Photo furnished
Relay’s 20th Anniversary
Relay for Life participants Emily Crosier, Jamie Crosier, Diane Waggoner and Jessi Jess take a moment during the 20th anniversary event held June 11 at Wyman Park.
Relay’s 20th Anniversary
Category Archives: News Section
American Legion has Veterans Display at Bethany Celebration
Photo by Mike Brothers
Terry Muzzy prepares Honor Guard uniform that is part of the military memorabilia display at Bethany Celebration this weekend.
•June 22, 2016•
By Kennedy D. Nolen
for the News Progress
War photos and memorabilia from local veterans will be on display at the Bethany Celebration this weekend, June 24 and 25, at Crowder Park.
The American Legion of Bethany has sponsored this event to honor veterans in the area.
Terry Muzzy is assembling uniforms, weapons, photos and a variety of items loaned by families of Bethany area veterans.
“The response has been great,” Terry said, noting he already has 75 photographs and he is still taking calls from people with items to display.
With help from Steve Sowers Muzzy has assembled hundreds of military items ranging from the civil war to present day.
“Bethany American Legion is also one of the oldest in the nation,” Muzzy said. That long time commitment (Chartered in February 1920) makes the Veterans display so important to share with the next generation. Read More
Sullivan District #300 Board Approves Security, Communication Upgrades
Health Life Safety Approved
•June 22, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Upgraded security cameras and phone systems were approved by the Sullivan District #300 school board at the June 13 meeting.
Supt. Brad Tuttle explained the enhanced phone service allowed 911 calling capability from every classroom.
District IT director Mark Waelde checked into vendors for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) systems. Frontier Communications $63,724.10 proposal for a complete VOIP system was recommended by the administration and approved unanimously.
Additional security camera locations and upgraded units also were approved under Health Life Safety, with existing provider Dynamic Controls projecting $78,944 to complete.
Travis Bushue of Bushue Human Resources presented bids for the district’s insurance coverage, excluding worker compensation and health. He recommended the Mattoon based First Mid Insurance Group/Arthur Gallagher Agency bid of $50,348.65. Read More
Secretary of State Mobile at Titus Library July 21
•June 22, 2016•
Secretary of State Jesse White, in cooperation with Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan, is offering drivers a chance to renew their driver’s license or vehicle registration renewal sticker, obtain a duplicate or corrected license, or obtain an Illinois identification card.
White’s mobile unit will be available at the Sullivan Library, located at 2 West Water 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 21. Read More
New Visitors Center
Photo by Mike Brothers
New Visitors Center
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development and The Little Theatre are cooperating to move the Sullivan visitor and welcome center to the Little Theatre where office hours will be more accommodating.
Horse Chestnut Blossoms
Photo by Mike Brothers
Horse Chestnut Blossoms
This was the season for the Warren’s Horse Chestnut tree in Sullivan to have a bountiful year. Timely rains and warm weather covered the tree with blooms and yielded bushels of the lucky but poisonous horse chestnuts.
Coles-Moultrie 911 Grant Progresses to Final Stage
•June 15, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Moultrie County Board members learned the $196,000 grant to complete enhanced 911 for Coles-Moultrie County has reached the final stage.
Arlene Aschermann, chair of the public health and safety committee, reported the good news to the whole board, stating she learned of the award earlier June 9.
Kevin McReynolds, committee member and Coles County Regional Planning representative, explained the finalist stage of the grant is usually an assurance of approval.
In the June 8 News Progress it was incorrectly reported the grant was for $196,000,000. This figure was far more generous than the state could ever afford. We apologize for the additional zeroes and the error.
An agreement with Computer Information Concepts to upgrade hardware, software and peopleware for Moultrie County was approved unanimously. Read More
Sons of American Legion District Officers
Photo furnished
Sons of American Legion District Officers
The Sons of the American Legion is an organization of the American Legion and consists of the male descendants of veterans of the US military. They proudly boast of more than 15,000 members in Illinois and more than 350,000 members nationally.The 4th Division of the Detachment of Illinois is comprised of 75 individual squadrons across 22 counties in central Illinois with a combined membership in excess of 3,500 members. The newly elected 4th Division officers for the membership year 2016-2017 are pictured left to right Commander Paul Garrett Squadron 27 of Tuscola, Sr. Vice Commander James Peters Squadron 32 of Springfield and Jr. Vice Commander Dennis Fedie squadron 429 of Lovington.
Fountain Honored with Memorial
Photo by Mike Brothers
Fountain Honored with Memorial
The East Central Illinois Woman’s Christian Temperance Union placed a wreath on the WCTU fountain located on the Moultrie County Courthouse lawn Tuesday, June 7. The wreath commemorated Frances Willard who founded WCTU in the late 1880s. Local members participating in the noon ceremony, which included prayer and a song, were Marjorie Miller, Mary Blue and Laura Ayers of Sidney; Jim and Shirley Rideout of Kansas; Debbie Mitchell of Pesotum, Ann Roley of Charleston and Norma Taylor of Mattoon. The fountain in Sullivan was constructed after WCTU members were urged to erect drinking fountains to prevent men from going to saloons. The fountains became popular for watering horses and pets. There are 88 fountains remaining in the United States. The next WCTU meeting is 10 a.m. July 5 at the Dutch Kitchen in Arcola.
Sullivan Board Removes Head Baseball Coach
•June 15, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan Unit #300 school board’s decision to remove Troy Rogers as head baseball coach was witnessed by a crowd of supporters June 13.
Held in the Sullivan Elementary School gymnasium due to ongoing construction, the meeting opened with board president Steve Poland allowing visitors to speak.
Austin Raboin, who played baseball when the Sullivan Redskins earned a Regional title under Rogers, recalled the hard work he put into baseball that paid off later.
Raboin, a law student who graduated in 2011, pointed out the coach required conditioning and following the rules.
“Even when our time was over, Coach Rogers found us places where we could continue playing after school.” Read More