Photo by R.R. Best
Good Day for a Ride
The streets of Bethany were cleared of traffic over the weekend allowing cyclist Ren Ruppert to cruise his neighborhood. The three year old Bethany biker was given a little assistance from his co-pilot mother, Hope.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Andy White of Hydro Gear attended sedimentation discussion with Congressman John Shimkus Aug. 27 at the North End Grill. The following day Shimkus announced he is retiring from Congress.
•September 4, 2019•
By Sed E. Ment
for the News Progress
How long will boats be able to navigate the Sullivan Marina?
That was the unanswered question at a meeting concerning sedimentation filling the north end of Lake Shelbyville.
It was attended by U.S. Congressman John Shimkus, the U.S. Corp of Engineers and about 25 concerned local citizens at the North End Grill at Sullivan Marina Aug. 27.
John Fayhee, who operates the marina, explained to the congressman and Corp representatives the marina level reaches four feet during the lake draw down.
“Docks require five feet of water,” he emphasized, noting the marina would not be in business if the lake fills to three feet.
U.S. Corp engineer Eddie Brauer reported the Kaskaskia River sedimentation from farmland runoff aggravates the issue for the north end of Lake Shelbyville with the affects showing up at the marina.
He explained the rate of sedimentation is affected by variables ranging from the amount of rainfall to the degree farmers engage in soil and water conservation measures. “There is no self-sustaining cost effective fix,” Brauer said, discussing various options to slow the rate of sedimentation. Read More
Illustration furnished
Drawing of the Titus home by Francis Elder while Winifred still lived there.
•September 4, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
Although the Sullivan City Council purchased the Winifred Titus Manor at 513 Worth St for $210,000, it won’t cost the city anything.
At a special city council meeting held at Elizabeth Titus Library Thursday, Aug. 29 Mayor Richard Glazebrook moved to purchase Titus Manor from Titus-Sentel estate trustee Busey Bank at private sale for the appraised amount of $210,000. Mike Fowler seconded with Abbey Sherwood, Chuck Woodworth and Peggy Hargis unanimously approving the purchase. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
New Sullivan street sweeper has been put to good use over the summer.
•August 28, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan City Council ended the regular meeting Aug. 26, in closed session to discuss Titus property pricing and potential acquisition of real estate. Action expected during a 6:00 p.m. special meeting Thursday, Aug. 29 at Elizabeth Titus Library.
Ted Walk and Laurrie Minor, representing Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, suggested the city consider providing a 75% tax increment incentive to developers interested in the city’s 17 acres located in a TIF district south of the city.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood reported sections of Tabor Park would be closed for rip rap operations and a moisture issue has developed inside the civic center. She noted the new utility metering systems are progressing and moved that the contract with former clerk Monte Johnson be extended for two months. All members present approved. Read More
•August 28, 2019•
The 2019 Miss Sullivan Pageants will be held Sunday, September 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the Sullivan Elementary School gymnasium.
A Little Miss, Junior Miss, and Miss Sullivan will be crowned and represent the city of Sullivan over the next year and will compete in the Miss Moultrie-Douglas Pageants in July 2020. Read More
•August 28, 2019•
By Ralph Kirk
for The News Progress
Over 3,000 Sullivan alumni from this area and all across the country have been invited to party at Building 1225 in Sullivan on October 5 to celebrate their Sullivan High School heritage.
Many of the class of 1959 will be celebrating their 60th graduation anniversary, and the class of 1969 will be saluted for their 50th.
There will be a catered dinner, music from the 60s (the class of 1969 is the final class from the 60s to graduate), awards presented and lots of reminiscing and visiting time. Janet Roney, a local historian and artist, will be the master of ceremonies. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Breaking ground at the 604 Faith Lane, Sullivan Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity build site Sunday. Shoveling soil were County Habitat Vice president Mike Aikman, new homeowners Kendall and Jennifer Penberthy, Rev. Grant Wade and Habitat Care A Vanner and team leader Bob Gillespie. Local Habitat board members, national Habitat Care A Vanners, family and friends gathered to kick off the new home build.
By Woody Pine
for the News Progress
Let us rise up and build a new Habitat for Humanity home in Moultrie County.
With the arrival of the Habitat for Humanity Care-A-Vanners came the ground breaking for the Jennifer Penberthy family home Sunday afternoon.
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity vice-president Mike Aikman welcomed the group of Care-A-Vanners as well as local Habitat volunteers, family and friends at 604 Faith Lane, the 30th build site.
Bob Gillespie, Care-A-Vanner and Habitat team leader, returned with wife Betty from Michigan where he has been coordinating the Faith Lane build long distance with county Habitat Read More
•August 28, 2019•
Nominating petitions for candidates planning to run in the March 17, 2020 General Primary Election will be available in Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England’s office September 3.
The first day to circulate petitions for established political parties is September 3, 2019. Filing period is November 25 and December 2, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and December 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read More
•August 28, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
At the beginning of his superintendent’s report during the ALAH School Board meeting on Wednesday, August 21, Superintendent Shannon Creek noted that he had visited all the schools in the district during registration, and they were all very busy with a lot of activity going on.
Amanda Romine reported that the online registration was very successful for the district. Arthur Grade School had 141 students who had preregistered online, Atwood: 114; Lovington: 66 and ALAH had 161.
High school principal Steffanie Seegmiller noted that more than 50% of the high school students had registered online before August 7. Staff members said that overall it was a positive experience for parents who registered their students for school and that they would reevaluate for next year to see what would need changed, etc. Read More
Photo courtesy Kevin Landrus
It is not okay to pass buses on left while dropping children off at school.
•August 21, 2019•
Schools are in session and safely getting students to and from class is a challenge.
Getting drivers to pay attention to giant yellow buses stopped for children is one of the biggest challenges for transportation.
“The greatest risk to your child is not riding the bus but approaching or leaving one,” Kevin Landrus, Sullivan school district transportation director, explained.
He emphasized that 97% of all school transportation fatalities happen within a 10 foot perimeter outside the bus.
Police Chief Andy Pistorius noted patrols were picking up with the start of school.
“Schools have cameras on the buses to record violations,” Chief Pistorius said. After the school contacts the department with the video evidence, police issue the citation.
“It’s a pretty hefty fine and immediate three month license suspension,” Pistorius said of the serious nature of the crime.
“People get impatient and want to go around buses on the left while unloading at the school, and that is also a no-no,” the chief continued.
Landrus believes there are two main reasons people pass stopped school buses. Read More