Category Archives: News Section

Council OKs IBEW Contract

News Progress Posted on by

•August 3, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

The city of Sullivan signed a four-year contract with the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 51 at their most recent meeting.

The contract begins August 1, 2016 and will end July 31, 2020 and includes a 2½ percent raise, sick time which may roll over and accumulate up to 21 days and giving workers Christmas Eve and Christmas day off.

The council also voted to move forward with a bid from Johnco Construction to build a garage for the gas department for the amount of $33,000. The bid covers the construction of a basic garage with three windows, no insulation and one light bulb with a light switch. It will be for the use of storing small vehicles.

Other news that was discussed or acted upon: Read More

Lemonade for a Cause

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Lemonade for a Cause Five enterprising Sullivan elementary students served lemonade with a purpose on the square last Wednesday. Darby Harden, owner of Gypsy Soul, where the Lemonade for School Supplies stand was set up on her front sidewalk, explained the students decided to accept school supply donations by selling lemonade. In addition to accepting supplies they were raising funds through donations to help students who need supplies when school begins August 22. Harden said she would continue to accept school supply donations after the stand closes, turning the supplies and donations over to Sullivan schools. Those hawking lemonade and water for a dollar on the square were: Photo at left (from left) Callie Standerfer, Ruby Haegen, Bella Harden, Tessa Seeley, and Ava Shriver.

Lemonade for a Cause
Five enterprising Sullivan elementary students served lemonade with a purpose on the square last Wednesday.
Darby Harden, owner of Gypsy Soul, where the Lemonade for School Supplies stand was set up on her front sidewalk, explained the students decided to accept school supply donations by selling lemonade.
In addition to accepting supplies they were raising funds through donations to help students who need supplies when school begins August 22.
Harden said she would continue to accept school supply donations after the stand closes, turning the supplies and donations over to Sullivan schools.
Those hawking lemonade and water for a dollar on the square were: Photo at left (from left) Callie Standerfer, Ruby Haegen, Bella Harden, Tessa Seeley, and Ava Shriver.

“Sister Act,” the Musical: Sinfully Divine At The Little Theatre

News Progress Posted on by

Sister Act art with Cheryl•August 3, 2016•

By Cheryl Murphy
For the News Progress

Sister Act, the musical comedy, is based on the 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg as a club singer who has more sass than sense.

She is forced to hide her sinful soul beneath a nun’s habit after she witnesses her mobster boyfriend commit murder. Warning! This show retains the fun of the film but not the music. If patrons understand this up front and have an open mind, they will find this show too good to resist.

To illustrate that point my cousin took three nuns from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Decatur to the show, and they laughed so hard they were crying. Pretty good testimony.

The movie was special by redoing already familiar songs into ones of faith. In the musical, those songs are replaced with original tunes by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. A very qualified Menken has written iconic songs for Disney’s “Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.”  Read More

Findlay Walleye Festival

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Drone Photo by RR Best Findlay Walleye Festival The Findlay Walleye Festival was held July 29-31. The walleye tent in the firehouse opened at 4 p.m. Friday. Battle Creek Band, Kidd Kaddilack, and Whiskey Bend performed Friday evening. The walleye parade followed a community pancake breakfast. A classic car show, kiddie tractor pull and 3 on 3 basketball were Saturday. Eddie Webb and Southern Cross, played as well as Forest Parker performing. Sounds of Swing Big Band, Feudin’ Hillybilly and Big Spike Hammer Blue Grass all played Saturday evening. A Jimmy Buffet style party closed the event Sunday.

Drone Photo by RR Best
Findlay Walleye Festival
The Findlay Walleye Festival was held July 29-31. The walleye tent in the firehouse opened at 4 p.m. Friday. Battle Creek Band, Kidd Kaddilack, and Whiskey Bend performed Friday evening. The walleye parade followed a community pancake breakfast. A classic car show, kiddie tractor pull and 3 on 3 basketball were Saturday. Eddie Webb and Southern Cross, played as well as Forest Parker performing. Sounds of Swing Big Band, Feudin’ Hillybilly and Big Spike Hammer Blue Grass all played Saturday evening. A Jimmy Buffet style party closed the event Sunday.

Sullivan Women’s Philanthropy

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Photo furnished Sullivan Women’s Philanthropy Several women gathered at 5 West Thursday, July 28 to raise money for a nonprofit organization in Sullivan. Individuals and teams collectively raised $3500 that will go to The Little Theatre on the Square. Selection was made in a random drawing containing all suggested nonprofits. The next meeting is October 27.

Photo furnished
Sullivan Women’s Philanthropy
Several women gathered at 5 West Thursday, July 28 to raise money for a nonprofit organization in Sullivan. Individuals and teams collectively raised $3500 that will go to The Little Theatre on the Square. Selection was made in a random drawing containing all suggested nonprofits. The next meeting is October 27.

Miss Bethany

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished Miss Bethany A Miss Bethany contest was held as part of Bethany Celebration recently. Moranda Matheson was crowned Miss Bethany. Moranda’s parents are Chad and Amber Matheson of Bethany, and her grandparents are Myrna and Jim Scritchfield of Bakersfield, California and Joe and Joan Matheson of Sullivan.   She attended tech school her junior year, while also maintaining straight As at Okaw Valley High School. Matheson earned her CNA, working the summer to earn money for college. She did not enter the contest for the crown but rather was hoping for the scholarship money to help offset expenses to become a pediatrician oncologist. She will be a senior at Okaw Valley High School this fall.

Photo furnished
Miss Bethany
A Miss Bethany contest was held as part of Bethany Celebration recently. Moranda Matheson was crowned Miss Bethany. Moranda’s parents are Chad and Amber Matheson of Bethany, and her grandparents are Myrna and Jim Scritchfield of Bakersfield, California and Joe and Joan Matheson of Sullivan.  
She attended tech school her junior year, while also maintaining straight As at Okaw Valley High School. Matheson earned her CNA, working the summer to earn money for college. She did not enter the contest for the crown but rather was hoping for the scholarship money to help offset expenses to become a pediatrician oncologist. She will be a senior at Okaw Valley High School this fall.

Bethany Applies TIF Funds to Park Trail Project

News Progress Posted on by

•July 27, 2016•

By Derek Pope
For the News Progress

Bethany’s village board gave a nod to nature enthusiasts this month by approving TIF funds to expand and improve Crowder Park’s walking trail. According to the Township Investment Fund chairman Greg McLain, the park district had envisioned alterations to the existing trail that would expand its “most visible, top portion” westward “down by the batting cages or skate park”.

While modest in scope, the cost of the project was the motivating factor for Marrowbone Park District to seek outside funding for the renovations.

The park district is itself a taxing body, levying a portion of village residents’ yearly property taxes for funding, but McLain said that the park board reported only around $16,000 in on hand money when they submitted their proposal to the TIF committee.

Although the TIF committee has been somewhat deterred from funding major projects for other taxing bodies in the past, McLain said that the relatively small cost of the proposal influenced the TIF’s final decision.

“We have helped private businesses with a lot more money than what they were asking for so the committee recommended to grant them the entire $6,840.” McLain also mentioned the village’s 2013 decision to provide a much more sizable TIF grant to Marrowbone Public Library, another taxing body in the village, as precedent for the committee’s recommendation.  Read More

Pokemon Go Keeps Going in County

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Kennedy Nolen All it takes is a smart phone, a free app, and a desire to solve the mysteries of Pokemon Go.

Photo by Kennedy Nolen
All it takes is a smart phone, a free app, and a desire to solve the mysteries of Pokemon Go.

•July 27, 2016•

By Kennedy Nolen
For the News Progress

It’s like an invasion. As the sun sets in Sullivan the young people come on to the streets armed with smart phones as Pokemon Go takes them to stops all over town.

Pokémon Go, a game/application by Niantic, has taken the world by storm since its July 6 release. This free application merges the Pokémon world with reality and gives players an opportunity to relive their childhood.

The game uses players’ smart phone GPS locations and maps to track their current location. Based on the location, a range of 250 Pokémon will appear along with the level of its power.

After catching a certain amount of Pokémon, players will eventually run out of Pokéballs which they will need to restock. This may be done via buying them with coins purchased with actual money, by earning them at battling in gyms, or by visiting special monuments known as ‘Pokéstops’. Read More

Explosive Scare in Sullivan Neighborhood

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Photo by Mike Brothers Sullivan Chief of Police John Love (right) shows Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims the bundle of flares that looked like dynamite to the person who reported its location to authorities last week.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Chief of Police John Love (right) shows Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims the bundle of flares that looked like dynamite to the person who reported its location to authorities last week.

•July 27, 2016•

A call to Sullivan police early Wednesday, July 20 led to a few tense hours in the neighbor surrounding 216 W. Harrison Street when a possible explosive was discovered.

Chief of Police John Love explained the department received a report that what was believed to be dynamite was located in a shed at the residence.

Chief Love reported the incident to the Secretary of State’s office with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency bomb squad dispatched to Sullivan immediately.

“We were instructed to establish a 300 foot perimeter and wait for the bomb squad to arrive,” Love said, thanking all the agencies who got involved in the incident. Read More

Passports Available Through Sullivan Post Office

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Photo by Mike Brothers Passports are available at the Sullivan Post Office. Postmaster Cindy Temple explained the forms may be completed in advance to save time in processing.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Passports are available at the Sullivan Post Office. Postmaster Cindy Temple explained the forms may be completed in advance to save time in processing.

•July 27, 2016•

With national political conventions stirring things up, some folks may be looking to leave the country for a while.

Moultrie County residents have new hope in that direction, with the addition of passport services at the Sullivan Post office.

“We are glad to provide this additional service to our patrons,” Sullivan postmaster Cindy Temple said.

A year ago the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk’s office discontinued passport service, and by April 2016 Sullivan Post Office was approved by the U.S. State Department to process passport applications.

“First we went through the State Dept. approval process, then all our clerks were trained, tested and certified on the specific requirements for passport applications,” Temple explained, noting Sullivan Post Office has averaged four passport applications per week since April. Read More