Category Archives: News Section

ALAH Funds Technology with Outside Resources

News Progress Posted on by

•May 4, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

No state funds force the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School District, teachers and other staff to look for other ways to pay for the tools they need to continue to educate students as well as cope with the rising costs of technological needs.

With the advancements in technology and learning, schools’ funding needs are more pressing. While ALAH is in good shape from a network point of view in the technology department, there are still several items the district needs to continue to grow.

“Over the last two school years Quality Network Solutions of Sullivan has done a great job of renovating the wired and wireless infrastructure in all four of our district’s buildings,” technology coordinator Jeremy Rodebaugh told the board. “This work has been done in large part due to a $119,698.34 federal grant we received this school year. This hard work has left our district in very good shape from a network standpoint for the foreseeable future,”  he added. He did state that the wiring in the high school and a server at Atwood-Hammond are in need of updating, which could cost approximately $15,000 for both projects.

Rodebaugh said, while it isn’t urgent, the district will need to look to grants and other outside funding in order to make those projects happen. Without funding from the state though, providing adequate bandwidth will be an issue for all of the schools within the district. Read More

Sullivan City Council Explores Recycle Options

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Civic Center Gets New Lockers

•May 4, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

At the most recent Sullivan City Council meeting, a few projects that had been set aside in the TIF budget were discussed. A bid of $20,775.95 was received from Salisbury Industries for new lockers at the Civic Center. Many of the older lockers have started to show their age and have started to rot out after long time usage. The bid will replace 116 lockers for the men and women’s locker rooms.

The old chiller at the Civic Center has also been removed to make room for a new one. Commissioner Mike Mossman also noted that the south side of the roof center has came loose. He will be in contact with an attorney and is moving forward with the suit and hopes to get the company back to repair it. Other TIF projects include the street pavement project (which is underway) and new canopies for the baseball park to help block out the sun.

Other news that was discussed or acted upon: Read More

Coroner Visits Statehouse

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Photo furnished Coroner Visits Statehouse State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) met with several coroners from across the state at the Statehouse in Springfield recently. That included Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed. From left to right: Sen. Chapin Rose, Richard Jorgensen (DuPage County Coroner), Lynn Reed (Moultrie County Coroner), Eric Jameson (McDonough County Coroner).

Photo furnished
Coroner Visits Statehouse
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) met with several coroners from across the state at the Statehouse in Springfield recently. That included Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed. From left to right: Sen. Chapin Rose, Richard Jorgensen (DuPage County Coroner), Lynn Reed (Moultrie County Coroner), Eric Jameson (McDonough County Coroner).

Live United Award for Cole

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Photo Submitted Live United Award for Cole David Cole was the recipient of the United Way’s “Live United” Award at their annual meeting recently. The event was hosted at Decatur’s Beach House April 19. The award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond for their community. Cole is the executive director of Moultrie County Counseling Center. The counseling center provides a wide array of mental health services to area citizens ages 4-94. The newest program helps find employment for clients who want to get back into the workforce. United Way representative for Moultrie County Stan Parks presented the award. He commented that, “Mr. Cole had been of great assistance in establishing contacts in the Moultrie County area. Mr. Cole assisted in getting the United Way message out to area agencies and employers.”

Photo Submitted
Live United Award for Cole
David Cole was the recipient of the United Way’s “Live United” Award at their annual meeting recently. The event was hosted at Decatur’s Beach House April 19. The award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond for their community. Cole is the executive director of Moultrie County Counseling Center. The counseling center provides a wide array of mental health services to area citizens ages 4-94. The newest program helps find employment for clients who want to get back into the workforce.
United Way representative for Moultrie County Stan Parks presented the award. He commented that, “Mr. Cole had been of great assistance in establishing contacts in the Moultrie County area. Mr. Cole assisted in getting the United Way message out to area agencies and employers.”

SHS Cross-curricular Program Offers Adirondacks

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Photo Submitted SHS Cross-curricular Program Offers Adirondacks The Sullivan High School industrial arts and entrepreneurship classes joined forces offering custom Adirondack chairs and ottoman sets to the public. Industrial arts students designed and crafted four sets of chairs. The entrepreneurship class is marketing the sets of chairs in a limited ticket sale, one time only raffle. The Adirondack/ ottoman sets will be raffled at the SEA track meet scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, May 12. Only 100 tickets are being offered with the proceeds used toward financing future cross-curricular projects. The sets are valued at $150 each. For more information or to purchase a ticket prior to the track meet contact: brittons@sullivan.k12.il.us

Photo Submitted
SHS Cross-curricular Program Offers Adirondacks
The Sullivan High School industrial arts and entrepreneurship classes joined forces offering custom Adirondack chairs and ottoman sets to the public.
Industrial arts students designed and crafted four sets of chairs.
The entrepreneurship class is marketing the sets of chairs in a limited ticket sale, one time only raffle.
The Adirondack/ ottoman sets will be raffled at the SEA track meet scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, May 12.
Only 100 tickets are being offered with the proceeds used toward financing future cross-curricular projects.
The sets are valued at $150 each. For more information or to purchase a ticket prior to the track meet contact: brittons@sullivan.k12.il.us

WHS National Honor Society

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Photo furnished WHS National Honor Society Windsor High School National Honor Society inducted six new members at the Honor’s Banquet April 27. Pictured are new and previous members. Back row L to R: Kristen Morlen, Caitlin Welsh, Autumn Bennett, Tristan Warner, Mitchell Haddock, Sterling Howard, Mercedez Austin, and Adam Hendershot. Front row L to R: Katherine Greuel, Bailey Fleshner, Kaitlin Armes, James Hortenstine, Mikayla Haddock, and Mehria Khan.

Photo furnished
WHS National Honor Society
Windsor High School National Honor Society inducted six new members at the Honor’s Banquet April 27. Pictured are new and previous members.
Back row L to R: Kristen Morlen, Caitlin Welsh, Autumn Bennett, Tristan Warner, Mitchell Haddock, Sterling Howard, Mercedez Austin, and Adam Hendershot.
Front row L to R: Katherine Greuel, Bailey Fleshner, Kaitlin Armes, James Hortenstine, Mikayla Haddock, and Mehria Khan.

Sullivan High School Prom Court 2016

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Photo courtesy Wurtsbaugh Photography Sullivan High School Prom Court From left front:  Whitney Elder, Lily Bales, King Ross Metzger, Queen Kelsey Clark, Alyssa Marshall, Jocelyn Nashland and Charlie Emel. From left back:  Andrew Frost, Alec Ballinger, Josh Davis, Kaleb Shumard and Kyler Houser. Prom was held Saturday, April 23 with coronation ceremony at 9:00 p.m.

Photo courtesy Wurtsbaugh Photography
Sullivan High School Prom Court
From left front:  Whitney Elder, Lily Bales, King Ross Metzger, Queen Kelsey Clark, Alyssa Marshall, Jocelyn Nashland and Charlie Emel. From left back:  Andrew Frost, Alec Ballinger, Josh Davis, Kaleb Shumard and Kyler Houser. Prom was held Saturday, April 23 with coronation ceremony at 9:00 p.m.

Reaching Out is Part of a Full Life

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Photo furnished Bowers getting “Roasted” at April 2 retirement party.

Photo furnished
Bowers getting “Roasted” at April 2 retirement party.

David Bowers Keeps Going

•April 27, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

David Bowers has spent the better part of his life in Lovington reaching out to touch someone.

Even though he retired from family owned Moultrie Independent Telephone Company at the end of March he isn’t going to stop being involved.

“When you live a full life, life is fulfilling,” Bowers said, noting his retirement as vice president and plant supervisor gives him time to concentrate on other community needs.

Shawnee Communications purchased the family phone company, which is going through a fifth plant rebuild as fiber optic cable delivery comes to Lovington customers, who started receiving telephone service from wires strung along fence posts 71 years ago.

‘I remember when I was five years old sitting on the operator’s lap while I plugged a call into the switchboard,” he recalled, noting he and his brothers worked at the phone company part time while growing up in Lovington.

“We had some wonderful and inspiring teachers in Lovington,” he said explaining his career path was guided by those educators but didn’t exactly go as he planned.

“What I really wanted to be was a teacher and football coach,” Bowers recalled attending North Central College in Naperville for his bachelor’s degree. Read More

ALAH Transportation Fund Dwindles, Schools’ Needs Grow

News Progress Posted on by

•April 27, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s transportation fund continues to dwindle as the state still continues to not pay the school districts. The current funds for transportation sit at $88,640; although a third payment has been dispersed but not processed. If the payment is processed, it will add another $255,000 to the balance. If that money is not received, more money from the general education fund will have to be transferred. The over-all checkbook balance of the district is around four million dollars with all funds still in the black.

ALAH district looks to federal and state grants to help make technology updates.

Jeremy Rodebaugh,technology coordinator, noted a few things that the district is in need of updating. Some of the things he mentioned include getting more bandwidth as it currently tops out at 75MB. Atwood-Hammond has maxed out on their bandwidth and fiber optics will be needed to increase it.

The cost of installing fiber optics is estimated at $20-25,000. Rodebaugh has been doing some research and stated that there are several state and federal grants for which the district could apply in order to help pay for the increase of bandwidth. Read More

Moultrie Counseling Center Cuts Keep Coming

News Progress Posted on by

•April 27, 2016•

The current state of Illinois budget impasse is being felt locally in many ways. Moultrie County Counseling has suffered significant reductions according to Executive Director David Cole. The National Alliance of Mental Health reported that from 2009-2012 Illinois cut funding for community mental health programs by 30% or $187,000,000. With the exception of three other states, Illinois had the highest cuts in the nation. To have the current budget impasse on top of these previous reductions creates significant difficulties. Read More