•July 5, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

After several years of not adjusting lunch prices, the ALAH School Board approved a $0.25 increase at their school board meeting held Wednesday, June 21. The school district is currently looking at a loss of $17,000 due to unpaid lunch bills, increases in food and operating expenses. With the new increase, the cost of elementary student lunches will be $3.15, and the cost for junior high and high school will be $3.25. There also is a $0.10 raise for the cost of breakfast. Superintendent Shannon Cheek stated that for the district to break even, they should be charging about $3.80, but with the $0.25 increase, it should at least get the district moving in the right direction.
Along with approving an increase to school lunches, the board also approved the final year for its Aramark food contract. The district has been in contract with them for five years. Next year, there is a plan to take bids to see what other companies are available. The cost to this year’s Aramark contract was raised 11% due to inflation.
Other items discussed/voted on include: Read More

•June 28, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

“Dementia is a symptom of a disease,” stated Sheila Greuel, an independent consultant with the East Central Illinois Area on Aging who gave a presentation about a Dementia Friendly Moultrie County at the Arthur Village Board on June 19. It is a symptom of other diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. According to the Illinois Department on Aging, there were about 220,000 people living with Alzehimer’s disease in 2018, and that number is expected to increase by 18.2% by 2025 (260,000).
Greuel has been working with Moultrie County to do a community wide assessment of dementia. There are about 26 states that are now considered “Dementia friendly,” with Great Britain being the first country to be labeled as such. Illinois is now on its way to becoming a “Dementia Friendly” state also. A person who is considered “Dementia Friendly” has been trained professionally or casually on how to interact with someone who has dementia. Read More

•June 21, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board approved the 2023 Moultrie County Comprehensive Plan and the Moultrie County Hazard Mitigation Plan during their monthly meeting. County Board member Aaron Wilhelm requested that if there are those on the board who have not read it, to do so since there is informative and helpful information in it. Kelly Lockhart from Coles County Regional Planning Commission was in attendance to answer any questions the board had.
Wilhelm asked what the purpose of the plan is. Lockhart said the goal is to determine land use, especially future land use, and transportation. He noted that if they want to apply for a grant, it needs to be in the comprehensive plans of a community, and it has to be updated every five years. He added they are in the process of updating Cumberland County’s plan now, and the city of Sullivan recently hired them as well. Read More

photo submitted by Jim Wandmacher, AMBUCS secretary
A memorial plaque for Jim Bales was put up at the Inaugural “Big Jim” Fishing Derby at the Woods Lake handicap accessible fishing pier. The plaque was mounted by his son Scott and grandson Brock.

•June 21, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

This past Saturday at Wood Lake in Sullivan was a day not only for fishing and fun for local children but also a time to remember AmBuCs member Jim Bales. The inaugural Big Jim’s Memorial Fishing Derby was held at the ADA/wheelchair access fishing pier at Wood Lake. Bales was a lifetime Sullivan resident who taught in the Sullivan School District and was a member of Sullivan AmBuCs. Read More