News – Page 181 – News Progress

Bethany Welcomes Two New Part-Time Officers to Force

Posted on August 5, 2015 by webmasterAugust 5, 2015

Photo by RR Best
Pictured are Bethany’s two newest police officers Thomas Lehew (left), and Joshua Ekiss (middle) along with Bethany Mayor Bill Ashley.

Will work two days a month

•August 5, 2015•

by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

While the scars and immeasurable loss of September 11 will likely always weigh heavily on the nation, and especially the community of law enforcement, for two local public servants this date now carries positive significance as well.

Joshua Ekiss of Sullivan and Thomas Lehew of Bethany applied for the position of part-time police officer with the village of Bethany and were hired on September 11 of 2014. It is nearing the completion of this first year since local law enforcement welcomed these additional two officers into their ranks.

Lehew was born and raised in Decatur but has called Bethany home for the last 11 years. He is a self-employed contractor and construction manager and was drawn to the area because of Lake Shelbyville where, apart from the occasional day of fishing, he has enjoyed hunting over the past two decades.

Ekiss, now living in Sullivan, was part of the first graduating class of the consolidated Okaw Valley High School in 2002. His wife is from the Charleston area, and they have four small children. Ekiss works for MasterBrand Cabinets in Arthur and serves with the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department as well. Read More

Board of Appeals Given Appreciation Bonus

Posted on July 29, 2015 by webmasterJuly 29, 2015

Decision comes after lengthy hearings on wildlife park

•July 29, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Earlier this month the county board unanimously approved an appreciation stipend or bonus for the zoning board of appeals for the time spent deliberating and attending lengthy meetings regarding the Aikman Wildlife Park.

The $100 bonus was given to four of the five board of appeals’ members, with Howard Sanders excluded since he did not attend the June meetings due to a conflict of interest. Those receiving the bonus include Tyson Grooms, Neil Hinkle, Paul Roney, and Mike Sheehan.

“They spent a lot of time and patience at all the hearings so I think it’s well deserved,” said vice-county chairman Ron White.

“They don’t get any stipend at all. They get paid mileage, [but] they spent a day-and-a-half at one hearing and then half a day at the other hearing,” said board chairman Dave McCabe at the budget and finance committee meeting July 6. “If we’re going to get volunteers to serve on these kinds of things, we need to show we appreciate their efforts when its above and beyond their normal call of duty.”

In particular, the four board members were rewarded for their time spent across two meetings held on June 5 and 17, which together spanned a little more than seven hours. The meeting on the 17th, however, began at 9 a.m. and then broke for lunch before then resuming at 1:15 and adjourning at around 3:30 p.m. Read More

Sullivan Man Formally Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

Posted on July 22, 2015 by webmasterJuly 22, 2015

•July 22, 2015•

Jim Lewis, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, announced today that a federal grand jury in Peoria has returned an indictment charging Justen W. Troxell, 30, of the 400 block of South Worth Street, Sullivan, Ill., with distribution and possession of child pornography.
The indictment alleges that in June 2015, Troxell distributed and possessed images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of computers and related materials allegedly used to commit or promote the offenses. Read More

Okaw Valley Schools Close out FY15 with Deficit

Posted on July 22, 2015 by webmasterJuly 28, 2015

New class schedule also to begin this fall

•July 22, 2015•

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

In time for the closing of fiscal year 2015 on June 30, the Okaw Valley’s administration approved their final estimated ending budget, giving a glimpse into what Okaw Valley School District can expect this next fiscal year, financially.
The budget fell largely in line with what superintendent Kent Stauder had projected months earlier when concerns of state education budget cuts loomed overhead. The district ended their fiscal year with almost $5,2630,000 total in all their various funds, incurring a deficit of roughly $145,000—an increase over last year’s deficit of nearly $59,000. The majority of that deficit came from the district’s operation and maintenance fund, which ended with close to $97,000 less than with what the district began. The operation and maintenance fund pays for the upkeep of school building and grounds as well as the day to day functions needed to keep each school running. This year the district saw several one-time expenditures that affected the operation and maintenance fund, including the recent asbestos abatement and demolition of Okaw Valley Intermediate School in Findlay. Read More