Early Morning Fire Destroys Lovington House

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Photo by R. R. Best
Firefighters from Sullivan and Arthur assisted the Lovington Fire District in fighting the fire at the corner of East State and North High in Lovington.

•July 3, 2019•

A 5:00 a.m. fire at the corner of East State and North High streets destroyed an unoccupied home in Lovington Thursday.
Assistant chief Bill Harlin said the two story frame home was totally engulfed when Lovington firefighters arrived at 5:06 a.m.
“I called Sullivan and Arthur for mutual aide,” Harlin said.
Sullivan was there with a water tanker by 5:15 and Arthur at 5:20. Read More

Places at Pork Expo

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Places at Pork Expo
Mallory Batman of Sullivan won her class and was third overall in spot gilt at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. Hosted by NPPC since 1987, World Pork Expo is the world’s largest pork industry-specific trade show in the world. It brings together pork producers and other industry professionals from around the world for three days of education, innovation and networking

Bethany Village Board Approves Liquor Changes

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•June 26, 2019•
The Bethany Village Board approved an additional Class E liquor license at the regular June meeting.
That allows for the sale of beer, wine and spirits by the drink for consumption on the premises (bar license). The total count for Class E licenses is two, allowing the village to approve a previous request from the Bethany American Legion. Read More

A Century of Fourth of July Celebrations

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Cool rides are in store for Sullivan kids when Conner Family Amusements opens the Fourth of July Celebration from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 7 (1:00 - 5:00 p.m.).

•June 26, 2019•
A century of Sullivan fireworks is celebrated during the July 3-7 Fourth of July celebration.
American Legion Post 68 continues its 100 year tradition with Central States Fireworks of Athens unloading $17,000 in fireworks into the July 4th sky above Wyman Park in Sullivan on July 4.
That is the finale to a celebration that begins with the arrival of Conner Amusements carnival from Beardstown on July 3.
At high noon July 4th the celebration parade kicks off thanks to coordination by Justin “Bubba” Farris and his crew of Legion, Sons of American Legion and Auxiliary volunteers. Terry Warren will prepare lunch for parade participants (more than 350 were served last year).
At 2 p.m. the watermelon eating contest, sack races and turtle races occur. Read More

Fourth of July Crackdown by SPD on Impaired Drivers

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•June 26, 2019•
Sullivan Police Department announced plans for July Fourth traffic enforcement with a focus on impaired and unbuckled drivers.
The safety campaign will run from June 17 through July 8 to encompass three summer weekends leading up to and after Independence Day.
“We’re asking all of our residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day safely,” said Chief Andrew Pistorius. “It’s simple: If you’re driving, don’t drink or use drugs. Our officers will be out in full force to keep impaired drivers off the road.”
Sullivan Police Department will join the Illinois State Police and more than 160 local police and sheriff’s departments for the increased statewide enforcement effort. Read More

ALAH School Board Presented Random Drug Testing Proposal

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Supt. Schwengel’s Last Meeting

•June 26, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

At the last board meeting the Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond school board looked into changes to the student handbook which included drug testing, student parking and use of electronic devices.
The ALAH School Board held a hearing for the FY 2019 amended budget after it had been available to the public for the past 30 days. A few minor adjustments were made to supplies and expenditures as well as transferring money from the education department to transportation.
Superintendent Kenny Schwengel commented that funding for transportation may come in after July. After the hearing, board members voted on the budget and passed it for approval.
Schwengel informed the board that the district’s current balance is $4,525,647.87 and that the funds were in pretty good shape.
High school principal Steffanie Seegmiller discussed some of the changes to the high school student handbook. Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, students will be required to register their car and pay for a $2.00 parking tag. They also increased parking spaces for faculty and reserved parking space for visitors. Read More

Electric Dept. Salaries Improve, Still No Chickens in Sullivan

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•June 26, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan’s City Council improved Electric Dept. salaries and removed employee residency restrictions but said no to chickens in the city.
Public Property Commissioner Mike Fowler proposed the journeyman lineman base rate increased to $39.05 per hour. Fowler explained lack of competitive wage for journeymen has made it difficult to hold skilled electricians in the department.
The wage restructure is based on the entry journeyman lineman rate with first apprentice 65% at $25.38; up to fourth step apprentice $33.19.
Fowler noted seven day on call service was set at a flat $275 along and removal of residency were also approved changes to the current IBEW Local 51 contract. The modified IBEW contract was unanimously approved by the council. Read More

Bethany Celebrates

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Bethany Celebrates
Saturday morning was parade time at the Bethany Celebration as the Boy Scouts flag corp lead the way. The Celebration endured threatening weather over the weekend with mud volleyball following the parade on Saturday. Inflatables, kids’ games and a petting zoo entertained the young crowd with live entertainment in the beer tent for adults. Bethany Celebration, a non-profit volunteer group, organizes and raises funds for the annual event.

A Hard Rain Falls, Flooding Part of Bethany Last Wednesday

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Shelby County Dive Team rescues Brittany Landreth and her two daughters from flood waters that threatened their home on N. Church Street in Bethany.

•June 26, 2019•
What happens when four inches of rain falls in half an hour?
Bethany was hit with four inches of rain within half an hour on June 19 that left streets flowing like an angry river and residents still dealing with flood conditions.
With a torrent of water rushing down North Church Street, Bethany Fire District called on the Shelby County Dive team to rescue Brittany Landreth and her two daughters by boat, while Bethany personnel escorted son Alex from Tamara Lillico’s house next door, utilizing guide ropes to steady the team against the rushing water.
“It came on all at once,” Bethany Fire Chief Tom Rucker said of the 1 p.m. deluge of water. “Firefighters turned out well for the middle of the day, and we first went to the grade school where water got inside the building.” Read More

AmBucs Scholar

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AmBucs Scholar
Shelby Freeman recently received a $1000 Scholarship from the AmBuc Chapter in Sullivan. Pictured right to left are mother Kim, Shelby, father Bob and AmBucs treasurer Dick Burcham. Freeman will be studying speech therapy at Eastern Illinois University.