by Joash Tiarks
Reporting in Sullivan
The topic of sandwich boards was resurrected earlier this month when local business owners came before the Sullivan city council to ask for help in promoting their businesses.
Cathrine Craig, owner of Cathrine’s Custom Framing, was one such entrepreneur to appeal to the council for “some type of cooperation to make our businesses more appealing.” Read More
Hatfield’s resignation formally accepted
by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
The Arthur-Lovington School Board issued $2.1 million in General Obligation Bonds at a 2.962 percent tax rate last Wednesday.
The bonds will be used for construction of the new Arthur Junior High addition, asbestos removal at Lovington Grade School, a new roof for Arthur-Lovington High School and other maintenance and repairs as needed for the district. Sales tax revenue will be used to pay back the bonds. Last year, Douglas County passed a 1% sales tax increase which went into effect this past January. The district will start receiving the revenue in April, and it is estimated that they will receive $239,000 annually. The bonds must be paid off by December 2023, although the board has an early payment option for December 2022. Read More
Raises also given to three employees
by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter
After dissolving the position of police chief in 2010 due to what the village found was an unnecessary position, Lovington reinstated the title February 10 at their monthly meeting and gave said title to officer Christian Swisher.
Depending instead on a “head police officer” since 2010, the village decided to reassign the position due to realizing an inherent liability issue. With no police chief, the head police officer was required to come to the village board each time he or she wished to sign off on any item of business, thereby making the board ultimately responsible for any action the head officer took. Read More
Submitted by
Hollie Atchison
Employment Specialist
Several local and state officials attended a kick-off event for Moultrie Counseling’s Individual Placement and Support program Feb 7. Leaders from the Division of Mental Health, Division of Rehabilitation Services and Department of Human Services travelled from all across the state to help launch the new initiative at the mental health agency. Moultrie Counseling staff, community leaders and consumers were in attendance to learn the benefits of the new supported employment program and to show their support for the already successful service. David Cole, Executive Director of Moultrie Counseling, welcomed those in attendance and shared the early successes of the program with the crowd. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program officially began December 1, 2013 with great momentum. Penny Arthur, IPS Supervisor, and Hollie Atchison, Employment Specialist, have been preparing for the launch of this evidence-based service for several months. Read More
Photo by RR Best
Sullivan firefighter Rob Young and Findlay assistant fire chief Jason Fleshner survey the damage inside the home located at 606 West Main Street in Bethany Sunday.
Second house fire in two weeks
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
After a house fire left one rural home destroyed two weeks ago, another residence in Bethany has been ruled a total loss following yet another fire Sunday.
The residence at 606 West Main Street in Bethany was occupied by Jeffrey England and was destroyed Sunday afternoon after a fire ravaged the home. The Bethany fire department was paged out at 2:55 p.m. and was assisted by both Sullivan and Findlay fire departments. Read More
Former Villa Grove Principal Selected for Interim Period
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Now former Arthur-Lovington High School principal Brian Hatfield officially resigned last Wednesday in a letter to the school district according to an announcement by superintendent Travis Wilson.
Hatfield, who is facing two counts of domestic battery in Champaign County, was replaced by former Villa Grove principal Danny Powell for the remainder of the school year; Powell officially began on Monday. Read More
Submitted by Rebecca Lawson
Mirror Images, Sullivan High School’s prevention theater group, will perform its 25th anniversary show at 7 p.m. Friday, February 7 at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan.
“A Day In Our Not So Normal Lives” is an all original show written by current and past Mirror Images members. Read More
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Arthur-Lovington high school principal Brian L. Hatfield, 42, was arrested recently on two counts of domestic battery, which were filed on January 21 according to documents filed by the Champaign circuit clerk’s office.
According to an Urbana Police Report, the incident occurred at the 1800 block of Cunningham on January 18 around 1:30 a.m. when witnesses saw Hatfield and his wife “mutually battering each other.” Read More
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) issued the following comments to local media based on his recent discussions with Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller. The Senator’s comments reflect a lack of progress on improving Eagle Creek Lodge & Resort and the continued negative effects of its closure on Shelby and Moultrie counties. Read More
Some of the state’s highest per capita rates here in central Illinois, though still low overall
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
According to data provided by Moultrie County Sheriff Jeff Thomas, 80 Moultrians have applied for concealed carry permits as of Monday, January 27. And while that may not seem like many, especially compared to the 5,305 that Cook County had reported earlier this month, it’s the per-capita rate that is of some interest.
Per-capita or per person, Moultrie sees 54 out of 10,000 applying for a license compared to Cook County, which is at 10 per 10,000.
Neighboring counties Douglas and Piatt each saw higher per capita rates with the former at 65.5 per 10,000 and the latter at 69.7 per 10,000. Coles County was lower with just 36.3 applicants per 10,000. Read More