Category Archives: News Section

MCHGS Receives $10,000 Illinois Humanities Foreground Rural Initiative Grant

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
A quilting display in the museum space at the Moultrie County Genealogical Society Library and Museum. Volunteers are currently working on setting up exhibits among other tasks.

•December 21, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society recently received the news that they are a recipient of a Foreground Rural Initiative Grant in the amount of $10,000. The society is one of 27 partners who are receiving funding and resources through the new Illinois Humanities Foreground Rural Initiative. Partners are located across 19 counties in Illinois.
Gallery 510 Art and Framing, an Illinois art gallery in Macon County, is also an organization that is receiving one of the grants. According to a press release, grantee partners will participate in skill and resource sharing programs. Illinois Humanities will also partner with grantees on the co-creation of place-based “hubs” that will host community events in 2023 in the regions where they are located.
According to Fairouz AbuGhazaleh, director of statewide programs at Illinois Humanities, the initiative is for small and rural towns and are given to organizations and individuals to give them a platform to share their stories and successes. The program is a three-year initiative. AbuGhazaleh said they were surprised to receive double the amount of grant applications. Read More

Sullivan Middle School Improvement Project

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Middle School Improvement Project
During the month of November, Sullivan Middle School students collected items for Moultrie County PAWS. Items collected included kitty litter, chew toys for large dogs, dog treats and cat food. Pictured are students with some of the donations. They are (in no order) Lena Emel, Tucker Grooms, Addi Patterson, Miah Voegel, Melissa Ross, Lily Green, Hailey Green, David Eaton and Stephanie Zook.

Sullivan American Legion and VFW Post Donate Flags

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan American Legion and VFW Post Donate Flags
Sullivan American Legion Post 68 and Sullivan VFW Post 6410 visited Sullivan Preschool on Tuesday, December 6 to install flag brackets and American flags in classrooms at the preschool. The effort was led by both organizations who helped install and split the cost for the purchase of the flags and brackets. Pictured from left to right are: Mike Daily, Bob Ingram, Bob Sims, Kent Spencer, Sullivan Preschool Executive Director Karen Goss, Larry Gregory, Kent Buxton and Mike Keown.

United Methodist Women hold Christmas Bake Sale 2022

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
United Methodist Women hold Christmas Bake Sale
The United Methodist Women at Sullivan First United Methodist Church held their Christmas Bake Sale and Cookie Extravaganza on Friday, December 9. Available for purchase were homemade cookies, breads, pastries, candies, pies, jellies and more. All proceeds support UMW missions.

OVHS Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
OVHS Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner
The 50th Annual Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner provided by the Okaw Valley School District was held on Friday, December 9 in the high school cafeteria. Music was provided by students who were accompanied on piano by Kathy Doty. Pictured in no order are Garrett Ferguson, Eli Peters, Sayj Jean, Kayla Fleshner and Lydia Webner.

Burcham Wins State and National Awards for Contributions for Program

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
University of Illinois Extension Family Life Educator Cheri Burcham recently received team awards for her contributions in the Illinois Strong Couples program. She is pictured fifth from the left in the photo.

•December 14, 2022•
University of Illinois Extension Family Life Educator, Cheri Burcham, recently received team awards for her contributions in the Illinois Strong Couples program. She and the team received the second place Innovation in Programming award at the annual National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences conference held in Raleigh, North Carolina in September, and a Team Excellence award at the annual University of Illinois Extension conference held in Champaign in November. Read More

Illinois Attorney General’s Office Representative Educates Seniors on Consumer Fraud and Scams

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Marsha Griffin, a Community Outreach Liaison for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General was the guest speaker at Dine with a Doc on Tuesday, December 6th and Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. She spoke to seniors about different types of scams.

•December 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

Dine with a Doc, a free program for seniors to hear about an educational topic and enjoy a complimentary lunch, was held December 6 at Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. in Sullivan. Senior Education Ministries offers the program in order to extend God’s grace. The program is a community effort by Senior Education Ministries, a doctor, a meal sponsor, area businesses, donated venue site and senior citizens.
Marsha Griffin, a community outreach liaison for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, works in the Regional Office located in Carbondale. Prior to coming to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, she was an elementary school teacher for 13 years.
Griffin said sometimes when people hear about the office, they think of their local state’s attorney’s office; however, their roles are very different. The Office of the Illinois Attorney General has three responsibilities--to advocate on behalf of all Illinoisians, litigate and sometimes file class action lawsuits and work with members of the Illinois General Assembly to pass laws which would benefit Illinoisians. They have more than 40 different divisions including the consumer protection division, their largest. Read More

Sullivan City Council Approves Ordinances Related to TIF District

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council meeting began with a public hearing on the levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2022 and ending April 30, 2023. The total levy is $1,204,613 which is up from prior years because TIF 1 has expired. Treasurer Sarah Golden said the tax rate is no higher than it was 10 years ago and the public will not see their tax bills go up.
The council addressed several items in regard to TIF District 4. The first item authorized the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Jacob and Klein, LTS, The Economic Development Group and city of Sullivan. The group will provide technical advice to assist the city with the TIF.
Another resolution was a third amendment to Sullivan Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District 4 Central Properties and Investments, LLC Redevelopment Project. Mayor Richard Glazebrook said the area is located on Hamilton Street on the east side across from Industrial Way Road and will be apartments. The third item was another proposed third amendment to TIF 4 Legacy Post Frame Home, LLC Redevelopment Project. Read More

Metro Communications Places Christmas Tree

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Metro Communications Places Christmas Tree
A new Christmas Tree has been placed in Downtown Sullivan Illinois by Metro Communications. The tree was installed next to the Metro building on the corner of Harrison and Washington streets. Metro employees spent several days out in the chilly weather assembling and decorating the tree. Multiple motorized lifts had to be used to raise workers up to reach the highest of the branches. The artificial evergreen has been covered with silver, gold, red and green ornaments. The biggest size of the metallic spheres has a circumference of 24 inches. The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development organization partnered on this project. Laurrie Minor, the Director of The S.C.E.D., said her organization is incredibly happy to be able to share Metro’s generosity with the community.