Ribbon Cutting Celebration Open for 1225 Building in Sullivan

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•March 27, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The 1225 Building at 1225 S. Hamilton in Sullivan and Second Chance Gym will have their official ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. March 31. The public is cordially invited to attend the afternoon festivities.
Pastor Jim Plank of the Vineyard Church, 1225 Building owner, said of the venture, “Our church was a launching pad to engage the community, and it was a leap of faith for us. Our next step was to figure out how to invest in the community, and this building represents that investment.” Read More

Construction Before Dawn

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Photo by R.R. Best
Construction Before Dawn
Construction at the new Dollar General location on Jackson St. in Sullivan got an early start as concrete finishing crews were floating floors at 6:30 a.m. last Tuesday. This Tuesday the steel frame is going up.
Overland Corp of Missouri is developing the $1.4 million property for Dollar General Stores. The property is the former location of Jackson Chevrolet which had been abandoned for a decade.
According to Dollar General completion of the 106 N. Main St. store is expected in the fall of 2019.
The store is the Dollar General Plus format. The Plus format is the traditional store with an additional 2000 sq. ft. additional sales space to include expanded cooler and freezer space.
Dollar General has not sought TIF financial relief.
Sulllivan has upgraded electrical service, and developers have paid for gas line relocation.

Sullivan High School Spanish Students Host a Blast to the Past

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Photo by Señora King
Karoake came alive at Mason Point when SHS Spanish students visited recently.

•March 27, 2019•

On February 20 some of the Spanish III students of Sullivan High School visited Mason Point nursing home in Sullivan for a game of bingo, trivia, karaoke, and music. Famous celebrities of the 1950s and 60s with whom the residents were familiar were the topic of the evening.
After the game of bingo, juniors Aaron Garvey, Gary Herschberger, and Seth Mayberry, (who were dressed up as Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney, and Buddy Holly respectively) read facts about the person they were representing for a game of trivia.
Juniors Adalee Nichols and Kaitlyn White helped with the planning of prizes and trivia questions about Elvis Presley as well.
Following the trivia games, the floor was open for anybody wanting to sing their favorite song from the 1950s and 60s. A few residents sang songs like Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Read More

Senate Bill Would Allow More Seniors To Freeze Their Property Valuations

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•March 27, 2019•

By Peter Hancock
Capitol News Illinois

The Illinois Senate is poised to take up a bill that would make it easier for some seniors to access a state program that limits property tax increases on their homes.
Under current law, people age 65 and older with incomes up to $65,000 can claim the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, which effectively freezes the taxable valuation of their homes so that their tax bills cannot go up simply because the market value of their home rises.
Senate Bill 1346, which cleared the Senate Revenue Committee on Wednesday, would expand that slightly, starting in the 2019 tax year, by allowing seniors to deduct from their income whatever money they spend on Medicare premiums. That would allow some people with incomes just above the $65,000 cap to claim the exemption. Read More

Battle of Badges Pleases Crowds, Recognizes First Responders

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Photo by R.R. Best
Cheers all around for the members of the Law Enforcement basketball team at Battle of the Badges held at Sullivan High School gymnasium March 14 to benefit the Sullivan Elementary P.T.O. Above Coach Don Typer, Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims, Sullivan Chief of Police Jim Waggoner and Illinois State Trooper Thomas Houser applaud the win.

•March 20, 2019•

The Battle of the Badges was a crowd pleasing fund-raiser for the Sullivan Elementary School P.T.O. on March 14.
Moultrie County’s law enforcement team won the game over the Sullivan Fire Protection District. The game, which benefits school children, is a spirited competition that still has some players feeling muscle pain .
Members of the Larry and Ruby Schrock family, whose daughter was severely burned during a home explosion in February, attended the event to witness awards presented to first responders for their efforts above the call of duty on that day.
Sullivan Fire District Chief Mike Piper recognized Josiah Davison, Drake Grubb, Travis Reed and Derek Carter of the SFPD; Mark Risely, Caleb Smith and Brandon Beckwith of the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. and Tom Lehew and Brody Bickle of the Sullivan Police Dept. Read More

School Board Candidates Limited

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•March 20, 2019•

Moultrie County has four school districts that elect board members by Congressional Townships.
They are Arthur CUSD No. 302, Mattoon CUSD No. 2, Sullivan CUSD No. 300 and Windsor CUSD No. 1.
Board membership is restricted to a maximum of three members from any one Congressional Township, with the board member serving for a term of four years.
Those elected in 2017 will serve until April 2021. Slots available in a township for the 2019 election are, therefore, determined by how many are currently serving from the 2017 Consolidated Election. Read More

Bethany American Legion Hopes Gaming will Keep Doors Open

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•March 20, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

The village of Bethany denied American Legion Post 507 a video gaming license once, but further investigation into the state gaming code has changed that.
Village president Bill Ashley Jr. explained that once the group had completed the state requirements for a gaming license the village doesn’t get to determine who gets a license since the local ordinance has no limit.
On Wednesday, March 20 the Bethany Village Board will meet in special session to correct the mistaken vote by rescinding the motion and allow the American Legion to proceed with their plans to operate gaming along with their bar six days a week.
The veterans group and community supporters met with the board March 14 with the question remaining up in the air.
“We were kind of in shock at not getting the license,” said Paul Snyder, American Legion representative attending the meeting.
Snyder explained the 99-year-old veterans organization had invested in new carpeting and applied to the state for gaming licenses and contacted vendors in anticipation of being allowed to operate video gaming at the Hwy. 121 club in Bethany.
He explained the club membership voted to open the American Legion to the public with gaming and a bar with 4 p.m.-10 p.m. hours six days a week in 2018.
Snyder explained the first Friday of the month fish dinners are the only funding source Post 507 has now, and over the past six months the club has lost $800. Read More

All-Conference

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All-Conference
The Central Illinois Conference announced its all-conference teams this past week. Sullivan senior Caden Ellis earned second-team honors. Sullivan’s basketball team finished with a 4-25 overall record this year.

First Baptist Church Celebrates 100 Years of White Cross

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•March 20, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress

The public is invited to attend a tea at the First Baptist Church 1-4 p.m. March 23 in celebration of 100 years of the White Cross ministries.
Activities for the day include fellowship, devotion, refreshments, bandage rolling and a presentation on the 100th anniversary of White Cross.
During WWI American Baptist women assisted the American Red Cross by providing surgical dressings, bandages and other medical supplies for U.S. service personnel. Read More

Spirited Candidates Forum Fills The Little Theatre

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•March 20, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress

The 2019 Candidate Forum convened to a nearly full house at The Little Theatre March 14 which indicates a keen interest in the April 2 election.
Sponsored by the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development (SCED) with the Moultrie County News Progress providing a live FB video, the candidates were introduced by SCED Executive Director, Laurrie Minor, who also monitored the time. Sullivan Community Unit School Dist. Supt. Ted Walk selected and read the questions for the candidates.
The format for the program was that each candidate would have one minute for introduction, three minutes to answer each of three questions and a final minute for closing statements. The questions were drawn at random from seven questions that had been prepared for the candidates.
Abbey Buxton Sherwood and Mike Mossman, both running for Commissioner of Accounting and Finance, were the first speakers. The first question posed to them was: Five city departments are represented by a Union. Do you feel comfortable with the negotiation process? Also, how should compensation be managed for those employees not in the union?
Sherwood: I believe that all city employees should be treated fairly and compensated fairly to keep morale high.
Mossman: I am comfortable in negotiating those contracts.
Question 2: Sullivan is one of the few Mayor/Commissioner forms of government left in Illinois. Many have changed to Mayor/Alderman or other forms. What is your opinion on such a change? Read More