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Moultrie County celebrated two exceptional community initiatives recently as part of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation’s Impact200 Grant Program. In partnership with Decatur Earthmover Credit Union, the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation awarded $200,000 to local nonprofits at a special reception recognizing the transformative power of philanthropy. The event highlighted the foundation’s commitment to empowering changemakers across Central Illinois. 

Among the recipients honored were two organizations from Moultrie County, each receiving grants to support their critical programs. The Sullivan AMBUCS Chapter was awarded $10,000 to expand its Ramp Building & AmTrykes Program, providing mobility solutions to residents in need. The Sullivan Community Unit School District No. 300 (CUSD #300) also received $11,200 for its innovative “Buster the School Bus” School Bus Safety Program, an initiative designed to promote safety and awareness among young students. 

The $10,000 grant for the Sullivan AMBUCS Chapter will support the construction of wheelchair ramps and the distribution of AmTrykes—customized tricycles that offer mobility to people with disabilities. The chapter’s work has transformed lives across the community by enhancing accessibility and independence for individuals facing mobility challenges. This funding will allow AMBUCS to reach even more residents in need, fulfilling its mission of creating a more inclusive, accessible community.  Sullivan CUSD #300’s “Buster the School Bus” School Bus Safety Program was granted $11,200 to bolster school bus safety for elementary students. The program, centered around Buster, a robotic school bus, will engage students in interactive learning sessions about bus safety rules, encouraging lifelong habits of safe transportation.

•November 13, 2024•

The Sullivan CUSD #300 school board held its regularly scheduled November meeting this past Monday. All board members were present. As were a slew of guests who were eager to participate in the non-agenda items, but who were unwilling to stay for actual school business.

As always, the evening began with reports from NEHS and NHS. The next agenda item was Citizens Non-Agenda Items. Many within the audience had signed up to speak, but before anyone was given the opportunity to speak, Board President Jeff White read the following statement on behalf of the Board of Education:

•September 11, 2024•

by Megan Russell

The Village of  Lovington held their monthly meeting Monday, September 9th starting off with the community members comments. A returning project made its way into the meeting once again, covering the topic of active and deceased honor veteran signs for the streets or welcome signs of Lovington. Last meeting, it was discussed that it would be difficult to fit a number of signs on light poles that the village owns, considering Ameren owns all the poles in Lovington but a small few which are owned by the city. To solve the problem of signs not having enough space for enough active duty and fallen veteran signs, “Finding a spot we own is the issue - We own the welcome signs” stated village board president Dennis Garmon on the subject of moving the memorial signs to the welcomes signs. 

This was furthered when Dennis asked the community member about other families or potential residents who may be interested in the project, in response however, the community member has not started fundraising or soliciting stating “We would rather be proactive than reactive...”, continuing forward to explain how they wish to only move forward with this part of their project after they have been cleared to do so by the council.  Read More