Faith Lutheran Church Celebrates 50 years

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•September 11, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The public is invited to celebrate a golden occasional at 10 a.m. Sunday, September 15 at Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan.
The 50th anniversary service includes retired Pastor Joel Cluver, the first resident pastor at Faith, as the guest speaker. Retired Pastor Paul McGhghy will be in attendance.
Following the service all present and former church members are invited to attend a catered old-fashioned picnic which will include pony rides, a bean bag tournament, a cake walk and entertainment.
In the 1960s when a plan for a large medical complex in Sullivan fell through at the present church’s location the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church purchased the six-acre site on Route 32 south of Sullivan for future church development.
During the summer of 1969 representatives and pastors of five neighboring Lutheran congregations met in Sullivan. Grace Lutheran Church of Strasburg agreed to serve as the sponsoring congregation for the Lutheran mission venture in Sullivan and authorized Pastor Marvin Kammrath of Grace Lutheran in Strasburg to serve the group as pastor. The committee entered into an agreement with the Sullivan Church of God to occupy their former church building at Water and Van Buren streets. Read More

Pile Driving

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Droneography by R.R. Best
Pile Driving
Work on the Jonathan Creek Bridge over Hwy. 121 east of Sullivan is underway by Howell Construction of Mattoon. In the above drone photograph support piles were driven in last week.Construction is expected to be completed by the end of October and includes a new and wider deck, new steel and support piers. Moultrie County Hwy. Engineer Jeff Birch indicated the Illinois Dept. of Transportation project will upgrade the bridge width to accommodate buggy lanes.

It’s Not Just a Picnic When County Clerk & Recorders Meet

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Zone Three County Clerk and Recorders -Back Row from left: Mark Sheldon - Champaign Co. Recorder, Michael Gianasi - Christian Co. Clerk/Recorder, Josh Tanner Macon Co. Clerk, Mary Kennedy - Moultrie Co. Deputy Clerk, Dana Smith - DeWitt Co. Clerk/Recorder, Laura Lee - Clark Co. Clerk/Recorder, Dawn Kupler - Woodford Co. Clerk/Recorder.
Front Row: Jessica Fox - Shelby Co. Clerk/Recorder, Mary Eaton - Macon Co. Recorder, Lindsey Light - Vermilion Co. Election Deputy, Cathy Jenkins - Vermilion Co. Clerk, Theresa Moore - Logan Co. Clerk/Recorder, Kristy Masching - Livingston Co. Clerk/Recorder, Judi Pollock - Douglas Co. Clerk/Recorder, Georgia England - Moultrie Co. Clerk/Recorder, Jill Kenyon - Marshall Co. Clerk/Recorder, Bev Howard - Cumberland Co. Clerk/Recorder, Julie Coe - Coles Co. Clerk/Recorder.

•September 11, 2019•

The 3rd Annual Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders Zone III picnic meeting was held at Purcell’s Pond located near Decatur August 29.
The meeting this year was hosted by Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England with the meal provided by her election vendor, Liberty Systems LLC. There were 18 clerk/recorders present, along with four deputy clerks, four representatives from the State Board of Elections/ISP-STIC, seven vendors and three guests.
England stated that all Zone meetings consist of a business meeting, legislative review, updates from the State Board of Elections, STIC (Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center), Department of Revenue, and by any vendors attending the meeting.
One of the hottest topics at the August meeting was regarding elections and cyber security.
A couple of Illinois counties have made the news recently regarding Iranian attacks to websites causing concerns to many citizens.
Counties were advised that the best protection of county systems are when county boards recognize the importance of getting all the county offices on board, not just the county clerk’s office. Read More

CEFS Head Start is Accepting Applications

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•September 4, 2019•

C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 program is a free federally funded program that provides comprehensive classroom and home-based educational services to pregnant women and children ages 0-5.
Preschool center-based classrooms provide daily lesson plans that advance the children’s self-confidence, problem solving skills, and social development.
Head Start center in Moultrie County is located at 203 S. Graham St. in Sullivan. Read More

Good Day for a Ride

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Photo by R.R. Best
Good Day for a Ride
The streets of Bethany were cleared of traffic over the weekend allowing cyclist Ren Ruppert to cruise his neighborhood. The three year old Bethany biker was given a little assistance from his co-pilot mother, Hope.

Lake Shelbyville is Filling Up, But Not With Water

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Andy White of Hydro Gear attended sedimentation discussion with Congressman John Shimkus Aug. 27 at the North End Grill. The following day Shimkus announced he is retiring from Congress.

•September 4, 2019•
By Sed E. Ment
for the News Progress

How long will boats be able to navigate the Sullivan Marina?
That was the unanswered question at a meeting concerning sedimentation filling the north end of Lake Shelbyville.
It was attended by U.S. Congressman John Shimkus, the U.S. Corp of Engineers and about 25 concerned local citizens at the North End Grill at Sullivan Marina Aug. 27.
John Fayhee, who operates the marina, explained to the congressman and Corp representatives the marina level reaches four feet during the lake draw down.
“Docks require five feet of water,” he emphasized, noting the marina would not be in business if the lake fills to three feet.
U.S. Corp engineer Eddie Brauer reported the Kaskaskia River sedimentation from farmland runoff aggravates the issue for the north end of Lake Shelbyville with the affects showing up at the marina.
He explained the rate of sedimentation is affected by variables ranging from the amount of rainfall to the degree farmers engage in soil and water conservation measures. “There is no self-sustaining cost effective fix,” Brauer said, discussing various options to slow the rate of sedimentation. Read More

City Approves Winifred Titus Home Purchase

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Illustration furnished
Drawing of the Titus home by Francis Elder while Winifred still lived there.

•September 4, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Although the Sullivan City Council purchased the Winifred Titus Manor at 513 Worth St for $210,000, it won’t cost the city anything.
At a special city council meeting held at Elizabeth Titus Library Thursday, Aug. 29 Mayor Richard Glazebrook moved to purchase Titus Manor from Titus-Sentel estate trustee Busey Bank at private sale for the appraised amount of $210,000. Mike Fowler seconded with Abbey Sherwood, Chuck Woodworth and Peggy Hargis unanimously approving the purchase. Read More

Special City Council Session set for Titus Property Action

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Photo by Mike Brothers
New Sullivan street sweeper has been put to good use over the summer.

•August 28, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Council ended the regular meeting Aug. 26, in closed session to discuss Titus property pricing and potential acquisition of real estate. Action expected during a 6:00 p.m. special meeting Thursday, Aug. 29 at Elizabeth Titus Library.
Ted Walk and Laurrie Minor, representing Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, suggested the city consider providing a 75% tax increment incentive to developers interested in the city’s 17 acres located in a TIF district south of the city.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood reported sections of Tabor Park would be closed for rip rap operations and a moisture issue has developed inside the civic center. She noted the new utility metering systems are progressing and moved that the contract with former clerk Monte Johnson be extended for two months. All members present approved. Read More

Miss Sullivan Pageant

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•August 28, 2019•
The 2019 Miss Sullivan Pageants will be held Sunday, September 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the Sullivan Elementary School gymnasium.
A Little Miss, Junior Miss, and Miss Sullivan will be crowned and represent the city of Sullivan over the next year and will compete in the Miss Moultrie-Douglas Pageants in July 2020. Read More

Alumni Banquet at Building 1225

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•August 28, 2019•
By Ralph Kirk
for The News Progress

Over 3,000 Sullivan alumni from this area and all across the country have been invited to party at Building 1225 in Sullivan on October 5 to celebrate their Sullivan High School heritage.
Many of the class of 1959 will be celebrating their 60th graduation anniversary, and the class of 1969 will be saluted for their 50th.
There will be a catered dinner, music from the 60s (the class of 1969 is the final class from the 60s to graduate), awards presented and lots of reminiscing and visiting time. Janet Roney, a local historian and artist, will be the master of ceremonies. Read More