Photo by Keith Stewart
A long crack can be seen running through one of the two tennis courts at Wyman Park.

December 31, 2014

Growing local tennis association calls for need of better facilities

by Ariana Cherry & Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The Sullivan City Council was addressed by a member of the public in their last regular meeting of the year to see whether rebuilding tennis courts in Wyman Park might be a possibility in the future.
Christopher Dobosz, owner of the Okaw Valley Tennis Association, addressed the council with the current state of the courts and how his tennis association, in growing each of its three years, is in need of newer and more courts to continue the program in Sullivan.
“The tennis program, in our third year, is growing every single year,” said Dobosz. “We’re expanding to other cities and other towns around here. We are also doing Shelbyville, Findlay, Bethany, Tuscola. We’re adding Lovington and Arthur next spring. We also sponsor many other actives in the park and at the tennis courts. We do a Nickelodeon world wide day of fun. We do that and all of these at no charge to children to come and enjoy the park and enjoy the tennis courts. We do lessons. We do play days. We have Jazzercise. I want to make this more than just tennis. It’s education. It’s growing the children. Also, a lot of these people that are coming to these programs, coming to these tournaments, they’re all coming from out of town, so we have a lot of people that are coming in, stopping, spending money at the gas stations and at food places, and it’s really been working well.” Read More

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan fire and police personnel are seen at 412. N. Seymour in Sullivan Sunday, where 58-year-old James Helms was found deceased after an apparent house fire.

December 17, 2014

Apparent house fire to blame, but still under investigation

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A Sullivan man was found dead inside his residence Sunday afternoon after a neighbor came by to check on him.

According to Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed, James E. Helms, 58, of Sullivan was pronounced dead in his residence located at 412. N. Seymour at 4:20 p.m. Sunday. An autopsy was performed Monday, and a full report on the cause of death including toxicology results is not expected for two to three weeks. Reed did say that, while preliminarily there does not appear to be anything suspicious surrounding Helms’ death, it is still under investigation.

Helms was found by Sullivan fire personnel Sunday after they received a 911 call at 4:02 p.m. that alerted them of a house fire with a trapped individual. However, when Sullivan fire fighters arrived four minutes later, there was no fire.

“The fire was out and had been for some time,” said Sullivan fire chief Mike Piper. “There was no heat smoke and no fire. It appeared that the fire had occurred several hours before, probably when he succumbed to it.” Read More

December 3, 2014

Still, much of Robinson Street improvements up in the air

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

At last month’s regular village board meeting in Bethany, city officials approved a measure that would provide initial funding for a major roadwork project that was previously reported could cost the village up to $1 million to complete.

In reference to Robinson Street, that $1 million price tag is now expected to be considerably less, prompting the village to approve $45,000 in preliminary funding that could ultimately be wasted if officials decide not to further pursue the project. The vote, which passed 4 to 2, was just one in a series of decisions that Bethany’s village council will make in coming months concerning the reconstruction of Robinson Street. Read More

November 19, 2014

New levy increases $7,141

Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

Once again the city of Sullivan had the first reading of the ordinance for the levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2014 and ending April 30, 2015. This year the total appropriation, or money spent, of $28,173,950.00 is down from past year’s total appropriation by $663,850.

“This reduction is due to several factors but mainly fewer transfers from general fund, fewer gas fund purchases and a reduction in the water and sewer department expenses since the construction projects will not be completed in the fiscal year as had been previously hoped,” explained city treasurer Myron Salmon.

The receipts from sources other than the tax levy are also down by $697,991 from last year, and the amount raised by the new tax levy represents an increase of $7,141. Read More

November 5, 2014

57 % of voters say “no”

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The voters of Moultrie County voted down a referendum proposing to increase the local sales tax by 1 percent Tuesday.

The county school facility occupation tax measure, which would have raised funds for Moultrie County school districts to use towards building upgrades and other school facility related expenses, failed with 2563 voters saying “no” while 1947 voted in favor.

Superintendent of Sullivan schools Brad Tuttle had previously cited particular building needs such as a new HVAC system and roof in certain areas of buildings. It was estimated that up to $800,000 would be generated annually from the 1 percent increase in sales tax, which would have applied to prepared food at restaurants, soft drinks and candy, and other tangible property. Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond would have also seen influxes of money. Read More