Category Archives: News Section

City Council Discusses Public Works Director Position

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•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The new Sullivan City Council met for the first time on Monday, May 8. During the meeting it was decided to postpone changes to electric and gas rates. “I think we need to be looking at what we can do to keep gas rates and electric rates as low as we can,” commented Mayor Mike Mossman. Commissioners Mossman and Kirk need time to review the rate study done by BHMG. They may end up doing so in the future but not at this point in time. However water and sewer rates are automatically increased by 4% at the beginning of each fiscal year, unless the Council votes not to increase the rates. Since Commissioner Chuck Woodworth was in favor of the increase, no vote was taken. Read More

Auction for Sullivan Middle School to be Held June 3

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•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

Sullivan Middle School will be torn down in the near future. However before that happens those in the community have the opportunity to take home a piece of the school that brings back memories or simply sparks their interest. The auction will consist of everything left at the middle school from desks to doors. However anything that would disturb the walls is off limits.
According to Nicole Monroe, a secretary with the Sullivan School District, the auction will be held at 9 am on Saturday, June 3. There will be a final walkthrough that morning at 7:30 am. She noted that the auction will be a walking auction that will start on the first floor and end at the bus garage.
There will be concessions that morning with proceeds from the concession stand going to the Sullivan Athletic Boosters. Some of the items up for bids include desks, doors, the scoreboard, bleachers, lockers and basketball hoops, a Ruscin strength peg board and much more.

Paige Robinson Day Held in Bethany to Celebrate WNBA Recruit

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Paige Robinson rides in the back of a vehicle during the parade portion of Paige Robinson Day held last Wednesday, May 3 in Bethany.

•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

A celebration of Okaw Valley alumna Paige Robinson was held last Wednesday in Bethany. The day began with a parade that started at Bethany First Christian Church and then rolled past Okaw Valley Elementary School before ending at Okaw Valley High School where several presentations were made to Robinson.
Brooks Inman, Okaw Valley Athletic Director, described a performance he had seen by Paige as a basketball player at OV which occurred Saturday, January 20, 2018 during the conference championship against Tri-County. She went down with a serious left shoulder injury. The trainer taped her up and said there would be no way she could play.
Inman said Paige came back to the game to finish with 31 points. She played through a lot of pain the rest of that season, he said, but was able to avenge that loss in the sectional championship.
In high school, she scored 2,125 points and in her senior year led the team to their first regional, sectional and super sectional. Ultimately, the team placed fourth in state. Read More

Spores ‘n More Mushroom Winners 2023

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Spores ‘n More Mushroom Winners
This year’s mushroom contest for Spores ‘n More had 22 entries. Winners were announced at the Windsor American Legion on Saturday, April 29. The smallest mushroom was found by Chris Goodman and measured 36 mm and the largest mushroom was found by Beau Hutchison and it measured 593 mm. Pictured are Karsyn Goodman, Chris Goodman, Erica Nabers with the Lake Shelbyville Army Corps of Engineers, Beau Hutchison, Isaac Hutchison.

Singers and Singers Jr. Dinner Theatre

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Photos by Crystal Reed
Singers and Singers Jr. Dinner Theatre
On Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30, the Sullivan Singers and Sullivan Singers Jr. presented their dinner theatre in the Sullivan High School gym. Saturday there were two performances and Sunday only one performance. The program included the Fall Show “Press Play On A Good Day”, competition shows for Singers Jr. and Singers, Spring Show and Senior Spotlights by Alexi Fryman, Sierra Guynn, Mikala Simmons and Kaylee Ogle. During the Sunday performance seniors were recognized.

“The Smoke Studio” Opens in Shelbyville

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•May 3, 2023•
By Sharon Barricklow
Correspondent

Not yet 30 year old “Serial Entrepreneur” Dillon Tedrick has owned a car stereo installation business, a lawn and landscaping service and is now hoping to make his mark in retail with “The Smoke Studio”, a new store on North Morgan in Shelbyville.
“I looked around and saw that Shelbyville was probably the kind of place a store like mine would work,” said Tedrick, who lives in Effingham but has family in Shelbyville. Read More

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Surprises Newest Homeowner

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Surprises Newest Homeowner
On Tuesday, April 18, Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Board members and co-workers of the recipient gathered in the courthouse rotunda to surprise the newest homeowner Becky Comstock. Pictured is Howard Sanders, Gary Smith, Gene Mueller, Sandy Sanders, Becky Comstock, Cheryl Thomas, Tony Feeler and Roger Glazebrook.

New Sullivan City Council Sworn In

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Photo by Crystal Reed
New Sullivan City Council Sworn In
On Monday, May 1 the new Sullivan City Council was sworn in at the Moultrie County Courthouse by Judge Jeremy Richey. From left to right are Abbey Sherwood, Commissioner of Accounts and Finance; Mike Kirk, Commissioner of Public Property; Mayor Mike Mossman and Doug Shook, Commissioner of Street and Public Improvements. Not pictured is Chuck Woodworth, Commissioner of Health and Safety.

Simpson Named Illinois State Scholar

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•May 3, 2023•
Danielle Simpson, a senior at Okaw Valley High School, has been named an Illinois State Scholar. She has a 4.125 gpa on a 4.0 scale after 7 semesters. In her time at Okaw Valley she has received straight A’s and been on high honor roll all through high school. Read More

Illini Prairie CEO Trade Show Features Student Businesses

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Jalexis Barrett of Sullivan at her booth during the Illini Prairie CEO Trade Show held at Yoder’s Kitchen in Arthur on Thursday, April 25. Her business is called Cozy Creations and involves creating custom rugs.

•May 3, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Illini Prairie CEO class which includes students from the Arcola, Arthur, Sullivan and Tuscola communities held their trade show at Yoder’s Kitchen Tuesday, April 25. There were 10 student businesses showcased at the event including a tea business, keychain business, photography business and custom card business.
One of the students participating was Jalexis Barrett, a senior at Sullivan High School. After graduation, she plans to attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and study criminology. Barrett said she joined the CEO program to help push her out of her comfort zone and make her a more driven and business-minded individual. Read More