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

Photo by Mike Brothers
Who reached 21 first? C.J. Walker (right) actually turned 21 February 14, before great-grandfather Tom Florey turns 21 on February 29.

Finally Turns Twenty one

•February 24, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Thomas Addison Florey is a Leap Year child, and February 29, 2016 is his 21st birthday.

That’s correct; the Bethany native was born February 29, 1932, and he is technically not old enough to drink.

Still living in Bethany and driving around in his recently purchased Chrysler Town and Country Caravan, Tom will be joined by his family 2-4 p.m. Sunday, February 28 for an open house at the Bethany Firehouse.

“You know I don’t get too excited about it anymore,” the soon to be 84 year old Florey said.

He explained his middle name Addison was shared by his father and grandfather.

“When I was a kid, my family always celebrated my birthday on March 1,” he said, recalling his great-aunt who lived in Flora was also a Leap Year child.

Florey said when he met Darlene Dick and they were married June 17, 1951, friends and family kidded her about robbing the cradle.

“Shoot, I didn’t turn four years old until February 1952,” he said with a laugh. Read More

New Health Courses from Lake Land Community College offered

•February 24, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

All funds are in the black, but the transportation fund is a concern,  Superintendent Kenny Schwengel told board members at the last Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond meeting.

“We spend about $80,000 a month. I think we will at least get one more mandated payment. We have only received one so far,” informed Schwengel.

“In order to cover the transportation fund, we may have to transfer money from the education fund,” he added. It was also noted that the Douglas County sales tax is coming in at what the district expected, as well as Piatt County. Last October, the district received $60,000.

ALAH junior and senior students interested in health occupations will have a chance to take courses offered by Lake Land College at Sarah Bush Lincoln. They will earn high school and college credit. Students would attend every day by choosing a morning or afternoon session. They would complete their regular courses at school and then provide their own transportation to Sarah Bush for the health occupational classes.  Read More