•July 17, 2019•
Starting salaries for Moultrie County employees became a stumbling point for county board members attempting to set a salary for an assistant animal control warden.
County board chairman Dave McCabe opened the topic when he moved to approve a $25,000 starting salary for the position. The motion died for lack of a second.
Personnel committee chairman Billy Voyles noted the starting salary for county courthouse employees is set by policy at $19,000 to $21,000. Read More
Category Archives: News Section
Summer Fun at Wyman Park
•July 17, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The first week in June, like lemmings to the sea, Sullivan’s children ages 5-12 migrate from their classrooms into sunny Wyman Park to participate in an eight-week recreation program that has endured for over 60 years.
Recreation Director, Jake Haegen, recounts, “My father was in the program when he was young, and I have been involved for over 20 years. My wife and Co-Director, Melissa, joined the staff nine years ago. Both she and her father grew up in the recreation program so it has been in existence for some time.”
A cooperative effort between the Park District and the Civic Center, the program serves, on an average, 100 children a day with a top of 155. The program is entirely free except for a $1 fee for swimming on Fridays. Through a state-sponsored program the children are provided a free lunch each day at the high school.
“We are so fortunate to be able to take advantage of this meal service. Many of the children would not have food during the summer without this program which also provides breakfast for those not having a breakfast at home,” Jake points out.
The recreation activities run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from June through July. A typical week’s activities might include the following with lunch at noon: Read More
Art Sparked
Photo by Sonya Best
Art Sparked
Shelbyville artist, Jamie M. Rutherford, demonstrates her marbling technique on silk scarves at Art in Tabor Park, sponsored by Sullivan Spark.
Sullivan Tourism Exhibit Draws Attention in Big Apple
Photo furnished
SCED Executive Director Laurrie Minor and Little Theatre Executive Director John Stephens discovered magazine travel editors in New York City were interested in Sullivan.
•July 17, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
Sometimes being a little duck in a big pond pays off.
That’s what Little Theatre on the Square and Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development executive directors John Stephens and Laurrie Minor discovered at the Meredith Corporation tourism promotion in New York City last week.
Sullivan’s advertisement in Meredith Corp owned Illinois Country Living tourism magazine earned the SCED an invitation to the two day event. Sullivan was the smallest among eight representative tourism locations in Illinois represented in NYC.
“We were the smallest city represented,” Stephens began, noting Sullivan was competing for tourism attention among the magazines owned by Meredith among much larger tourism operations.
Minor explained exhibits from the Illinois Dept. of Tourism, Chicago Metro area, Rockford, and Starved Rock represented much larger populated areas, but Sullivan stood out drawing more attention than the bigger players. Read More
Sullivan Schools Reduce Bus Route, Prepare for Increased Fuel Costs
Tentative Budget Approved
•July 17, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
Director of Transportation and Maintenance Kevin Landrus presented the annual Transportation Report at the opening of the Sullivan School Board on July 8, 2019.
“Costs are down overall. We have consolidated a route, which eliminated a bus and driver,” he stated.
Laudrus informed the board that regular driven miles went down from 86,000 to 72,000 miles. “We need to start looking at the odometer readings on some of the buses. A few of them are getting a lot of miles,” Landrus said of bus replacement rotation.
He also recommended buying a handicap accessible unit with a wheel chair or leasing a second one. Noting fuel expense was rising he pointed out the cost on average was $2.61 a gallon. Read More
Options Open for Sullivan Council on Titus Estate
•July 17, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
Correction: Sullivan City Council July 22 meeting time.
Discussion on the Titus Estate will be open during the 7:00 p.m. Sullivan City Council meeting Monday, July 22, which will be held at Building 1225 on Route 32 south in Sullivan.
The "Options Open for Sullivan" article in the July 17 edition of the Moultrie County News Progress incorrectly stated public input would begin at 6:00 p.m.
A public meeting on the future of the Winnifred Titus estate is included in the Monday, July 22 Sullivan City Council session to be held in Building 1225 on Rte 32 south.
The 6 p.m. meeting will allow public input on the future of the estate before the city council decides which direction to go.
The Titus Trust is administered by Busey Bank (formerly First National) of Decatur and includes the Titus Manor at the south end of Wyman Park and 923 acres of farmland north of the city limits.
A motion to hire legal counsel requesting the circuit court to direct the trustee to sign Titus Manor and the farmland directly to the city was tabled until the August 12 meeting. Read More
Community Garden Grows
Photo furnished
Community Garden Grows
The Sullivan Schools Community Garden is up and growing with some tomatoes and peppers ready to be picked. They invite community members to stop by and help themselves to what produce is ready and if inspired even pull a few weeds.
Pictured is community volunteer Mitchell Wesselman who rides by on his bike looking for ways to help in the garden. He hopes to start a garden club to get more volunteers.
The Winners
Photo furnished
The Winners!
Winning the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Fourth of July raffle for 2019 were Aaron and Skye Richardson. The winning Ticket # 2948 and the winners take $4009.50.
Harrison Street Rebuild
Photo by Mike Brothers
Harrison Street Rebuild
The building at the corner of Harrison and Van Buren streets in Sullivan had bricks falling from the outside wall resulting in the city blocking Van Buren as a safety precaution.
Zak Horn of Metro Communications responded to an appeal from Laurie Minor at Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development and bought the building from Pam Swinford. Horn explained that, thanks to contractor Jim Standerfer, wall demolition is underway and repairs will begin in July once the entire west wall is removed. A new roof and partial new HVAC will be installed for the building.
It is anticipated that the Moultrie County Counseling Center will occupy the east end, Sullivan Physical Therapy will remain in the center space and Kiki’s Boutique will return to the south end of the west side of the building once completed. The north space on the west side of the building will be available for rent by fall.
Bethany Group Reopens Cafe to Continue Community Connection
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Open again is Bethany Cafe, John Vander Burgh is one of ten new owners.
•July 10, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
All over America in small towns such as Bethany there is usually a diner or café where townsfolk, especially seniors, gather to exchange news of the day, gossip, have a meal or engage in what my Southern Grandma called “jist visitin”.
This “jist visitin” in the local diner has bound small communities together for centuries.
When the Bethany Café closed last November followed by the closing of the only grocery store in town, John Vander Burgh and others saw a vital part of their community slipping away. He reasoned that it could be saved if a group of like-minded individuals would all contribute a small amount to the purchase of the café.
He approached 10 people who have, anonymously, invested in the acquisition of the Café. Read More