•September 6, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Memorials at city-owned parks and cemeteries for loved ones prompted discussion about offering a tree memorial program.

Sullivan City Council was led to the discussion following a request for a memorial for Logan Riley in Wyman Park. They agreed that some type of ordinance should be in place to ensure consistency when it came to special memorials. Often, some memorials put in place require upkeep which some families follow up on, but as time passes, often these memorials fall into the hands of city workers.

During their discussion, the idea for tree donations was proposed. Families could choose from a variety of different trees and have one planted as a memorial for their loved one.  Read More

So Many Projects

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development director Laurrie Minor and assistant Malinda Calhoun Hurt stop by Washington Plaza, one of the featured projects of the chamber’s streetscape efforts, enticing those visiting the Little Theatre on the Square to return.

•August 23, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

As you look around the Streetscapes or take a break at Washington Street’s Plaza, hints of Sullivan Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to make the city better are all around.

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce has one full-time staff, one part-time staff and a modest annual budget of $140,000. The 183 members of Chamber and Economic Development generously donate their time to serve on the board and committees such as Restoration Enhancement and Events. This is in addition to working at their full-time jobs and donating thousands of dollars in products for community activities.

The Chamber does so much for Sullivan, and a lot of it goes unnoticed. A considerable amount of staff time is also spent pursuing projects that never materialize.

So, what does the Chamber do? The focus is in four main areas: Economic Development, Tourism, Events and Restoration Enhancement; although, there is so much more as will be revealed in a series of articles on the Chamber.

Community Enhancement is an important aspect of the Chamber’s programs. An attractive, vibrant downtown appeals to both tourists and potential businesses/residents.  Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Lovington Homes board members and Garmon Properties personnel at First Community Bank of Moultrie County in Lovington: Elaine Rice; bank president and board treasurer Sally Duncan; Lovington Homes board president Norma Brust; Judy McGregor; village board president and board member Roger Walker; new owners Tracy and Dennis Garmon. Lovington Homes board members not pictured are Bev Morgan, Ron Nettles and Alma Fair.

•August 9, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Since 1969 Lovington Homes has assisted people with housing operating with a volunteer not-for profit board.

All that changed August 1 when Dennis and Tracy Garmon purchased Lovington Homes from the community volunteer group. Garmon Properties has taken over the 50-year-old operation.

A well-timed set of circumstances in the Garmons’ lives and with the Lovington Homes board led to the sale. Read More

Photo furnished
The kids participating in Vacation Bible School at Lovington First Baptist Church got in the spirit of giving as they donated their daily offering to Sparrows.

•July 26, 2017•

Children attending Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church of Lovington demonstrated the true gift of giving.

Some 65-70 kids attended the week long VBS program, learning, participating in crafts and enjoying a meal during the 6-8:30 p.m. sessions each evening. The greater giving came after members of Sparrows of Lovington told them about the volunteer community help organization.

Donna Walker is involved in the community volunteer organization and explained that Sparrows representatives helps provide toys and other gifts for children in Lovington who might not otherwise afford them. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Rocks! Facebook group members from Moultrie Counseling Center display a few of the rocks you may find around Sullivan. Pictured standing from left: Hollie Atchison, Audrey Mosier, and Katrina Lynn with Penny Arthur kneeling center.

•July 12, 2017•

By Skip N. Stone
for the News Progress

Sullivan rocks! And if you don’t believe it, take a look around the square.

Brightly painted rocks with inspirational messages have been turning up on window ledges and various spots around town. What do you do when you find the rock?

“Either keep it or hide it again and post it on our Facebook page,” explained one of the Sullivan Rocks! founding members Audrey Mosier. It is an idea that grew from a co-worker’s late night FB troll.

“I was trolling Facebook one night, and I saw where this person had found a rock in some town in Iowa and was asking what to do with it,” Katrina Lynn, who works with Mosier at Moultrie Family Counseling Center said.

Lynn explained the Facebook craze is sweeping many areas of the country now, with some of the groups growing to 160,000 members and more. Read More