•April 19, 2023•
Spores and More Festival will be held in Windsor on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be food trucks, small businesses, vendors, live music, great deals and morel mushrooms. The event will be held on Maine Street and at the Red Barn.
At 11 a.m. the Windsor American Legion will serve mushroom soup and spaghetti with traditional or mushroom sauce. This year there are over 40 vendors set to attend the festival. Vendors will have a variety of items including homemade crafts, ceramics and jewelry. Read More
Category Archives: News
Sullivan Community Education Foundation Teacher Appreciation Banquet
Photo Submitted
Pictured are retiring staff members Scott Bales and Kay Lehman.
•April 19, 2023•
On Thursday, April 13, the Sullivan Community Education Foundation hosted their annual Teacher Appreciation Banquet at Building 1225 in Sullivan. The theme for the evening was baseball, and it opened in the first inning with the Star-Spangled Banner sung by Kaylee Ogle.
After Invocation given by Dan Fultz in the second inning, teachers and staff were treated to a baseball style meal of hot dogs, brats, etc., catered by Griffin’s catering for the third inning. Read More
Mo. Co. Supervisor of Assessment Receives Award
Photo furnished
Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessment Lori Barringer was presented the 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award (Small Jurisdiction) during the Illinois Property Assessment Institute banquet on March 27 in Normal.
•April 19, 2023•
The Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessment Lori Barringer was presented the 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award (Small Jurisdiction) during the Illinois Property Assessment Institute banquet on March 27 in Normal. Barringer was nominated by Mark Armstrong and the award was presented by Mary Tamez.
According to the speech given at the event. Barringer has hit the ground running since the start of her assessment career. By statute, counties of fewer than 50,000 persons should have a coefficient of dispersion of 30% or below. Barringer’s jurisdiction has a population of less than half of that. With such a small sample size and a large rural area containing a significant number of farm parcels, reaching that target is difficult. In the face of challenges, however, Barringer has met this goal every year she has been in office, with an average coefficient of 26.3% during that time. Read More
Sullivan City Council Authorizes Use of ARPA Funds for Construction of Eastview Lift Station
•April 12, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
During Monday’s meeting, the Sullivan City Council authorized the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the construction of the Eastview Lift Station. According to Commissioner Chuck Woodworth, the city received $300,000 last year and were supposed to get another $300,000 at the end of this year. The city has received only half of it. The reason that Eastview Lift Station was chosen is because it is the oldest.
Tia Punches approached the council in regard to money she has raised from Pack the Park the past two years plus money she has earned by making pies. She asked whether it would be possible for her to sign over the money to someone from the city. She noted if the city doesn’t want to use the money for a bandstand, they may use it for something else.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said that park crews have been mowing, trimming trees, mulching and making a list of trees that need to be taken down in both parks. Read More
Illinois Amish Heritage Center Receives Grant Through Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant Program
•April 12, 2023•
Illinois Amish Information Exhibits Inc., known as Illinois Amish Heritage Center, has been awarded a $500,000 grant through the Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program. Designed to support local festivals and attractions and drive tourism across the state, Illinois increased the funding available from $15 million to $22.5 million in order to support additional attractions. The additional $7.5 million was secured during the Illinois General Assembly legislative session in early January 2023 and the program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The total project budget projection for the visitor center/museum building is $2 million. The visitor center/museum building for the IAHC will serve as a welcome center, museum, archive, event center and portal to tourist experiences available in the Douglas, Moultrie and Coles County region. The welcome center/museum will provide a place where visitors can begin their exploration through interpretive exhibits, classroom space, archive and theater and gather afterwards for more information and even the opportunity to purchase crafts and goods made by local Amish artisans on site and further into the communities around the site. Read More
Courtyard Estates Easter Egg Hunt 2023
Photo by Crystal Reed
Freddy The Firetruck
A group of children talks to Freddy the Firetruck at the Courtyard Estates Eggstravaganza in Sullivan.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Eggstravaganza at Courtyard Estates
Children race to pick up eggs during the egg hunt portion of festivities at Courtyard Estates in Sullivan on Saturday, April 1.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Pony Ride
Jackson Lawrence enjoys a pony ride during Eggstravaganza at Courtyard Estates in Sullivan.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Photo Opportunity
Eira Taylor and Kyleigh Loflin pause to take a photo with two characters that were available for photos at Courtyard Estates on Saturday, April 1.
Senator McClure Visits Local Schools
•April 5, 2023•
Senator Steve McClure is a new legislator to Shelby and Moultrie Counties, and his willingness to learn about the region was evident as he went back to school last week. During a break in the state senate, Senator McClure spent a day visiting schools with Regional Superintendent Dr. Kyle Thompson.
Their road trip began with introductions at Shelbyville Bridges, an alternative school led by Thompson’s Regional Office of Education #11. Dr. Zakry Standerfer provided Senator McClure with an overview of safe schools and how the program serves students in grades 6-12 who find success in the alternative education sites. Read More
Windsor American Legion Recognizes 50 Year Members
Photo by Crystal Reed
Windsor American Legion Recognizes 50 Year Members
Windsor Garrett-Baldridge American Legion and Auxiliary members celebrated the American Legion’s 104th birthday with a potluck and ceremony at the Legion on Sunday, March 26. Three Legion members received 50 year membership certificates. Auxiliary member, Linda Voris, also shared a brief history of the American Legion. Those presented 50 year membership certificates were Larry Shafer (left) and Linn Voris (right). Presenting the certificates was Post Commander Jack Johnson (center). Not pictured: Joe Hester.
Essay Winners Announced for Americanism Essay Contest
•March 29, 2023•
The American Legion Auxiliary units of Arthur, Lovington and Atwood have announced the 2023 Department of Illinois Americanism Essay Contest that is sponsored locally. This year’s essay subject and title were “Who Are Our Modern Day Patriots?” Essays were judged by a team of local judges one each from Arthur, Lovington and Atwood. The three classes were Class I- 7th and 8th grades, Class II-9th and 10th grades and Class III-11th and 12th grades. Read More
ALAH Board of Education Approves the District to Seek Bids to Repair School Parking Lots
•March 22, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry
Superintendent Shannon Cheek spoke with members of the Board of Education about the school parking lots and their condition at the most recent meeting held Wednesday, March 15. What, originally, he thought would be a simple fix at the Atwood-Hammond Grade School will actually be much more of a significant repair after a closer look.
The area near the playground and east lot where most people usually park is estimated to be around $61,000. Cheek also said the staff area parking lot was estimated to be a bit lower at just $10,500. He feels that the parking lots at the Atwood-Hammond Grade School are in need of some major repair and by doing so, could extend their life much longer. The ALAH High School parking lot is also not in the best condition, but Cheek said it could get by another year by just simply filling in some of the cracks and holes. The Arthur Grade School’s parking lot east of the building has been estimated to be at $43,000. The board approved Cheek to collect bids and see what the total costs would be. He informed the board that it may not be a reality that all three parking lots can be repaired. Read More