Photo by RR Best
Bethany Celebrates
Bethany’s Celebration offered good times for everyone last weekend from crafts and war artifacts exhibits to games and fun for the whole family, including a little time for Cheyenne and Shelby Harding to enjoy cotton candy along the way.
Photo by Denny Hutchings
AmBucs Hold Golf Outing
Several local golfers enjoyed the annual AmBucs outing at Sullivan Country Club Friday, June 24. Above AmBuc trike winners (from left) Kiley and Hunter Iffert and Katie Niemerg.
ALAH Principal Steffanie Seegmiller
•June 29, 2016•
By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress
After serving on the district school board for seven years, a strong dedication to education pushed Steffanie Seegmiller toward Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s new high school principal position.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity,” she said. “I’m invested in this district and community. I believe we are fortunate when students call our high school home, and it’s our job to provide them with the best education possible,” she said.
Her educational background began with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University, Master of Science in Educational Administration from the U of I in Springfield.
Six years of experience teaching undergraduate education courses in areas of instructional analysis and design and best practice in assessment, seven years of teaching and supervising student teachers allowed her experiences from different fields.
Not only does Seegmiller excel in experience, but she has the drive and motivation to overcome the challenges in education while working with students and teachers. Read More
Photo by Bernie Sanders
Fairy Garden
Sullivan gardener Tia Punches spent the week creating a Fairy Garden, sprinkled with shells collected from various beaches over the country. Above, Tia’s great-granddaughter Harlequinn inspects shells from the garden while grandson Sebastian looks on.
Better View From Wyman
•June 22, 2016•
Stu D. Baker
for the news progress
Sullivan’s Fireworks Spectacular on July 4th in Wyman Park offers an active, entertaining program with better views.
American Legion Post 68 announced Central States Fireworks, Inc. of Athens, Ill. is the new fireworks vendor this year. Shooting from the east side of the lake, bordering Worth Street should allow crowds a better view of the new show.
Mike Keown, Post 68 fireworks fund raising chair, explained the new fireworks can be set closer to the lake in Wyman Park allowing the Fourth of July crowd better exposure to what is expected to be a fast paced, spectacular event.
Keown noted the Sullivan Rotary Club recently donated $1000 toward the fireworks event and that Post members are in the middle of the annual walk around asking for donations.
“All monies collected as part of this fund-raiser will go into a special savings account set up for funding the fireworks and July 4th activities,” Keown emphasized. Read More
•June 22, 2016•
Lovington Village Board met Monday, June 13 taking action on new sidewalks for the park.
Paul Heppe provided the low bid of $4000, over a $4500 Quick and Easy Concrete bid.
The bid for labor includes 250 feet of five foot wide sidewalk for the park. The motion was approved unanimously.
During the April meeting Sue Gordon asked to step down as animal control officer and recommended discontinuing the village spay and neuter program upon her departure. Trustee Doug Smith noted that during Gordon’s time as animal control officer she accomplished getting the village feral cat population under control. Read More
•June 22, 2016•
Michael S. Yost, 43, waived his right to a jury trial in Moultrie County Circuit Court June 21.
Public Defender Brad Rau presented the waiver to Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell with State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey explaining the trial could take up to four days without juror selection.
Before setting the 9 a.m. September 12 court date, Judge Flannell read the four counts of murder with which Yost has been charged. The most serious of the first degree murder charges could carry a 20 years to natural life sentence and up to a $25,000 fine.
Flannell explained that the trial by the court would mean the decision on Yost’s innocence or guilt would rest exclusively with the judge.
Once agreed on the new court date Judge Flannell then addressed Yost’s correspondence concerning jail accommodations. Read More
•June 22, 2016•
By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School District has recently experienced some changes in both its staff and board of education.
After a closed session meeting at the last ALAH school board meeting, a motion was made to approve the resignation of ALAH principal, Buck Condill. Presently, the position has not yet been filled.
ALAH school board president Steffanie Seegmiller stepped down June 1, which left vice-president Jake Kamm to fill her shoes. Seegmiller served on the board for seven and a half years. “I leave the board in good hands as they are dedicated to continuing to make our schools great,” she said.
A special board meeting was held June 20 to consider appointment for the vacancies.
Other matters that were discussed or voted upon:
• As of June 8, funds were in the black at $3,621,901.73. After paying the district’s bills, it left the balance at 2.7 million dollars.
• Two general state aid payments may arrive in June. The district will possibly receive some sales tax money from Douglas County soon. Read More
Photo furnished
Gary Davis of Herrick will display his George Garden equipment collection at the 70th anniversary open house at Agri-Fab July 2.
•June 22, 2016•
What began as a small garden tool company in 1946 became the seeds for Agri-Fab of Sullivan today.
On Saturday, July 2 Agri-Fab will open the doors at 303 West Raymond St. to observe the 70th anniversary of George Garden Tools.
From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Agri-Fab is dedicating a building to display their historic collection of the George Garden Tools line from the Sullivan factory that employed as many as 450 people during the mid-1960s.
The Church of Christ on S. Hamilton St. started three industries in the present Agri-Fab location; Felicity Fashions, Lucy Ellen Candies and Creative Designs, to help members of the congregation find work.
By 1946 George Garden Tools took off growing across the country through vendors with sales and its innovative garden equipment. Read More
Overgrowth Creates Hazard
•June 22, 2016•
By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress
An issue with the Sullivan utility department electrical sectionalizers were brought to attention at the last city council meeting.
Many of them are close to 40 years old which has left time for trees, plants and weeds to grow around them.
When these sectionalizes, which distribute 7200 volts of electricity, have overgrowth around them, they overheat and do not perform at their highest quality.
Recently, there was a power outage which lasted an hour and a half because utility workers were having problems getting to a sectionalizer. Commissioner Mike Kirk presented several photos which showed a number of them which were blocked with shrubbery, trees and various other items. Read More