Category Archives: Top Stories

Public Input Sought on Titus Property’s Future Plans

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•July 3, 2019•

Titus Manor personal property auction is 9 a.m. Saturday, July 13 at the Sullivan American Legion. Following that Sullivan City Council will determine the fate of the Titus Home at Wyman Park and some 920 acres of farmland adjacent to the city limits on the north.
In June city administrator Dan Flannell met with Busey Bank, trustees of the Titus property, requesting the home and property to be directly signed over to the city. What happens after that is yet to be determined.
“Something as large as this requires the public to express their views,” Mayor Richard Glazebrook said. “As a council we want to do what is best for the city, not just today but 50 years down the road.”
Glazebrook encourages anyone with an idea on how to best use the Titus Manor to write city hall. Read More

Fourth of July Crackdown by SPD on Impaired Drivers

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•June 26, 2019•
Sullivan Police Department announced plans for July Fourth traffic enforcement with a focus on impaired and unbuckled drivers.
The safety campaign will run from June 17 through July 8 to encompass three summer weekends leading up to and after Independence Day.
“We’re asking all of our residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day safely,” said Chief Andrew Pistorius. “It’s simple: If you’re driving, don’t drink or use drugs. Our officers will be out in full force to keep impaired drivers off the road.”
Sullivan Police Department will join the Illinois State Police and more than 160 local police and sheriff’s departments for the increased statewide enforcement effort. Read More

Circuit Court Fees Increase

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•June 19, 2019•
Starting July 1 fees for criminal, traffic and civil court cases will increase significantly in the county.
Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Christa Helmuth explained the legislation aimed at equalizing the fee structure in circuit courts was passed in 2018.
Under Public Act 100-987 traffic related fee charges ranging from a seat belt to a 25 mile per hour over the speed limit will increase to a minimum $164, she noted as an example.
Child restraint which was a traffic citation in the past is now a Class C Misdemeanor and filling fee for divorce has risen to $326. Read More

Sullivan Makes Clean Sweep of City Streets

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•June 12, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan is making a clean sweep of its streets in homage to the Cubs sweeping the Cardinals last weekend.
A new $218,672.15 Pelican three broom street sweeper was approved for purchase by Sullivan City Council at the June 10 meeting in Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library.
Street commissioner Peggy Hargis made the motion, explaining the 1992 street sweeper was beyond repair.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook noted several sweepers were tested, and the consensus of employees and staff was the broom sweeper would best serve the city’s needs.
Commissioners Abbey Sherwood, Mike Fowler and Chuck Woodworth joined Hargis and Glazebrook to unanimously approve the purchase.
Prior to accepting comments from the public Mayor Glazebrook established the procedure: questions should be addressed to the mayor first, then redirected as necessary. Read More

Sullivan City Council Greeted by Public

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•June 5, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The new Sullivan City Council was greeted with public participation at their second session May 28 with a variety of items discussed. After mayor Richard Glazebrook called the meeting to order, the first 20 minutes were filled with questions from the public and suggestions for the Council to improve transparency.
Land acquisition discussion in closed session was raised concerning the Titus Trust, hiring the former city clerk as consultant and retiree health benefits were all aired during public comments.
City administrator Dan Flannell explained that Busey Bank of Decatur controlled decisions concerning the Titus Trust which includes Titus Manor at Wyman Park and 900 acres of farmland. He noted potential land acquisitions have been discussed by commissioners during closed session in the past.
Mayor Glazebrook assured the audience in the Elizabeth Titus Library meeting room that any action by the council would be made in public session. Read More

End of Act One for OVHS Class of 2019 Graduates

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Okaw Valley High School honor students from left valedictorians Bella Benning and Kailynn Bobbett. Salutatorian Madison Vogel.

•May 29, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

To the traditional strains of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance”, 41 Okaw Valley High School students entered the gym for their graduation ceremony Sunday, May 26.
For some it may be their last time in this gym and with each other.
The building was filled to capacity for this 80th graduation festivity. The podium was festooned with a large bouquet of the class flower(rose) in the class color of lemon yellow. Each of the young girls carried a large yellow rose as well.
The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance which was led by one of the valedictorians, Bella Benning. This was followed by a welcome by school principal Matt Shoaff who also gave special recognition to all veterans in the audience this Memorial Day. School board members and all the teachers were introduced.
Kent Stauder, Superintendent of Schools, presented the inductees to the Volunteer Wall of Fame and also the Alumni Wall of Fame award to Robert Disney, Jr. Disney was traveling to the event from Colorado when his truck broke down. Read More

Graduation Reflects on the Good Old Days at SHS

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Valedictorian Spencer Johnson

•May 22, 2019•
Sullivan High School held the 141st commencement exercises Sunday in weather that was as unpredictable as the 66 seniors’ futures.
Intermittent storms forced the 2:30 p.m. graduation into a packed high school gymnasium where principal Erik Young presented his final high school class to the board of education.
Young will start the 2019-20 school year as superintendent of Ridgeview CUSD #19, near his hometown of Fairbury. Young has been high school principal for the past six years, previously serving as middle school and high school assistant principal the prior four years.
Valedictorian Spencer Johnson’s opening remarks included being thankful he could count on his fingers, and his legs would stand up for him.
He went on to point out the lessons learned in high school were preparation for those graduating to live their own lives out in the world.
“Do your own thing, don’t just survive,” Spencer encouraged his classmates.
Class salutatorian Broderick Goss reeled off favorite quotes noting, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” Read More

Sparrows Celebrate Silver with Lovington Show

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Photo by Barry Morgan
This truckload of rock was among the first Sparrows’ grand prizes.

Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Tractors and More

•May 15, 2019•

A quarter of a century ago, a group of people got together at Jerry’s East End in Lovington to hold a live auction and just have a good time.
A good time was had, and Sparrows Unlimited Inc. was born.
Incredible items were up for bid including a truckload of rock and a brand new weed eater… and only after the bidding did the winners find out what they won. The truckload of rock, a toy truck with a handful of rocks. The weed eater, a live rabbit. And who can forget the door prize, an actual outhouse door.
“We raised approximately $500 from the auction and sold memberships for a dollar. In six months time we sold about 2,000 memberships,” Tom Brown, one of the originals said, noting they had to figure out what to do with the money.
“It was decided at our second meeting to use the money for needy children in the Lovington community and keep enough back for a free dinner for the members. The meal would consist of fried bologna, fried potatoes, green beans and pork and beans.”
And every auction since has included that fried bologna. Read More

State Director of Agriculture Visits Okaw Valley Ag Lab

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture John Sullivan learns about Okaw Valley’s ag facilities from Wes Wise’s agriculture class May 6.

•May 8, 2019•
Okaw Valley High School agriculture students showcased the Ag lab to Illinois Director of Agriculture John M. Sullivan Monday.
“You don’t know how lucky you are to have a facility like this,” the new state ag director told Wes Wise’s students.
Sullivan, who lives on a grain and livestock farm in Schuyler County, asked the students questions about the the operation learning that lambs, pigs and calves have been birthed since the ag facility opened in January 2019.
Wise went on to explain that the 5000 sq. ft. ag facility is a smaller version of the University of Illinois facilities. The pigs being raised will be available for sale to help the program generate some revenue. Wise also told the director students are planning to serve pork burgers as part of the ongoing program expansion. Read More

Letter Carriers’ 27th Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

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Second Saturday in May

•May 1, 2019•

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 27th annual national food drive Saturday, May 11.
The Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive, the country’s largest single-day food drive, provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need.
Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable goods next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail on Saturday, May 11. Letter carriers will collect these food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes and distribute them to local food agencies. Visit stampouthungerfooddrive.us to learn more. Read More