News Section – Page 336

Sullivan Schools Look at Building Improvements

Posted on November 11, 2015 by webmasterNovember 11, 2015

Roofs and HVAC systems needed

•November 11, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Facing a little more than $5 million in needed HVAC upgrading and roof repairs Sullivan Community Unit 300 board members explored funding options at the regular Monday, Nov. 9 meeting.

Tim King of King Financial Consultants presented some options utilizing health life safety bonds.

King explained, with existing debt expiring, the district could maintain its $380,000 annual payment toward bond payback.

“With your fund balances you also have the ability to purchase your own bonds,” King continued, noting Monticello school district self-funded health life safety bonds in January.

Sullivan fund balances totaling $6 million in education and transportation could be used with the district earning between 1.3 and 1.9 percent interest on the loan.

“One advantage to partially funding the bonds from existing funds is the balance could be borrowed locally at competitive rates,” King said.

Supt. Brad Tuttle asked about the option of selling bonds to cover a portion of the project.

King noted if the district needed to raise funds to reimburse or add additional funds, they could sell bonds to raise cash in 30-60 days.

Tuttle explained the district is looking at various funding options which will be discussed at the winter board planning session.

A public hearing concerning the intent of the board to issue $5 million in health life and safety bonds was held following King’s presentation. Read More

Courthouse Restoration Nears Completion

Posted on November 11, 2015 by webmasterNovember 11, 2015

Photo by Mike Brothers
Mason Masonary Restoration worker puts finishing touches on north side as tuck pointing moves toward completion.

Ahead of Schedule

•November 11, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County Public Health and Safety committee met November 4 with chair Arlene Aschermann leading discussion on the E 911 system, which is at the stage where individual mapping addresses for municipalities are entered.

The committee toured the Charleston 911 communication headquarters last month receiving an update on completion in the cooperative Moultrie-Coles County emergency system.

Kevin McReynolds reported initial testing proved the cell phone contact instantly maps the caller in the system with the next phase completing.

Aschermann noted the county needs a designated coordinator to assemble the addresses, with some delay placed on implementation until the funding formula is released by the state.

Building and maintenance superintendent Rick Matthews presented a report on the courthouse tuckpointing project to the committee.

Matthews noted Mason’s Masonry Restoration of Brownstown had finished tuckpointing all but the west side of the building.

Expected completion of the $203,755 outside restoration is set for December 28. Matthews said work has been going ahead of schedule, and he expected the project to be completed by the end of November. Read More

Local Funds Withdrawn from Eagle Creek Plan

Posted on November 11, 2015 by webmasterNovember 18, 2015

•November 11, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Efforts to keep reopening plans for Eagle Creek Resort moving forward through local funding have taken a step backwards.

Moultrie County Board Chairman Dave McCabe told budget and finance committee members this week a stumbling block had been reached with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the funding counties.

He explained states attorneys from Moultrie and Shelby counties were working on an intergovernmental agreement for a repayment schedule for the $92,000 loan to the IDNR.

Differences over a 90 day pay back term caused the IDNR to balk on the agreement.

“We have decided to drop the idea until the state resolves its budget problems,” McCabe said.

A group of Moultrie and Shelby counties leaders effort to get Eagle Creek Resort reopened had secured an Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant to conduct a feasibility study last year.

The $138,000 study, which would determine the feasibility of reopening the resort, stalled along with the state budget.

McCabe stated the $92,000 loan from Shelby and Moultrie counties could have completed the study. He explained the urgency stemmed from developers who have expressed interest in Eagle Creek, but nothing can be done until the study is completed.

Treasurer Marci Thompson presented the committee with resolutions for two properties sold at tax auction.

One track in Lovington Township sold to John A. Renfro on a $1326 bid and one track in Sullivan Township sold to Robert G. Jackson on a $2555 bid.
Read More

Bethany Acquires New Technology for Roadways and Police

Posted on November 11, 2015 by webmasterNovember 11, 2015

•November 11, 2015•

By Derek Pope
For the News Progress

Bethany residents may notice some changes as they drive through town this fall thanks to funding from Moultrie County and the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency. Over the past few months, village workers have replaced nearly 150 traffic signs throughout the village as part of a Federal Highway Administration mandate that went into effect this year.

The project, which consisted of installing new posts, signs made of modern highly reflective materials, and the removal of some old traffic signs that did not meet previously existing federal regulations, started back in July and was finished November 6. All of the materials were purchased by Moultrie County’s governing body and distributed to Bethany, though village labor was required to set up the new signage.

As part of the federal mandate, Bethany was required to have all the new signs in place by November 30 of this year. Similarly by 2018, all street signs will need to be replaced in order to posses the same “retroreflectivity” as the town’s new traffic signs.

Bethany’s utilities department also got the go ahead to change out 22 streetlights in the village’s downtown district with new LED lighting in the coming months, in part by using funds given to the village by the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA). Through the IMEA’s Electric Efficiency Program, cumulative funds are granted each year to be used by affiliated municipalities, as the town sees fit, in projects that will reduce overall public electricity use. Read More

SHS Presents The Wedding Singer

Posted on November 4, 2015 by webmasterNovember 4, 2015

Photo by RR Best
The cast of The Wedding Singer is in costume and ready for a weekend of performances at The Little Theatre On The Square in Sullivan.

Four Weekend Performances

•November 4, 2015•

Sullivan High School is presenting “The Wedding Singer” starting Friday, Nov. 6 at the Little Theatre On The Square.

This production by the Sullivan Singers is a first for show choir director Jeff Thomas this season and promises to be a good time for audiences.

The musical was created following the popularity of “The Wedding Singer” movie starring Adam Sandler.

“It’s a comedy that pokes fun at the 80s era, with all the glitter and big hair of the time,” Thomas said of the story of a guy performing as a wedding singer during the 80s glam rock era.

“There are some great 80s rock songs and some iconic characters like Hulk Hogan and Cindy Lauper blending into a really funny show.”

Thomas explained the musical is a lot of fun for audiences.

“For high schoolers it is important to keep it light,” he said of the musical. “Everyone likes a good laugh, and it is very entertaining.”

All the 51 Sullivan Singers and stage crew are involved in the production with the Sullivan Singers combo providing musical back up.

Thomas noted that the Little Theatre is building the sets and providing sound and lighting for the performances.

It is an ambitious production that began only five weeks ago. He explained that some characters have as many as 200 lines, and the lead has six to seven songs to learn in less than a month. Read More

Sullivan Schools Add Instagram to Social Media Offerings

Posted on November 4, 2015 by webmasterNovember 4, 2015

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

Posted on November 4, 2015 by webmasterNovember 4, 2015

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

Posted on November 4, 2015 by webmasterNovember 4, 2015

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

Posted on November 4, 2015 by webmasterNovember 4, 2015

•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