News Progress

•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

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

•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