Photo Wurtsbaugh Photography
Sullivan Homecoming
Sullivan High School homecoming dance and coronation were held recently. Above King Charlie Goss and Queen Allyson Will share a dance in the high school gym.
Sullivan Homecoming 2016
Category Archives: News Section
Many Little Hands Helping Clean the Streets in Bethany
•October 19, 2016•
If many hands make for quick work, then many little hands can make quick work of a village.
Adopt a Street began at Okaw Valley Elementery School October 26.
“We are proud of Bethany,” principal Doug McCausland said. “By letting the students clear litter from the neighborhood streets we can give back to the community and allow the kids to feel pride in what they have done.” Read More
Sullivan Schools Continue Academic Progress
•October 19, 2016•
Sullivan Unit District #300 met Tuesday, October 11 accepting the district audit and a handbook for volunteers.
Superintendent Brad Tuttle explained the expanded use of volunteers has led to the development of a volunteer handbook as a general guide toward how and what is acceptable while volunteering within the school.
Tuttle noted the district is appreciative of the volunteers and hopes the handbook will provide a guideline.
In principal Dan Allen’s report he explained the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is in operation at Sullivan Elementary School. Most classrooms have reading volunteers whole listen to students read once a week. Other RSVP members are pen pals with primary age students.
He went on to note RSVP along with homework hangout for students needing extra help, as well as student mentoring programs have all built on the school’s improvement plan. Read More
County Board Addresses Some Salary Issues
•October 19, 2016•
Moultrie County Board met Thursday, Oct. 13 approving a levy reduction and some employee salary issues.
Budget and finance chair Ron White proposed the county fund levy be reduced from $925,000 to $875,000 annually which was approved unanimously.
Reinstatement of the previous employee bonus line item to $500 for full time employees was approved for a total of $15,000. Part time amounts will vary.
Personnel committee chairman Roger Glazebrook moved to approve the appointment of Lori Barringer as interim supervisor of assessments which was unanimous.
At the previous budget and finance committee meeting an advertised starting salary of $19,000 for a supervisor of assessments office employee exceeded the county’s $18,500 minimum salary policy. Read More
Another Hand Up from Habitat for Humanity
•October 12, 2016•
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity provided another hand up presenting the keys to Nina Sides for her new home in a ceremony held at 5 p.m. Friday, October 7 in Sullivan.
Pictured left Sponsor Trish Welsh and Nina hug with Logan sandwiched in the middle and Gary Smith in background.
Six weeks from starting this 27th Moultrie County Habitat home the group of Habitat Care-A-Vanners who completed the last two week phase of the project were at the Sides’ new home for the key presentation.
Local Habitat committee chair Gary Smith explained the national Care-A-Vanners from Habitat for Humanity spend six weeks working and camping.
He noted that Faith Lutheran Church graciously donates a campground and that Pastor Paul McGhghy coordinated the local ministerial alliance area businesses and individuals to feed the volunteers during the build. Read More
Hay Ride at Buxton’s Garden Farm
Photo by RR Best
Hay Ride at Buxton’s Garden Farm
The Moultrie County Bright Start play group took a field trip to Buxton’s Garden Farm Thursday, Oct. 6. The children were taken on a hay ride and got to jump on the giant ground trampoline.
Bright Start is a free play group program that is funded through the Illinois State Board of Education for children birth thru age three who reside in Moultrie County. Play groups meet on Thursday mornings from 9 to 10:30 at the Early Intervention building at 203 S. Graham St. in Sullivan. For more information call Amy Eller at 728-7396.
Interim Supervisor Recommended
•October 12, 2016•
Moultrie County personnel committee members unanimously approved the appointment of Lori Barringer as interim supervisor of assessments.
During the October 5 committee meeting chairman Roger Glazebrook recommended the appointment of Barringer who was chief deputy under assessor Cindy Kidwell. Committee members Kevin McReynolds and Ron White approved the appointment.
The county board will make the final decision at the October 13 meeting.
Assessor Kidwell had announced her retirement, recommending Barringer as her replacement, earlier this year. Kidwell died suddenly September 11, creating the need for the interim appointment.
County board chairman Dave McCabe explained the application process had been placed in motion with a November 1 deadline. Applications will be taken until then. At that point the county board will make a permanent appointment to the position.
As chief deputy Barringer completed the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer Certificate and Chief County Assessment Officer Certification. In addition, she has taken three additional classes offered by the Illinois Property Institute and Illinois Department of Revenue. Read More
Senator Chapin Rose Talks Money at Town Hall
Crowd Seeks Answers
•October 12, 2016•
By Stu D. Baker
for the News Progress
State Senator Chapin Rose’s town hall meeting Sept 29 at the Elizabeth Titus Library in Sullivan focused on worker compensation and pension reform issues.
The Republican 51st District senator addressed a room filled with county and municipal government representatives, along with citizens and a handful of students fulfilling class requirements.
In this seventh of seven town hall meetings Rose’s power point presentation centered on budgetary matters that he and his colleagues would like to address.
He pointed out the stop gap budget agreement reached in the state earlier this year helped fully fund K-12 for the first time in the past six years. and the formula for districts with higher poverty levels was equalized for all districts.
In a state exceeding the national unemployment rate average the 13 year veteran of Illinois legislature and senate indicated education is key. Read More
SHS Alumni Initiate Memorable Teacher Honor
Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan High School Alumni Who’s Who Award winner Norma Piper (Class of ’57) emotionally accepts the honor from Cindy Bruce (Class of ’65) at the annual banquet October 8.
•October 12, 2016•
J. Harold Jones helped Sullivan High School students understand math for 26 years.
Sullivan High School alumni honored Jones with the first Most Memorable Teacher award.
Before presenting daughters Nancy Davis and Kathy Kelly with certificates, alumni Ralph Kirk shared an understanding of how the man with an initial as a first name did more than help students with math problems.
Kirk explained that Jones touched and cared for students while staying involved with family, church, county government and various volunteer organizations. Named Illinois teacher of the year in 1964, James Harold Jones graduated from Eastern in 1937 and received his masters from U of I in 1941.
“He had a way of making complicated things simple,” Kirk recalled of the math teacher who was selected overwhelmingly for the first Most Memorable Teacher honor.
Cindy Bruce, SHS class of 1965, presented the Who’s Who Award to 1957 graduate Norma Piper. Read More
Pink Shirts Show Support at Agri-Fab
Photo by Mike Brothers
Pink Shirts Show Support at Agri-Fab
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Agri-Fab employees are going pink to help spread the word. Every Friday during the month of October more than 100 employees wear pink Agri-Fab Breast Cancer Awareness shirts as part of the company’s ongoing community outreach. Money raised from the sale of the pink shirts is donated to Moultrie County Relay for Life.