Organizational meeting held two weeks ago, Wednesday

by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

Two weeks ago Wednesday, a small group of parents, staff, and students gathered in the Okaw Valley High School Ag classroom to initiate the process of forming an FFA Alumni Association.

Aspen Cassady, now in her second year as the ag instructor at the high school, had planned this meeting since her first day on the job. The National FFA Organization and the National FFA Alumni Association have played a pivotal role in her own career development in the agricultural field, and Cassady says she wanted to see the same opportunities made available to as many students as possible in the community.  Read More

Funding from area counties to remain the same

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

At the monthly Moultrie County Board meeting Central Illinois Public Transit Program (CIPT) Director Dennis Shiley, spoke to the board regarding the intergovernmental agency agreement and annual ordinance to fund CIPT in Moultrie County.

“Our budget is down by $75,000 from last year,” noted Shiley. “Unfortunately the state and federal government did not give us (CIPT) any increase, but the funding from each of the six counties in the Shelby grantee area will remain the same and there will be no changes in service.”  Read More

Lovington averts closure with community input

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Local post offices will soon be undergoing changes, a trend that is not just confined to this area, but happening all across the country.

“Nationwide, larger offices will now take care of smaller offices,” said Ann Stock, the current OIC (officer in charge) at Sullivan Post Office.

But contrary to what some may think, post offices aren’t making changes because of budget cuts. “Instead of closing, post offices are being re-evaluated for customer usage. This way they can still have a presence in rural America,” explained Valerie Welch, the spokesperson for Gateway District of Post Offices. Read More

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan firefighter David Welsh inspects the aftermath of a garage fire Sunday afternoon at 532. S. Sixth St. in Sullivan.

Severe smoke damage to residence, garage a total loss

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The garage and parts of a home belonging to Gerald and Mary Nolen of Sullivan were severely damaged Sunday afternoon after an ember from a nearby burn barrel ignited a fire, according to Sullivan Fire Chief Mike Piper.

A call was received at 12:34 p.m., and the department’s time of arrival was 12:36 p.m. Piper says the scene was cleared at 2:28 p.m. and that the fire was extinguished around 1:10 p.m.

“The garage is a total loss, and they had a car in there, too, that was a total loss,” explained Piper. The home was damaged on the east end, including parts of a kitchen and dining area. Read More

The students represented in the 2013-2014 Cultivating Creativity: Consolidated Communications Children’s Art Exhibition will be recognized for their achievement at an awards reception at the Tarble Arts Center on Eastern Illinois University’s campus at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13. Admission is free, and the public is invited. Read More