Category Archives: News

City Council Discusses Public Works Director Position

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•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The new Sullivan City Council met for the first time on Monday, May 8. During the meeting it was decided to postpone changes to electric and gas rates. “I think we need to be looking at what we can do to keep gas rates and electric rates as low as we can,” commented Mayor Mike Mossman. Commissioners Mossman and Kirk need time to review the rate study done by BHMG. They may end up doing so in the future but not at this point in time. However water and sewer rates are automatically increased by 4% at the beginning of each fiscal year, unless the Council votes not to increase the rates. Since Commissioner Chuck Woodworth was in favor of the increase, no vote was taken. Read More

Auction for Sullivan Middle School to be Held June 3

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•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

Sullivan Middle School will be torn down in the near future. However before that happens those in the community have the opportunity to take home a piece of the school that brings back memories or simply sparks their interest. The auction will consist of everything left at the middle school from desks to doors. However anything that would disturb the walls is off limits.
According to Nicole Monroe, a secretary with the Sullivan School District, the auction will be held at 9 am on Saturday, June 3. There will be a final walkthrough that morning at 7:30 am. She noted that the auction will be a walking auction that will start on the first floor and end at the bus garage.
There will be concessions that morning with proceeds from the concession stand going to the Sullivan Athletic Boosters. Some of the items up for bids include desks, doors, the scoreboard, bleachers, lockers and basketball hoops, a Ruscin strength peg board and much more.

Spores ‘n More Mushroom Winners 2023

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Spores ‘n More Mushroom Winners
This year’s mushroom contest for Spores ‘n More had 22 entries. Winners were announced at the Windsor American Legion on Saturday, April 29. The smallest mushroom was found by Chris Goodman and measured 36 mm and the largest mushroom was found by Beau Hutchison and it measured 593 mm. Pictured are Karsyn Goodman, Chris Goodman, Erica Nabers with the Lake Shelbyville Army Corps of Engineers, Beau Hutchison, Isaac Hutchison.

Singers and Singers Jr. Dinner Theatre

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Photos by Crystal Reed
Singers and Singers Jr. Dinner Theatre
On Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30, the Sullivan Singers and Sullivan Singers Jr. presented their dinner theatre in the Sullivan High School gym. Saturday there were two performances and Sunday only one performance. The program included the Fall Show “Press Play On A Good Day”, competition shows for Singers Jr. and Singers, Spring Show and Senior Spotlights by Alexi Fryman, Sierra Guynn, Mikala Simmons and Kaylee Ogle. During the Sunday performance seniors were recognized.

“The Smoke Studio” Opens in Shelbyville

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•May 3, 2023•
By Sharon Barricklow
Correspondent

Not yet 30 year old “Serial Entrepreneur” Dillon Tedrick has owned a car stereo installation business, a lawn and landscaping service and is now hoping to make his mark in retail with “The Smoke Studio”, a new store on North Morgan in Shelbyville.
“I looked around and saw that Shelbyville was probably the kind of place a store like mine would work,” said Tedrick, who lives in Effingham but has family in Shelbyville. Read More

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Surprises Newest Homeowner

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Surprises Newest Homeowner
On Tuesday, April 18, Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Board members and co-workers of the recipient gathered in the courthouse rotunda to surprise the newest homeowner Becky Comstock. Pictured is Howard Sanders, Gary Smith, Gene Mueller, Sandy Sanders, Becky Comstock, Cheryl Thomas, Tony Feeler and Roger Glazebrook.

Simpson Named Illinois State Scholar

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•May 3, 2023•
Danielle Simpson, a senior at Okaw Valley High School, has been named an Illinois State Scholar. She has a 4.125 gpa on a 4.0 scale after 7 semesters. In her time at Okaw Valley she has received straight A’s and been on high honor roll all through high school. Read More

Potential New Math Curriculum Presented

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•April 26, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

Principals and math teachers presented a potential new math curriculum for the ALAH school district recently. They have been meeting and researching different ones since last fall. Two pilot ones, Bridges and Reveal, were started around Christmastime. Members of the pilot team for grade school math are Adrienne Seal, Rose Hollingsworth, Rhonda Rhodes, Erin Beck, Chris Foreman, Andrew Peralta and Marla Graham. There were teachers in grades K-5 and Special Ed who participated in the pilot programs. The mathematics program at which the grade schools are looking is called Bridges. Positive points about Bridges include a hands-on curriculum, focus on number sense and explaining different ways to get the answer. Read More

Sullivan HS Teacher Surprised With Retirement Party

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Scott Bales teaching the Sullivan High School Spanish Club CPR, which actually turned into a surprise retirement party.

•April 26, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan High School Spanish Club gathered on Friday, April 14, early in the morning to learn CPR. At least that’s the reason for which physical education and health teacher Scott Bales thought he was in the commons area in the high school that morning. Little did he know that the Spanish Club and the high school Spanish teacher Patricia King had a surprise for him.
After Bales had demonstrated how to administer CPR on mannequins and also demonstrated how to operate an AED, there was an announcement made that they had invited him not for a CPR lesson but to celebrate him as he is retiring at the end of this school year. Bales has spent 34 years in the teaching profession, 25 of those in Sullivan. Read More

County Board Hears Information on Wind-Solar Ordinance

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•April 19, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board had their regular meeting Thursday, April 13. At the beginning of the meeting Jessie McClusky of the University of Illinois Extension presented to the board by highlighting some of the things the organization offers.
There are six Moultrie County Master Gardeners. In the SNAP-Ed category they help families gain knowledge and skills needed to make healthier choices through in-person classes and online resources. SNAP-Ed also works with organizations and community groups to promote healthier food options and environments in communities struggling with limited resources. There are mini food pantries established in Lovington and Sullivan. In Moultrie County alone the pantries have provided 10,530 pounds of produce this year and are helping approximately 200 families through food mobiles and family life programs including Wits Fitness, Illinois Strong Couples and Mental Health First Aid. Read More