•August 16, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Administrator Dan Flannell transitioned from policymaker as Chief Circuit Judge in Moultrie County to the implementer of Sullivan City Council policy and has learned a lot during the past six months.

“I believe the administrative role as chief judge helped me grasp the bigger picture of the city,” Flannell said of administering a multitude of city departments operating within a $28 million budget.

“Most people don’t realize how big an operation the city has including utilities, but that kind of revenue also helps the city keep tax rates down,” he continued.

Problem solving is one of the challenges the city administrator enjoys with the number of departments and employees within the city limits those have been solved with a great deal of help. Read More

•August 2, 2017•

Moultrie County courts went paperless Friday, July 21 well ahead of the January 1, 2018 deadline for Illinois courts to comply.

Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden explained Moultrie County courts introduced paperless proceedings with Circuit Judge Brad Rau on civil and small claim cases on that date.

Rather that shuffling through the paper files in the courtroom the judge and circuit clerk court deputy utilize two shared laptop computers for inside courtroom access to files on the docket. Read More

2017 Chesterville Derby Trophy

•July 19, 2017•

The Belgian Draft Horse Rock Stars of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center’s Yoder house pull team in the fall of 2016 are back by popular demand.

The Chesterville Derby is 4 p.m. Friday, July 21, when eight Belgian draft horses will race two furlongs in the first draft horse race in the United States.

From the Kentucky Derby styled parade of the horses with their jockeys before the crowd, to singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” by Nashville artist Rebecca Moreland the race atmosphere builds to the run for the Chesterville Water Tower trophy. Moreland will also sing “My Old Chesterville Home” with a reference to Cadwell.

“Because of the enormous interest generated last September by the eight-horse hitch of Belgian draft horses towing the two story 1865 Moses Yoder house, we felt it important for those fans to have a second chance to see these beautiful animals at work (or play)”, said Wilmer Otto, chairman of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. It was an idea sparked by an annual UK race of Clydesdale draft horses. Read More

Photo furnished
Hand in Hand
The Hand in Hand group enjoys camp. See story on page 1.

•July 5, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Every child should grow up happy – it should be their unalienable right. Reality, however, is grim and often unfair. Special needs children face daunting challenges and some of these include not being asked to join teams or to sleepovers or to join other activities.

In Sullivan these children have two angels- Christine Grohler and Monica Green who received grant funds 15 years ago to found Hand in Hand Kids Camp for special needs children. Read More

Photo furnished
Conner Amusements from Beardstown is joining Sullivan’s Fourth of July celebration sponsored by American Legion Post #68.

•June 21, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Since July 4, 1919 the veterans of WWI, WWII and subsequent wars have organized and presented Sullivan with a parade, carnival, lunch for parade participants and a spectacular fireworks display – all with volunteers.

Growing up in Bethany, the 4th was always a special day. Mother would pack a groaning basket of sun tea, mouth-watering fried chicken, her special potato salad, baked beans, cherry pie and fruit for a full day at Wyman Park.

There were swimming, a baseball game, horseshoes, maybe a movie, the carnival and my favorite – the fireworks which enchant me to this day.

This year Sullivan American Legion Post #68 would like to bring back that all-day participation where the parade attracted people, the carnival kept them entertained and the fireworks topped off the evening. Read More