•August 14, 2024•

by Ariana R Cherry

The ALAH Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 to pass a resolution providing for and requiring the submission of the proposition of issuing $24,600,000 School Building Bonds to the voters of the district at the general election to be held November 5, 2024.

The proposition is as stated:

Shall the Board of Education of Arthur Community Unit School District Number 305, Douglas, Moultrie, Coles, Piatt and Champaign Counties, Illinois, improve the site of, build and equip an addition to and alter, repair and equip the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School Building, including replacing heating and ventilation systems, adding air conditioning to classrooms and other spaces, constructing secured entryways, renovating space for educational and vocational programs and improving accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $24,600,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof? Read More

•August 7, 2024•

By Megan Russell

The Sullivan City Council had their first meeting of August, on Thursday, August 1^st at six at the library. The meeting started with reports from Commissioner Abbey Sherwood, beginning her reports with another positive review on the Splash Pad, but revealing a small frustration with the Splash Pad. While speaking on how massive a hit the pad was to the community, it uses non-recyclable water. In the state of Illinois, in order to have a water system like this which recycles it must include cleaning chemicals like those often found in pools. Sherwood continued to explain how if the city were to switch to a recycle system the chemicals added would then identify the Splash Pad as a pool, and would then need a whole new set of rules and regulations the community would need to follow. Average Splash Pads can use from 5,000 to 26,000 gallons of water daily. Sherwood reporter that the park also received some new paint and minor improvement projects. Read More

•July 31, 2024•

Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. (MISS) is known in Sullivan for being the place to go for information and referrals for seniors in Moultrie County. MISS offers many ways to assist in the lives of seniors and disabled individuals in the area, most notably being their Senior Information Services along with the Caregiver Advisory Services & support groups. All of the programs and services provided by MISS are offered to seniors age 60+ or disabled individuals age 16-59. Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. changed locations during the week of Valentine’s Day in 2024. They had been at their old location at 114 E Jefferson in Sullivan since 1984. Read More

•July 24, 2024•

by Sharon Barricklow

On any given Tuesday or Friday morning, a covered shed area south of Arthur is teeming with life. Farmers, both Amish and English, gather together drinking coffee while children run around among large boxes of produce, flower arrangements and other goods. Business owners, some with restaurants, some with grocery stores and some with farmer’s markets, mill about, looking at tomatoes, evaluating zucchini, and getting their bidding cards ready. University of Illinois Extension workers, in their blue shirts with orange “I” logos make lists of available  items. The Arthur Produce Auction is open to anyone, and you never know who is going to show up. 

“There are chain grocery stores and people who own their own farm markets, plus people who are just looking for a good deal on fresh produce,” said Extension worker Penny Hood.  Read More

Photo by Megan Russell. Pictured John Vander Burgh (owner of Vander Burgh Financial Services), his wife Heidi, and their two grandkids, ages 2 and 4 months.

•July 24, 2024•

On Sunday, Bethany had a sweet surprise planned out for any and all. The Green Creamery, a mobile ice cream parlor which supports loving the earth and making the best quality ice cream around, visited and gave out free ice cream as a Vander Burgh Financial Services, LLC customer appreciation event. The crowds were bustling with many groups of families and friends coming and going throughout the two hour event.  Read More