Category Archives: News Section

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

Potential New Math Curriculum Presented

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•April 26, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

Principals and math teachers presented a potential new math curriculum for the ALAH school district recently. They have been meeting and researching different ones since last fall. Two pilot ones, Bridges and Reveal, were started around Christmastime. Members of the pilot team for grade school math are Adrienne Seal, Rose Hollingsworth, Rhonda Rhodes, Erin Beck, Chris Foreman, Andrew Peralta and Marla Graham. There were teachers in grades K-5 and Special Ed who participated in the pilot programs. The mathematics program at which the grade schools are looking is called Bridges. Positive points about Bridges include a hands-on curriculum, focus on number sense and explaining different ways to get the answer. Read More

Sullivan HS Teacher Surprised With Retirement Party

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Scott Bales teaching the Sullivan High School Spanish Club CPR, which actually turned into a surprise retirement party.

•April 26, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan High School Spanish Club gathered on Friday, April 14, early in the morning to learn CPR. At least that’s the reason for which physical education and health teacher Scott Bales thought he was in the commons area in the high school that morning. Little did he know that the Spanish Club and the high school Spanish teacher Patricia King had a surprise for him.
After Bales had demonstrated how to administer CPR on mannequins and also demonstrated how to operate an AED, there was an announcement made that they had invited him not for a CPR lesson but to celebrate him as he is retiring at the end of this school year. Bales has spent 34 years in the teaching profession, 25 of those in Sullivan. Read More

Sullivan City Council Tables Bid Award For New City Building

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•April 26, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council met Monday, April 24, with several items of business. Mark Conlin worked for the city of Sullivan at the electric plant for almost 34 years. Mayor Richard Glazebrook recognized him at the beginning of the meeting for his service. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth attended the meeting by phone.
Resident Bob Ingram asked a question about an invoice for All Service Contracting. He said that an invoice said one amount and the agenda had a differing amount. Nakayla Swisher said they always pay the amount on the front page.
His second question was in regards to an item on the agenda to approve the purchase of a bucket truck for $256,535.00. Ingram asked whether they had searched for one anywhere else. Commission Mike Fowler said these trucks are hard to come by. Read More

Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Luncheon

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Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Luncheon
The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development held a luncheon at the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society Center on Thursday, April 13. Guest speaker for the event was Darby Poe of Moultrie County Counseling Center. After the luncheon, attendees could tour the museum and library at the center.

County Board Hears Information on Wind-Solar Ordinance

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•April 19, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board had their regular meeting Thursday, April 13. At the beginning of the meeting Jessie McClusky of the University of Illinois Extension presented to the board by highlighting some of the things the organization offers.
There are six Moultrie County Master Gardeners. In the SNAP-Ed category they help families gain knowledge and skills needed to make healthier choices through in-person classes and online resources. SNAP-Ed also works with organizations and community groups to promote healthier food options and environments in communities struggling with limited resources. There are mini food pantries established in Lovington and Sullivan. In Moultrie County alone the pantries have provided 10,530 pounds of produce this year and are helping approximately 200 families through food mobiles and family life programs including Wits Fitness, Illinois Strong Couples and Mental Health First Aid. Read More

Spores and More Festival April 29

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•April 19, 2023•
Spores and More Festival will be held in Windsor on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be food trucks, small businesses, vendors, live music, great deals and morel mushrooms. The event will be held on Maine Street and at the Red Barn.
At 11 a.m. the Windsor American Legion will serve mushroom soup and spaghetti with traditional or mushroom sauce. This year there are over 40 vendors set to attend the festival. Vendors will have a variety of items including homemade crafts, ceramics and jewelry. Read More

Sullivan Community Education Foundation Teacher Appreciation Banquet

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Pictured are retiring staff members Scott Bales and Kay Lehman.

•April 19, 2023•
On Thursday, April 13, the Sullivan Community Education Foundation hosted their annual Teacher Appreciation Banquet at Building 1225 in Sullivan. The theme for the evening was baseball, and it opened in the first inning with the Star-Spangled Banner sung by Kaylee Ogle.
After Invocation given by Dan Fultz in the second inning, teachers and staff were treated to a baseball style meal of hot dogs, brats, etc., catered by Griffin’s catering for the third inning. Read More

Mo. Co. Supervisor of Assessment Receives Award

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Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessment Lori Barringer was presented the 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award (Small Jurisdiction) during the Illinois Property Assessment Institute banquet on March 27 in Normal.

•April 19, 2023•
The Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessment Lori Barringer was presented the 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award (Small Jurisdiction) during the Illinois Property Assessment Institute banquet on March 27 in Normal. Barringer was nominated by Mark Armstrong and the award was presented by Mary Tamez.
According to the speech given at the event. Barringer has hit the ground running since the start of her assessment career. By statute, counties of fewer than 50,000 persons should have a coefficient of dispersion of 30% or below. Barringer’s jurisdiction has a population of less than half of that. With such a small sample size and a large rural area containing a significant number of farm parcels, reaching that target is difficult. In the face of challenges, however, Barringer has met this goal every year she has been in office, with an average coefficient of 26.3% during that time. Read More

Paige Robinson Recruited to Dallas Wings

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•April 19, 2023•
On Monday, April 10, Paige Robinson, an Okaw Valley alum, became the first player in Illinois State University Women’s Basketball history to be drafted to the WNBA after being selected 31st overall by the Dallas Wings. During her time at Illinois State, she started in 32 of 33 games, averaged 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3 assists. Some of her recognitions include 2021 NCAA D2 Player of the Year, two-time NCAA D2 All-American, 2023 MVC Player of the Year and 2023 MVC Newcomer of the Year. Read More