•January 12, 2022•
New Voter Identification cards will be mailed to all registered voters in Sullivan Township in mid-January. The Voters Precinct and Polling Location will be in red on these cards. It is very important that Sullivan Township voters review the new Voter ID card to make sure they go to the correct Precinct and Poll Location on Election Day. Reminder: The date for the General Primary Election is June 28, 2022.
The Moultrie County Board passed a Resolution to Re-establish Voting Precinct Lines in Sullivan Township at their July 15, 2021 Board meeting. As a result of that meeting, Sullivan Township precinct sizes now range from 459 to 609 registered voters. Read More
Category Archives: News
City Council Split on Establishment of Chief of Staff Position
•January 12, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council had a split vote on whether to establish the position of chief of staff for the city of Sullivan. The vote taken was 2-2. Commissioner Doug Booker was absent. “I’ve changed my position on it,” Commissioner Mike Fowler said. “It’s too much like the city administrator.”
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood announced that the city would be taking bids for a UTV utility vehicle. Bids will be received until 5 p.m., February 14, and should be submitted by mail. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth said the crew is working on installing bigger Nextgrid meters. Read More
ALAH Cheerleader performs at VRBO Citrus Bowl
Photo Submitted
Layna Kapp is pictured.
•January 12, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Layna Kapp, an ALAH High School senior from Lovington, performed at the VRBO Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida on January 1. The game between Iowa and Kentucky was played at Camping World Stadium.
Kapp said that her cheer coach set up a home camp through the Universal Cheer Association. During the camp, tryouts were held and three girls qualified to perform at the bowl game. Kapp was the only one able to travel to Orlando to perform. Read More
Bethany Fire Protection District Members Retire
Photo furnished
Jim McMahan has retired from Bethany Fire Protection District. He is pictured with the truck that was purchased when he served as Fire Chief.
Photo furnished
Troy Yokley recently retired from Bethany Fire Protection District. He was known as the department “chef.”
•January 5, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Bethany Fire Protection District
recently recognized three of their members who are retiring from the department, Jim McMahan, Tom Rucker and Troy Yokley.
McMahan came to the department in 1997. He served with the department for many years before holding the position of fire chief in the years 2013 through 2017. Over the years, the district has had countless cleanup days where the bays and trucks get cleaned, and nine times out of 10 he was there. After retiring as fire chief, he opted to stay on as a volunteer. He retired at the end of 2020 but returned in 2021 when response numbers were down and something as simple as a driver was needed.
Photo furnished
Tom Rucker recently retired from the Bethany Fire Protection District. After retiring as Fire Chief he came back as a volunteer.
Tom Rucker came to the department in 1988. He joined the department and continued his education in EMS and became an EMT. Rucker has advanced through the ranks of the department from FF/EMT, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Assistant Fire Chief and then Fire Chief from 2018 to 2019. He then retired from the position but didn’t want to retire from the department. Rucker has seen all but one of the department’s vehicles purchased and was on the committee for most of the apparatus currently in service.
Troy Yokley came to Bethany Fire in 2014. He was the department “chef.” When the department would have fundraisers that involved burgers, that was Yokley’s pride and joy. A couple months after he joined the fire department, his daughter tragically passed away in an accident. Troy and his wife Ella created the Chalyssa Yokley Foundation whereby a gift is presented to the firefighter and EMT of the year within the department.[/s2If]
Dr. Mauck Retires from Kaskaskia Valley Animal Hospital
Photo furnished
Veterinarian Dr. Gregory Mauck retired from Kaskaskia Valley Animal Hospital on December 30, 2021. In retirement he plans to pursue a master’s degree in Medieval History and Historical Linguistics.
•January 5, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Dr. Gregory Mauck has retired from Kaskaskia Valley Animal Hospital as of December 30, 2021. An open house at the clinic was held that day to celebrate his retirement.
Mauck is a 1979 graduate of Sullivan High School. He then moved on to the University of Illinois and graduated in 1986 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He graduated with high honors and was ranked third in his class. Mauck was named a U of I Bronze Tablet Scholar and inducted into the Phi Zeta Honorary Society of Veterinary Medicine. After practicing in Indiana for one year, he founded the Kaskaskia Valley Animal Hospital in Sullivan in May 1987. Read More
Year End Review Continued from Last Week
•January 5, 2022•
June 2
Memorial Day services were held in Bethany and Sullivan. The Sullivan American Legion conducted ceremonies at Greenhill and Moultrie County Cemetery; Bethany American Legion led ceremonies at Marrowbone Township Cemetery. In Sullivan Pastor Bob Vail lead prayer and Becky Lawson spoke. At Marrowbone Township Cemetery, the Bethany American Legion held their ceremony at the Civil War monument. Chaplain Jack Scott led prayer and Pastor Marge Overlot spoke.
Sullivan residents Siobhan and Austin Hunter found a box of family memories when they cleaned out her grandfather’s barn. Through Facebook and other efforts they were able to find a person to return the box to. That person was Wayne Carter of Decatur. Read More
City Council meets, No New or Unfinished Business heard
•January 5, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council met Tuesday, December 28, in the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library. There were only three commissioners present: Doug Booker, Chuck Woodworth and Mike Fowler. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood and Mayor Richard Glazebrook were absent.
Because there were only three commissioners in attendance no new or unfinished business was heard, and no votes were taken other than for the consent agenda and TIF claims.
Bill Burger asked the council whether the Sullivan Post Office is handicap accessible. He said he saw a man fall in front of the post office which is what brought the question to his mind. Read More
School District Raises Sub Pay for Teachers from $90/day to $115/day Beginning January 2022
•December 29, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
At the beginning of the ALAH School Board meeting held Wednesday, December 15, a couple students from the fourth grade at Arthur Elementary showed the board some of their recent products they created from home while learning about economics. Students from the classes of Mrs. Eads and Mrs. Martinez asked students to use their imagination to create a product they could market to other students. Students were given the chance to showcase their products in the cafeteria, and three people from each class were given the chance to come shop for free.
In doing all of this, students also learned lessons about supply and demand. Superintendent Shannon Cheek commented on the talent and creativity from all the students and also browsed through their “market” that was presented in the cafeteria.
Parent Sam Miller questioned the board on whether there had been any more discussion regarding whether masks would be optional in the school district. “At that time, the motion was to see if there were any other options out there,” replied President Beth Wiley. “There haven’t really been any changes at this time. It is something that we will have to discuss as a board to see where we are at this time,” she added. Read More
Year End Review: Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022
•December 29, 2021•
January 6
Doug Booker was sworn in as Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements.
The first babies of 2021 at Decatur Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital were born to two Bethany couples. Carson and Rosario Hiser of Bethany had their child Luke Martin on January 1 at 7:25 pm. Tiffany and Shaun Cotner of Bethany had their child Harrison Cotner at 7:20 am on January 1.
Sullivan resident Dawnaya Key authored her first book Tomate.
January 13
Courtyard Estates of Sullivan, Supportive Living, made it possible for tenants to “hug” their loved ones even in the midst of a pandemic. The Welsh family generously donated the “hugging booth.” The booth sits against an outer door that gives families safe entrance into the booth and it’s fitted with plastic arms and gloves on both sides of the booth for both the tenant and family members to hug.
Sullivan City Council approved additional funds for COVID PPE supplies. The amount of the protective equipment was not to exceed $10,000 for a total authorization of $60,000.
January 20
The criminal justice reform package passed by the Illinois House and Senate was drawing concern from local officials. Both Moultrie County State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver and Sheriff Chris Sims were concerned about the impact. Read More
County employees donate to DOVE
Photo by Crystal Reed
County employees donate to DOVE
Each year several of the County employees participate in a year round fundraiser for Dove. On Fridays the employees pay a dollar in exchange for the opportunity to wear jeans to work. At the end of the year they contact Dove to find out how many families they are currently serving. They divide up the families and funds to purchase items for them. Each year, for at least the last 7 years, the employees have donated enough money to purchase gifts for each of the kids to have at their annual Christmas party. This year the employees participating were able to collect just over $300. While not enough to do gifts for all 13 kids they all knew that they still wanted to help them. Rebecca Comstock at Dove had another organization take on the gifts and the courthouse employees put together baskets full of household essentials, snacks, drinks, donut gift cards, and 1 gift for each child.