•October 3, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
Members of the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board had a budget hearing and passed the FY2019 budget at their last scheduled meeting.
The total expenditures for the year totaled $13,441,616.00. Superintendent Ken Schwengel noted that the district still has not received state transportation reimbursement and is anticipating a payment of $135,000 from last year. Read More
•October 3, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
Sullivan has been looking into new and innovative ways for the city to track energy use and read meters.
City Clerk, Monte Johnson shared a presentation with members of the Sullivan City Council recently for a new AMI System (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) through Nexgrid. After looking through various options, Johnson introduced Nexgrid reporting on a trip he made to their headquarters to see how the software and its application worked.
Through Nexgrid, customers will have the ability to download widgets/apps to their computers, phones or tablets and actually see their energy use in real time and adjust accordingly to see how they can save on their monthly bills. Johnson noted that implantation will take some time as the city will have to manually put everything in – such as receivers and other devices.
There will be new meters for reading energy use, and the city will be able to see the information from office desktops. After everything has been installed, there won’t be a need for individuals to personally go out and read every single meter. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Bicyclists supporting the 500 mile Gold Star ride stopped at the Sullivan American Legion for lunch then rode on to support the annual scholarship ride honoring Illinois National Guard members who lost their lives serving overseas.
Cyclists Visit Sullivan American Legion
•October 3, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
Always remember! Never Forget!” was the shout out given by 34 Gold Star bicyclists as they left Sullivan Sept. 26 heading for Paris.
Following lunch served by Sullivan American Legion Post 68, the group gathered for the second 57 mile leg of the four day 500 mile endurance ride.
Gold Star ride coordinator Dave Helfrich announced that Sgt. Garrett Smith of Sullivan had given his life while serving in the lllinois National Guard. Smith is among 34 members of the Guard who lost their lives overseas and honored during the four day ride.
The Gold Star Mission ride raised $34,000 for scholarships which were presented to 34 students in the state last year. Read More
•October 3, 2018•
By Rock Bass
for the News Progress
What the heck is The Fish Wrap?
One year ago this week Best Newspapers Inc., publishers of The Moultrie County News Progress, started printing The Fish Wrap which is mailed free of charge to 8500 households.
Why Fish Wrap?
For several months during the 1990s Bethany schools had been in negotiations with the Sullivan School District about possibly consolidating.
Hollis Dick, owner of HO Dick Transfer, had a history of involvement with the Bethany School District. His father had been a standout Mustang athlete and went on to serve as president of the school board in addition to starting a trucking business in 1957.
During that time Sullivan Supt. of Schools Richard Voltz was a weekly columnist in the News Progress and had written several articles promoting the consolidation of Bethany and Sullivan schools. Read More
Photo furnished
Corn harvest with teams of horses is among the farming techniques demonstrated at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.
•October 3, 2018•
A new special event, Harvest to Home, will be held at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center three miles east of Arthur on Friday and Saturday, October 19-20. The event will start at 9 a.m. each day and continue until 8 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday.
The fall harvest was the culmination of the farm year. Corn had to be picked, processed, and stored. It was often stacked into corn shocks in the field or picked by hand and thrown into a nearby wagon.
All of the steps of harvesting and processing corn will be demonstrated at the inaugural Harvest to Home event at the new Illinois Amish Heritage Center. Activities during the two-day event will include corn cutting and shocking, corn harvesting with corn pickers, shelling corn with small and large shellers, harvesting and shredding of corn stalks, and grinding corn into corn meal using an early grist mill. Read More
Photo furnished See You at the Pole Over 80 community members gathered Wednesday morning, September 26 at the flagpole in front of Sullivan Middle School for the annual “See You at the Pole” event. At this national event students gather to pray for all of the schools in the nation. The Sullivan gathering was sponsored by the high school and middle school chapters of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).
Photo by Mike Brothers
Art Club member Anna Mathias on ladder and SHS Art Instructor Melissa Nichols work on Senior Center mural.
•September 26, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
A beautiful new mural is taking shape on the east side of the Senior Center across from the post office. It was designed by the students of Melissa Nichols’ high school Art Club. Eight of the 25 members have volunteered their time this summer to paint the mural in exchange for class credits.
Nichols said “ I created the Art Club this year to undertake special projects for my art classes. The opportunity to create public art was especially appealing to the 25 students in the club.”
The students incorporated several themes which they felt best represented the Sullivan community. Because it is the Senior Center there is a silhouette of a senior couple sitting on a bench on the south side of the building. Around the corner on the east is a depiction of someone fishing in Wyman Lake as a nod to our parks and also fields to represent the agriculture so important to the community. Next is a stage with masks to illustrate the Little Theatre on the Square. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
SHS Who’s Who Award winner Kathi Garvey
•September 26, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Homecoming will be very special for Kathi Garvey this year. Not only will she receive the Alumni Who’s Who Award but it is the 25th anniversary of her class (1993) graduation so a lot of her classmates will be on hand to share the celebration with her.
“My aunt nominated me, but I never imagined I would receive this honor,” Garvey said. “Seems like it should go to an older person.”
The award is given to the high school graduate who has remained in the community and made a significant contribution to Sullivan.
Garvey is presently the executive director of the Mid-Illinois Senior Services, a position she has had for the past three years. After graduation, she briefly attended Lake Land College but had to leave to care for her mother. Fourteen years ago, she began working at the Thrifty Boutique, which is owned by Senior Services, and worked her way up the ladder to executive director. Read More
•September 26, 2018•
Scot England, an accomplished book author, TV Anchor, radio and TV reporter and a friend to many country music stars, will be returning to Sullivan this October 6 to act as Master of Ceremonies at the Sullivan Alumni Banquet/Reunion.
The occasion is the annual gathering of alumni of Sullivan High School and Scot will be at the podium to bring his experiences, wit and personality to the event.
England graduated from Sullivan High School in 1983 and went on to do in person interviews with more than 300 celebrities ranging from the entire cast of the Brady Bunch to Weird Al Yankovic and was one of the first ever to interview Garth Brooks.
He was also one of the last to interview movie legend Tony Curtis. Read More
Photo furnished
SHS Homecoming Candidates
Sullivan Homecoming Senior King and Queen Candidates front row from left: Ally Elzy, Alaya Bolin, Josie Orris, and Irie Dulin. Back row: Gabe McGregor, Brodie Goss, Caden Ellis, and Tim Lawyer. Homecoming Spirit week activites begin with American Monday on Oct. 1-dress patriotically; Tuesday is Generations: Day dress as class generation-freshmen: Babies ; sophomores: Tweens; juniors: Middle aged family and seniors: Elderly. Wednesday, Oct 3 is Tacky Tourist day, dressing as stereotypical tourists; Thursday is Redskin Rowdy Wear featuring red and black,; morning is day of service throughout Sullivan, afternoon pep assembly. Friday, October 5 is no school with float building wrap up from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Parade line up is 3:00 p.m. and it begins at 4:00 p.m. Football game is at 7:00 p.m. Saturday marks the completion of Homecoming week activities with the 7:00 p.m. Homecoming Coronation and dance from 7:00 - 10:00. p.m.