•February 19, 2020•
A request made of Sullivan City Council for help with ambulance service upgrades in 2019 will take a little longer for a decision following the regular meeting Feb. 10.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook pointed out Sullivan Fire and Ambulance District Chief Mike Piper had requested a $422,396 contribution from the city TIF funds in Dec. 2019.
Piper and Assistant Chief Larry Edwards explained that about $250,000 was for a new ambulance with the additional funds used to upgrade four units with loading assist equipment.
Glazebrook pointed out TIF funds were used to help purchase fire equipment in the past.
Although no motion was made Commissioners Abbey Sherwood and Peggy Hargis agreed to get together with the city treasurer to determine what the city could afford to contribute. Read More
Category Archives: News
Cardboard Box Challenge Night Comes to Library
•February 19, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library and Bright Start are hosting “Cardboard Box Challenge Night” on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
When we were children, many of us can relate to the many possibilities that a cardboard box had to offer.
For the “young at heart,” that open imagination of what can be done with a cardboard box lives on.
At Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, a child’s imagination can to take them far during the box challenge February 27. Read More
Twelfth Annual Valentine’s Day Senior Poetry Contest
Photo furnished
Mid Illinois Senior Services Director, Kathy Shackles looks on as Joanna Hutton expresses thanks to her husband for Valentine’s Day
•February 12, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
For The News Progress
On Friday, February 7, Mid-Illinois Senior Services held its twelfth annual Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Poetry Contest with the help of Sullivan Courtyard Estates.
In a sea of red with tables adorned with Valentine’s Day hearts and chocolate candy, the dining area bustled with seniors excited for another chance to share lunch with each other, socialize and read poetry.
Courtyard Estates kitchen crew prepared a delicious lunch of beef tips, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls along with their very popular pies available in strawberry, chocolate and coconut.
After lunch, there was a drawing with door prizes. The prizes included gift cards to IGA and some of Courtyards Estates famous strawberry pies. Read More
Daddy Daughter Dance Benefits The Little Theatre
Photo furnished
These tiny dancers from last year are getting ready for another Daddy Daughter Dance night.
Sweetheart Dance Theme
•February 12, 2020•
The Little Theatre on the Square will hold a Daddy Daughter Dance fundraiser in February.
The Daddy Daughter Dance is Saturday, February 22nd from 6:00-8:00 pm at Sullivan Elementary School.
“It’s such a fun evening for the girls,” said Theatre Board member and dance organizer Amanda Standerfer. “We encourage all dads and father-figures to bring the special girl in their life!”
Last year, over 200 people attended the dance, which was held at the Sullivan Elementary School. Read More
Jury Trial Underway for Alvan Booths in Moultrie County
•February 5, 2020•
A Moultrie County jury trial started February 3, 2020 for Alvan Booths, 33, of Mattoon who was charged with attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated battery February 4, 2019.
Sullivan police responded to a shots fired call to 804 W. Hunter the night Feb. 4 where Otha Phillips had been shot in the neck.
Booths appeared with court appointed attorney Todd Reardon while Tammy Wagnor led prosecution along with State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver. Read More
Call 9-1-1 If You Can, Text if You Can’t
•February 5, 2020•
The Coles Moultrie County Emergency Communications Center now has 9-1-1 text capabilities
The Charleston based CECOM 9-1-1 is now live with Text 911. This is something that the state has mandated.
The Text 911 has been tested and CECOM is up and running and can now receive Text for 911 emergency calls. Read More
Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance Hosts Benefit for Fisheries
•February 5, 2020•
Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance will host their second annual Banquet at the Sullivan VFW on February 22, 2020 with 100% of the proceeds going to improve the fisheries and fish habitat in Lake Shelbyville!
The doors open at 4:00 p.m.. with dinner starting at 5:00. The banquet is being hosted by the Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance, a group that is focused on improving the fisheries at Lake Shelbyville. Tickets will be available online http://tinyurl.com/lsfha2020, Chip’s Marine in Sullivan, IL and the Lake Shelbyville Visitors Center in Shelbyville, IL.
The tickets include your choice of chicken or steak, sides, and adult beverages while they last. Read More
Hefty Cost to Renovate Titus Home Opens Options for City
•January 29, 2020•
By MikeBrothers
Renovating the Winifred Titus Sentel Home is a nostalgic notion that could cost a lot of money the Sullivan City Council learned at the Jan 27 meeting.
Architect Riley Glerum of IGW Architecture in Urbana and Engineer Jim Gleason explained it would take $1,123,425 in hard construction to convert the 6700 square foot brick structure into office space.
Operated as a retirement home for ladies until closing the Titus Sentel Home was purchased by the city for $210,000 in Sept. with funds from the Winifred Titus Sentel Trust.
Glerum and Gleason indicated the existing brick home south of Wyman Park would require gutting and rebuilding the interior which, along with elevator installation for accessibility, could total from $1.3 to $1.4 million.
Following the power point presentation evaluation of the home’s condition citizen Nancy Barker ask what it would cost to tear down the home and rebuild a new structure. Read More
Democratic Forum for 15th Congressional District held in Charleston
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Forum for the 15th Legislative District candidates from left: Erika Weaver, Dr. Craig Morton, John W. Hurley, Jr., and Kevin Gaither.
•January 29, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
The primary elections are just months away and the first Democratic candidate forum for the 15th Congressional District kicked off at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library January 26 at 2:30pm. The public meeting room was filled to capacity.
The Democratic candidates seeking the nomination are Kevin Gaither, John W. Hursey, Jr., Dr. Craig Morton and Erika Weaver.
Kevin Gaither grew up in Sullivan, IL where he was involved in his grandfather’s farm, was a journalist, played the pipe organ for church and was actively engaged in efforts to pass a school referendum.
He served in AmeriCorps in poverty-stricken neighborhoods in Indianapolis and was elected to serve on federally mandated healthcare advisory boards there. Moving back to the 15th District in 2013 Gaither returned to community involvement. In 2018 he ran for the Democratic nomination for the 15th District. His grassroots campaign won 62% of the vote through common sense messaging focused on the entire 15th District. Read More
Moultrie County Farm Bureau Serves More Than Farmers
Tyler Harvey
•January 29, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The Illinois Farm Bureau (officially the Illinois Agriculture Association) was founded in Illinois in 1916 and in Moultrie County in 1918.
It is a private entity that provides education and information to help farmers while supporting legislation and lobbying for agricultural issues.
The IAA supports many affiliates such as Country Financial, GrowMark, FS, Prairie Farms Dairy and the beef, pork, corn and soybean associations along with the county Farm Bureaus.
Today there are 96 county Farm Bureaus in Illinois with 400,000 members. Approximately 25% of the Illinois population works in the agricultural industry. Agriculture is, after all, the largest industry in Illinois.
Since 2014 Tyler Harvey has been the Farm Bureau Manager for both Moultrie and Douglas counties.
“I wear a lot of hats.,” Harvey says of his various duties. “One day I may be in a suit attending a Springfield meeting and the next day in jeans touring a farm. Advocacy on so many levels comprises a lot of our work.” Read More