•September 2, 2015•

By Derek Pope
Reporting from Bethany

In an unprecedented event last June, representatives of the Sullivan Area Landlord’s Association, along with numerous property owners, brought a petition to Bethany’s board of trustees requesting revisions to a long established ordinance on the village’s books.

The document’s signers—31 in total—were all individuals who lease properties within Bethany’s village limits. The decades old ordinance they are seeking to change currently holds these landlords liable for any delinquent utility bills owed by their tenants.

Although it has largely gone unenforced over the years, the ordinance came to the notice of the landlords after the village began notifying individuals that the regulation would be used to reclaim a number of unpaid accounts amounting to thousands of dollars of lost revenue for the town’s utilities.  Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week
Lovington Mule Skinners—Took care of the mules that were used to haul coal from the shaft mine in Lovington- The Lovington Coal Mine closed in 1924. this photo was donated by Roy Bolin. Partially identified: Top row from left Reenie Eckel, George Simpson, ?, (bottom) Ralph Morthland, Pearl Cantor, Mox Jurick, and Edra Morthland. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

•August 26, 2015•

Coal mining was once a leading industry in Moultrie County, and Lovington was the hub of that industry.

The Lovington Coal Mine began operation in 1910 and closed in 1924 due to flooding issues. There were more than 300 employed by the mine at its closing.

With the discovery of a nine foot vein of coal some 900 feet below the land surface outside Lovington, the Lovington Coal Mining Company began by selling stock for $25 per share.

The company owned 114 acres of surface land and leased 5000 of coal rights.

Once the funds were raised shaft drilling began. To reach the needed 1050 foot depth men worked from a steel cage lowered based on their progress each day.

Working in the 10 x 15 foot steel cage dirt was hauled up from the shaft in buckets as the men descended the shaft. Read More

Tentative budget also approved

•August 26, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Between July and August, the Sullivan school board approved both a teacher’s union contract and a tentative budget for fiscal year 2016.

At their July 13 meeting, the board presented what is the first budget of the new fiscal year, which began July 1. Known as the tentative budget, it tries to predict not only what expenses the district will incur over the next year but also the much more tricky area of revenue at a time when state funding for K-12 education continues to be unreliable.

The budget does show the district spending more than $400,000 than it estimates bringing in, but Superintendent Brad Tuttle reported to the board that not only do tentative budgets usually contain contingencies that may later be taken out, but that this budget, in particular, is better than other tentative budgets in the past.

“Obviously this is a work in progress,” said Tuttle. “As you work a tentative budget, you have a lot of contingencies and a lot of things throughout that. This one in particular is better than what we’ve had in a while. It is showing a deficit…[but] “at this point I feel it’s in a lot better shape than what we have been in the past at this point.”

A look back at the FY15 tentative budget does support Tuttle’s comments. In particular, that budget estimated deficit spending of $464,213 compared to this year’s tentative budget, which anticipates $417,786. The estimated fund balance across the four major operating funds is also estimated to improve by more than $71,000 thanks, also, to more than $107,000 less in anticipated expenses. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sixty-two people from Sullivan and surrounding communities gathered at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services for lunch Friday, Aug. 21 in observation of National Senior Citizens Day. On this day in 1988 President Ronald Reagan made the official declaration. Mason Point provided lunch for the group celebration. Above Executive Director Deb Groendal is served her meal by Darin Wall, Karen Rodgers, Leeann Stickles and Angie Clawson.

•August 26, 2015•

Seniors from Mid-Il Senior Services in Sullivan observed National Senior Citizens Day Friday, August 21 with a meal.

The luncheon served by Mason Point to 62 area seniors commemorated the 27 year recognizing senior citizens nationwide.

Mid Illinois Senior Services is the local SHIP site for Medicare, insurance counseling, advice for choosing skilled care facilities, as well as caregiver support for seniors and grandparents raising grandchildren.

Executive director Deb Groendal noted in addition to the meal provided by Mason Point those attending on Friday enjoyed Bible study in the morning and card games as afternoon entertainment.

“Deb is a real expert on insurance matters,” Kay McCoy said of the director, noting her knowledge has helped many of those attending Mid-Illinois Senior Services unravel the complications from insurance coverage for senior citizens.

President Ronald Reagan’s declaration from 1988 designating the observation is printed below.

Throughout our history, older people have achieved much for our families, our communities, and our country. That remains true today, and gives us ample reason this year to reserve a special day in honor of the senior citizens who mean so much to our land. Read More

•August 19, 2015•

By Nick Fiala
Reporting in Sullivan

With a law-enforcement career spanning more than 30 years, Sullivan police chief John Love has handled several missing person cases. He indicated time is something that can be either the biggest help or hinderance in such a case, depending on how it is handled.

“Please, please call us immediately,” Chief Love urged. “Don’t take the chance.”

The chief stressed the need to recognize how precious time is when a child, for example, goes missing.

“We’ve had numerous incidents where we are called, and the first thing I do when I get there is say ‘Well, how long has the child been gone?’” he said. “I have had situations where children come home with stuff, almost like gifts...and when asked where they got it, they say a person gave it to them, but they didn’t know who the person was...My fear is that...someone [could] abduct a child and have an hour-and-a-half long start on us...I don’t want to scare anybody, but...It could happen here.”

Chief Love knows the fear of being too late to secure a loved one’s location. He shared a story of how an ordinary day shopping with his daughter became one he won’t forget.
Read More