Photo by Crystal Reed
Marrowbone Public Library Story Time
Marrowbone Public Library in Bethany holds story time on Fridays, starting in September and going through December and then resuming in January until May at 11:15 am. It is open to preschoolers ages 3-5. Programming includes books, crafts and a snack and it goes for one half hour. Pictured is Children’s Librarian Lesa Oathout reading to children at story time.
Photos by Crystal Reed
Demolition of Old City Building Begins
The demolition of the old city building began on Monday, February 6. A new city building will be built on the same spot in the near future. The building had indoor air quality and structural issues including 5,400 square feet of asbestos floor tile, holes and missing brick and mortar in structural foundation walls intended to hold multiple vaults, extensive mold growth in the HVAC system that serviced personnel workspaces and recommendations to utilize hazmat suits when accessing the second floor. Asbestos abatement was done before demolition began on the building.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Lovington Grade School Spelling Bee Finalists
Lovington Grade School held their school spelling bee on Monday, January 23. Six finalists and two alternates were selected to move on to the Moultrie County Spelling Bee on February 16. The top three were first place Macee Boddy, second place John Williams IV and third Alexis Chism. Also qualifying to move on were Landon Willoughby, Makena Liming and Maxton Boddy. Alternates are Leland Willoughby and Ryan Mgawi.
•February 1, 2023•
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim today announced Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Grants to 48 communities to assist in meeting the requirements outlined in the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. The LSLI Grants, ranging from $20,000 - $50,000, will fund the creation of a complete lead service line inventory.
The Village of Lovington is the recipient of a $30,000 grant. Read More
•February 1, 2023•
Photo furnished
Sullivan Elementary students and staff were able to sign one of two I-beams that will be part of the sixteen classroom addition to the school.
by Ted Walk
Sullivan School District Superintendent
Construction of a sixteen classroom addition to the Sullivan Elementary School commenced last fall. The classroom addition will allow the 5th grade students to return to SES. Fifth grade students have been housed in the middle school for the past several years due to a lack of classroom availability at SES. Read More
•January 25, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 23, with Commissioner Chuck Woodworth absent. They approved a professional service agreement with Chastain and Associates LLC for $83,850 for Wyman Park improvements, including a splash pad and tennis and basketball court improvements. This amount will be taken from the OSLAD grant the city was awarded.
Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards requested TIF funds for the purchase of some engines to replace their aging fleet. Currently, they have a 26-year-old engine and a 20-year-old engine. The average life span of an engine is 20-25 years. Read More
•January 25, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry
"The track is not in good shape. It is beyond repair and beyond “sticking band-aids on it,” Superintendent Shannon Cheek said at the most recent ALAH Board of Education meeting. Cheek informed the board that the district has two options in repairing the track. One option is to take down the track and do minor repair for the subsurface and then go back and resurface the track. That option would make the track last awhile. The most expensive option would be taking the subsection down and repouring the track which would cost double. A motion was passed to allow Cheek to seek bids for the repairing of the track.
Those in attendance at the meeting got to see a drone in flight. Agriculture teacher Megan Beckmier had a couple of her students (Brodey Lowden and Nova Shoemaker) give a drone demonstration. She stated that there are a lot of opportunities with drones for agriculture. Her class has been learning about drones through a program called 4H Drones in Agriculture through the University of Illinois. The class is allowed to use the drones for four weeks. At the end of the program, students will get to create an obstacle course and fly it. Read More
•January 25, 2023•
Our local fire departments, ambulance services and police departments work hard to keep citizens safe, and in case of emergency, extinguish fires, respond to car accidents and other life happenings. They work long hours, and at times, their plans for the day will change at a moment’s notice. Fire departments in Windsor, Findlay, Bethany, Sullivan and Lovington were contacted for their call counts for 2022. They were also asked about new equipment, personnel and other aspects of their towns service. Read More
Photos by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Showchoirs Competition Preview
The Sullivan Showchoirs held a competition preview on Wednesday, January 11 at Sullivan High School. Both groups had their first competition of the season this past weekend at Mt. Zion. Singers Jr. took third runner up, Best Costumes, Solo Competition Winner Daisy Richardson and Best Performer Avery Casteel. The next competition will be on Saturday, February 4 at Crete-Monee.
•January 18, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Moultrie County Board passed a resolution during their regular meeting on Thursday, January 12, that makes Moultrie County a sanctuary county. The resolution was a response to the “Protect Illinois Communities” Act that was passed a few days before the board meeting. It also opposes any similar bill(s) that may come about in the future. The resolution passed with Billy Voyles being absent.
At the beginning of the meeting, board member Marsha Kirby presented Rick Matthews who served the county for 17 years. He retired at the end of last year. Read More