Category Archives: News Section

Information About the Results from the School District’s Facility Survey Shared

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•February 22, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

Superintendent Shannon Cheek, members of the school board and Rod Wright of Creative Entourage discussed the results of the facility survey that was sent out to members of the communities of the ALAH School District at the most recent Board of Education meeting which was held at Lovington Grade School.
In the communities of Arthur, Lovington and Atwood, only 361 surveys were completed. One of the main reasons that those who voted selected no to the proposal was they worried that the tax increase would be too much. Another big worry was that the elementary schools in Atwood and Lovington would eventually be closed down and/or torn down. Board member Ryan Nettles pointed out that since the high schools have all consolidated, both the Atwood and Lovington buildings were torn down. People could have some anxiety about their elementary buildings being torn down next. One other concern to which voters chose no to the proposal was the uncertainty of the current state of the economy. Read More

City Council Approves Purchase of Utility Poles, Discusses Employee Clothing Allowances

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•February 22, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Tuesday, February 14.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood reported that at the park they removed stumps from the playground and have been working on cleaning up Tabor Park. She estimated they are about two months out on a bid package for the splash pad.
Concerning the city building, she noted that the demolition has taken place. She noted that the process had gone relatively smoothly. Sherwood also read a prepared statement.
She said that the council had been asked to slow down or delay the project. “We cannot slow this project down,” she said. “It’s not been a slow process, and it has taken three years to get to where we are today.” Sherwood noted that the building has been severely neglected for decades and hundreds of dollars spent to band-aid serious issues. Read More

Mid-Illinois Senior Services Inc. Holds Valentine Luncheon 2023

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mid-Illinois Senior Services Inc. Holds Valentine Luncheon
Mid-Illinois Senior Services Inc. held their Valentine Luncheon on Friday, February 10 at the senior center. Part of the luncheon included a poetry contest as well as a catered lunch and door prizes. Winners received gift certificates to area businesses. Poetry contest winners were first place Harry McCorkle with “Helen’s Song”, second place Shirley Ford with “Twas the Night After Christmas”, third place Rachele Lane with “My Husband” and Honorable Mention to Joane Hutton.

LLC Students Given Opportunity to Travel to Europe

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•February 15, 2023•
Lake Land College students and community members will have the opportunity to explore London, England and Paris, France in June 2023. Those interested can secure a spot on the trip for less than $100 by March 20, 2023.
Those participating will depart from Lake Land College on Friday, June 23, 2023 and will return Saturday, July 1, 2023
The trip will include a stop at Disneyland Paris on the trip’s final day as well as the optional opportunity to attend a St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs MLB exhibition game in London, England. Read More

2023 Sheep to Yarn to Quilts Set for May 1 at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center

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•February 15, 2023•
Sheep to Yarn to Quilts returns to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023, and hours for the event are from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. CDT. This event will include sheep shearing demonstrations, cleaning and dyeing the wool, and spinning it into wool. Weavers will demonstrate weaving with looms, and quilting displays and demonstrations will complete the journey from Sheep to Yarn to Quilts. Visitors will be invited to try their hand at many of the activities being demonstrated. Read More

County Board Hears Update from Central Illinois Public Transit Representative

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•February 15, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board held a regular meeting Thursday, February 9 where they heard an update on Central Illinois Public Transit from representative Nathan Nichols. So far this year they have 45 new riders and 23 last year.
Nichols said they are on target to see a 32 percent increase in trips from FY 22. Trip purposes include general business, medical, employment, education, nutrition, shopping and social/recreational. “Moultrie County has one full time driver and two part time drivers,” Nichols said. “We have substitute positions open currently.”
The Effingham County Health Department received a grant which allowed them to hire a new position and a driver in Effingham County. The dispatcher will also be able to be utilized in Moultrie County. They are a non-emergency medical transportation provider.
He mentioned over the holiday season they took a group to Shelbyville, and they attended a concert at the Chautauqua building. Nichols added that they work with the senior center quite a bit as well. The transportation is offered through CEFS. He noted that in this county they transport students to school on a regular basis. Read More

Arthur Public Library Teams Up With U of I Extension for Program

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Caitlin Mellendorf tests a dial gauge pressure canner lid to see if it is accurate at Arthur Public Library after the program held on February 4.

•February 8, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

Approximately a dozen people interested in learning about preserving food through canning attended Yes! You Can: Preserving Safely at the Arthur Public Library Saturday, February 4. The program was led by Nutrition and Wellness Educator Caitlin Mellendorf.
She began the program by explaining the two ways that food usually spoils. The first is through microorganisms causing food spoilage including molds, yeast and bacteria. Controlling the growing conditions for these harmful microorganisms is the best way to prevent food spoilage and decrease the risk of foodborne illness. Another way is through enzymes; she gave the example of bananas that change color over time. Read More

Marrowbone Public Library Story Time

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Marrowbone Public Library Story Time
Marrowbone Public Library in Bethany holds story time on Fridays, starting in September and going through December and then resuming in January until May at 11:15 am. It is open to preschoolers ages 3-5. Programming includes books, crafts and a snack and it goes for one half hour. Pictured is Children’s Librarian Lesa Oathout reading to children at story time.

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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.