•May 2, 2018•
Chad Matheson, 43, of Sullivan was sentenced April 17 to 10 years in the Dept. of Corrections for burglary.
Matheson, who is an inmate at Sheridan Correctional, appeared with attorney Walter B. Lookofsky at Macon County along with Moultrie County State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey and Judge Hugh Finson.
Matheson withdrew his guilty plea from the original forgery charge and was sentenced for burglary, a Class 2 felony. Read More
Photo furnished
OVHS Driver Education Students Attend Safety Program
Okaw Valley driver education students traveled to McLeod Trucking in Decatur to learn about traffic safety. “Teens, Trucks, & Traffic”, a division of the Illinois Trucking Foundation, is a program that further educates teen drivers on traffic safety. The program not only reinforces what teens already learn in driver’s education class but also educates teens about the NO-Zone areas around a commercial motor vehicle and brings about a hands-on experience regarding traffic safety.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Circuit Clerk Takes Oath
Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Beth Pruitt was officially sworn in by Moultrie County Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Hugh Finson at 8:30 Tuesday, May 1. Circuit Clerk Pruitt will run for the unexpired term vacated by Democrat Cindy Braden, who accepted a position in the Adminstrative Office of the Illinois Court in Springfield. Attending were: Left to right Pam Jesse, Court Bailiff; John Pruitt; Marci Thompson - Treasurer; Beth Pruitt - Circuit Clerk; Georgia England - County Clerk; Jeff Waite - Administrative Assistant; Dan Flannell - City Administrator and former Chief Judge; Hon. Hugh Finson - Circuit Judge; and Leroy Seelhoffer - Court Bailiff.
Photo furnished
Okaw Valley Students Plant Trees
OVHS students helped OVES students plant hazelnut trees on Corps of Engineers property.
•April 25, 2018•
Jalon Warren, 18, of Sullivan was released from Moultrie County jail after his bond from $100,000 to $40,000 in circuit court Thursday, April 19.
Honorable Judge Hugh Finson reduced the bond which allowed the family to post $4000 for his release that afternoon.
Charged with making a terrorist threat at Sullivan High School on March 23, Warren appeared with attorney Phillip Tibbs, who asked the court to release the defendant on recognizant bond, called two witnesses and submitting letters from teachers on Warren’s behalf. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
SHS Mock Crash
Sullivan High School students got a jolt of reality just before the junior senior prom. On Friday, April 20 the high school partnered with McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Buxton Garden Farms, Coroner Lynn Reed, Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept., Sullivan Fire and Ambulance and the Sullivan Police Department to demonstrate the results of a DUI accident. Complete with crashed vehicles, fire and rescue removed bodies, attended the injured with coroner Lynn Reed declaring victims dead at the scene. Above Sullivan police officer Josh Qualls administers a sobriety test to student victim Tim Lawyer.
•April 25, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
The membership rates at the Sullivan Civic Center was one of the topics of discussion during the most recent Sullivan City Council meeting.
While the rates were slightly adjusted four to five years ago, they had not been significantly changed.
A rule for residents and non-residents was put into action back in 1998 which assigned those with the zip-code 61951 as residents and those without as “non-residents.” This rule determined membership fees. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Earth Day Collectors
On Friday, April 20 about 240 Sullivan Middle School students got a chance for a hands on Earth Day experience. Principal Nathan Ogle explained the students cleared Wyman Park, Tabor Park and school grounds of litter, debris and sticks to help the city when mowing season begins. Helped by a hearty staff of Middle School teachers the group worked from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and collected 238.14 pounds of garbage. Pictured above are some of the students involved in the Earth Day collection effort. Earth Day began in 1970 as an environmental awareness day where schools all over the nation participated in litter collection and environmental activities. In the 1980s Earth Day became international and is the largest non-secular holiday observed in the world.
Photo submitted
OV Students Participate in Fish Study
OVHS students participated in a fish study conducted on Lake Shelbyville. Illinois Department of Natural Resource Fisheries Biologist Mike Mounce led the study. The students netted fish and conducted various tests while recording the data. The goal of the study was to look at the population of the different fish species with a primary focus on muskie. Pictured are Cody Drake, Dalton McGill, and Garrett Tippit with big bass.
Photo furnished
Windsor Prom Court
Windsor High School Prom will be held May 5 at Mason Point in Sullivan. The theme for the evening will be “Under the Sea.” Coronation will be at 7:30 p.m., and the dance will be from 8-11p.m. Prom Court pictured back row: Dalton Armes, Gage Sattler, and Gavin Bennett. Front row: Kasey Bean, Mackenzee Hooten, and Morgan Lesko.