Photo by Mike Brothers
V.F.W. Recreation Donation
Sullivan V.F.W. Post 6410 donated $1000 to the city of Sullivan Park and Recreation Dept. Summer Recreation program. The V.F.W. continues its community support with this five annual donation to the kids summer recreation program. The $1000 check presentation was made at the Sullivan V.F.W. post: (from left)Commander Russell Craig, Park and Recreation program directors Melissa and Jake Haegen and Post Chaplain Bill Hagen.
•March 18, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan City Council’s special session at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 dealt with the emergency created by the COVID-19 virus.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook emphasized the purpose of the meeting is to implement procedures allowing the city to be eligible for federal and state emergency service funding due to conditions created by coronavirus related closings.
The announced school closings by Governor J.B. Pritzker Friday prompted the city to close the civic center and library on Friday.
City administrator Dan Flannell emphasized the city and school district are working together to be sure parents and students understand that the closings are meant to keep students from congregating. Read More
•March 18, 2020•
By David McCabe,
Moultrie County Board Chairman
As chairman of the Moultrie County Board, I am statutorily responsible for the management of disasters that occur in Moultrie County, working with the ESDA Coordinator, first responders and other officials.
Together we determine the best course of action to take. We have a meeting scheduled this week with officials from each municipality in the county to learn how best to help them.
The coronavirus has the potential of being the largest disaster in Moultrie County while I have been board chairman. However, now is not the time to panic, it is the time to be smart. If you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus or any other health issues, STAY HOME, call your healthcare professional to seek arrangements for treatment and possible testing. If you feel healthy but are one of the vulnerable groups of individuals to coronavirus, STAY HOME. If you have concerns about contacting someone with Coronavirus, STAY HOME. If you are experiencing severe health issues, call 9-1-1. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Wash Your Hands
One of the best things to help prevent the spread of the COVID 19 virus is to wash your hands, Moultrie County Health Dept. Director Angie Hogan advised county board members last week. School closings, bars, restaurants and any gatherings over 50 people have been canceled in an effort to slow the spreading.
Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Piatt and Moultrie County Courts will reduce operations in order to minimize personal contact and deter the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The following procedures and rules are consistent with Supreme Court recommendations and shall remain in effect through March 31 unless extended by further order of the court.
The following Piatt and Moultrie County cases and court proceedings are postponed through March 31 unless extended further by the court:
• Civil cases (L, LM)
• Traffic, conservation, and ordinance violation cases (TR, DT, CV, OV)
• Criminal misdemeanor cases (CM) – except for those defendants in custody
• Probate (P) – except guardianship cases will proceed unless ordered otherwise
• Small Claims and mortgage foreclosures (SC, CH)
• Family Court (F, D)
• Juvenile cases (with the exceptions set forth below)
The attorney of record or unrepresented party in each case will receive a notice in the mail rescheduling their case. It is the responsibility of the litigant to ensure your current address is on file with the clerk. Upon rescheduling, the public access website (www.judici.com) will be updated with the new court dates. Currently-scheduled status dates may be converted to phone conference upon request.
Emergency matters may be scheduled on a case-by-case basis. Individuals shall contact the clerk of the circuit clerk for each county for purposes of scheduling emergency matters.
The following cases and court proceedings will be held as scheduled, with appearances expected for all litigants:
• Criminal felony cases (CF)
• Juvenile hearings (JA, JD) – temporary detention hearings, shelter care hearings, trials, adjudicatory hearings
• Domestic violence proceedings for order of protection, stalking/no-contact orders, or civil no-contact orders (OP)
• Emergency hearings on family matters (D, F) as scheduled by the court
• Other cases on case-by-case basis in discretion of the court with consent of the parties Marriage Ceremonies – the court will continue to perform marriage ceremonies, but minor children will not be allowed to attend and will be prohibited from entering the courtroom.
Individuals should not enter the courthouse if they:
• Have been in any of the following countries within the last 21 days: China, South Korea, Italy, Japan, or Iran; or
• Reside with or had close contact with anyone who has been in one of the above countries within the last 21 days; or
• Have been directed by a medical provider to quarantine, isolate or self-monitor at home for the coronavirus;
• Have been diagnosed with, or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with, COVID-19; or
• Have flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
If you are an attorney or litigant and you are unable to appear in court as required because of the above restrictions, please contact the respective courthouse. The court should make reasonable accommodations and reschedule appearances and hearings as needed. Continuances will be liberally granted.
Cleaning staff will continue to disinfect touch surfaces and hand sanitizer is provided throughout the building, including the courtroom. The court strongly encourages litigants not to bring family or friends to court appearances in any case. It is our aim to preserve access to justice while proceeding in a manner consistent with public health and safety in line with policy directives from federal, state, and local public health advisories. Thank you for your patience. Stay safe.
Submitted by Hon. Jeremy Richey, Presiding Judge, Moultrie County and Hon. Hugh Finson, Presiding Judge Piatt County.
Dear Sullivan School Family,
Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we navigate through unchartered territory. I wanted to provide some reminders of important items and an update on Food Service during the closure.
Packets for continuity of learning will be emailed to all parents and also be available for pickup from 10am-6pm on Tuesday for those who would prefer a paper copy. Packets for SES students (and 314th grade iPads) can be picked up in SES Cafeteria, and packets for SMS/SHS students can be picked up in the Commons. SES families should enter through the WEST cafeteria door (off Graham St), and SMS/SHS families should enter through the Commons. SMS/SHS students and parents will also have access to their lockers at this time. For students wanting independent reading materials, there will be an assortment of free books available with packet pickup. There will also be Please note that packet pickup is optional since this information will be emailed as well.
Any student who will need their medication during the time of closure may pick it up in the SES Cafeteria from 10am-6pm on Tuesday. Please note that all student medications were consolidated to the same location for medication pickup to coordinate with our school nurse. After Tuesday, no students or parents will have access to the building for the duration of the closure.
Because the Governor has declared these days as Act of God Days, students will not be expected to complete curricular work for a grade. In the event that the closure is extended, we anticipate the ability to have students complete assignments for credit, and school work that is sent home will be curriculum specific. Regarding Food Service, all students ages 18 and under will have access to free breakfast and lunch. To help gauge the number of meals to be prepared, please send an email to meals@sullivan.k12.il.us with the following information: Number of children 18 and under, date(s) you would like meals, and preferred pickup location. We encourage ALL children in our community to take advantage of this program during the closure. Meals can be picked up on the west side of SES as a "Walk-Up" or "Drive-Through" service, with both meals provided at once between the hours of gam-11am. We will also have free meals available for pick-up at the following locations and times:
9:00-9:20 - Westport Apartments AND Regular Bus Stop Location at Roley Estates 9:25-9:45 - Sullivan Laundromat AND Kennedy St of Eastview Subdivision 9:50-10 10 - Sullivan IGA AND Sullivan South Trailer Park 10:15-10:35 - Sullivan Library AND Sunset/Louis Intersection 10:40-11:00 - Main Street Apartments
Staff members will be in a White Sullivan Bus to deliver meals. On a final note, on Fridays during the closure, our buses will deliver meals and check on rural families, running their regular routes with approximately a two-hour delay. So if your child is normally picked up at 7:15am, expect the bus around 9:15am. Each child 18 and under can receive up to five days of breakfast and lunch meals at this time. Those wanting meals on Friday should also send an email to meals@sullivan.k12.il.us and should have someone at the regular bus stop location as the bus approaches.
To prevent the spread of infectious diseases during this time of closure, staff will be limited to essential functions. We ask that questions are directed to the building principals at ethellh@sullivan.k12.il.us, oglen@sullivan.k12.il.us, and allend@sullivan.k12.il.us.
We will attempt to keep you as updated as possible during the mandated school closure. Thanks for your continued support of Sullivan Schools!
With the new development of confirmed COVID-19 cases in our region, Sullivan Schools will not have student attendance on Monday, March 16th. We understand the additional hardship this causes for our students, families, and community, and this was a difficult decision.
Teachers and staff will have an Institute Day. Packets for continuity of learning will be emailed to all students and parents and also be available for pickup from 10am-6pm on Tuesday for those who would prefer a paper copy. Packets for SES students (and 3rd/4th grade iPads) can be picked up in the SES cafeteria, and packets for SMS/SHS students can be picked up in the Commons. SMS/SHS students and parents will have access to lockers at this time as well.
SES students can pick up medication from 10am-6pm on Tuesday in the SES office, and SMS/SHS students can pick up medication during this time in the SMS office. After this time, no students or parents will have access to the building for the duration of the closure. No meal will be served on Monday, March 15th, but we are working on system for meal delivery to pick-up points around town for the other days of the closure to facilitate the process for students who may not be able to come to the school for meals. Specific meal details will be provided as they are finalized.
This is a very dynamic issue, and we apologize for the changes and alterations to previous plans. Please know that our students and community are our priority as we make these difficult decisions.
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Jamie McFarland brought granddaughter Loretta Bickell to Toddler Tuesday to get used to the water.
•March 11, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The new Toddler Tuesday program at the Sullivan Civic Center is attracting moms and grandmothers with toddlers to the kiddie pool in growing numbers.
On March 2 Suzy Crawford brought her grandson, Jack Grooms, to the pool and was chasing a red rubber ball in the water.
“He is just loving it,” Crawford said. “This is such a great program for moms and grandmothers especially in winter. He will be ready for a nap after this workout!”
Another grandmother, Janice McFarland, was in the pool with granddaughter, Loretta Bichel. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
One Book, One Sullivan middle school students Ivan Moxley and Callie Standerfer look over pivotal passages in 2020 OBO read “Wild Bird” by Wendelin Van Draanen.
•March 11, 2020•
One Book, One Sullivan community discussion of Wild Bird is 6:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
Wild Bird takes readers on 14 year old Wren Clemmens’ journey at wilderness therapy camp in Utah.
A troubled Wren had gone off the rails when the family moved and her attempts to find friends at a new school landed her into a life of drugs and anger at the world.
Middle School OBO committee members Callie Standerfer and Ivan Moxley promoted different community reads this year, but both appreciate the issues faced by trying to gain acceptance.
“In Wild Bird, Wren learned that people could change,” Standefer said of the hope contained in a story that began with her getting involved with the wrong people which led to drugs and an uncontrollable spin.
OBO coordinator Rikki Ray, noted as a parent, she was concerned that Wren’s involvement in drugs had kept her from getting back.
At 3:47 a.m. one morning Wren was whisked away to wilderness therapy camp in Utah by strangers, her parents last resort to hopefully bringing their middle child back.
Moxley was an advocate for the Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, where a girl with no arms meets challenges of coping.
“I liked the mystery in Insignificant Events in the Life of the Cactus,” Moxley began, but pointed out he started appreciation Wild Bird when Wren was trying to set up her makeshift tent the first night in wilderness camp.
“That is when things started getting real,” he continued. Read More
•March 11, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
Six very talented classy, sassy and a little “smart-assy” women light up the Little Theatre stage as they prance, strut, laugh, dance, flirt and sing their hearts out through a stunning and electrifying program of 54 songs celebrating women.
And that’s just for starters.
The first thing you will notice before the ladies even begin to sing is their various gorgeous glittering costumes in red, black, lavender and gold among other colors.
Each sparkly costume looks as if it were dipped in glitter, sprinkled in rhinestones and showered in baubles, bangles and beads. Every glitter store between here and New York must have been depleted. This is visually the most stunning show I have ever seen at Little Theatre. Read More