Category Archives: News Section

ALAH School District Reviews Tentative 2016 Budget

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•September 2, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
Reporting from Arthur

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond school board discussed a tentative 2016 budget at their last regular meeting. “There is about a $150,000 difference in the education fund,” stated Superintendent Kenneth Schwengel. “We had to move $150,000 to the transportation fund so that it would be in the black,” he said. “We also have yet to receive a million dollars in reorganization funds.”

The estimated beginning fund balance for the ALAH district as of July 1, 2015 is $1,347,192. The budget calculates the total disbursements/expenditures to be $8,556,208. If the district receives all of their appropriate funding, the anticipated ending balance for June 2016 has been calculated to be $1,615,666. The board noted that the budget will be on display for the next 30 days and then a hearing will be held at 6 p.m. September 21 to approve it.

Other matters that were discussed or voted upon:

-Students returned to class Wednesday, August 19. Read More

Sullivan City Council Discusses Repaving Project

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•September 2, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
Reporting from Sullivan

Not only is the Moultrie County courthouse receiving some repairs and restoration, but the square around it will be getting repaved, as discussed by the Sullivan city council at their last meeting.

According to commissioner Ken Johnson, the courthouse square was paved 30 years ago with asphalt. The current estimate to repave the square is $350,000 which doesn’t include the surface prep work. After the square has been repaved, it can last between seven to 10 years. With the cost and work of the job, it will need to be broken down into three years. “We would like to put down as much asphalt as possible and see how much we can get done,” said Johnson.

“We should do the square first and then see what will be left,” he added. Read More

Celebration to Honor Miller’s 100th to be Held Sunday

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Coleen Miller

Coleen Miller

•September 2, 2015•

A celebration in honor of Coleen Miller’s 100th birthday will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 in the Collins Building at Mason Point in Sullivan.

Miller, who was born Sept. 10, 1915, was secretary for McPheeter’s Loan Company and Citizen’s Abstract Company and spent many hours boating on Lake Shelbyville with her husband. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, dancing and shopping.

She married Irtys W. Miller, Sr., who is now deceased, Aug. 29, 1936. She is the mother of Sharon (Jim) Taylor and Irtys W. (Carol) Miller, Jr., both of Sullivan and Stanley (Pam) Miller of Florida. Her daughter Shirley is deceased. She also has six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild as well as two step-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandchild. Read More

Knights Face Georgetown-Ridge Farm

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Photo by Mike Brothers Knights face Georgetown-Ridge Farm On Tuesday, Aug 25 the Arthur-Lovington Atwood-Hammond Knights hosted Georgetown-Ridge Farm at Lovington for their first match. Above Knight Eusebio Briseno maneuvers through Georgetown traffic on his way to the goal. Georgetown-Ridge Farm came out on top three goals to one in this first match for the Knights.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Knights Face Georgetown-Ridge Farm
On Tuesday, Aug 25 the Arthur-Lovington Atwood-Hammond Knights hosted Georgetown-Ridge Farm at Lovington for their first match. Above Knight Eusebio Briseno maneuvers through Georgetown traffic on his way to the goal. Georgetown-Ridge Farm came out on top three goals to one in this first match for the Knights.

TRiO Grant for LLC

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Photo furnished TRiO Grant for LLC Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) today announced that Lake Land College has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to receive a TRiO Student Support Services grant award, in the total amount of $1.15 million over the next five years. Pictured here from left are: Amber Niebrugge, TRiO advising counselor; Lake Land College President Josh Bullock; TRiO student Clyde Powell, Charleston; Marko Mohlenhoff, director of TRiO Student Support Services; and Congressman John Shimkus.

Photo furnished
TRiO Grant for LLC
Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) today announced that Lake Land College has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to receive a TRiO Student Support Services grant award, in the total amount of $1.15 million over the next five years. Pictured here from left are: Amber Niebrugge, TRiO advising counselor; Lake Land College President Josh Bullock; TRiO student Clyde Powell, Charleston; Marko Mohlenhoff, director of TRiO Student Support Services; and Congressman John Shimkus.

Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace Kick Off Tour

News Progress Posted on by

•September 2, 2015•

Elim Springs event Sept. 9 open to the public

Submitted

East Nashville singer and songwriter Matthew Smith along with his band Indelible Grace will be returning to Sullivan September 9 to kick-off a tour that will span 16 states and 29 cities through November.

“We had a great time the last time we were there,” said Smith of his 2012 concert in Sullivan. “Everyone was really warm and enthusiastic, and I loved playing there. It’s great to be able to come back.”

Smith and his band are known for performing traditional hymns to new and refreshing melodies, which in turn makes his music well-received among all ages.

“These words are 150-250 years old, but I write new melodies to those lyrics,” added Smith. “I think these hymns are beautiful and profound and shouldn’t be forgotten.”

The September 9 concert will, as in 2012, be held at Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ, though the venue is certainly not exclusive. Read More

Bethany’s Village Board Promises Reforms for Local Landlords

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•September 2, 2015•

By Derek Pope
Reporting from Bethany

In an unprecedented event last June, representatives of the Sullivan Area Landlord’s Association, along with numerous property owners, brought a petition to Bethany’s board of trustees requesting revisions to a long established ordinance on the village’s books.

The document’s signers—31 in total—were all individuals who lease properties within Bethany’s village limits. The decades old ordinance they are seeking to change currently holds these landlords liable for any delinquent utility bills owed by their tenants.

Although it has largely gone unenforced over the years, the ordinance came to the notice of the landlords after the village began notifying individuals that the regulation would be used to reclaim a number of unpaid accounts amounting to thousands of dollars of lost revenue for the town’s utilities.  Read More

From Summer Camp to Macy’s Parade

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•August 26, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

 

Photo by Mike Brothers Ben Berner is getting ready for Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. He will be joined by mother Samantha in New York City while father Mike watches from Sullivan.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Ben Berner is getting ready for Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. He will be joined by mother Samantha in New York City while father Mike watches from Sullivan.

Summer camp changed Ben Berner’s life and Sullivan High School’s history at the same time.

The B-flat clarinet player from the Sullivan High School band will march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with the Great American Honor Band.

Ben attended summer band camp at Eastern Illinois University where Camp Director Barry Houser encouraged him to apply for the Honor Band.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” Berner said of his acceptance. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go as the first kid from Sullivan.”

Clarinets are in the Berner family with Ben’s mother Samantha playing in high school. She plans to attend while dad Mike will hold down the fort in Sullivan with the rest of the family watching the parade on television.

“This is cool! “ Samantha said, noting this was the 10th annual Honor Band performance at the Thanksgiving Day parade. She will fly out later in the week to join Ben and take a place on the main stage to watch the parade.

“Ben will be a busy guy,” said Sullivan band director Brock Freece, “He will have to prepare for the Thanksgiving parade in addition to performing in all our competitions and games this season.”

Freece attended the Eastern band camp as a youth. He has been a resource to help find ways to help with expenses for Ben’s trip as he will have to take care of transportation costs. Read More

Sparrows Unlimited Helps Families Throughout the Year

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Photo by Mike Brothers Lovington area Vacation Bible School students worked together this summer raising more than $600 which they donated to Sparrows Ltd. Children from all churches gathered at First Baptist Church for the cooperative VBS. Above are some of those VBS participants: (kneeling from left) Cannon and Daylon Doggett, (standing) Krystina Myers, Peyton Newberry and Makayla Hays.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Lovington area Vacation Bible School students worked together this summer raising more than $600 which they donated to Sparrows Ltd. Children from all churches gathered at First Baptist Church for the cooperative VBS. Above are some of those VBS participants: (kneeling from left) Cannon and Daylon Doggett, (standing) Krystina Myers, Peyton Newberry and Makayla Hays.

•August 26, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
Reporting from Lovington

In 1994, a group of people saw a need within their community and wanted to help others who were less fortunate than they.

After holding an auction for the very first time at Jerry’s East End that December, it became an annual tradition.

“I have personally been involved with Sparrows for 15 years, and the generosity of the people, not just in our community, but the surrounding towns, never ceases to amaze me,” said Jessica Mercer, a member of the Sparrows group in Lovington.

Sparrows Unlimited is a non-profit organization that was started to help families in Lovington who were in need during Christmas. Although since then, the organization has evolved in the way it helps others.

“Originally the organization was to benefit families in need at Christmas, which is still our primary focus. Sparrow’s Unlimited has evolved into a vital tool within our community providing Christmas to families in need, and delivering fruit baskets to the elderly,” stated Pam Anklam, another member of the organization.

“We act as a resource and support system for many organizations in Lovington such as Christ’s Pantry, Lovington American Legion Post #429, COLA, Boy Scouts and many school organizations,” she added.

Sparrows Unlimited also provided coats for children. “Last year we bought more than 40 coats for children in the community,” informed Mercer. Along with providing coats, the organization also put together more than 100 fruit baskets for the elderly (anyone over 62) as a thank you for their contributions to the community.  Read More

Sullivan Council Approves New Culvert Policy

News Progress Posted on by

•August 26, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
Reporting in Sullivan

The need for a culvert policy prompted action by the Sullivan City Council at the August 17 session.

After some heavy rains and flooding, it became clear that some culverts and drainage ditches would need to be repaired and installed. During that discussion, the question of who was responsible for payment of the culverts was brought to the table -the homeowner or the city?

Commissioner Ken Johnson presented a new culvert policy that answered that question. In section one of the policy it states: “The cost of purchasing the initial driveway culvert will be the responsibility of the homeowner/taxpayer.”
Read More