Twelfth Annual Valentine’s Day Senior Poetry Contest

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Mid Illinois Senior Services Director, Kathy Shackles looks on as Joanna Hutton expresses thanks to her husband for Valentine’s Day

•February 12, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
For The News Progress

On Friday, February 7, Mid-Illinois Senior Services held its twelfth annual Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Poetry Contest with the help of Sullivan Courtyard Estates.
In a sea of red with tables adorned with Valentine’s Day hearts and chocolate candy, the dining area bustled with seniors excited for another chance to share lunch with each other, socialize and read poetry.
Courtyard Estates kitchen crew prepared a delicious lunch of beef tips, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls along with their very popular pies available in strawberry, chocolate and coconut.
After lunch, there was a drawing with door prizes. The prizes included gift cards to IGA and some of Courtyards Estates famous strawberry pies. Read More

Daddy Daughter Dance Benefits The Little Theatre

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These tiny dancers from last year are getting ready for another Daddy Daughter Dance night.

Sweetheart Dance Theme

•February 12, 2020•

The Little Theatre on the Square will hold a Daddy Daughter Dance fundraiser in February.
The Daddy Daughter Dance is Saturday, February 22nd from 6:00-8:00 pm at Sullivan Elementary School.
“It’s such a fun evening for the girls,” said Theatre Board member and dance organizer Amanda Standerfer. “We encourage all dads and father-figures to bring the special girl in their life!”
Last year, over 200 people attended the dance, which was held at the Sullivan Elementary School. Read More

Moultrie County Jury Returns Guilty Verdict in Attempted Murder Trial

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•February 12, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

A Moultrie County jury found Alvan Booths, 33, guilty of attempted murder, and home invasion Tuesday afternoon following a two hour deliberation.
The trial began Feb. 3 in Moultrie County Circuit Court with the Honorable Hugh Finson officiating and ended with Booths testimony and closing arguments yesterday.
Judge Finson received the guilty verdicts for the two attempted murder and one home invasion charge from the jury at 1:40 p.m. Feb. 11..
“This was a team effort across departments and counties, and I am thankful for the efforts of all involved. ” Moultrie County State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver noted in a press release following the trial. Read More

Jury Trial Underway for Alvan Booths in Moultrie County

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•February 5, 2020•

A Moultrie County jury trial started February 3, 2020 for Alvan Booths, 33, of Mattoon who was charged with attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated battery February 4, 2019.
Sullivan police responded to a shots fired call to 804 W. Hunter the night Feb. 4 where Otha Phillips had been shot in the neck.
Booths appeared with court appointed attorney Todd Reardon while Tammy Wagnor led prosecution along with State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver. Read More

Call 9-1-1 If You Can, Text if You Can’t

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•February 5, 2020•

The Coles Moultrie County Emergency Communications Center now has 9-1-1 text capabilities
The Charleston based CECOM 9-1-1 is now live with Text 911. This is something that the state has mandated.
The Text 911 has been tested and CECOM is up and running and can now receive Text for 911 emergency calls. Read More

Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance Hosts Benefit for Fisheries

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•February 5, 2020•

Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance will host their second annual Banquet at the Sullivan VFW on February 22, 2020 with 100% of the proceeds going to improve the fisheries and fish habitat in Lake Shelbyville!
The doors open at 4:00 p.m.. with dinner starting at 5:00. The banquet is being hosted by the Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance, a group that is focused on improving the fisheries at Lake Shelbyville. Tickets will be available online http://tinyurl.com/lsfha2020, Chip’s Marine in Sullivan, IL and the Lake Shelbyville Visitors Center in Shelbyville, IL.
The tickets include your choice of chicken or steak, sides, and adult beverages while they last. Read More

WHS Homecoming Court 2020

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Windsor High School hosted their 2020 Homecoming Dance on Saturday, January 25th. Pictured front row from left: Crown Bearer Olivia McKinney, 2020 Homecoming Queen Ava Bennett, 2020 Homecoming King Mason Campbell, and Crown Bearer Brantley Ballinger. Back row from left: Freshman Attendant Kiersten Wheeler, Sophomore Attendant Karlie Bean, Junior Attendant Haley Beck, Queen Candidates Hannah Reed and Zoe Nichols, 2019 Homecoming Queen Carson Cole, 2019 Homecoming King Liam Hortenstine, 2020 King Candidates Eli Howard and Brandon Milligan, Junior Attendant Morgan Greuel, Sophomore Attendant Sam Welton, and Freshman Attendant Rhett Rincker.

Hefty Cost to Renovate Titus Home Opens Options for City

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•January 29, 2020•
By MikeBrothers

Renovating the Winifred Titus Sentel Home is a nostalgic notion that could cost a lot of money the Sullivan City Council learned at the Jan 27 meeting.
Architect Riley Glerum of IGW Architecture in Urbana and Engineer Jim Gleason explained it would take $1,123,425 in hard construction to convert the 6700 square foot brick structure into office space.
Operated as a retirement home for ladies until closing the Titus Sentel Home was purchased by the city for $210,000 in Sept. with funds from the Winifred Titus Sentel Trust.
Glerum and Gleason indicated the existing brick home south of Wyman Park would require gutting and rebuilding the interior which, along with elevator installation for accessibility, could total from $1.3 to $1.4 million.
Following the power point presentation evaluation of the home’s condition citizen Nancy Barker ask what it would cost to tear down the home and rebuild a new structure. Read More

Democratic Forum for 15th Congressional District held in Charleston

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Forum for the 15th Legislative District candidates from left: Erika Weaver, Dr. Craig Morton, John W. Hurley, Jr., and Kevin Gaither.

•January 29, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

The primary elections are just months away and the first Democratic candidate forum for the 15th Congressional District kicked off at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library January 26 at 2:30pm. The public meeting room was filled to capacity.
The Democratic candidates seeking the nomination are Kevin Gaither, John W. Hursey, Jr., Dr. Craig Morton and Erika Weaver.
Kevin Gaither grew up in Sullivan, IL where he was involved in his grandfather’s farm, was a journalist, played the pipe organ for church and was actively engaged in efforts to pass a school referendum.
He served in AmeriCorps in poverty-stricken neighborhoods in Indianapolis and was elected to serve on federally mandated healthcare advisory boards there. Moving back to the 15th District in 2013 Gaither returned to community involvement. In 2018 he ran for the Democratic nomination for the 15th District. His grassroots campaign won 62% of the vote through common sense messaging focused on the entire 15th District. Read More