Category Archives: News Section

Moultrie Farmer Directs Funds to Christ’s Pantry

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Photo by Barry Morgan Pictured left to right: Ken Ruff (Winning farmer’s husband), Al Rennert (Christ’s Pantry), Jane Franklin (Christ’s Pantry), Greg Watters (Monsanto representative), Larry Adams (Monsanto representative)

Photo by Barry Morgan
Pictured left to right: Ken Ruff (Winning farmer’s husband), Al Rennert (Christ’s Pantry), Jane Franklin (Christ’s Pantry), Greg Watters (Monsanto representative), Larry Adams (Monsanto representative)

February 25, 2015

Christ’s Pantry recently received a $2,500 donation from Moultrie County farmer Kathy Ruff and America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The donation will help the organization purchase a new freezer, ground beef and groceries.
“The pantry recently lost use of a freezer full of meat,” said Pastor Al Rennert. “With this money, we hope to purchase a new, more reliable freezer and to also buy ground beef and other food items that are given out on a weekly basis.”
In addition to the new freezer, the donation will help cover about six months of food. Pantry director Jane Franklin started the pantry in 2011 when she noticed people in her community were going hungry.
“The best part about receiving this donation is that we won’t have to worry for a while knowing that we have the funds to take care of people for a long time,” said Franklin. “I think it’s so wonderful that the Ruff family chose us to receive the donation. They are really good people.” Read More

Hydro-Gear Makes Changes to Attract Workers

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Photo by Keith Stewart Applications engineer Tom Gavin walks down a busy isle at Hydro-Gear Friday, February 6.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Applications engineer Tom Gavin walks down a busy isle at Hydro-Gear Friday, February 6.

February 18, 2015

New hiring practices, training and promotion opportunities

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Like many manufacturers today, Hydro-Gear in Sullivan is finding it difficult to recruit quality workers. But the Sullivan based company has taken a hard look at its own shortcomings and as a result, recently made internal changes to hiring practices, is applying new training and promotional opportunities, and taken a more active seat at the discussion table when it comes to the perception of manufacturing in today’s day and age, all in an effort to show they mean business when it comes to valuing their workforce.
“Manufacturing is a whole lot different today than when I started in manufacturing 30 years ago,” said Joe Scheiner, Priority Quality Issues Leader at Hydro-Gear. “I want people to see that.”
Hydro-Gear’s roots may be traced back to the 1980s when Sauer-Danfoss located in Ames, Iowa began producing a hydraulic transmission that was paired with an axle assembly at the original equipment manufacturer, be it John Deere or Cub Cadet. Read More

Council to Move Forward on Al Fresco Dining

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February 18, 2015

TNT requests outdoor bistro-like area

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

The Sullivan City Council looks poised to vote on an ordinance in the near future after a local business owner came forward at their last meeting requesting al fresco dining for his restaurant.
Tim Rose of TNT Pizzeria approached the council about the possibility of outdoor dining at his restaurant during the regular meeting February 9.
“I would like to have it during The Little Theatre season for intermission or after the shows,” explained Rose. “It would be a small bistro type area and for those looking for a quick meal.”
The idea of outdoor dining or al fresco dining was first formally brought before the council last April when the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development unveiled what it called its downtown vision, which in addition to outside dining, proposed outdoor merchandise and sandwich signs, which were approved last June. Read More

Wheeler’s 33 Years Recognized

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Submitted Wheeler’s 33 Years Recognized The Moultrie County Merit Commission presented member Jim Wheeler a plaque of appreciation for his 33 years of service to Moultrie County as a member of the Moultrie County Merit Commission. Pictured, from left to right: Former Sheriff Jeff Thomas, Jim Wheeler, Sheriff Chris Sims, former Sheriff Rieck Kendall. Wheeler’s last day as a member of the commission was December 1. Thomas was selected by the county board to replace him.

Submitted
Wheeler’s 33 Years Recognized
The Moultrie County Merit Commission presented member Jim Wheeler a plaque of appreciation for his 33 years of service to Moultrie County as a member of the Moultrie County Merit Commission. Pictured, from left to right: Former Sheriff Jeff Thomas, Jim Wheeler, Sheriff Chris Sims, former Sheriff Rieck Kendall. Wheeler’s last day as a member of the commission was December 1. Thomas was selected by the county board to replace him.

ALAH Board, Staff Discuss PARCC Testing Preparation

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February 18, 2015

Difficulties with typing and time allotted, cited

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

There wasn’t much good to be said for the new standardized test that is slated to replace both the ISAT and PSAE this spring at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s monthly school board meeting last Wednesday.
“The tests are time consuming. It takes a lot of preparation and scheduling. All the tests are done online, and we have 27 computers, 37 Chrome Books. We test over an eight day period in grades three through eight. The longest test is 90 minutes and the average is 55,” explained Atwood principal Lindsay Blickenstaff.
As explained on the PARCC (www.parcc.pearson.com) website, PARCC came about through a group of states working together to develop a set of assessments that measure whether students are on track to be successful in college and in their careers. The assessments are in mathematics, English language and literature and are designed to replace both the elementary school ISAT and high school PSAE and are built on the new common core standards. Read More

2014 Rotary Vocational Award

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Submitted 2014 Rotary Vocational Award Kurt VanDeursen, owner of VanDeursen’s Ace Hardware in Sullivan (right), was recently named the 2014 Rotary Vocational Award recipient. To his left is Jack Peterson, president of Sullivan Rotary.

Submitted
2014 Rotary Vocational Award
Kurt VanDeursen, owner of VanDeursen’s Ace Hardware in Sullivan (right), was recently named the 2014 Rotary Vocational Award recipient. To his left is Jack Peterson, president of Sullivan Rotary.

Bethany Legion Poker Tournament Winner

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Submitted by Jason Brown Bethany Legion Poker Tournament Winner Phil Bryant, of Sullivan, (pictured) won the American Legion 507 Poker Tournament in Bethany, Saturday, Jan. 24. With the proceeds from the tournament, the American Legion 507 awards an academic scholarship each year for an Okaw Valley High School graduate.

Submitted by Jason Brown
Bethany Legion Poker Tournament Winner
Phil Bryant, of Sullivan, (pictured) won the American Legion 507 Poker Tournament in Bethany, Saturday, Jan. 24. With the proceeds from the tournament, the American Legion 507 awards an academic scholarship each year for an Okaw Valley High School graduate.

NTC Scholar Athletes

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Submitted NTC Scholar Athletes Each year the National Trail Conference gives out a $1000 scholarship to both a male and female scholar athlete. This year Uriah Jones and Melanie Adams were chosen to represent Windsor High School. Jones was awarded the $1000 scholarship.

Submitted
NTC Scholar Athletes
Each year the National Trail Conference gives out a $1000 scholarship to both a male and female scholar athlete. This year Uriah Jones and Melanie Adams were chosen to represent Windsor High School. Jones was awarded the $1000 scholarship.

Windsor FFA Attends 212º Leadership

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Submitted Windsor FFA Attends 212º Leadership Conference More than 680 students and 140 teachers from across Illinois attended the 212º Leadership Conference. The conference is an activity of the National FFA Organization, coordinated by the Illinois FFA Center, sponsored by Syngenta and Crop Production Services as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. Travis Fox, Gillian Sanders, Kaitlyn McCoy, Whitney Pepperdine, and Skyler Darby, members of the Windsor FFA Chapter attended the conference January 30-31. The two-day program helps FFA members become aware of the four categories of growth while discovering the importance of pursuing lifelong growth. FFA members attended sessions on discovering how habits affect growth, determining the difference between personal and professional relationships and identifying personal mentors and coaches. The agriculture education teachers participated in professional development workshops. The National FFA Organization coordinates 212º Leadership Conferences nationally with the sponsorship of Syngenta. CPS supports the programs taking place in Illinois. This school year more than 3,000 students across the nation will participate in a 212º Leadership Conference. Pictured from left to right: Renee Kinzinger - Illinois State FFA Secretary, Gillian Sanders, Kaitlyn McCoy, Skyler Darby, Whitney Pepperdine, and Travis Fox

Submitted
Windsor FFA Attends 212º Leadership Conference
More than 680 students and 140 teachers from across Illinois attended the 212º Leadership Conference. The conference is an activity of the National FFA Organization, coordinated by the Illinois FFA Center, sponsored by Syngenta and Crop Production Services as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. Travis Fox, Gillian Sanders, Kaitlyn McCoy, Whitney Pepperdine, and Skyler Darby, members of the Windsor FFA Chapter attended the conference January 30-31.
The two-day program helps FFA members become aware of the four categories of growth while discovering the importance of pursuing lifelong growth. FFA members attended sessions on discovering how habits affect growth, determining the difference between personal and professional relationships and identifying personal mentors and coaches. The agriculture education teachers participated in professional development workshops.
The National FFA Organization coordinates 212º Leadership Conferences nationally with the sponsorship of Syngenta. CPS supports the programs taking place in Illinois. This school year more than 3,000 students across the nation will participate in a 212º Leadership Conference.
Pictured from left to right: Renee Kinzinger - Illinois State FFA Secretary, Gillian Sanders, Kaitlyn McCoy, Skyler Darby, Whitney Pepperdine, and Travis Fox

Okaw Valley Aids in Revival of Local Manufacturing Through Education

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Photo Courtesy of Agri-Fab Okaw Valley student Dalton Bly is seen welding at Agri-Fab as a part of the new Student Learner Program.

Photo Courtesy of Agri-Fab
Okaw Valley student Dalton Bly is seen welding at Agri-Fab as a part of the new Student Learner Program.

February 11, 2015

No Jobs Left Behind group helps get gears going at OVHS

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

While the school year is heading into its final stretch for many area educators, administrators over at Okaw Valley have decided that it is not too late to reinvent how they teach nontraditional skills to students.
In January, Okaw Valley’s administration released details on their participation in a new initiative aimed at reviving manufacturing in east central Illinois that, at the same time, promises to revitalize how individuals become proficient in trades before entering the workforce. The initiative, being called the Student Learner Program, places students with novice level experience in specific trades, gained through their time at Okaw Valley, into paid internships at local businesses that encompass the trade in which they are interested. Read More