County Board Shifts Office Duties

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•March 20, 2019•

The Moultrie County Board moved responsibility of county budget preparation and group health insurance to the county treasurer’s office at the March 14 meeting.
Board chairman Dave McCabe stated the ever increasing election workload in the county clerk’s office prompted the recommended move in an effort to even the work load between offices. McCabe’s motion was approved by Kevin McReynolds, Neil Bryan, Mike Barringer, Arlene Aschermann, Billy Voyles Todd Maxedon and Tyler Graven. Read More

Sullivan Schools Approve Sport Coops, Change Kindergarten Assessment

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Testing After Spring Break

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit District #300 school board met March 11 voting to continue existing sports cooperative programs.
The football coop between Okaw Valley and Sullivan and the swimming coop between Shelbyville, Okaw Valley and Sullivan were approved for two years.
Supt. Ted Walk recommended changes to the kindergarten screening tool and report card. He explained kindergarten teachers had collaborated with first grade teachers to improve the transition by giving teachers a better gauge of progress.
Ali Elzy, senior in Cami Badman’s AP language and composition class, read her NPR radio “This I Believe” contest winning essay to the board. Read More

Sullivan City Council Preview

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Sullivan, Village of Bethany, Lovington and Windsor plus School Board elections are Tuesday, April 2, 2019

•March 20, 2019•

City Mayor

Ann Short
I am Ann Short and I am running for re-election as Mayor of Sullivan. I am married to my husband Bob. We have two children, Scott and Tracy, and two grandchildren.
I grew up in Arthur, attended Millikin University, and came to Sullivan when we married.
I started working in the City Treasurer’s office in 1961. I was appointed City Treasurer in 1975 and served there until I retired in 1999.
My term as Mayor started in 2003. Sullivan is a unique community because of our $27M budget, owning our own utilities, and offering the many services that we all enjoy.
I am qualified to provide the leadership needed to advance our community based on my understanding of municipal finances, Tax Increment Financing and the many rules and regulations imposed upon municipalities. Read More

Sullivan Council Approves TIF Funds to Help Library

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•March 20, 2019•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

The Sullivan City Council approved the use of TIF funds to help Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library purchase new LED sign
“We need to inform the people in Sullivan what the library does,” library director Michelle Nolen explained to the members of the council. “We have more than just books.”
Along with members from the library board sitting in support, Director Nolen presented a quote and information about a new LED sign for Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library.
She noted the sign was not the “whole puzzle” but was a way to tell people in Sullivan what the library has scheduled on specific days. The library board decided on a double-sided LED sign with a quote of $24,700 which includes installation. It also has wifi capabilities which allows it to be controlled wirelessly. There was also some discussion about renting the sign to organizations or businesses that could go towards paying for the sign maintenance. Read More

Two Injured in Sunday Crash

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Photo by R.R. Best
Two Injured in Sunday Crash
Deborah S. Ryan, 54, Bethany was transported by Carle Evac Life team with serious injuries following a single vehicle crash at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 10. The Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. was called to the scene on CR 400E south of 2000N where a passenger, Ryan L Sieber was transported to a local hospital by Lovington Ambulance Service. Deputy Paul Hildebrandt is pictured following rescue of the crash victims.Sullivan, Bethany and Findlay fire depts. assisted at the scene of the accident.

Yost Gets New Attorney

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•March 13, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

An aged and heavier Michael Yost sat alone at the defense table in Moultrie County court Thursday, March 7 as the Honorable Judge Hugh Finson appointed Walter Lookofsy of Shelbyville to defend him.
He will return to Moultrie County Court at 3 p.m.Tuesday, April 2 after consulting with his new attorney.
The Illinois Appellate Court directed the Krankel hearing in Moultrie County to determine whether Yost, 45, was ineffectively represented by counsel during his Sept. 2016 trial. Read More

GriefShare Offered at First Christian Church

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•March 13, 2019•

GriefShare is a grief support group that meets Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. March 19 through June 4.
Meetings are at the First Christian Church, 1357 CR1200E in Sullivan.
After the funeral, often friends and family want to help but don’t know how.
That is the reason for GriefShare, a network of 12,000 churches worldwide offering grief support. Read More

“Evil Things” Prompt Camel Tofu Exit Practice Venue

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•March 13, 2019•

By Bad Bad Leroy Brown
for the News Progress

When local musicians Jeremy Nolen, John Scott, Scott Mast and Cody Brumfield started “Camel Tofu” a year and a half ago, it was all in fun.
And the punk/rock band has gained a following for their original music over the year and will be playing at the East End Bar in Lovington on March 16.
But what happened last week has the band somewhat perplexed.
Camel Tofu and three other local bands practice on the second floor at the former Brown Shoe Factory.
In a text message from building owner AB Seals, the band was kicked out of the second floor practice location citing that “Evil Things” were happening in the building because of their presence. Read More

Sullivan Student is Top Ten State Essayist

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•March 13, 2019•

Sullivan high school language and composition student Ally Elzy is a top ten state winner in the NPR “This I Believe” competition.
According to NPR Illinois, “This I Believe” Illinois is an annual essay program for Illinois high school seniors, an expression of where their minds are as they prepare to enter the adult world. Starting as a five minute radio program hosted by Edward R. Murrow in 1951, “This I Believe” gave contributors the chance to write a short essay articulating what they believe. Since then, the idea has been adopted by NPR Illinois.” Read More