Category Archives: News Section

Tending the Butterflies in Lovington

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Darian Hays Butterflies are illusive creatures but Francis Seelow of Lovington has found a way to attract them to his garden.

Photo by Darian Hays
Butterflies are illusive creatures but Francis Seelow of Lovington has found a way to attract them to his garden.

Harvest time

•September 30, 2015•

By Nick Fiala
Reporting from Lovington

To everything there is a season...A time to plant, and a time to harvest - Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

A sunny sky looks down on a yard full of beautiful plant life, a kind of raw oasis in the middle of endless squares of concrete road running through the town of Lovington.

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, all fly around in a symphony of colorful motion and calming ambience. The habits of each of these creatures are well known to the man who runs the garden they enjoy so.

“They go clear down to South America in the winter.” the man says, pointing at the hummingbirds. “You know, That’s a long ways.”

Hard work over a long distance is something this man, Francis Seelow, knows well. His talent for prolific gardening has earned the attention and gratitude of his friends and neighbors.

Seelow’s talents were honed over a lifetime spent farming endless acres in local counties. His first teacher was his father, who farmed provincially for a living, himself the son of a hard-working immigrant.

“Dad farmed all his life. My grandfather came over here from Germany after World War 1. He was a blacksmith and railroad worker.” Read More

Morale Matters for Sullivan Schools’ Faculty

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers This inspirational stone was selected by Don Lockwood to help connect Sullivan teachers during the course of the school year. Lockwood chose “Inspire” for the rock he keeps on his classroom desk. Each teacher was given a stone and asked to write one word that represents a school year goal as part of the “ Morale Matters” program which started districtwide at the beginning of the school year.

Photo by Mike Brothers
This inspirational stone was selected by Don Lockwood to help connect Sullivan teachers during the course of the school year. Lockwood chose “Inspire” for the rock he keeps on his classroom desk. Each teacher was given a stone and asked to write one word that represents a school year goal as part of the “ Morale Matters” program which started districtwide at the beginning of the school year.

Teachers Learn to Rock

•September 30, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

In a world of cut school budgets, unpredictable evaluations and a questionable pension plan it isn’t easy being a school teacher these days.

Sullivan Unit 300 administration and teachers are trying a proactive approach at improving morale.

Morale Matters was implemented by the Sullivan Education Association at the beginning of the school year.

“So many of the causes for lack of morale are simply out of our control,” SEA president Don Lockwood said of education. Teachers don’t control the state budget; they cannot control the changing times of how students are evaluated and they have no control over the mismanagement of their pensions by state government.

“It’s an excellent concept,” superintendent Brad Tuttle said of the Morale Matters program.

He explained the uncertainty teachers face these days has led to fewer people choosing education and even fewer wanting to get into public school administration.

“This is the third year the state has cut our budget by a quarter million dollars,” he continued, noting there is a negativity surrounding public education. “Schools aren’t getting the funding the way they were five years ago, yet the costs of operations continue to rise, and it forces cutbacks,” he continued

All things that contribute to lowering the morale in the schools. Read More

Remember When? 9-30-2015

News Progress Posted on by

Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan High School will crown a new queen this Friday during homecoming festivities. Senior candidates are Stacey Anderson, Laura Pound, Angie Johnson and Misha Coy. Princess attendants Mandy Collins, Jennifer Daily and Nicki Wood will also take part in homecoming festivities all week at Sullivan High School.

Bryan Yoder of rural Lovington recently took home seven prizes for his corn exhibits at the Illinois State Fair. He dedicated his prizes to Howard Phillips of Arthur, superintendent of the Moultrie-Douglas Fair for many years.

Sandi Cameron was recently elected president of the United Way Board of Moultrie County for 1990-91. Also elected were Terry Shaw, vice president; Sheila Muzzy, secretary; Margaret Ann Smith, treasurer; and Darrell Davis, campaign chairman.

Bethany’s Ben Osman was just a few yards from catching a pass from Burl Coclasure during the Mustangs 14-2 victory Friday night over Maroa-Forsyth.

After 27 years as chief cook, bottle washer and owner of Wilson’s Cafe in Dalton City, Dorothy Wilson recently hung up her apron and leased the family style restaurant to a young Dalton City woman. Michele Phelps, 22, who previously worked at the restaurant as a teenager before she launched her own career in the food industry, leased the business Sept. 1 and has renamed it Michele’s Cafe.

Two more military service personnel with local ties are reported to be serving in the Middle East as part of Operation Desert Shield. Army Pvt. 1st Class Robert S. Hale, son of Robert Hale and Carol Hale Bolin of Sullivan, was recently dispatched to Saudi Arabia. He is a 1989 graduate of Sullivan High School. Linda Hall of Harrisburg, Pa., a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard and the daughter of Warren and Dorothy Hall of rural Sullivan, left last week for Saudi Arabia. She is a 1966 graduate of Sullivan High School. Read More

A Time to Honor Direct Service Professionals

News Progress Posted on by

•September 23, 2015•

By Susan Sullivan Rauch
Executive Director of the Beacon

“People with developmental disabilities have special needs, but their basic needs are the same as everyone else’s. The need to have a home, learn useful, relevant skills; work; and develop and sustain relationships with people they care about and who care about them.” Author Unknown

The Moultrie County Beacon has done this in Sullivan since 1968, yet many of our citizens have only a vague notion of what we actually do and whom we actually help. This isn’t such a surprise for our first 30 years we really didn’t talk about what we did.

To the families that we served, we were a blessing, but for the majority of the population our work remained a mystery that had little impact on their lives. Most children with special needs were bused out of town to special schools, thereby inhibiting the social relationships that are built during the 12 years attending public school. As a result, many adults with developmental disabilities grew up without being fully integrated into their communities.

Today we are driven to push the boundaries that once hindered people with disabilities from meeting their full potential. Today most of our children attend our local schools and, as a result, form relationships that enrich their lives as well as the lives of their classmates.  Read More

Training Gap Addressed by No Job Left Behind

News Progress Posted on by

•September 23, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

With some 500 production related jobs opening in the next few years the need to train local students is in growing demand.

On Sept. 18 representatives of No Job Left Behind from Coles, Douglas, Shelby and Moultrie counties gathered at Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan to find out how to best meet that demand.

Dr. Mike Rudibaugh , GIS professor from Lake Land College, analyzed results from the 2015 gap survey sent to 131 employers in the region.

What Rudibaugh learned was the growing need for production employees is in a region that is experiencing a decline in population.

“One thing I think you will find is many communities have an aging population,” Rudibaugh said, citing Shelby County as one with 40% of its population over 50 years of age.

He went on to explain the present commuter trends across county lines indicate the need for training will require regional cooperation in order to attract major government funding.

“Production (manufacturing) still plays an important and vibrant role in our communities,” Rudibaugh continued. “And partnerships between production and education can help communities stabilize population by training workers for jobs that need to be filled here.”

Sullivan schools superintendent Brad Tuttle pointed to the recent success of the welding program in its first year at District 300 high school.

Aimed at preparing students for Agri-Fab and Hydro-Gear jobs in Sullivan the class has more than 12 students in its first year.The school has also enjoyed success with the summer intern programs at these local facilities.

Deacon Patient of Agri-Fab said he would like to utilize more internships if some funding sources could be located to grow that program.

Joe Sheiner of Hydro-Gear noted they opened the tour to include more than the manufacturing side of the business. Hydro-Gear utilized the summer intern program to help fill a receptionist vacancy this year.

Tuttle noted an adult education welding program is being planned with hopes of vocational funding to assist.
Read More

Saturday Chase From Corn Field to Moultrie Jail

News Progress Posted on by

RR Best's drone shot of Saturday night's search.

RR Best's drone shot of Saturday night's search.

•September 23, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Andrew Bathe’s three county tour in a stolen car Saturday ended with him inside the Moultrie County Jail Sunday. His Moultrie County charges include fleeing to elude and disobeying a traffic device.

Sullivan Police Chief John Love explained the chase began at 3:33 p.m. Saturday, Sept 19.

“The officer on patrol observed a vehicle reported stolen from Shelbyville,” Love said, noting this was on Hagerman St. in the north end of Sullivan.

The gray 2007 Ford Focus turned onto N. Market St. running a light and a couple of stop signs as it was heading north toward Lovington.

After the Focus turned onto Market St. the patrol car started pursuit with lights and siren.

Continuing north out of town, the Focus skidded at a T intersection and ended up in a ditch.

The patrolman observed a white male exit the Ford Focus into an adjacent corn field. After a brief foot pursuit, the Sullivan patrolman called for assistance.

Chief Love said that included the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept., Sullivan Fire Dept ladder truck, Bob Best and the News Progress drone and Johnny Bill Durbin’s airplane. Read More

Sullivan School Approves New Budget, Staffing Completed

News Progress Posted on by

•September 23, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan District 300 school board members approved a $10,043,969 total budget at the Monday, Sept. 14 meeting.

The fiscal budget year is July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 with Superintendent Brad Tuttle explaining the process during a public hearing on the budget.

“With the state still struggling with their budget, we are looking at the third year of some type of cuts.” Tuttle said, noting that contingencies are built into the budget in case things start to go south.

He said the district is starting the year in better shape with account balances but warned that declining enrollment will equalize the increased state reimbursement formula.

Educational fund receipts from local taxes are anticipated at $2,975,199. The state contribution is expected at $3,266,267 with the federal government budgeted for $876,016, bringing anticipated fund total for education to $7,117,482.

Even with a $50,000 contingency, education expenses are anticipated at $7,3034,134, some $185,652 less than the fund is bringing in. An account balance of $2,985,659 covers the shortage in education.

Operations and maintenance and transportation funds also are budgeted in the red.

Superintendent Tuttle explained the budget is a working document and will be revised as more information is available during the year. Read More

Okaw Valley Royalty

News Progress Posted on by

Photo courtesy Jeni Yantis Okaw Valley Royalty Nick Tipsword and Gretchen Macklin were crowned as the 2015 Okaw Valley High School Homecoming King and Queen at the homecoming dance Saturday, September 19.

Photo courtesy Jeni Yantis
Okaw Valley Royalty
Nick Tipsword and Gretchen Macklin were crowned as the 2015 Okaw Valley High School Homecoming King and Queen at the homecoming dance Saturday, September 19.

Great Weather Makes For a Great Hullabaloo

News Progress Posted on by

duck winner

ducks in the fountian

selfie from tower top

wrecking ball

Great Weather Makes For a Great Hullabaloo Photos by RR Best Hullabaloo on the square in Sullivan enjoyed a sunny afternoon Sunday, Sept 20 as some 1800 visitors from all over the area came to town. With the help of 28 sponsors and 85 volunteers New Life Church coordinated the three hour event with a host of inflatables and family oriented entertainment. “What we like to think is that Hullabaloo offers something for everyone,” volunteer Cheri Wood said. “It’s a totally free event that is safe for all ages,” she continued. She pointed out this is the fifth year for Hullabaloo. “The first couple of years we held it in October, and the first year we had snow flurries, and our hands were freezing to the duck pond.” Since moving to September, Hullabaloo has grown every year with folks coming from Springfield, Champaign, Neoga, Shelbyville and other surrounding communities this year. Wood noted the inflatables were very popular as was laser tag and the rock climbing wall. “There were lines at all the events during the three hours,” Wood said noting the beautiful weather and sense of community made this year’s Hullabaloo another great success.