Category Archives: News Section

Shawnee Communications Donates to Sparrows

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Shawnee Communications donates to Sparrows Unlimited: (from left ) Shawneee Communications Customer Service Jamie Franklin, Pam Anklam and Cheryl Murphy representing Sparrows Unlimited, and President of Shawnee Communications Mike Grisham.

•January 17, 2018•

Spreading holiday cheer Shawnee Communications gave a big boost to Lovington’s Sparrows Unlimited charity by matching Shawnee employee donations.

Mike Grisham, President of Shawnee Communications and Jamie Franklin, Customer Service Supervisor for Shawnee Communications, presented Sparrows Unlimited with a much needed donation. The $3,864 donation consisted of a $644 employee contribution that was matched by the company and individually by Shawnee’s four shareholders. On hand to receive the donation was Pam Anklam and Cheryl Murphy. Read More

Sister Visits Moultrie County for Gov. Candidate Kennedy

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Moultrie County Democrats hosted Kathleen Townsend Kennedy, sister of Illinois Democrat Primary gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy, in Sullivan Sunday, Jan 14. Among the 45 attending in spite of inclement weather were County Treasurer Marci Thompson, Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden, County board member Gary Smith, Kathleen Townsend Kennedy and County Clerk Georgia England.

•January 17, 2018•

Democrat primary gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy’s sister Kathleen visited Moultrie County Sunday, January 14 for a meeting with local Democrats.

Kennedy, the eighth child of Robert F. Kennedy, is running in the primary for governor of Illinois, and his older sister Kathleen spoke to Moultrie County Democrats during the 2 p.m. meet and greet.

Appearing along with two of Kennedy’s daughters, the former Lt. Governor of Maryland, explained that her younger brother has always been the rock of the family. Read More

Winter Blow

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Photo by R.R. Best
Winter Blow
While the wind was still blowing and others were busy shoveling out of the latest winter gift in Moultrie County, Jerry Risley fired up his leaf blower to clear away snow from the walkways at his Sullivan home while also taking care of a few of those pesky leaves left over from a season gone by.

City Works With McDonald’s on Renovation Plans

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•January 17, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The city of Sullivan is working with Sullivan McDonald’s Restaurant owners to take advantage of a TIF I qualified renovation.

For the past five or six years, McDonald’s has weighed the possibilities of either rebuilding or renovating the existing restaurant.

Mayor Short announced at the last city council meeting that the current restaurant will be renovated. The estimated $724,000 renovation project is inside the city’s TIF I district, but TIF I expires in 2022.  Read More

Lovington Board Sticks with Muzzle and Leash Decision

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•January 10, 2018•

Lovington village board met in December sticking by a dangerous dog decision and reporting on past due water bill appeal procedures.

Chastity Foster requested a hearing on the village decision requiring her dog to be muzzled and on a leash when outdoors. Lori Miller stated her concern about the dog being loose. After discussion among village board members, Doug Smith, Pam Anklam, Dennis Garmon and April Daily decided to stay with an earlier decision to require Foster’s dog to be muzzed and leashed when outdoors. Read More

Sullivan Fifth Grade Moves to Middle School

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•January 10, 2018•

A plan to ease elementary school overcrowding while increasing course options was proposed by Sullivan Unit 300 Supt. Ted Walk to the school board Monday.

Moving the fifth grade from the elementary school to the middle school building in the 2018-2019 school year should provide a permanent solution to a problem that has existed for several years.

“Every classroom in the elementary school is being used,” Supt. Walk said. “There are times when occupational therapists and aides are working with students in storage closets.”

Built in 1996 Sullivan Elementary School exceeds its capacity with 548 students and 29 teachers. Read More

Catlin Couple Injured in Allenville Crash

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Catlin Couple Injured in Allenville Crash
A Catlin couple was hospitalized following a head on collision near Allenville Saturday evening.
James Dolan, 80, and his wife Nancy were traveling west on Hwy. 121 when the traffic accident occurred, Moultrie County Chief Deputy Gary Carroll said referring to the accident report.
The Dolan car was hit head on by a vehicle driven by Matthew Ashby, 16, of Mattoon. Ashby was eastbound and passed another eastbound vehicle not seeing the oncoming Dolan vehicle. The collision was at Hwy. 121 at the 1050N intersection.
Sullivan ambulance service transported the Dolans to a Champaign hospital with charges pending further investigation.
Moultrie County Sheriff’s deputies were called to an accident scene at the intersection of Rte. 32 and Hwy. 121 at 5:35 p.m. Saturday.
A vehicle driven by Jeremy Browder, 19, of Alabama was traveling south on Rte. 32 when he told the Moultrie County Sheriff investigator he fell asleep at the wheel.
The Browder vehicle traveled through the Rte. 32/Hwy.121 intersection over the railroad tracks and came to rest in an open field. Browder was not injured in the crash.

Sullivan Schools Early Debt Retirement Plan Approved

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•January 10, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

A bond issue refinancing $492,300 of Sullivan Unit 300 debt should save district taxpayers $137,000 Supt. Ted Walk told school board members at the January 8 meeting.

Tim King of Kings Financial Consulting of Monticello explained the issue of $492,300 Taxable General Obligation Refunding School Bonds would pay down the district debt one year early for the $137,000 savings.

King noted since the district is purchasing the bonds from the education fund they will also earn interest on the payback.  Read More

LED Outdoor Lighting Proposed for County Jail

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•January 10, 2018•

LED lighting will illuminate the outdoors at the Moultrie County Correctional facility provided building and grounds committee recommendations are approved by the Moultrie County Board.

County maintenance superintendent Rick Matthews explained the nine pole lights can be replaced with light emitting diode (LED) fixtures for $5,641.20. Read More

First Responders Keep Responding, Saturday

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•January 10, 2018•

Sullivan first responders were kept busy with a couple of accidents and a structural fire to end the evening Saturday, Jan 6.

Emergency services personnel first responded to a single vehicle accident at the intersection of Rte. 32 and Hwy 121 at 5:35 p.m. While still assisting at the Rte. 32/121 accident scene Sullivan Ambulance was called to a head-on collision at 6:07 p.m. in Allenville where an extrication and transporting of a couple to the hospital were involved. Read More