Category Archives: News Section

City Council Approves Funding Request For Supplies

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•August 12, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council voted for a funding request for backup personal protection equipment (PPE) supplies up to $50,000 during Monday’s meeting. City Administrator Dan Flannell said that there was a meeting last week with the Moultrie County Health Department at the three Petersen Health Care nursing facilities.
The purpose of that meeting was to inquire to offer assistance of the city in regards to the PPE supply. Flannell said that Petersen is able to maintain a 30 day supply of PPE at their facilities at this time but if an outbreak would occur that supply would deplete quickly.
He said that the PPE would be available to not only Peterson health care but also other businesses in Sullivan. Mayor Glazebrook said that he wanted to see a motion made that night. “We don’t want to wait another two weeks,” he said. Read More

The Little Theatre Extends Closure

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Photo furnished
The Little Theatre box office, usually a busy hub of activity, remains empty as the season closure is extended.

•August 12, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Little Theatre On The Square Executive Producer John Stephens announced via Facebook on Monday that the theatre would be extending their shutdown. He said that the theatre board had a meeting last week to decide the next step.
Stephens estimated that the theatre has seen a $500,000 plus loss due to the closure. Stephens said that they have laid off all staff except for two people. He also said that the theatre has an annual impact of $3.5 million on the city of Sullivan. Read More

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Photo by R.R. Best
Angie and Cory Neal and son Andrew with Moonlight Acres were selling sweet corn in Bethany last week.

ALAH School District Votes on “Return to School Plan”

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Remote learning options are available

•August 5, 2020•
by Ariana Cherry

The safety of our kids and staff are important,” commented Superintendent Shannon Cheek at the special board meeting of the ALAH School Board on Thursday, July 30 at the Atwood-Hammond Grade School. The board met to vote on their return to school plan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shannon Cheek presented a slideshow presentation and discussed with the board and public the goals, challenges and health measures that the district would be taking as school resumes. “Want to create a workspace and learning environment that is safe for our students and staff according to the Illinois Department of Public Health,” he stated.
Shannon informed everyone that the district had been collaborating with the Department of Public Health through ZOOM meetings as well as looking at the guidelines of the CDC. He also said he had been meeting with other area superintendents in the district to see what their plans were too. Many of the surrounding districts had plans that involved returning to in-person learning with reduced hours. “That seemed to be the popular trend in our area,” noted Shannon. We had to develop and implement a plan that could be flexible to the changing conditions- as changes could develop along the way,” he said. The district also had to make sure that they were following state guidelines as well, which included having at least five hours of daily instruction. “We had to consider what challenges everyone (staff, students and families) are faced with no matter how they come back to school,” Shannon quoted. Read More

City Personnel Moving This Month

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•August 5, 2020•
by Crystal Reed

At last week’s Sullivan City Council meeting the council approved the moving of personnel from City Hall to 304 S. Hamilton Street.
The motion that was proposed by Abbey Sherwood was for the mayor to enter into a four month lease with the owner of the property Don Frevert at $1,400 a month. According to Dan Flannell, City Administrator there is an option to renew for two month increments for the total of one year. Read More

Animal Lover Gives Lasting Gift to County Shelter

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Pet Exercise Area is Hit

•July 29, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

Kenneth “Flash” Miner was a one man animal rescue operation, so honoring his memory with a gift to Moultrie County Animal Control made sense.
On Thursday, July 20 Miner’s daughter and family gathered at the Animal Shelter along with Moultrie County PAWS volunteers and the sheriff’s department to dedicate the new dog exercise area in memory of Flash who passed away March 31, 2019.
“Dad loved animals and donated to animal charities all along,” daughter Kristyne Miner Ashbrook said of the retired GTE employee.
“He had to,” she continued. “He lived about a mile outside Lovington and every stray cat and dog was dumped on his road. He’d take them in to town, get them fixed and bring them back home.” Read More