Category Archives: News Section

Council Asked to Zone Travel Trailer Area

News Progress Posted on by
February 4, 2015

Council Asked to Zone Travel Trailer Area Tuscola’s Cronus plant construction seen as local economic opportunity

by Ariana Cherry
Sullivan/Arthur Reporter

Stepheny McMahon, director of the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, addressed the Sullivan City Council in their last regular meeting about the possibility of zoning for a travel trailer area in preparation for the Cronus Plant (Tuscola) construction workers who will be coming to work in September.
McMahon questioned whether the mobile home parks would be interested in allowing campers and fifth wheels to come fill their empty spots.
“I spoke with the regional manager of the trailer parks, and she was interested, whether it be temporary or permanent, if the city would allow it,” said McMahon. Read More

Standerfer’s “Scroll” an Ambitious Endeavor

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Photo by RR Best Pictured is the Sullivan Elementary School newspaper staff, from left to right: Connor Golden, Devon Winings, Clayton Schmohe, Wes Standefer, and Ben Bushue.

Photo by RR Best
Pictured is the Sullivan Elementary School newspaper staff, from left to right: Connor Golden, Devon Winings, Clayton Schmohe, Wes Standerfer, and Ben Bushue.

January 28, 2015

Fifth grader starts elementary school newspaper

by Ariana Cherry
Sullivan/Arthur Reporter

Fifth grader Wesley Standerfer isn’t your typical kid.
Just a little over a year ago, he started his very own neighborhood newspaper, the “Shumanville Times.” Living on Shuman farmland inspired him to share the family news to those nearby. He delivered print editions locally, while others requested it by email from as far away as Texas and Washington D.C. At such a young age, he already began to see the potential of the printed word so Standerfer expanded his horizons and took to reporting in the halls of Sullivan Elementary School.
“I had the idea to start the newspaper because I thought that it would be a good idea to educate the students in the school about what was going on in the grades above and below them,” said Standerfer.
Although, the first time around, it didn’t quite come out as expected. Read More

Bethany Nears End of Expensive Multi-Year Water Treatment Project

News Progress Posted on by
January 28, 2015

New water filters pass EPA tests

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

This month marked the ending point of a multi-year water treatment project for the village of Bethany. The sizeable undertaking, a replacement of the decades old drinking water filters housed at the town’s water treatment plant, had been in development since 2012. A bid was awarded for the sand filter replacement in December of 2013, and after nearly a year of work, the dual filters were given the green light by federal regulators. Utilities manager Steve Sowers told the News Progress that this week the village applied for an operating permit, and use of the new filtration system should follow shortly after. Read More

Ruler Donation

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Photo by Stephanie Mitchell Ruler Donation Commander George Clark, along with Arthur Grade School student and granddaughter Alex Clark, presented the school with rulers featuring the Pledge of Allegiance on one side and the presidents’ pictures with their terms of office on the other. In addition to the Arthur students, Lovington grade schoolers also received the rulers as part of a yearly Post 429 tradition. More than 500 rulers were distributed. Clark is the commander of Lovington Post #429.

Photo by Stephanie Mitchell
Ruler Donation
Commander George Clark, along with Arthur Grade School student and granddaughter Alex Clark, presented the school with rulers featuring the Pledge of Allegiance on one side and the presidents’ pictures with their terms of office on the other. In addition to the Arthur students, Lovington grade schoolers also received the rulers as part of a yearly Post 429 tradition. More than 500 rulers were distributed. Clark is the commander of Lovington Post #429.

Smiles on Faces Four Hooves at a Time

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Photo by RR Best Andrea Ebert is seen with Jasper, one of her two mini therapy horses, during a visit to Aspen Creek in early December.

Photo by RR Best
Andrea Ebert is seen with Jasper, one of her two mini therapy horses, during a visit to Aspen Creek in early December.

January 21, 2015

Mini horses make visits to local residential centers

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Andrea Ebert describes it as her perfect storm.
The nurse of more than 30 years who also has a master’s degree in gerontology was able to combine her love for people and for horses last fall by way of creating Heartland Mini Horses, an organization she formed out of Taylorville that seeks to provide therapeutic visits to nursing homes and assisted living centers with the help of two hairy little horses: Jasper and Bailey.
At just 32 inches tall, Jasper is a two-year old miniature horse and is joined by eight-month old Bailey who stands an inch shorter, is black-and-white, and acts as Jasper’s sister in the way they will playfully gnaw at one another.
“Anything over 34 inches is pony stage,” explained Ebert. “As far as training them, these horses have to have a great deal of patience. There are times I’ve had Bailey sit for five minutes waiting for someone to touch her.” Read More

ALAH Receives Transportation Payment From State

News Progress Posted on by
January 21, 2015

Only two payments expected

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

“We’ve received our first payment for transportation and special education, and we are excited about that,” superintendent Kenny Schwengel announced during his treasurer’s report at the ALAH School Board meeting Wednesday, January 15.
The district’s transportation fund had been short for several months, and the district found themselves borrowing money from other sources to help cover costs.
“We’ve had to take money from the education fund to help pay for transportation and special education needs” added Schwengel. Recently the district received a voucher for $11,324.89, although other payments are still to be expected. “We should receive four payments this year, but we will be lucky to see two of them,” noted Schwengel. It was also reported that the district received a voucher of $20,660 for reorganization. The current balance of all the district funds is $6,290,154.05. Read More

Sullivan PD Warns of Unlocked Vehicle Thefts

News Progress Posted on by
January 21, 2015

Recent string has police urging public for help

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

After several instances where items were taken from unlocked vehicles this past week, Sullivan police chief John Love is asking the community to be alert and to call his office for any information related to the thefts.
Love, who declined to comment on the number of actual thefts or their exact location within Sullivan said that it appears at least one individual is targeting vehicles that are unlocked and then stealing items, though so far the value of such items remains minor. Read More