancy this year.

Tuttle noted an adult education welding program is being planned with hopes of vocational funding to assist.
Read More

•September 23, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan District 300 school board members approved a $10,043,969 total budget at the Monday, Sept. 14 meeting.

The fiscal budget year is July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 with Superintendent Brad Tuttle explaining the process during a public hearing on the budget.

“With the state still struggling with their budget, we are looking at the third year of some type of cuts.” Tuttle said, noting that contingencies are built into the budget in case things start to go south.

He said the district is starting the year in better shape with account balances but warned that declining enrollment will equalize the increased state reimbursement formula.

Educational fund receipts from local taxes are anticipated at $2,975,199. The state contribution is expected at $3,266,267 with the federal government budgeted for $876,016, bringing anticipated fund total for education to $7,117,482.

Even with a $50,000 contingency, education expenses are anticipated at $7,3034,134, some $185,652 less than the fund is bringing in. An account balance of $2,985,659 covers the shortage in education.

Operations and maintenance and transportation funds also are budgeted in the red.

Superintendent Tuttle explained the budget is a working document and will be revised as more information is available during the year. Read More

Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan’s Redskins racked up the points, played tough defense and provided plenty of excitement Friday night in their 27-8 win over the Villa Grove Blue Devils. The Redskins increased their undefeated streak to 3-0 last Friday by continuing their strong rushing attack from Schascle Yochim, Nate Hutchings and Troy Rogers. Yochim rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns while Hutchings and Rogers also contributed to the 215-yard total.

Sullivan resident George “Bill” Frazier was honored by the illinois Dept. of Public Health Monday in Springfield as one of 13 recipients of hero certificates signed by Gov. James R. Thompson and acting health department director John Lumpkin. Frazier, 30, received the award for his part in helping save nine year old Sullivan resident Dustin Jenkin’s leg following a boating accident June 16 at Lake Shelbyville near the Bo Wood access area.

Christopher Condill of Arthur was one of 88 Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy seniors who qualified as semifinalists or received letters of commendation in this year’s National Merit Scholarship Corp. competition.

Trent E. Doty of Lovington and Rodney W. Davis of Findlay have received scholarships to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Doty, the son of Bob and Rita Doty, has received a $600 Crows Hybrids Scholarship to continue his studies in agriculture. Davis, son of Amos and Gloria Davis, is a junior majoring in forestry. He is one of 13 ag students who have received tuition supplement scholarships rewarding academic excellence. Read More

Photo Courtesy of the News•Progress Archives
Pictured are six members of the 1983 Blue Dolphins Swim team which qualified for the Junior Olympics that March. Those who qualified were, clockwise from the top, Heather Highland, Darren Powell, Brad Voltz, now current Blue Dolphins Head Coach Jason Drury, Trenton Guyot, and Justin Dunscomb.

•September 16, 2015•

Open House Friday

Fifty years of Sullivan Blue Dolphin swimmers have trained at the Civic Center, and this Friday, September 18 an open house commemorates the occasion.

Everyone is invited to the Sullivan Civic Center from 4-7 p.m. Friday to help the Blue Dolphins celebrate their Golden Anniversary.

Swimming heritage started the day the doors opened at the Civic Center with 525 splashing in the Olympic sized pool.

When Charles Smith came in as director, the school district allowed students to receive swimming lessons. This led to the eventual birth of a competitive swim team.

Early competitions involved surrounding counties and included Olympic swimmer Lynn Alsup of Bloomington.

By 1974 Steve Ludwig reorganized the team into the Blue Dolphins.

Now, as in the beginning, the city of Sullivan has supported the swim team providing them a free pass for all practices and competitions.

Blue Dolphins coach Jason Drury is a Sullivan native who swam for the team in the 1980s.

He was among the first Blue Dolphins to compete at the state level.

Drury has been with the Blue Dolphins for the past 10 years, building it from 20 to 80 swimmers.

“Swimming is a progression,” he told Joash Tiarks in August. “In the early years, it does not matter how fast you are…using the correct form and stroke is the key.” Read More

Safety is #1 concern

•September 16, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
Reporting from Arthur

“Safety is the number one issue ,” said Lovington principal Brandon Stone at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s most recent school board meeting as they discussed the possibility of extending the drive that runs through Al Best at Lovington Grade School.

Parents who are dropping off their children at the grade school are competing with bus traffic, and it has become a problem and safety issue for students who are walking into school.

If the bus lane gets extended, the buses won’t be meeting oncoming traffic. “It would be a good plan for the time being,” said Stone. Extending the bus lane would require the removal of a tree and shed and installing a culvert. Superintendent Kenny Schwengel estimated the construction of the lane to be an eight week process. Work may not begin until next spring or summer. The new extended lane would be for bus traffic only. The board voted to move forward with plans to extend the drive at Lovington Grade School.  Read More