No life threatening injuries sustained
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A Sullivan woman was struck while riding her bicycle in town the evening of Tuesday, June 30.
According to Sullivan police, Addie Comanse, 55, was riding her bicycle at approximately 5:45 p.m. southbound on Hamilton Street June 30 when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Victoria Clark, 20, of Assumption. Read More
Council plans to pursue legal action concerning the Sullivan Civic Center roof
by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
At their June 8 regular meeting, the Sullivan City Council decided they would move forward with litigation concerning the roof of the Sullivan Civic Center.
Problems with the Civic Center roof began back in 2006 when it was decided that a new roofing system would be constructed.
After receiving bids, Advanced Wayne Cain of Champaign, was chosen to start work on the roof in 2007 which would be completed during that spring and summer. Then, in 2013, when it was noticed that the top covering of the roof was loose, Advanced Wayne Cain was called back to help fix it. The roof was secured in order to stop it from blowing and being damaged any further. According to Sullivan commissioner Mike Mossman, it was never completely repaired as it was only secured until it could be permanently fixed. Read More
FBI make arrest last Thursday
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A 30-year-old Sullivan man was arrested last week after a federal investigation into claims of child pornography.
Justen W. Troxell, 30, of Sullivan was arrested by federal investigators and with the assistance of Sullivan police last Thursday.
According to an affidavit filed with the United States District Court in Urbana, the investigation began on June 21 when a 23-year-old woman in Douglas County contacted the Tuscola Police Department in regard to a child pornography complaint.
The woman told police that she had received a pornographic image on her cell phone from a white male whom she had met on social media and that later appeared to be Troxell according to federal investigators. The image was presented to Tuscola police and was also observed by FBI special agent Brian Schenkelberg, who, in the affidavit, described it as depicting a female child approximately three-five years performing a sex act with an adult male. Read More
Influx of money helps, but still short
by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board approved an amended budget for 2014-2015 at their last regular board meeting after receiving an unexpected payment of $285,000 from the state.
“We are definitely excited about the additional revenue,” said superintendent Kenny Schwengel.
The district received $121,000 for transportation, $122,900 for special education services and $42,000 from the “adequacy grant.” Although the board received the unexpected funding, the state is still short, sending the district about $225,000 due to the 89% proration (11% cut). “Had we not received that money, we would have been about a half a million short of what we should have received,” explained Schwengel. “We continue to look for opportunities to save money due to the financial outlook in Illinois. Purchases have to be reduced. Staffing will be reduced when possible due to attrition,” he added. As of May 2015, the district’s overall balance stood at $1,128,388.12. Read More
Submitted
Pictured are emergency personnel meeting with a Life Flight helicopter, which transported Christina Sanders from Arthur to Carle Hospital Tuesday evening after she was stuck by a vehicle in rural Sullivan.
Woman in critical condition
July 1, 2015
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A Sullivan elementary school teacher is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening.
Shortly before 7:13 p.m. Tuesday, Christina Sanders, 30, of Sullivan was struck by an automobile while jogging in rural Sullivan according to a press release from the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department.
The release further adds that the automobile was being driven by Kali Forsyth, 18, of Sullivan. Read More
Taken to St. Mary’s, man in fair condition
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A 24-year old man was arrested after he allegedly stabbed his father at a home in Lovington Sunday night.
Matthew Archer-Newberry, 24, of Lovington was arrested after he stabbed his father Randy Newberry, 54, twice according to a probable cause affidavit by Lovington police officer Jay Clark.
The affidavit explains that Randy Newberry was transported to St. Mary’s hospital for a stab wound to the chest and cuts to his left arm. According to Clark’s statements, Newberry told the Lovington officer that he and his son Matthew were watching television prior to the incident. Archer-Newberry then allegedly went to the kitchen and returned with a knife, which he shoved into the upper left chest area of Randy Newberry. After managing to stand up from the recliner he was in, the 54-year-old was then stabbed again in his left inner forearm. Read More
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A four-year-old boy was pronounced dead last Tuesday after he was found unresponsive in a residential pool.
According to a press release by the Macon County Coroner Michael Day’s office, Seth A. Hilton, 4, of Lovington was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 in St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.
Hilton had actually been reported missing shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday according to chief sheriff deputy Gary Carroll. A press release by the sheriff’s department states that Hilton was discovered at 7:35 p.m. in a pool located near his home. Carroll added that the pool was located two houses down from Hilton’s residence and that no one was at the residence at which the pool is located at the time of the incident.
CPR was conducted on Hilton prior to being transported to the hospital. Read More
Victim of aggravated DUI wreck in Warrensburg Wednesday
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A Sullivan woman endured life-threatening injuries Wednesday evening following a collision near Warrensburg.
According to a press release by the Macon County sheriff's department, a call came in at approximately 6:35 p.m. regarding the two-vehicle wreck. Once on scene, responders had to extricate a 69-year-old Sullivan woman from her 2011 Chevrolet after it collided with a 2009 Ford pickup truck, driven by Ryan M. Maurer, 41, of Harristown.
The release says that the preliminary investigation "indicates the Ford was northbound on Glasgow Rd and the Chevrolet was westbound on Park Rd. The driver of the Ford indicated he stopped at the stop sign and upon pulling into the intersection collided with the Chevrolet. The north-south traffic on Glasgow Rd. is controlled by a stop sign, while the east-west traffic on Park Rd. is not required to stop." Read More
After falling out of kayak, couple clings onto tree
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A week ago Thursday Illinois Conservation Police rescued a Sullivan couple after they became stranded in the Kaskaskia River near Allenville.
According to Captain Jim Mayes with the Illinois Conservation Police, around 1:47 p.m. Thursday, June 11, the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office received a call from an 11-year-old boy reporting that his grandparents, William and Madeline VanKeuren, had become stranded on the Kaskaskia river after they along with the boy, himself fell out of their kayaks. The boy was able to make it to the shoreline, but the VanKeuren’s could not and instead held onto a tree due to strong currents. Read More
Suspect wrecks, suffers minor injuries
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A 23-year-old man was arrested in the early morning hours last Wednesday after he fled police on a motorcycle.
Chris Tomasello, 23, of Decatur, was arrested last Wednesday morning for not only driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured vehicle, but for also exceeding the speed limit by as much as 35 miles per hour.
According to Sullivan police officer Adam Collins’ report, at approximately 12:53 a.m. June 10, county deputy Clint Walker advised Sullivan PD that a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed was not pulling over and was headed westbound into Sullivan. Collins began to make his way east on Jackson and as he approved Madison Street observed a single headlight approaching. The officer then activated his radar and heard a “loud pitch.” Shortly thereafter, the radar then clocked the motorcycle at 98mph before the suspect turned north onto Calhoun. Read More