by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

At their regular meeting earlier this month, the Sullivan school board approved four staff resignations and also approved the dismissal of a third year teacher.

Certified preschool teacher Brittney Phebus was dismissed after the board discussed the potential action in closed session. Because she had less than four years of continuous service to the district, the board does not, nor did it, disclose the reason for her dismissal. As Brad Tuttle, superintendent, explained, a faculty member with less than four years and excellent ratings could still be dismissed. Read More

Decision to ban firearms on all school property up in the air

by Ariana Cherry
& Keith Stewart
Reporting in Arthur

Thoughtful silence filled the room for a few moments during a discussion regarding Policy 8:30 during last Wednesday’s Arthur-Lovington school board meeting.

According to the present handbook, Policy 8:30 states “Arthur-Lovington District 305 has established a policy that prohibits guns, ammunition, knives and any other weapons from school property.” Although, with the Concealed Carry Law, that could change.

The Concealed Carry Law reads, “The new law generally allows license holders to carry concealed firearms in areas of the state not designated as prohibited areas. Those prohibited areas include buildings or portions of buildings under the control of local governments such as schools, public libraries, court buildings, parks, playgrounds, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation, etc...” Read More

Fireworks fundraiser underway

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

When Mike Keown and his family moved to Sullivan in 1958, the only thing more memorable than Richard Nixon’s visit to Wyman Park was the fireworks display that the local American Legion had routinely sponsored.

“They were spectacular,” said Keown. “The night sky was just lit up. Even though we lived right by the park, we all took a blanket and went to Wyman Lake.”

But now, the certainty as to whether Sullivan will continue to have its annual display is up in the air, or perhaps, not quite yet.

“The Legion has always paid the cost of the fireworks as long as I can remember,” said Keown. “But right now, we can’t do that. We don’t have the money to pay it.” Read More

Special meeting sees both support and opposition to longer hours

by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

The Bethany village board formally approved the wording to one of last month’s proposed amendments to the liquor ordinance Monday in a special board meeting.

Last month a motion was passed, in the absence of trustee Steve Ozee, to amend the village liquor ordinance to allow for longer serving hours and to remove the prohibition of gambling devices within the village. At that time there were several members of the community present to voice their support of any actions the board could take to benefit local businesses, in particular Hired Hand Winery and Saloon. That motion, however, was to go before the village’s attorney to be proofread and refined for language before being formally accepted. Read More

by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

The Okaw Valley school board voted to accept the resignations of two staff members, effective at the end of this 2013-14 school year; that of cheer coach Jennifer Crowder and that of long time school librarian Sharon Lowry as she retires.  Read More