Category Archives: News Section

Sullivan Schools Add Instagram to Social Media Offerings

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See what’s going on

•November 4, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit District 300 added Instagram to its list of social media offerings in October.

“Using Instagram gives our community another way to “see” what is going on without needing to subscribe to other services,” IT Director Mark Waelde said.

The idea to ad Instagram started with a suggestion to increase community access through social media from superintendent Brad Tuttle.

The feed began October 22 with Waelde noting it took only about an hour from registration, converting images, adding a slide show to placing it on the website.

He explained by using The Cube to stream home sporting events, adding the photos for an Instagram page an easy way to provide more information for the community to view.

“Right now I am focusing on events that are accessible to the public,” he said of the content, adding that sporting events will be posted.

High School art teacher Jaclyn Lindberg is working with Waelde to showcase some of the students photography work.

The Sullivan High School Tech Club can also provide images for review before being placed on the Instagram page. Read More

Lovington Halloween Costume Winners 2015

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Lov Haloween Darian top

Photos by Darian Hays
Lovington Halloween winners are left to right: Cambie Smith, Dalilah Mendoza, Krystina Meyers, Meriem Garrett, and Samantha Fowler. Below left to right, Cannon Doggett, Norma Mendoza, and Lila Sutton. There were seven divisions from infant to eighth grade with each being judged with first, second, and third place prizes. The park recreation board sponsored the contest, and a meal was provided by the Lovington Communtiy Club. The grand prize winner was Blaine Hill, 2, who was dressed as a pilot with a hot balloon.

Lov Halloween Darian

Habitat ReStore Welcomes New Manager

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Photo by Mike Brothers ReStore manager Jan Courtright is constantly cleaning and arranging merchandise at the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity store in Sullivan.

Photo by Mike Brothers
ReStore manager Jan Courtright is constantly cleaning and arranging merchandise at the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity store in Sullivan.

•November 4, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

When Jan Courtright became manager of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Sullivan it was a natural fit. An open house was held to from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 31.

“I worked in Arthur and lived in Findlay so I drove by every day,” Jan began. “I began stopping and getting things for my house and just shopping.”

Courtright began to look at the ReStore as a daily American Pickers adventure, as he looked through shelves filled with everything from building supplies to vinyl albums and cassette tapes to rows of glassware and furniture.

You can get pretty much anything you need for your house at the ReStore.

Courtright’s shopping experience turned to management when his daughter told him about the opening in Sullivan.

“I really liked the store and what it does for the community, so I applied, and here I am,” he said, as he cleaned off a microwave getting prepared for the shelf.

He spends his 10 hour days moving and organizing and picking up donations along with the help of about a dozen or so Habitat for Humanity volunteers.

“Without the dozen or so volunteers this would not be possible,” Courtright said of dealing with the volume of merchandise coming in and out. Read More

Sullivan City Council Changes Cart Limits

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•November 4, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
For the NewsProgress

The Sullivan City Council met Monday, October 26 to cover a few issues that were on hand.

Commissioner Bill Hagen discussed the time frame for when golf carts used as transportation should be allowed in the streets. “Golf carts must have proper tail and headlights,” he stated. “There really shouldn’t be any out between 12 and 1 a.m.,” Hagen informed the council. Police chief John Love suggested that there shouldn’t be any golf carts after 10 p.m.  The new ordinance was changed to reflect the time change.

Hagen also discussed the recycling program once again. The city had decided to discontinue the recycling program because of the rising costs. “I don’t want people to have to pay extra money for people who come out of town to use it. People out of town had been using it too,” stated Hagen.

While the council suggested adding an extra dollar or two to utility bills, they felt that cost wouldn’t cover those from other cities.  “We are going to stop the program, despite the letters and the comments,” he added.

In other matters, the council heard or acted upon further: Read More

Sullivan Costume Parade Winners 2015

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Photo by RR Best Sullivan Costume Parade Winners Winners of the Sullivan Halloween costume parade over the weekend were first place (pictured)-Three Blind Mice, Dustan, LaCosta, Kadden, Klayten, and Kali Abbott; second place- Cabbage Patch Kid, Sophie Utsler; third place- Christmas tree Avery Florey; fourth place- dog (fairy on platform) Brenda Winkowski and Angel; fifth place- Mike Ditka, Bears player - referee, Daniel Wyatt and Keegan Adams; sixth place- scarecrow girl- Adelyn Hill; seventh place- Gru and Minions- Minions- 4 - Blake Martin; eighth place- Bat Man and Robin (dog) Kinsley Eads; ninth place- band director Mickey Mouse Brock Feece and tenth place- doughnuts and policeman Blaine and Laynie Zbinden.

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan Costume Parade Winners
Winners of the Sullivan Halloween costume parade over the weekend were first place (pictured)-Three Blind Mice, Dustan, LaCosta, Kadden, Klayten, and Kali Abbott; second place- Cabbage Patch Kid, Sophie Utsler; third place- Christmas tree Avery Florey; fourth place- dog (fairy on platform) Brenda Winkowski and Angel; fifth place- Mike Ditka, Bears player - referee, Daniel Wyatt and Keegan Adams; sixth place- scarecrow girl- Adelyn Hill; seventh place- Gru and Minions- Minions- 4 - Blake Martin; eighth place- Bat Man and Robin (dog) Kinsley Eads; ninth place- band director Mickey Mouse Brock Feece and tenth place- doughnuts and policeman Blaine and Laynie Zbinden.

Professional Learning Group Grows for Local Educators

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•November 4, 2015•

Matt Schoaff is a principal of action. That is one reason every student at Okaw Valley High School toured major businesses and industry in the area on October 30.

Schoaff explained that four busloads of high school students left Bethany heading to places such as Mid-State Tank, Agri-Fab and Hydro-Gear in Sullivan, to MasterBrand Cabinets in Arthur and to TCCI in Decatur.

“We had kids in welding internships for the first time at Agri-Fab last year,” Schoaff said of Okaw Valley’s commitment to training.  “Our major goal is to graduate kids to be productive citizens.”

“Not another school is doing this,” he emphasized.

Doing things is what Schoaff is good at.

Last year he noticed that many of the schools in the area have common issues relating to curriculum. So a professional learning group became his goal to let educators in different districts share successful teaching curricula in five different subjects.

Arthur, Shelbyville, Oakland and Windsor joined Okaw Valley to explore curriculum issues with math courses in August.

That experience went well so Schoaff stepped it up this year, inviting more schools and setting aside a weeklong curricula series. Read More

Eagle Creek Visited

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Photo furnished Eagle Creek Visited State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti visited Shelbyville Oct. 9 to meet with several community and school leaders from Shelby and Moultrie counties to discuss tourism, including a short discussion on the Eagle Creek Resort, school reform, and mandate relief. The Lt. Governor was in the area at the invitation of Sen. Rose. Prior to the meeting in Shelbyville, she met with Rose and senior officials with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a tour of the Eagle Creek site. Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti (center left) and Sen. Rose (right) met Oct. 9 with several community and school leaders from Shelby and Moultrie counties at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center to discuss state issues.

Photo furnished
Eagle Creek Visited
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti visited Shelbyville Oct. 9 to meet with several community and school leaders from Shelby and Moultrie counties to discuss tourism, including a short discussion on the Eagle Creek Resort, school reform, and mandate relief.
The Lt. Governor was in the area at the invitation of Sen. Rose. Prior to the meeting in Shelbyville, she met with Rose and senior officials with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a tour of the Eagle Creek site.
Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti (center left) and Sen. Rose (right) met Oct. 9 with several community and school leaders from Shelby and Moultrie counties at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center to discuss state issues.

Finding A Way to Make Ends Meet

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Photo by Mike Brothers The Sullivan Thrift Store is helping out Mid Illinois Senior Services- Pictured (from left) Mid Illinois Senior Services Executive Director Deb Groendal, Thrift Store manager Jackie Maxedon, 15 year volunteer Lorene Harris, Brandi Bly, Tricia Lamendola and Amy Hemrich.

Photo by Mike Brothers
The Sullivan Thrift Store is helping out Mid Illinois Senior Services- Pictured (from left) Mid Illinois Senior Services Executive Director Deb Groendal, Thrift Store manager Jackie Maxedon, 15 year volunteer Lorene Harris, Brandi Bly, Tricia Lamendola and Amy Hemrich.

State Comes Up Short

•October 28, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

While the state’s budget continues to take away from community services, Mid Illinois Senior Services in Sullivan is finding ways to cope.

Deb Groendal is executive director of the agency that provides a variety of senior services from Peace Meal programs to Medicare Insurance counseling.

“About 60 percent of our budget comes from the state,” Groendal said, pointing out none of that money is now being received. Another 40 percent of Mid-Illinois Senior Services is funded through federal grants with Moultrie County taxpayers helping out with a property tax contribution.

One outside source of income that has helped fill the gap left by lack of a state contribution is the Thrift Store, located on the square in downtown Sullivan.

Managed by Jackie Maxedon, a staff of three and one volunteer Lorene Harris, the Thrift Store offers repurposed items for sale 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday and 10-2 Saturdays.

“We really appreciate the community support we have received,” Groendal said. “Without the Thrift Store we would have to cut services.” She explained the state budget crisis has already shuttered some senior service facilities in other communities. Read More

Apartment Fire

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Photo by RR Best Apartment Fire Sullivan firefighters responded to a fire at the Graham Street apartments where flames had broken through a second story balcony. Fire investigator Kenny Graven said an estimated $10,000 fire damage was limited to the upstairs apartment with the cause undetermined. Searching for hot spots are: on roof from left Brock Read, Travis Hughes and Josiah Davidson; on ladder Adam Collins and on ground Kenny Graven, Kaleb Randall, Jason Fleming and Tyler Wright.

Photo by RR Best
Apartment Fire
Sullivan firefighters responded to a fire at the Graham Street apartments where flames had broken through a second story balcony. Fire investigator Kenny Graven said an estimated $10,000 fire damage was limited to the upstairs apartment with the cause undetermined. Searching for hot spots are: on roof from left Brock Read, Travis Hughes and Josiah Davidson; on ladder Adam Collins and on ground Kenny Graven, Kaleb Randall, Jason Fleming and Tyler Wright.