•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

•November 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

It may not look like it’s going to be a White Christmas outside, but inside The Little Theatre On The Square, it will be. Rehearsals for the theatre’s production of White Christmas began Saturday, November 26. The theatre’s last production of White Christmas was in 2017. The show will be onstage December 9-18, and some shows are already selling out.
This year’s production will be directed by Clint Hromsco with choreography by Kaitlyn Frank. The female lead Gretel Scarlett is back. She was also in the 2010 production of the show. Read More

Photo courtesy of Denise Sentel
Gauge, the comfort dog’s first day of school photo from early this fall.

•November 16, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Windsor Elementary School has a furry, friendly student that has been attending the school for the past three years. That student is Gauge, a six-year-old goldendoodle breed dog who is an official comfort dog at the school. This is his third year serving the school in this capacity.
When Denise Sentel decided to adopt Gauge, her son had just turned 16 and wanted an active, energetic dog. They already had a rescue pit at home. She wanted a younger dog to ride around with her, and from the beginning, he has traveled everywhere with her.
It started with her bringing Gauge in every once in a while to visit students. Sentel knew about therapy dogs and how they were a benefit to those who have experienced tragedies and traumas. After the tragedy in the Sullivan School District a few years ago, her interest was renewed in training Gauge to help others. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Dan Huebener, of Brighton, uses a large mallet to drive a peg into the wood during the Miller-Herschberger barn raising at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday, October 29.

•November 2, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center located between Arthur and Arcola had a big event over the weekend-- a barn raising for the Herschberger-Miller barn which was constructed three miles from Arthur in 1879. The barn was dismantled this past spring by Firmitas, formerly Trillium Dell Timber Works.
Besides removing the barn from its original site, the 143-year-old structure was tagged, labeled and dismantled piece by piece. Last weekend that barn was raised on the IAHC grounds along with other activities including blacksmithing, rope making, petting zoo and buggy rides. Due to OSHA regulations, the barn was raised using some modern equipment. Read More

•October 19, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Little Theatre on The Square will host An Evening with John and Julie on Friday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 30 at 2 p.m. The show was staged by Executive Producer John Stephens and Decatur native Julie McClarey-Smith. McClarey is the undefeated national Ragtime Piano Playing Award winner.
She will play a little bit of everything from Ragtime and the Bumble Boogie to classical music and praise hymn favorites. John will bring some of his past favorite roles back to life and also visit a medley of songs from roles in which he wishes he had been cast as well as some classic pop and country hits. Read More