Truth and Taxation Hearing in December

•December 2, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

I am pretty fired up about where we go from here,” noted Superintendent Shannon Cheek at the ALAH School Board meeting held November 18. Cheek was referring to a positive story shared by ALAH Principal Stephanie Seegmiller when she reported on recent accomplishments regarding SAT’s.
“For ten weeks - at five days a week, we were working with juniors last school year. They were three and a half weeks away from taking the SAT’s, and then our schools shut down because of COVID. Then in August, they had to take the test in order to graduate. When we reopened, we put together a review class and had some seniors who joined them after school and after hours to take it. We were five points from making the state average. It is our students and their commitments, but it is these guys (teachers and staff) who made it happen,” reported Seegmiller. “They are flexible, dedicated, smart, and they know their business,” she added. On November 19, they celebrated their seniors and all of their hard work which they hoped would inspire the juniors. Seegmiller named several members of the staff and teachers who were responsible for helping with the SAT’s. Included are Darcy Singer, Trisha Sluder, Guy Bates, Sarah Bailey, April Hart, Mark Smith, Kayla Huckleby and Kendall Huffman. Read More

•November 25, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

During Monday evening’s Sullivan City Council meeting the council heard about the plan that the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce has for the holiday season. Director of Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Laurrie Minor told the council that the chamber has an effort to try and provide every long term care resident in Sullivan a plant. They are $15 and the chamber only needs 86 more donations to make this effort possible.
Another event that they are doing is a reverse lighted parade. Instead of people lining up along the parade route people will drive through. At the end of the parade there will be the option to see Santa and give him a letter. Santa will be there to give children a candy cane as well with social distancing in effect.
There is also the Light It Up, Sullivan holiday decorating contest. The chamber asks that you send them a short video or picture of your house or business. Entries can be submitted to the chamber by Facebook messenger or e-mail information@sullivanchamber.com by December 10. Winners will receive utility bill credits. Read More

•November 18, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Laurrie Minor, director of the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development announced to the Sullivan City Council that the North Lake Community Development, a non-profit under the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development had been awarded a $84,000 grant from the Lumpkin Foundation to improve the end of Tabor Trail to the road past the sewer plant. For a project to qualify for the grant it has to have a direct effect on climate change in an area. Read More

•November 18, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A motion to approve an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation regarding cost sharing responsibilities for the improvement of the Illinois Route 32 intersection with Moultrie County Highway 4, Section 1,2 N unanimously failed Thursday evening. The Moultrie County Board, in a letter drafted and signed by county engineer Jeff Birch and board chair Dave McCabe, opted to record their opposition to the current IDOT plans for the intersection.
The county is responsible for one leg of the intersection while the remainder of the intersection is the responsibility of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Birch said the plans for the road include a raised concrete median where the left turn lane is located. “IDOT proposed something that the county just can’t agree with,” he said. Read More