Category Archives: News Section

New Sign in Lovington

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
New Sign in Lovington
The Lovington Fire Protection District unveiled a new programmable electronic sign in July. Not only capable of displaying time and temperature the sign in front of the Lovington Fire District on Route 32 can add personal messages which are offered for anyone in the village for five dollars a message. The sign is in memory of past firefighters and was purchased from the Fire District Memorial Fund saved over the past several years. There are 19 volunteers in the Lovington Fire Protection District. Pictured above along with the new sign are front from left: Ethan Gingerich, Jeff Trower, Bill Harlin, Josiah Kinert; back row: Rick Franklin, Gary Smith, Don Humphrey and Kevin Franklin.

Retired Teachers Award Grants

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Retired Teachers Award Grants
Moultrie County Retired Teachers Association awarded grants to three of nine ALAH applicants during the association’s luncheon. The three teachers receiving grants for ALAH were (l to r) Jann Harris, Stevi Stutzman, Denise Strack.

Eclipse Ready

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Eclipse Ready
The staff and students at Lovington Grade School were ready to go Monday, August 21 as the clouds cleared for viewing the solar eclipse. Everyone kept their eyes cool with approved solar viewing glasses.

Eclipse from OV

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Eclipse from OV
Students at OVHS participated in the viewing of the Great American Eclipse on Monday afternoon. All students and faculty were given proper eyewear to view safely. The pictures were taken from the ag department drone flown by Wes Wise.

Old Water Tower Disappears

News Progress Posted on by

Drone Photo by RR Best
Old Water Tower Disappears - The wind didn’t blow so Iseler Demolitions, Inc. removed the old Sullivan water tower Wednesday, August 9. The 24 year old Romeo, Mich. based company removed the tower by 3:00 p.m. for a $26,600 bid.

Sullivan Moves Toward Future Growth with a Leaner Operation

News Progress Posted on by

•August 16, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Administrator Dan Flannell transitioned from policymaker as Chief Circuit Judge in Moultrie County to the implementer of Sullivan City Council policy and has learned a lot during the past six months.

“I believe the administrative role as chief judge helped me grasp the bigger picture of the city,” Flannell said of administering a multitude of city departments operating within a $28 million budget.

“Most people don’t realize how big an operation the city has including utilities, but that kind of revenue also helps the city keep tax rates down,” he continued.

Problem solving is one of the challenges the city administrator enjoys with the number of departments and employees within the city limits those have been solved with a great deal of help. Read More

County Board Acts on Planning and Zoning Proposals

News Progress Posted on by

•August 16, 2017•

Moultrie County Board opened the August 11 meeting with planning and zoning recommendations ranging from boundary expansion for Mast Construction to an ordinance regulating solar farms.

In June fire destroyed Mast Construction northeast of Sullivan, leaving the manufacturer of prefabricated walls for homes in burned rubble.

Chester Mast is in the processing of rebuilding and expanding the business, seeking to rezone his property to I-1 plus asking for variances to build 20 feet from all zoning boundary lines. His requests were approved unanimously by the board.

Planning and zoning chairman Todd Maxedon recommended passage of the ordinance amending the Moultrie County zoning ordinance on solar farms.

Under the special use section that already contains provisions for wind farms, solar farm regulations are now included. Read More

Mason Point Chapel Entrance Has Makeover

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is the Mason Point Chapel Garden.

•August 16, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

With a grant from the Chapel Fund, the maintenance and ground staffs at Mason Point have been able to create a new flower garden and reinstall the entrance lamps to the Mason Point Chapel.

The right side of the walkway was edged in concrete blocks, and a raised flower bed complete with a stone bench was created on the left side of the walk. My Garden staff designed and supervised the plantings while the ground crew filled in the soil and mulch. The original Gothic entrance lamps were refurbished and reinstalled on either side of the entrance steps to complete the makeover.

In 1925 the original chapel was created at the end of a corridor in what was the Royal Arch Hospital and had a pulpit and the newest moving picture screen and projecting equipment obtainable. The chapel was used for religious services, weddings, entertainment and funerals.

This arrangement soon proved unsatisfactory as anyone entering the chapel had to pass through the hospital. The board of directors made the decision that a new chapel would be built and would be independent of the hospital and dormitories. At that time, before automobiles, the Masonic Home staff lived in dorms or small rooms within the complex. Read More

The Vineyard Church Seeks to Partner with Community

News Progress Posted on by

•August 16, 2017•

New Purpose for  Old Shopko 

The Vineyard Church of Sullivan expanded with the purchase of the 35,000 sq. ft Shopko building last week. Now they have room to dream.

“We are unique in our mission,” Pastor Jim Plank began. “We as a congregation would like to give back to the community, and this is a big step toward that.”

Plank explained that the church built on 24 acres south of Sullivan in 2009 was limited in space, and the 35,000 square foot Shopko building offers grand possibilities.

“We are seeking information from various groups in the community to help us determine the greatest needs and how we can best use this space to help,” Plank said, noting that the 15-member Campus Leadership Team will be discussing options over the next few weeks. Read More