Sullivan Dance Studio Previews Show

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Sullivan Dance Studio Previews Show
On Sunday, February 2, 2020, Sullivan Dance Studio Competition Team will hold their annual Preview Show in the Sullivan Elementary School Gym. The public is invited to see the dancers perform their competition routines. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the showcase will begin at 1:30 p.m. A free-will donation is being accepted for admission. Members of the SDS Competition Team are from Sullivan, Shelbyville and Arthur. Dancers range in age from 4 to 14 and include: Michaela Blickensderfer, Gabrielle Carpenter, Synthea Doss, Avery Florey, Oliver Florey, Adalee Foster, Sophie Foster, Alexa Gaede, Lillian Hood, Aleena Ingram, Kimberely Krutsinger, Emma Lawrence, Charlotte Martin, Elizabeth Owns, Avery Renfro, Macie Rodgers, Korry Thilker, Miah Voegel, Sarina Voegel, Lily Woolery and Lyla Wright. The team will compete in four different competitions between now and April. They will end their season with the Sullivan Dance Studio Spring Recital in June.

SHS Mirror Images Present GROW at The Little Theatre

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Troubled Family
Gunyr Fitzgerald ( as Paul Wiseman), Peyton Isaacs ( as Damien Wiseman), and Miriah Booker ( as Tanya Wiseman) are a troubled family on their way to school at the opening of the play.

•January 29, 2020•
High school isn’t easy, growing up is hard, and everyone can grow and become a better person.
These are just three of the issues addressed in GROW, an original play written and performed by students in Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images under the guidance of Rebecca Lawson, SHS English teacher.
The public performance of GROW will be Friday, January 31, at 7 p.m. at the Little Theater on the Square. Admission is $5, and the doors will open at 6:30. Tickets may be purchased at the door or from members of the cast and crew.
The story follows the lives of nine students through a school year. They have problems with their parents, interesting incidents in their classes, and stressful and exciting times with each other, including auditioning for and performing in a school talent show.
Junior Anna Mathias noted, “Writing the play, we knew we wanted to do something about growth from the beginning. As said by my character Heather Prauer, ‘High school is a time for you to change, grow, and try new things.’ We wanted to bring that message to the student body at Sullivan High School and the general public in the form of a play aptly named ‘Grow.’ This is one of my favorite shows written and performed by the Mirror Images group so far, and I can’t wait to show you everything we’ve worked on.” Read More

Moultrie County Farm Bureau Serves More Than Farmers

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Tyler Harvey

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

The Illinois Farm Bureau (officially the Illinois Agriculture Association) was founded in Illinois in 1916 and in Moultrie County in 1918.
It is a private entity that provides education and information to help farmers while supporting legislation and lobbying for agricultural issues.
The IAA supports many affiliates such as Country Financial, GrowMark, FS, Prairie Farms Dairy and the beef, pork, corn and soybean associations along with the county Farm Bureaus.
Today there are 96 county Farm Bureaus in Illinois with 400,000 members. Approximately 25% of the Illinois population works in the agricultural industry. Agriculture is, after all, the largest industry in Illinois.
Since 2014 Tyler Harvey has been the Farm Bureau Manager for both Moultrie and Douglas counties.
“I wear a lot of hats.,” Harvey says of his various duties. “One day I may be in a suit attending a Springfield meeting and the next day in jeans touring a farm. Advocacy on so many levels comprises a lot of our work.” Read More

Dolphins for the Record

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Dolphins for the Record
Sullivan High School has a swim record board displayed left of the stage in the gym. Sullivan Blue Dolphin alumni Charlie Goss left and his brother Brodie right were on break from college and stopped by the SHS gym to check the huge display board where they appear. Charlie is attending the U.S. Air Force Academy and Brodie is at University of Nebraska at Omaha.

SHS Illinois State Scholars

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SHS Illinois State Scholars
Congratulations to this year’s Illinois State Scholars: Gary Herschberger, Aiden Short, Shyanne Hunter, Adalee Nichols, and Kaitlyn White. This is a tremendous honor that requires hard work, intelligence, and dedication. Illinois State Scholars are chosen through a formula that is based off of SAT scores and class rank.

Wyman Park Splash Pad Gains Local Funding Support

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Summer Fun in Sullivan could be centered around a Splash Pad at Wyman Park. Becky Ogle is leading the SPARK effort to fund the project.

•January 22, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

Hot summer days dashing around the lawn sprinkler seem meager when compared to the possible summer fun from a Splash Park.
When we were young without air conditioning on scorching days Dad would cut loose the cooling waters into the circular and arc sprinklers that graced our lawn.
For the next hour my sister joined me and neighborhood kids and even the dogs and birds would frolic like shrieking sprites running through the sprinklers, hosing each other and jumping about in the puddles that accumulated in the grass. This was our water wonderland.
The water world of today is a growing number of splash pads or splash parks with an array of colorful sprinklers, showers, bubbling pads, geysers, soakers, sprays and all manner of fanciful structures for aquatic play. Children are drawn to them like moths to a flame.
Such a splash park is envisioned by the Parks and Recreation Committee of Sullivan SPARK for installation in Wyman Park.
Becky Ogle and her family moved here four years ago from Paris, IL where that city started with a $250,000 splash park and has added to it over the years. It is now one of the largest splash parks in the area. Read More

County Contributes to SCED, Continues Hiring Freeze

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•January 22, 2020•
Fields Tax Questions

By Mike Brothers

A county hiring freeze didn’t hinder the Moultrie County Board from giving $50,000 to the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development at the January 16 meeting.
SCED Director Laurrie Minor explained the county’s $50,000 contribution goes exclusively toward tourism promotion of the county.
She reported this will be the third year attending the Recreation and RV Show in Rosemont and visitors return to tell about their experiences in the area.
Jon Summers Corp of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville participates with SCED at the Rosemont show and reported increases in campers this past season during a recent budget committee meeting.
County Board Chairman Dave McCabe recommended this third annual $50,000 contribution to SCED explaining the first year the county saw a 14.44 percent sales tax boost. In the second year sales tax income was down .06 percent.
Prior to the vote board member Neil Bryan asked Minor for more information concerning surrounding counties contributions to promote tourism. Read More

New Website in Operation for ALAH School District

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•January 22, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

Atwood-Hammond Junior High Social Studies teacher, Angie Hollingsworth announced her future retirement at the opening of the ALAH School Board meeting, scheduled for the 2023-2024 school year.
Hollingsworth has been in Atwood-Hammond for the past 26 years and overall has been teaching for 30.
“We appreciate what you’ve done for the district and the students. I’m very grateful for all you’ve done for the district and our students...You will be missed for sure, but I am glad we get to have you for four more years,” said Superintendent, Shannon Cheek.
“She is a great asset at the junior high,” stated Atwood-Hammond Principal, Kristin Nall. “She’s made so many relationships with the families there and bridged the gap with home and school. And she helped transition me in my position. You will be extremely missed, ” she added. Read More

A Moving Tribute to the American Spirit Presented to Sullivan School Board

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•January 22, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

Sullivan High School student, Blake Thompson presented his winning Voice of Democracy speech at the Sullivan Community Unit 300 Dist. board meeting. Thompson competed and won the district competition and will be presenting his speech at the state competition in Springfield in February.
SES teacher Jennifer Hobbs coordinated the event, and SHS English teacher Becky Lawson was his sponsoring teacher.
“His speech on what makes America great is a moving tribute to the American spirit,” commented Sullivan High School Principal Daniel Allen.
The board discussed the changes to the district’s Course Description Book for the 2020-2021 school year, which were approved.
The Sullivan Elementary School building is over 20 years old and the floor tile has been starting to show some wear and will need replaced. Read More