Category Archives: News Section

Arthur-Lovington Issues $2.1 Million in Gen. Obligation Bonds

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Hatfield’s resignation formally accepted

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

The Arthur-Lovington School Board issued $2.1 million in General Obligation Bonds at a 2.962 percent tax rate last Wednesday.

The bonds will be used for construction of the new Arthur Junior High addition, asbestos removal at Lovington Grade School, a new roof for Arthur-Lovington High School and other maintenance and repairs as needed for the district. Sales tax revenue will be used to pay back the bonds. Last year, Douglas County passed a 1% sales tax increase which went into effect this past January. The district will start receiving the revenue in April, and it is estimated that they will receive $239,000 annually. The bonds must be paid off by December 2023, although the board has an early payment option for December 2022. Read More

Lovington Reinstates Police Chief Position, Appoints Swisher

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Raises also given to three employees

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

After dissolving the position of police chief in 2010 due to what the village found was an unnecessary position, Lovington reinstated the title February 10 at their monthly meeting and gave said title to officer Christian Swisher.

Depending instead on a “head police officer” since 2010, the village decided to reassign the position due to realizing an inherent liability issue. With no police chief, the head police officer was required to come to the village board each time he or she wished to sign off on any item of business, thereby making the board ultimately responsible for any action the head officer took. Read More

Moultrie County Counseling Center Kicks Off New Service

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Submitted by
Hollie Atchison
Employment Specialist

Several local and state officials attended a kick-off event for Moultrie Counseling’s Individual Placement and Support program Feb 7. Leaders from the Division of Mental Health, Division of Rehabilitation Services and Department of Human Services travelled from all across the state to help launch the new initiative at the mental health agency. Moultrie Counseling staff, community leaders and consumers were in attendance to learn the benefits of the new supported employment program and to show their support for the already successful service. David Cole, Executive Director of Moultrie Counseling, welcomed those in attendance and shared the early successes of the program with the crowd. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program officially began December 1, 2013 with great momentum. Penny Arthur, IPS Supervisor, and Hollie Atchison, Employment Specialist, have been preparing for the launch of this evidence-based service for several months. Read More

Love–the Tie that Binds

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Photo by Keith Stewart Lucille Fultz recites her first place poem “Courtyard Baby” Friday.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Lucille Fultz recites her first place poem “Courtyard Baby” Friday.

Seniors come together for annual
V- Day Luncheon

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

It is said that love is the tie that binds relationships. At the Sixth Annual Senior Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Poetry Contest Friday, area seniors and citizens reflected on spouses, either living or past, parents, and family in an afternoon full of food, desserts, and poetry.

“We talked about any problems that we had. So if there was a misunderstanding, we solved it right then and there. That’s what made it possible,” said Wilma Wilhelm of her 65-year marriage with Gilbert Ray. “He passed away at 93 five years ago. He was the best one that I ever had,” she gushed. While it was clear that Wilhelm missed her spouse deeply, she did get to share the special event with her son Roger. He attested to the facts of his mother’s story simply by smiling and nodding as he sat by her side.  Read More

Another Bethany Home Destroyed After Fire Sunday

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Photo by RR Best Sullivan firefighter Rob Young and Findlay assistant fire chief Jason Fleshner survey the damage inside the home located at 606 West Main Street in Bethany Sunday.

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan firefighter Rob Young and Findlay assistant fire chief Jason Fleshner survey the damage inside the home located at 606 West Main Street in Bethany Sunday.

Second house fire in two weeks

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

After a house fire left one rural home destroyed two weeks ago, another residence in Bethany has been ruled a total loss following yet another fire Sunday.

The residence at 606 West Main Street in Bethany was occupied by Jeffrey England and was destroyed Sunday afternoon after a fire ravaged the home. The Bethany fire department was paged out at 2:55 p.m. and was assisted by both Sullivan and Findlay fire departments. Read More

Hatfield Resigns Amid Domestic Battery Charges

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Former Villa Grove Principal Selected for Interim Period

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Now former Arthur-Lovington High School principal Brian Hatfield officially resigned last Wednesday in a letter to the school district according to an announcement by superintendent Travis Wilson.

Hatfield, who is facing two counts of domestic battery in Champaign County, was replaced by former Villa Grove principal Danny Powell for the remainder of the school year; Powell officially began on Monday. Read More

Home is Total Loss After Fire Thursday

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Photo by RR Best Firemen work to extinguish a fire located at a Bethany residence last Thursday afternoon. Wind gusts only fueled the fire more, which took responders nearly three hours to put out. The home has been ruled a total loss.

Photo by RR Best
Firemen work to extinguish a fire located at a Bethany residence last Thursday afternoon. Wind gusts only fueled the fire more, which took responders nearly three hours to put out. The home has been ruled a total loss.

Gusts only intensify flames

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A home located on the Bethany-Moweaqua blacktop has been deemed a total loss after a fire last Thursday.

According to Bethany fire chief Jim McMahon, the home belonging to Dorotha E. Bennett caught fire last Thursday afternoon due to what the state fire marshall investigation concluded was a candle. Read More

Dolphins “Sprint to the End”

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Submitted by Don Rousser Dolphins “Sprint to the End” Bradley Bourbonnais Swim Club hosted “Sprint to the End” at Bradley Bourbonnais High School Jan. 26. Eighteen Blue Dolphin swimmers competed, and the following were high point winners: Emily Oligschlaeger first 8 and under division; Gabrielle Spain first 9-10 girls; Natalie Drury second place 11-12 girls; McKenna Kull first place 13-14 girls; Anna Wooters, third place 13-14 girls; Brynna Sentel first place 15 and over girls. Pictured from left to right are head coach Jason Drury, Brynna Sentel, Anna Wooters, McKenna Kull and Natalie Drury. Not pictured are Emily Oligschlaeger and Gabrielle Spain.

Submitted by Don Rousser
Dolphins “Sprint to the End”
Bradley Bourbonnais Swim Club hosted “Sprint to the End” at Bradley Bourbonnais High School Jan. 26. Eighteen Blue Dolphin swimmers competed, and the following were high point winners: Emily Oligschlaeger first 8 and under division; Gabrielle Spain first 9-10 girls; Natalie Drury second place 11-12 girls; McKenna Kull first place 13-14 girls; Anna Wooters, third place 13-14 girls; Brynna Sentel first place 15 and over girls.
Pictured from left to right are head coach Jason Drury, Brynna Sentel, Anna Wooters, McKenna Kull and Natalie Drury. Not pictured are Emily Oligschlaeger and Gabrielle Spain.

Mirror Images Continues To Perform on Important Teen Topics in 25th Year

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Submitted by Rebecca Lawson

Mirror Images, Sullivan High School’s prevention theater group, will perform its 25th anniversary show at 7 p.m. Friday, February 7 at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan.

“A Day In Our Not So Normal Lives” is an all original show written by current and past Mirror Images members. Read More

AL Principal Arrested for Domestic Battery

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by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Arthur-Lovington high school principal Brian L. Hatfield, 42, was arrested recently on two counts of domestic battery, which were filed on January 21 according to documents filed by the Champaign circuit clerk’s office.

According to an Urbana Police Report, the incident occurred at the 1800 block of Cunningham on January 18 around 1:30 a.m. when witnesses saw Hatfield and his wife “mutually battering each other.”  Read More