Category Archives: News Section

Windsor Schools Students of the Month

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Photo Submitted Windsor Schools Students of the Month Windsor Jr./Sr. High School have announced the November/December students of the month. The high school student of the month is Kristen Morlen, daughter of Robert and Misty Reed. She is a senior and involved with Scholastic Bowl, Drama Club, Art Club, WYSE, Physics Club, ECO Team, Team Quest, DARE Role Model, Pep Club, NHS, and drum line. She plans to attend Lake Land College to obtain an associate’s degree and become an administrative assistant. The junior high student of the month is Max Carr, son of Wally and Jennifer Carr. He participates in band, Scholastic Bowl, and Team Quest. He plans to be a missionary after high school. Pictured L to R: Max Carr and Kristen Morlen

Photo Submitted
Windsor Schools Students of the Month
Windsor Jr./Sr. High School have announced the November/December students of the month. The high school student of the month is Kristen Morlen, daughter of Robert and Misty Reed. She is a senior and involved with Scholastic Bowl, Drama Club, Art Club, WYSE, Physics Club, ECO Team, Team Quest, DARE Role Model, Pep Club, NHS, and drum line. She plans to attend Lake Land College to obtain an associate’s degree and become an administrative assistant. The junior high student of the month is Max Carr, son of Wally and Jennifer Carr. He participates in band, Scholastic Bowl, and Team Quest. He plans to be a missionary after high school.
Pictured L to R: Max Carr and Kristen Morlen

Sullivan Schools Funding Prospects from State Get ISEB Boost

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•January 20, 2016•

Sullivan schools faces funding challenges since the state has failed to meet obligations to local districts, but there is a glimmer of hope that may change.

District #300 superintendent Brad Tuttle told school board members  during the regular January 11 meeting that there is a call for fully funding school districts for the first time in five years.

Tuttle explained that the Illinois State Board of Education passed a state budget that called for increased General State Aid (GSA).

State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Smith pointed out since 2010, Illinois schools have lost $3.8 billion. The new state aid budget calls for full funding of GSA plus $2.548 billion for 2017.

Supt. Tuttle cautioned board members that full funding requests have been endorsed by the ISBE in the past and ignored by the legislature.

“Since Dr. Smith was appointed by Gov. Rauner, I have to believe there is hope for fully funding schools this time,” Tuttle said, noting the funding request could mean an additional $321,096 in state aid for Sullivan schools.

One factor improving the formula to $299 per student for Sullivan schools is the 42.7% low income level enrollment. Read More

Law Enforcement Starts Issuing eCitations

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Tickets printed in the patrol cars around Moultrie County make for easier reading and required some extra training. Sullivan officer Joshua Qualls is responsible for the smooth operaton of the eCitation system within the city.

Tickets printed in the patrol cars around Moultrie County make for easier reading and required some extra training. Sullivan officer Joshua Qualls is responsible for the smooth operaton of the eCitation system within the city.

Tickets You Can Read 

•January 13, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

The days of trying to decipher a police officer’s handwriting on a traffic citation are over in Moultrie County.

The Moultrie County Circuit Clerk’s office became the first office in the sixth judicial circuit to implement eCitations.

Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden explained the eCitation program is up and running in Bethany, Lovington and Sullivan police departments as well as the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department.

She explained the eCitation is not only timesaving for the officer issuing the ticket but improves the process with more accurate and legible information for the courts to process.

“Not only does the eCitation save the officer time but will hopefully get them off the roadside quicker, making stops safer,” Braden said.

An officer with an onboard computer inputs the driver’s information from the state database onto the eCitation, identifies the violation and prints out a ticket inside the patrol car. One copy goes to the driver and another to the circuit clerk for filing.

Sullivan Police Department officer Joshua Qualls has been designated trainer and general IT consultant locally, as officers get acquainted with eCitations.

“One of the biggest advantages is legibility of the ticket,” Qualls began, noting once the information is inputed, three copies will be printed in the car clear enough for the courts and the violator to read. Read More

Bethany Fire District Leads Procession

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Photo by Mike B rothers Bethany Fire District Leads Procession Sullivan, Lovington, Mt. Zion and area first responders joined family and friends to honor the passing of Jerry L. Clark, Chief Engineer of the Bethany Fire District. Following the 11 a.m. January 12 services at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan the Bethany Fire District led Clark’s procession to Marrowbone Cemetery in Bethany where Sullivan and Mt Zion Fire District ladder trucks displayed the American Flag at the entry. Bethany American Legion Post #507 performed military rites. Serving the fire district for more than two decades, Clark was also a member of the Okaw Fire Association and Bethany American Legion Post.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Bethany Fire District Leads Procession
Sullivan, Lovington, Mt. Zion and area first responders joined family and friends to honor the passing of Jerry L. Clark, Chief Engineer of the Bethany Fire District. Following the 11 a.m. January 12 services at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan the Bethany Fire District led Clark’s procession to Marrowbone Cemetery in Bethany where Sullivan and Mt Zion Fire District ladder trucks displayed the American Flag at the entry. Bethany American Legion Post #507 performed military rites. Serving the fire district for more than two decades, Clark was also a member of the Okaw Fire Association and Bethany American Legion Post.

Windsor Homecoming Royalty 2016

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Photo furnished Windsor Homecoming Royalty Windsor High School held its 2015 homecoming dance December 12. The theme this year was Adventures in Wonderland. Homecoming Royalty: Front Row: Crown Bearer Ellyn Boyer, 2015 Homecoming Queen Kristen Morlen, 2015 Homecoming King Mitchell Haddock, and Crown Bearer Evan Pfeiffer. Back Row: Queen Candidates Mercedez Austin and Breana Wiltermood, Junior Class Attendant Kaitlyn Armes, Sophomore Class Attendant Mikayla Haddock, Freshmen Class Attendant Carson Cole, 2014 Homecoming Queen Taylor Higgins, 2014 Homecoming Attendant Uriah Jones, Freshman Class Attendant Beau Bennett, Sophomore Class Attendant Charles Farmer, Junior Class Attendant Travis Fox, King Candidates Todd Elliott and Tyler Kemper.

Photo furnished
Windsor Homecoming Royalty
Windsor High School held its 2015 homecoming dance December 12.
The theme this year was Adventures in Wonderland. Homecoming Royalty: Front Row: Crown Bearer Ellyn Boyer, 2015 Homecoming Queen Kristen Morlen, 2015 Homecoming King Mitchell Haddock, and Crown Bearer Evan Pfeiffer. Back Row: Queen Candidates Mercedez Austin and Breana Wiltermood, Junior Class Attendant Kaitlyn Armes, Sophomore Class Attendant Mikayla Haddock, Freshmen Class Attendant Carson Cole, 2014 Homecoming Queen Taylor Higgins, 2014 Homecoming Attendant Uriah Jones, Freshman Class Attendant Beau Bennett, Sophomore Class Attendant Charles Farmer, Junior Class Attendant Travis Fox, King Candidates Todd Elliott and Tyler Kemper.

Fish Hook Burns

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File Photo Fish Hook Burns The Kaskaskia Biological Station west of Allenville, commonly known as Fish Hook, received major fire damage during a Sunday, May 3, 2015 blaze. Sullivan, Bethany, Windsor, Findlay and Lovington fire departments extinguished the blaze within two hours of arrival. More from 2015 inside.

File Photo
Fish Hook Burns
The Kaskaskia Biological Station west of Allenville, commonly known as Fish Hook, received major fire damage during a Sunday, May 3, 2015 blaze. Sullivan, Bethany, Windsor, Findlay and Lovington fire departments extinguished the blaze within two hours of arrival. More from 2015 inside.

Seth Dunscomb New Year’s Opener Held at Civic Center

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BlueDolphinsNewYearCelebrates Blue Dolphin Legacy

•January 6, 2016•

Sullivan Blue Dolphins kicked off the new year competing in the Seth Dunscomb New Year Opener in Decatur.  Out of 14 teams the Dolphins brought home first place recognition with 1093 points earned.

The meet is held in honor of Seth Dunscomb, son of Richard and Connie Dunscomb.

Dunscomb died at the age of 21 in 1997 from a heart ailment while poolside during a practice for the University of Kansas swim team.   Read More

Car Goes Off Deep End New Year’s Eve

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Photo by RR Best Moultrie County dive team members Jesse Scribner, Rob Martz and Amanda Farley secure equipment before diving down to hook the submerged car from the drink.

Photo by RR Best
Moultrie County dive team members Jesse Scribner, Rob Martz and Amanda Farley secure equipment before diving down to hook the submerged car from the drink.

Area Agencies offer assistance

•January 6, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department responded to a 6 a.m. call New Year’s Eve to a car submerged in water off Joe Pound Road east of Sullivan.

Chief Deputy Gary Carroll said when they arrived at the scene by 6:20 the Dodge Magnum was about 80 yards from dry land and another 35 yards off the roadway.

“When we arrived the car was under water and there was no sign of a driver,” Carroll said, explaining they had concerns for the safety of the driver.

That’s when Sullivan Fire Department and the Moultrie County dive team joined Moultrie County deputies at the scene.

Department of Natural Resources and the Shelby County dive team also responded as backup.  Read More

Sullivan Moves to Sell Dilapidated Property

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•January 6, 2016•

Sullivan City Council met December 28 agreeing to sell dilapidated property on Graham Street, while discovering the bid process needs some work.

Mayor Ann Short explained the original $3000 bid from Nick Grooms was made public before the city attorney advised the council to rebid the sale of the property.

Grooms had submitted his original bid of $3000, which included a provision the property would have to be cleaned up within 60 days.

Greg Yoder also submitted a bid for $6300 during the new round of bidding, causing the council to weigh the bid process results with doing the right thing.

“Since Mr. Groom’s bid had been made public, we felt the only fair thing to do was to honor that original offer,” Short explained of the unanimous vote to let Grooms have the lot for $3000.

Yoder operates a demolition company and said he planned to remove the dilapidated house and probably build a duplex there.

“I was a little ticked off when I first heard what happened, but I understand the situation,” Yoder said. Read More