News Progress

Townships Get Windfall

•August 15, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board appointed Tracy Weaver as State’s Attorney to complete Jeremy Richey’s term to 2020, accepted Clint Robinson’s bid to rent the county farm and voted to limit the time shipping and storage containers may be in one place to 14 days.
County board chair Dave McCabe appointed assistant state’s attorney Weaver, noting the Republican Central Committee recommended the appointment at the December 3, 2017 meeting. Weaver previously practiced in Cole’s County and has moved to Sullivan to complete the term of office. Unanimous approval was given the appointment.
Building and grounds chair Gary Smith recommended Robinson’s bid of $379.17 per acre rent for the county farm be approved for the 2018-2020 term. Smith noted that four bids were submitted.The motion passed unanimously.
In the planning and zoning committee report, chairman Todd Maxedon recommended a change in the county zoning ordinance concerning accessory uses. Read More

•August 8, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Mel Brooks has always described ‘Young Frankenstein” as his best film. So, when he successfully turned his ‘The Producers” into a Broadway musical, it seemed only natural to follow suit with a musical version of “Young Frankenstein”.
This is vintage, madcap, bawdy Brooks with outrageous double entendres and asides aplenty. When Frederick arrives at his grandfather’s castle, he sees the enormous door knockers and exclaims, ‘Wow! What a great pair of knockers!” to which his voluptuous German assistant Inga coos, “Oh, zank you Doctor.” So, hold on to your sides and laugh the evening away.
Director Peter Marinaro has done a brilliant and masterful job of orchestrating this complicated musical with many scene changes, ensemble numbers, costume changes, hilarious props and pyrotechnics that all come off without a hitch. The use of the new screen for black and white background film is especially stunning. Read More

Photo furnished
Bradlee Todd greets Chicago Bears.

•August 8, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Bradlee Todd has been participating in Special Olympics most of his life. His mother Lisa is head coach for the Special Olympics Alpha Bears which his father Lester also coaches.
Bradlee also serves as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics.
He was thrilled to be chosen recently to be one of the official greeters for the 50th anniversary celebration of Special Olympics in Chicago July 17-22.
It all started at the same place 50 years ago July 20, 1968 when 1,000 athletes from Canada and the U.S. competed in more than 200 events including swimming, floor hockey and track and field. The goal was to put a spotlight on ability, not disability. Read More

•August 8, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The Sullivan City Council approved the 2018-19 appropriation ordinance up 38% from the previous year at $39,628,950.
Public questioning of the increase was encountered at the public hearing with commissioners and visitors exchanging viewpoints.
City Administrator, Dan Flannell, provided some information in a separate interview to explain the ordinance.
“Laws require every governmental body to adopt an appropriation ordinance. It is a “blue print” for potential expenditures for the city – but it is not a budget,” Flannell began. “It is rare that the full amount of an appropriation is spent. Everything spent is authorized through an appropriation ordinance,” he emphasized.
The city’s salaries and expenditures are all authorized through the appropriation ordinance which provides legal authority for expenditures of the money that the city generally spends.
While the appropriation might have been set higher this year, it doesn’t mean that the projects’ costs will be higher. The increase will not change the amount of taxes or utility costs that the citizens pay, the city administrator explained. Read More