Category Archives: News Section

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Photos by Crystal Reed
Demolition of Old City Building Begins
The demolition of the old city building began on Monday, February 6. A new city building will be built on the same spot in the near future. The building had indoor air quality and structural issues including 5,400 square feet of asbestos floor tile, holes and missing brick and mortar in structural foundation walls intended to hold multiple vaults, extensive mold growth in the HVAC system that serviced personnel workspaces and recommendations to utilize hazmat suits when accessing the second floor. Asbestos abatement was done before demolition began on the building.

Sullivan School District Spelling Bee

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan School District Spelling Bee
The Sullivan School District Spelling Bee was held on Tuesday, January 31 in the Sullivan High School Commons. There were 36 speller from third grade to eighth grade that competed. There are six finalists and two alternates for the next step in the process the Moultrie County Spelling Bee which will be held on Thursday, February 16 at The Little Theatre On The Square. The top six were Caleigh Dyer, eighth grade; Chester Ray, sixth grade; Koda Polley, fifth grade; Scarlett Perrott, fourth grade; Tenley Stollard, sixth grade and Bear Bryant, sixth grade. The two alternates are Mary Crist, eighth grade and Alex Fultz, seventh grade.

Lovington Grade School Spelling Bee Finalists

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Lovington Grade School Spelling Bee Finalists
Lovington Grade School held their school spelling bee on Monday, January 23. Six finalists and two alternates were selected to move on to the Moultrie County Spelling Bee on February 16. The top three were first place Macee Boddy, second place John Williams IV and third Alexis Chism. Also qualifying to move on were Landon Willoughby, Makena Liming and Maxton Boddy. Alternates are Leland Willoughby and Ryan Mgawi.

Mirror Images to Present “Change”

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mirror Images to Present “Change”
Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images will be presenting their original play “Change” at The Little Theatre On The Square on Friday, February 3 at 5:30 p.m. Change is about a group of high school students who find a sense of belonging and healing through their school’s theater club. The play is starring Natalee Hunter, Elora Mast, Cora Emel, Logan Brinkman, Anna Durdel, Ivan Moxley, Avery Hopper, Elise Fleming, Johnathan Voegel, Jalen Herschberger, and Aston Johnson. Tickets for the play are $3.

Illinois EPA Grant Recipients

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•February 1, 2023•

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim today announced Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Grants to 48 communities to assist in meeting the requirements outlined in the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. The LSLI Grants, ranging from $20,000 - $50,000, will fund the creation of a complete lead service line inventory.
The Village of Lovington is the recipient of a $30,000 grant. Read More

Construction Progresses on Addition to SES

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•February 1, 2023•

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Sullivan Elementary students and staff were able to sign one of two I-beams that will be part of the sixteen classroom addition to the school.

by Ted Walk
Sullivan School District Superintendent

Construction of a sixteen classroom addition to the Sullivan Elementary School commenced last fall. The classroom addition will allow the 5th grade students to return to SES. Fifth grade students have been housed in the middle school for the past several years due to a lack of classroom availability at SES. Read More

TLTOTS Wins Four Broadway World Regional Awards in Chicago Region

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•February 1, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Little Theatre On The Square has won four BroadwayWorld Regional awards in the Chicago Region. According to Executive Director John Stephens, this is the first time they have been nominated for these awards. They were nominated in nine categories and won four of them.
The awards won are Best Music for Always...Patsy Cline, Best Actor in a Musical for Brittany Ambler as Louise in Always...Patsy Cline, Best Director of a Musical for Clint Hromsco with La Cage Aux Folles and the biggest Best Neighborhood Theatre. They received runner up for Best Costume in La Cage Aux Folles, Best Ensemble for La Cage Aux Folles and Best Theatre for Young Audiences for Junie B. Jones Jr.
According to the awards website www.broadwayworld.com, the awards honor the best in regional productions, touring shows and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. While there is no awards ceremony or physical awards given out, the winners of each category receive online acknowledgement. Read More

Visit from the Magi

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Visit from the Magi
Recently St. Columcille was blessed with a visit from the Magi (Randy Murphy in Purple, Steve Deters in brown and gold and Lane Richardson in red and gold). Catholics bless their home on the Feast of the Epiphany by marking above the doorway with blessed chalk and pray for God’s blessing during the coming year. An Epiphany get together was enjoyed by all in the Parish hall.

City Council Approves Professional Services Agreement for Wyman Park Improvements

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•January 25, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 23, with Commissioner Chuck Woodworth absent. They approved a professional service agreement with Chastain and Associates LLC for $83,850 for Wyman Park improvements, including a splash pad and tennis and basketball court improvements. This amount will be taken from the OSLAD grant the city was awarded.
Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards requested TIF funds for the purchase of some engines to replace their aging fleet. Currently, they have a 26-year-old engine and a 20-year-old engine. The average life span of an engine is 20-25 years. Read More

ALAH School Board Approves to Seek Bids for High School Track Repair

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•January 25, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

"The track is not in good shape. It is beyond repair and beyond “sticking band-aids on it,” Superintendent Shannon Cheek said at the most recent ALAH Board of Education meeting. Cheek informed the board that the district has two options in repairing the track. One option is to take down the track and do minor repair for the subsurface and then go back and resurface the track. That option would make the track last awhile. The most expensive option would be taking the subsection down and repouring the track which would cost double. A motion was passed to allow Cheek to seek bids for the repairing of the track.
Those in attendance at the meeting got to see a drone in flight. Agriculture teacher Megan Beckmier had a couple of her students (Brodey Lowden and Nova Shoemaker) give a drone demonstration. She stated that there are a lot of opportunities with drones for agriculture. Her class has been learning about drones through a program called 4H Drones in Agriculture through the University of Illinois. The class is allowed to use the drones for four weeks. At the end of the program, students will get to create an obstacle course and fly it. Read More