Category Archives: Top Stories

Patriot’s Day: Life is Short, No Time for Hate

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Photo by Mike Brothers
The Patriot’s Day ceremony at Sullivan High School on Wednesday, Sept. 11 honored all area first responders and military personnel. The 18th annual observation was coordinated by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English and Mirror Images students.

•September 18, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The Sullivan High School Patriot’s Day observation Wednesday, Sept. 11 emphasized from tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.
Kelsie Allen, from the host Mirror Images class, reminded the student assembly of the words of the wife of the pilot of Flight 93 that went down Sept. 11, 2001.
A strong reminder of how fragile life is and the importance of Scott’s Law was relayed by Illinois State Police District 10 Commander Louis Kink.
Dillon Wallace of Rebecca Lawson’s Mirror Images group introduced ISP Social Media Coordinator Tracy Lillard and Commander Kink who recalled a tragic day after Thanksgiving in 2012.
Lillard told the audience she became physically ill when she heard about Trooper Kyle Deathrages accident on Interstate 55 that morning. “My heart was broken for his wife and two children,” Lillard recalled. Read More

Faith Lutheran Church Celebrates 50 years

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•September 11, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The public is invited to celebrate a golden occasional at 10 a.m. Sunday, September 15 at Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan.
The 50th anniversary service includes retired Pastor Joel Cluver, the first resident pastor at Faith, as the guest speaker. Retired Pastor Paul McGhghy will be in attendance.
Following the service all present and former church members are invited to attend a catered old-fashioned picnic which will include pony rides, a bean bag tournament, a cake walk and entertainment.
In the 1960s when a plan for a large medical complex in Sullivan fell through at the present church’s location the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church purchased the six-acre site on Route 32 south of Sullivan for future church development.
During the summer of 1969 representatives and pastors of five neighboring Lutheran congregations met in Sullivan. Grace Lutheran Church of Strasburg agreed to serve as the sponsoring congregation for the Lutheran mission venture in Sullivan and authorized Pastor Marvin Kammrath of Grace Lutheran in Strasburg to serve the group as pastor. The committee entered into an agreement with the Sullivan Church of God to occupy their former church building at Water and Van Buren streets. Read More

Lake Shelbyville is Filling Up, But Not With Water

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Andy White of Hydro Gear attended sedimentation discussion with Congressman John Shimkus Aug. 27 at the North End Grill. The following day Shimkus announced he is retiring from Congress.

•September 4, 2019•
By Sed E. Ment
for the News Progress

How long will boats be able to navigate the Sullivan Marina?
That was the unanswered question at a meeting concerning sedimentation filling the north end of Lake Shelbyville.
It was attended by U.S. Congressman John Shimkus, the U.S. Corp of Engineers and about 25 concerned local citizens at the North End Grill at Sullivan Marina Aug. 27.
John Fayhee, who operates the marina, explained to the congressman and Corp representatives the marina level reaches four feet during the lake draw down.
“Docks require five feet of water,” he emphasized, noting the marina would not be in business if the lake fills to three feet.
U.S. Corp engineer Eddie Brauer reported the Kaskaskia River sedimentation from farmland runoff aggravates the issue for the north end of Lake Shelbyville with the affects showing up at the marina.
He explained the rate of sedimentation is affected by variables ranging from the amount of rainfall to the degree farmers engage in soil and water conservation measures. “There is no self-sustaining cost effective fix,” Brauer said, discussing various options to slow the rate of sedimentation. Read More

Habitat Breaks Ground at New Sullivan Build

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Breaking ground at the 604 Faith Lane, Sullivan Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity build site Sunday. Shoveling soil were County Habitat Vice president Mike Aikman, new homeowners Kendall and Jennifer Penberthy, Rev. Grant Wade and Habitat Care A Vanner and team leader Bob Gillespie. Local Habitat board members, national Habitat Care A Vanners, family and friends gathered to kick off the new home build.

By Woody Pine
for the News Progress

Let us rise up and build a new Habitat for Humanity home in Moultrie County.
With the arrival of the Habitat for Humanity Care-A-Vanners came the ground breaking for the Jennifer Penberthy family home Sunday afternoon.
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity vice-president Mike Aikman welcomed the group of Care-A-Vanners as well as local Habitat volunteers, family and friends at 604 Faith Lane, the 30th build site.
Bob Gillespie, Care-A-Vanner and Habitat team leader, returned with wife Betty from Michigan where he has been coordinating the Faith Lane build long distance with county Habitat Read More

Getting Students to and from Schools Safely is a Challenge

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Photo courtesy Kevin Landrus
It is not okay to pass buses on left while dropping children off at school.

•August 21, 2019•

Schools are in session and safely getting students to and from class is a challenge.
Getting drivers to pay attention to giant yellow buses stopped for children is one of the biggest challenges for transportation.
“The greatest risk to your child is not riding the bus but approaching or leaving one,” Kevin Landrus, Sullivan school district transportation director, explained.
He emphasized that 97% of all school transportation fatalities happen within a 10 foot perimeter outside the bus.
Police Chief Andy Pistorius noted patrols were picking up with the start of school.
“Schools have cameras on the buses to record violations,” Chief Pistorius said. After the school contacts the department with the video evidence, police issue the citation.
“It’s a pretty hefty fine and immediate three month license suspension,” Pistorius said of the serious nature of the crime.
“People get impatient and want to go around buses on the left while unloading at the school, and that is also a no-no,” the chief continued.
Landrus believes there are two main reasons people pass stopped school buses. Read More

Sullivan Council Renews Resource Officer Agreement

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•August 14, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Council continued to field inquiries about the Titus Sentel Estate decision and renewed the agreement providing a resource officer for Sullivan schools at the regular Aug. 12 meeting.
During public comment the council was asked why they moved the vote on Titus Sentel Estate to July 31 rather than the originally scheduled Aug 12 meeting and to put the decision in layman’s terms.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook explained the change in the meeting date was made to move forward, and the required 48 hours advance notice was posted on the city’s website.
He then read commissioner Abbey Sherwood’s motion directing the estate trustees to sell the property and the city buy back all or part at public auction or sale. Read More

First Sullivan V.F.W. Jeep Crawl Unleashes Generosity

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Droneography R.R. Best
Jeep Crawl participants gathered at the Sullivan V.F.W. preparing for the first ever Crawl for the Veterans Assistance Fund. More than 80 vehicles and 250 people crawled to Mattoon and Shelbyvile V.F.W. clubs before returning to Sullivan following a stop at The Publisher in Bethany.

•August 7, 2019•
By Willys Liberty
for the News Progress

The first ever Sullivan VFW Jeep Crawl held Saturday, August 3 was great fun and a huge success!
The Sullivan V.F.W. lot was filled with 81 jeeps and approximately 250 people who over the course of the event raised $16,600 for the V.F.W. Veterans Fund which supports Sullivan area veterans. Read More

Public Airs Thoughts on Sullivan’s Windfall: The Titus Estate

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Titus Manor closed last year, and its fate is included in Sullivan City Council’s action toward the Winnifred Titus estate.

•July 24, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

When any government gets a large sum of money, it’s soon gone, was attorney Paul Stone’s concern if the city of Sullivan gets a $10-12 million lump sum inheritance from the Winnifred Titus Estate.
Stone and 120 people attended the Sullivan City Council meeting at Building 1225 Monday to air opinions on what the city should do.
Stone supported the city’s earlier decision to request the Titus Estate trustee to sign Titus Manor and 923 acres of farmland directly over to the city.
Zak Horn stated that Winnifred Titus provided clear direction in her will for a public sale of the property and the proceeds to be given to the city for civic improvements.
“The city should respect her wishes, accept the cash and make civic improvements,” Horn emphasized.
Kathy Hawbaker, past Titus Manor administrator and president of the Titus Sentel trustee board operating the Manor, reminded the audience Winnifred was ambitious and proud of where she lived and wanted that home for those ladies.
Titus Manor at Wyman Park’s residential care for ladies closed when residency dropped last year and the estate’s execution was left to the trust controlled by Busey Bank. Read More

Options Open for Sullivan Council on Titus Estate

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•July 17, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Correction: Sullivan City Council July 22 meeting time.
Discussion on the Titus Estate will be open during the 7:00 p.m. Sullivan City Council meeting Monday, July 22, which will be held at Building 1225 on Route 32 south in Sullivan.
The "Options Open for Sullivan" article in the July 17 edition of the Moultrie County News Progress incorrectly stated public input would begin at 6:00 p.m.

A public meeting on the future of the Winnifred Titus estate is included in the Monday, July 22 Sullivan City Council session to be held in Building 1225 on Rte 32 south.
The 6 p.m. meeting will allow public input on the future of the estate before the city council decides which direction to go.
The Titus Trust is administered by Busey Bank (formerly First National) of Decatur and includes the Titus Manor at the south end of Wyman Park and 923 acres of farmland north of the city limits.
A motion to hire legal counsel requesting the circuit court to direct the trustee to sign Titus Manor and the farmland directly to the city was tabled until the August 12 meeting. Read More

Sullivan Council Wrestles With Winnie’s Wishes

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•July 10, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

What would Winnie do?
Sullivan stands to inherit the Winnifred Titus home and 923 acres of farmland, but her intentions 59 years ago weighed against a flurry of social media buzz, again postponed hiring legal counsel at the July 8 meeting.
Commissioner Peggy Hargis moved the city hire legal counsel requesting the circuit court to direct the First National Bank of Decatur trust to sign the Titus Manor and property directly over to the city.
Commissioner Chuck Woodworth seconded the motion with Commissioner Mike Fowler the first to voice dissent.
“I don’t feel comfortable until after I hear from citizens,” Fowler said, referring to a planned public hearing on the future of the Titus property at the July 22 city council meeting.
After commissioner Abbey Sherwood noted she would like to hear from citizens, mayor Richard Glazebrook said the motion gives the perception a decision has already been made on its future. Read More