Jobs Program Grows

•December 9, 2015•

by Mike Brothers

Moultrie County’s board is putting money on the success of No Job Left Behind.

Members of the county board budget and finance committee voted to recommend increasing the contribution to Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development from $5000 to $7500.

County board chairman Dave McCabe recommended the increase explaining No Job Left Behind has grown expanding into Okaw Valley schools to make it a countywide program.

“The money we invest is earmarked for No Job Left Behind,” Chairman McCabe told the committee, who voted unanimously to recommend the increase in the budget for Economic Development to the full county board.

“I’m very grateful Moultrie County is investing in the No Job Left Behind initiative,” Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Stepheny McMahon said.

Over 150 businesses, educators,community members and workforce development professionals are working together to address the growing shortage of skilled workers in east central Illinois.

“We just completed our 2016 Skills Gap Survey,” McMahon said of the continued progress. Read More

•December 2, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Middle School students greeted the One Book, One Sullivan novel unveiling with a standing ovation Nov 25.

Michael Vey-The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans was announced to the schoolwide assembly following a trailer prepared by the One Book One Sullivan group for the second year in a row.

One Book One Sullivan volunteers then handed out copies of the book to students with the following instructions: Read it. Enjoy it. Talk about it. Share it.

Rikki Ray teaches Language Arts and has spent the past nine years as coordinator of the volunteer community/school based book selection group.

“Students who volunteer have to commit to reading a book a week during the summer,” Ray said of the yearlong One Book, One Sullivan program.

More than 20 kids have volunteered from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Ray explained that the students and staff read and discuss selections from the Rebecca Caudill list.

“We meet once a week to discuss the selections in order to determine what will best appeal to the community,” she continued, explaining everything from story content to the book cover is considered before a recommendation is made.

This year’s selection won by only one vote to not only indicate the competition among books but to help students understand the meaning of democracy. Read More

4.97% Levy Increase Ahead

•November 25, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The checkbook currently has $7,169, 575.50, and all funds are in the black,” stated superintendent Ken Schwengel at the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting. “The state aid payments are scheduled through December 20, but after the first of the year, I am not sure what will happen,” he stated. “We’ve received 90% of the property taxes and have not received any incentive funding yet,” he added.

The board also discussed and approved a tentative 2015 tax levy for property taxes paid in 2016. The levy is set at a 4.97% increase in property taxes. There won’t be a Truth in Taxation hearing since the increase is less than 5%. The levy was calculated from the estimated 3% increase in the district’s assessed value. In 2014 it was $193,270,479 and in 2015 it increased to $199,068,593. The tax rate for Arthur and Lovington will be $3.56 per $100 assessed value and those in the Atwood-Hammond area will be $4.62 per $100. The board will vote on the final tax levy at their December 9 meeting.

Other matters that were discussed or voted upon:

-The district received $3,700- their first check from Piatt County sales tax. Read More

•November 18, 2015•

Moultrie County board members learned of the progress of the No Job Left Behind initiative at the November 12 meeting.

Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Stepheny McMahon explained that the initiative to promote jobs and job training for local businesses has grown since 2013.

“We have grown to include 160 different people from business, manufacturing and education,” McMahon said. “ During our recent No Job Left Behind manufacturing tour, Okaw Valley took the whole school.”

The partnership between area schools, manufacturing and business has led districts to implement new vocational offerings for those wishing to enter the workforce right out of high school.

McMahon explained the $5000 investment by the county continues to produce results with the No Job Left Behind initiative.

“We are implementing a new program at the eighth grade level to help get students thinking about their future goals,” McMahon said, indicating they were working to expand into the lower grades to increase awareness.

Central Illinois Public Transportation mobility manager Jennifer Moore responded to questions from board member Roger Glazebrook concerning the service to which Moultrie County contributes $1000 annually. Read More

 End Season on High Note

•November 11, 2015•

The Okaw Valley Marching Timberwolves ended their 2015 season Saturday Oct. 31 with third place in the Class 1A field competition and second place in the Class 1A parade competition in the Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Field Show and Parade.

In addition, the OV percussion tied for first place in the parade, and Nick Tipsword was awarded best soloist in Class 1A field. The competition is a popular one for OV as it adds the fun of an overnight trip and a nighttime parade with Halloween costumes substituted for uniforms.

It was a successful season for the small but determined band of 29 members. There were five field competitions in September and October, with the Timberwolves taking home two firsts, one second, and two third place rankings in overall band score.

Although outscored by five schools, they defeated a total of 15, most of which have a much larger student enrollment and band membership. In addition, their drum majors, percussion, and color guard received Best in Class one time each in field competitions this season.

The band’s show this year had a New Orleans theme, and judging by the cheers from the stands, it was popular with the crowds in addition to the judges. A major goal of the Marching Timberwolves is audience entertainment. The reaction during the performances and the compliments afterwards, often from complete strangers, indicate the band’s success at being fun to watch and hear.

The Marching Timberwolves are directed by Theresa Colclasure and assisted by Kathy Doty and Cami Brown, color guard coaches, David Hagerman, drill design/instruction and Taylor Colclasure, marching coach.  Read More