Category Archives: Top Stories

Grandfather’s Memory Inspires Boston Marathoner

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Kyle Wickline stands next to a Boston Marathon sign last week.

•April 26, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Kyle Wickline, a city carrier for the United States Postal Service in Sullivan, decided to pick up the pace last week.

Not during his deliveries through the streets of Sullivan but rather in the oldest annual marathon in the world.

On Patriots’ Day, Wickline ran in the Boston Marathon for the first time.

He ran the marathon in memory of his late grandpa, Dean Fulk, who referred to Wickline as “his marathoner.”

Wickline finished the race with a time of 3:28:18 and a 7:56 pace per mile. Read More

Schools Await Payments While Fighting Deficit

News Progress Posted on by

•April 19, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

A budget that is $179,565 in the red and a state $380,420 behind in categorical payments faces the new Sullivan Community District #300 school board when it organizes April 25.

Supt. Brad Tuttle explained the situation to the outgoing school board as well as new members Zak Horn, Tyson Grooms and Erik Stollard who attended the regular April 17 board meeting.

During the full funding agreement reached by the state legislature last year the four categorical payments were guaranteed school districts this year.

“We have only received one categorical payment, which was the fourth one due last year,” Tuttle began. Read More

Voters Reject Penny Sales Tax for Schools

News Progress Posted on by

•April 12, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan school district’s proposition to raise funds for facilities with a one percent sales tax failed in Moultrie County 1851 to 1309 during the April 4 election.

Sullivan’s sales tax rate remains at 6.75 percent as a result of the vote. The proposed one percent increase could have generated $977,252 for county schools, with $499,850 as the CUSD 300 share.

Coles, Douglas, Champaign, Piatt, Macon, Christian and Shelby counties previously approved the sales tax. Sales tax rates range from 9.00% to 7.25% in those counties.

Seven candidates were seeking four open seats in the Sullivan CUSD #300 school board race. Ann Wheeler was appointed to replace Scott Atchison who resigned and was running to complete his term. Sitting members Mary Ann Wiley, Amy Fultz and Roger Bragg chose not to run. Read More

National Award for OV/Corp Partnership

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
National Excellence in Partnership award winner Okaw Valley High School was honored with the first place national U.S. Corp of Engineers recognition during ceremonies March 31. Pictured accepting the award are OVHS ag instructor Wes Wise, OVMS principal Ross Forlines, OV dist. supt. Kent Stauder, U. S. Corp Maj. General Michael Wehr, OVHS principal Matt Schoaff, and Lake Shelbyville director of operations Jon Summers.

•April 5, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Okaw Valley Community #300 received the National Excellence in Partnership Award from the U.S. Corp of Engineers last week.

Chief of National Resources Management at the Corps Mary Coulombe made the announcement at a school wide assembly held in the Bethany High School gymnasium on March 29.

Coulombe, who travelled from Washington, DC, explained the joint partnership with the U.S. Corp of Engineers and Okaw Valley Schools at Lake Shelbyville placed the project in the top 10 nationwide.

She went on to note the total school participation, creativity of the project and the accomplishments made the Okaw Valley School/U.S. Corp project the top choice in the nation. Read More

School Board Candidates Express Views at Forum

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Interested citizens gathered at the First United Methodist Church in Sullivan May 23 for the Sullivan Education Association/Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development sponsored school board candidate forum.

•March 29, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan School Board candidates revealed a universal support for seeking alternative revenues during a candidates’ forum held in Sullivan Thursday, March 23.

Sponsored by the Sullivan Education Association and Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development, interested citizens attended the 6:30 p.m. forum at the First United Methodist Church.

SEA president Don Lockwood explained the format of the forum following a power point presentation by county clerk Georgia England explaining the complexities of the consolidated election.

The Sullivan Unit 300 power point may be viewed at www.escottengland.com with England offering to answer questions during office hours at the courthouse. Read More

An Empty Seat at The Little Theatre

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Memorial for Guy Little Jr. is 11:00 a.m. March 25 at the First Christian Church of Sullivan.

•March 8, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

When The Little Theatre on the Square opened its season Friday, founder Guy Little’s seat on the front row was empty except for a rose.

Guy Little Jr, the founder the The Little Theatre on the Square in 1957 passed away earlier in the day. He was 82.

On opening night Little Theatre Executive Director John Stephens announced the 60th anniversary season will be dedicated to Little. The show  must go on.

And in spite of the fact that Guy was not seated on the front row as usual, handing out notes to crew and cast, the curtain went up on the Square in Sullivan although Guy has gone on to a grander stage.

The city of Sullivan remained a supporter of the Little Theatre of the Square, and the Theatre has in return put the city on the map.

Mayor Ann Short explained that Guy Little actually put Sullivan on the world map.  Read More

County Schools to Share Proposed Sales Tax Revenue

News Progress Posted on by

•March 1, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit District 300 school board is hoping that collecting a one percent sales tax could generate funds for the schools of Moultrie County.

David Pistorius of First Midstate, Inc. explained during a January meeting that the sales tax revenue generated could be used toward facility use and or construction. Not eligible are operational costs, salaries, moveable equipment, or computers.

The one percent maximum level could produce as much as one million dollars revenue for the county schools. Read More

A Soldier Remembered-The Past Recalled

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Gene Denton next to the new plaque honoring Sgt. Wayne Bathe (inset) at Sullivan American Legion Post #68.

•February 22, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Out of the blue on June 15, 2015, Sullivan resident Gene Denton received an email from a Daniel Fonner who was researching his grandfather’s WWII experience and was seeking pictures and information.

Fonner’s grandfather, Frederick Allen Fonner, had been close friends with a Sgt. Wayne Bathe of Sullivan, Ill. and knew Wayne’s fiance was Ola Denton - Gene’s sister. Fonner had found Gene’s name in Ola’s obituary.

The unfolding story is one of love, deep friendship, bravery, profound grief and sadness ending with a plaque which Gene Denton has placed in memory of Sgt. Wayne Bathe at the American Legion Hall. Read More

Scary Bus Ride

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by RR Best
Scary Bus Ride
Thirty-five passengers on a Teutopolis school bus took an unexpected detour on the way to a ball game Friday. At 3:19 p.m. the bus was struck on the driver’s side by a van driven by Scarlett McKenzie, 36, of Mattoon and turned over on its passenger side blocking Route 32 at the Bruce-Findlay road intersection. Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims reported the bus contained the Teutopolis basketball team, cheerleaders and coaches. Five students were taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. McKenzie was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur and kept for observation. She was ticketed by MCSD for driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to yield. After her hospital release on Monday she was transported to Moultrie County Jail pending further charges from the states attorney. Robert Bothwell of Teutopolis was the driver of the bus. In addition to MCSD, Sullivan police and fire departments, Illinois State Police, plus ambulances from Sullivan, Lovington, Mattoon, Bethany, Windsor, Findlay and Arthur responded to the scene. Walker Wrecker Service uprighted the bus and towed it away. Traffic was detoured through Sullivan 66, Inc. (Howy’s) parking lot. Students were treated by area EMTs west of the parking lot. Sullivan school district dispatched a bus to transport the Teutopolis students. Surrounding school district administrators were on hand to offer assistance as well.