Photo by RR Best

Damage forces euthanization

•March 30, 2016•

A bald eagle in a severely weakened state due to being kept illegally in captivity, was euthanized March 17.

Illinois Conservation police officers Jason Moody and Brandon Barnes responded to a call about an injured eagle in a field near the Lake Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area in Moultrie County.

The eagle made several attempts to fly but was unable to fly more than 20 yards. After several attempts, the officers were able to capture the bird and deliver it safely to the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur.   Read More

•March 23, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan students should enjoy leak free roofs and better climate inside following Sullivan Community Unit District #300 school board action March 14.

At that meeting the board approved bids to replace the roofs and HVAC systems for the elementary, middle and high schools. The bus garage will also be included in the roof replacement project.

Mike Zellers of Graham and Hyde Architects explained coordination will be the key to accomplishing the HVAC and roofing replacements during the course of the summer when students are away from school.

Bids were received from six companies for the roof replacement. Top Quality Roofing of Mt. Zion submitted the lowest overall bid at $1,350,000.

Zellers noted a 30 year Firestone rubberized surface was manufacturer backed, and the bid came in 18% under the estimated cost.

Kevin Landrus, district maintenance director, reported on past projects from Top Quality. He noted the company had replaced roofs at several area schools with the most recent involving Mattoon School District which gave excellent ratings for the completed project.

Upon administration recommendation the board approved the Top Quality bid unanimously. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Crowd meeter- Governor Bruce Rauner (right) greeted Moultrie County Lincoln Day guests following his remarks Saturday at Terry Warren’s farm. Above Rudy Huber from CF&H in Sullivan has a few words with the governor while wife Linda snaps a cell shot as a momento.

•March 16, 2016•

Governor Bruce Rauner told 200 Moultrie County Republicans he was committed to improve funding for the state’s schools, but provided little hope to recently laid off Eastern Illinois University employees on Saturday, March 12.

The governor spoke to a full house of party faithful at the 2016 Lincoln Day Dinner held at the Terry Warren farm south of Sullivan.

“Illinois schools receive the lowest state support for education in the nation,” Gov. Rauner said, pointing out he proposes increased state funding, and he would push to put schools in downstate first.

For those who lost jobs at EIU last week because of the budget impasse the governor said he had offered to meet with the president of EIU and house speaker Michael Madigan to discuss the matter.

He emphasized his commitment to redistrict reform and term limits which brought applause from the crowd. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
One Book One Sullivan community discussion at the First United Methodist Church was held last week. Above high school teacher Becky Lawson, One Book coordinator Rikki Ray and table leader sixth grader Lilly Graham discuss the book while One Book volunteer partner Cheryl Wildman, special education teacher, watches in the background.

•March 9, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

One Book One Sullivan members filled the First United Methodist Church community room Thursday, March 3 to discuss the latest community /school based book selection.

Sponsored by the Sullivan Rotary Club, One Book One Sullivan released the new read November 25 distributing copies of Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 to students and those interested in the community.

Coordinated by middle school language arts instructor Rikki Ray with the help of volunteer middle school teachers Cheryl Wildman and Haley Seeley, 20 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students volunteered for the project.

Students who volunteer for One Book One Sullivan also agree to read a  book a week during the summer as well as participate in the selection process for the annual community/school read.

As the 6 p.m. start time of the community discussion of the Michael Vey series by author Richard Paul Evans approached, more tables and chairs had to be included to accommodate the growing crowd.

Community members were seated at tables along with One Book One Sullivan volunteers to lead discussion on the book.

Michael Vey is a ninth grade student from Utah with special powers that lead him on an incredible adventure. Read More

Area Agencies Respond

•March 2, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County Emergency Services and Disaster is coordinating an Active Shooter Training exercise with Sullivan schools March 9.

Local ESDA Coordinator Jan Haegan said this full scale exercise will involve radio chatter during the time period.

“This is an active shooter attempting to enter the school,” Haegan said, explaining the radio conversations will be identified as a simulation, and the general public shouldn’t be alarmed.

Haegan also cautioned residents they shouldn’t try to come to the scene of the training exercise.

He explained that the area will  be restricted with first responders from the police, sheriff, fire, paramedics, health department, coroner, the state police and District #10 Rapid Shooter response team all on hand along with ESDA coordinators.

School districts and emergency services are required periodic training with an operation of this scale required only every eight years.

March 9 is an inservice day with school dismissing at noon. The active shooter scenario will be conducted at the high school following dismissal with elementary and middle school teachers acting as students.

“A retired police officer will pose as the intruder,” Haegan said, noting each agency will go through established procedures as if the event were actually happening. Read More