•April 6, 2022•
Area residents interested in learning more about Moultrie County’s wind energy conversion system regulations are invited to attend an informational symposium sponsored by the Wind Energy Conversion System Committee/Moultrie County Board. Read More
Category Archives: News Section
27 Million Dollars to Replace 100-year-old Sullivan High School
•April 6, 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer
The third and final session of the Sullivan School Facility Forums was held March 28 in the middle school gym with about 40 people in attendance. This meeting focused on a referendum and 1% facility tax.
School Superintendent Ted Walk opened the session by telling the group, “Replacing the high school is the biggest project we will do in our lifetime.” He continued by stating that a new high school would cost about $27 million dollars. He said, “It costs ten million just to maintain every year, and that will only increase as the building continues to age and requires more repairs so, either way, there is a cost to a building that is over 100 years old. Read More
Progress on New MCHGS Building
Photo by Crystal Reed
Progress on New MCHGS Building
Progress is being made on the new home of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society. On Saturday, March 19, members of the group painted walls inside their new location. Pictured is Mimi Atchison painting one of the walls.
Sullivan City Council Approves Issuing Bonds for Water Plant Project
•March 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council held a special meeting Tuesday, March 22. During which they approved issuing bonds for the water plant project. Commissioner Doug Booker was absent.
A motion was made to accept ordinance 22-5 combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds Series A and B. Treasurer Sarah Golden explained that Series A is for $8.5 million and Series B $2 million. The city is issuing the bond, and rural development will be the purchaser.
The bonds have a 40-year term, and if they close by the end of the month, the rate locks in at 1.25%. There is an additional request for another million dollars which will require the issuance of Series C bond. They are hoping that can be locked in at 1.25% as well. Read More
Grove Family Donates Memorial Bench to Marrowbone Public Library District
Photo furnished by Marrowbone Public Library
From left to right: Joann Grove, Michelle Fitzgerald and Donna Sue Martin at Marrowbone Library.
•March 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A memorial bench now sits in front of the Marrowbone Public Library in memory of a former head librarian. The bench is in memory of Jim and Joann Grove and was donated by the Grove family.
Joanne was the head librarian at the library from 1970-1988. She finished out her library career with the Rolling Prairie Library System.
Joanne was also notable because she was elected the first woman mayor of Bethany in 1997. She got to work, writing a grant that replaced the aging sewer system, formed a planning committee and convinced the village board to establish a TIF district. She had to give up her position as mayor in 2000 due to a stroke. Read More
County Board Chairman Resigns During Special Meeting
•March 30, 2022•
The Moultrie County Board held a special meeting Friday, March 18. Eight of the nine board members were present. The meeting was called to discuss/take action on two positions open. One is a department head or director of Planning and Zoning and the other is an EMA position.
At the end of the meeting Larry Baker, Chairman, read his letter of resignation to the board. The letter read: Read More
City Council Passes Architectural Agreement for City Building
•March 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, March 28, and Mayor Richard Glazebrook began the meeting by recognizing Julie Shasteen who worked for the city for many years, saying she worked hard and enjoyed her job. She recently passed away.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood made a motion to approve the architectural agreement with Utz and Associates regarding the city building. According to Treasurer Sarah Golden, the design fees will be 10% of the total project. The initial cost of construction is estimated to be $1,800,000. The final fee will be calculated on completion of construction. Read More
Bake Sale for Ukraine
Photo by Crystal Reed
Bake Sale for Ukraine
On Friday, March 18 the Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary Unit 68 and The Baking Brigade of Sullivan held a bake sale at the Legion to raise money to donate for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Pictured are Ann Shaw, Johna Sims, Dawn Morris, Executive Director of the American Red Cross serving South Central Illinois; Becky Lawson and Lisa Tate.
ALAH School District Awarded Grant
•March 23, 2022•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
During the ALAH School District’s board meeting at Lovington Grade School held Wednesday, March 16,
board members browsed through the consent agenda, approving the bills and treasurer’s report. The total of all funds was $4,443,749.26, and the checkbook balance was reported at $4,076,145.74. Also approved was submitting the proposition of issuing school building bonds in the amount of $30,600,000 to the voters of the district at the June 28, 2022 general primary election. This is money that will go toward the improvement of the school buildings in the district. The recommendation for phase one was passed at a recent special school board meeting. Superintendent Shannon Cheek commented that he was hopeful and excited to move forward. Read More
SHS Student International Finalist in Holocaust Art and Writing Contest
Photo furnished
Natalee Hunter, Lee Hunter and Becky Lawson at Chapman University after the awards ceremony for the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest sponsored by Chapman University and The 1939 Society. These ladies traveled to Los Angeles for an awards ceremony recently. Natalee was an international finalist in the contest for her short film Brushstrokes of Resilience.
•March 23, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Sullivan High School junior Natalee Hunter, her mother Lee Hunter and retired teacher Becky Lawson recently traveled to Los Angeles for an awards ceremony at which Natalee accepted an award for being an international finalist in the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest sponsored by Chapman University and The 1939 Society. She was recognized for a three-minute video called Brushstrokes of Resilience, about a Holocaust survivor.
That survivor is Sally Roisman, who, at the age of 12, was taken to the ghetto, then a labor camp and then Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Some of the footage in the video is from the USC Shoah Foundation. With the support of her family and the help of Lawson and some of her classmates, she was able to make the video that she submitted for the contest. Read More