by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
A proposed tentative tax levy increase was presented to the Arthur-Lovington school board Wednesday, November 13. This year’s EAV was estimated at $131,750,000 while last year’s total was $126,298, 911. An increase of 4.3% was calculated, but the board passed a 3.76 % increase which would avoid a truth and taxation hearing. Read More
First quarter honor rolls for Moultrie County schools have been announced.
Lovington Grade School
Three eighth graders, five seventh graders, two six graders and one fifth grader received “A” honors for the first quarter at Lovington Grade School. They include Madison Brown, Janette Comstock and Samuel Renfro, eighth grade; Hunter Day, Ciara Emrick, Sean Evans, Katelyn Gingerich and Taylor Powell, seventh grade; Natalie Lambdin and Kenli Nettles, sixth grade and Tatjana Mehmen, fifth grade. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
The new Moultrie County Health Department officially broke ground Tuesday morning. Among the several guests on hand were (pictured left to right) state senator Chapin Rose, county board vice chairman Ron White, chairman Richard McCabe, MCHD director Angela Hogan, and state rep. Adam Brown.
$900,000 building to include much needed extra space
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
The Moultrie County board officially accepted a bid last month, giving the green light for the new health department building, which is to be constructed just south of Frontier and just east of the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan.
The county received six bids and ultimately chose family-owned Building Systems of Illinois. Read More
Six additional bays to be completed by next November
by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter
After years of packing vehicles and equipment into a tight space consisting of five bays, the Sullivan Fire District is finally moving forward with construction to add six additional bays, making for a much roomier firehouse.
The 8,100 square feet addition will be added onto the south side of the current building at a cost of $760,687.25. Read More
As the Affordable Care Act enrollment period began Oct. 1, Sarah Bush Lincoln has several in-person counselors available to answer questions and enroll individuals into health insurance plans. Read More
Common Core Standards a big part of plans
by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter
On October 31 the state of Illinois will release its school report cards statewide—critical evaluations that reflect a district’s success or failure at bringing students to state standards of knowledge in a variety of areas. On the verge of this, Okaw Valley made the focus of its October school board meeting improving academics at each of its schools. The monthly-released “school improvement plans” were highlighted by principals at each level who were eager to put forth their strategies for better educating students in congruity with state expectations. Read More
by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter
The Sullivan City Council heard from Andy Kieser of Fehr-Graham Engineering regarding the water treatment plant bidding process during Monday night’s meeting.
With there being a 45 day time frame from first publishing notice of the project for bid to the bid opening date, the council agreed to have Fehr-Graham publish the project and set a bid opening date for 1:30 p.m. Friday December 20. Read More
New regulations approved to counter potential delinquency
by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter
This month, Bethany’s village board passed a liquor ordinance that had been in the works since early July. Pending review by the village’s legal counsel, the ordinance will go into effect, at which point businesses will be able to seek licensing for liquor sales. Since the major components of the ordinance were already drafted by the end of August—originally the date it was expected to be completed—most of the businesses that planned to seek licensing have already met the necessary prerequisites for application. The village board is required to approve or decline any application for licensing to sell alcohol within 30 days, though it is possible they may act sooner. Read More
Also agrees to make part-time officer full-time
by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter
McMahan
In a special meeting called for October 15, the village of Lovington swore in new board member Jim McMahan and changed officer Jay Clark from part-time police officer to full-time, pending completion of required courses.
There have been many changes to the board over the past year as three board members and a village president stepped down from their position. The most recent was Dave Eckel, whose service on the board was brief.
Candidates to fill the vacated position were discussed in closed session at the board meeting October 7. Tony Tedrick, the only candidate to be present at the meeting, was a strong consideration.
Tuesday’s special meeting, however, presented a different candidate. Jim Minor nominated Jim McMahan, stating that he showed interest and volunteered for the position. All of McMahan’s legalities were in order, allowing him to be sworn in to the trustee position. Read More
Updates to alleviate flooding
by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter
For years, Lovington residents have been flooding the village hall with complaints about the rising waters during rainy seasons as the district’s aging and inadequate tiles, placed in 1916, became overwhelmed and backed up.
By 2000, the increasing surface and basement flooding resulted in thousands of dollars in damage and burdened the village of Lovington with costly cleanups.
But repairs on the system then began in 2005 with efforts made between Lovington’s Drainage District, the village of Lovington and the Moultrie County highway department. In 2006 and 2007, after aggressive inspection of the storm water drainage system, other solutions were sought to alleviate surface water. Read More