Sullivan Purchases New Water Meters, Discusses Residency On The Square

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•November 28, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The Sullivan City Council discussed and voted to waive formal bidding for new water meter purchases. The old meters have moving parts and are seven to eight years old with a life expectancy of 10. A sensor is needed to update the current ones. A decision needed to be made whether to add the censors or to buy new water meters.
The new water meters without moving parts have a longer life expectancy—up to 20 years. After discussion, commissioners waived the formal bidding process and purchased new water meters from Midwest Badger for $232,300.
Laurrie Minor and Michelle Hauser of Sullivan Community & Economic Development spoke about concerns regarding some of the business space in the downtown square area. Currently, there are two personal “home residences” in the business district. One space, Hoodies Goodies, was a business prior to becoming a residence. Read More

With Alzheimer’s Disease Early Detection Matters

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•November 28, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

“Early detection matters! That is the most important phrase to remember when it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease.” Elizabeth Hagemann, Manager of Education and Outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois chapter, stressed this point at the November 15 Caring Conversations Series dinner held at the Best Western Hotel Plus in Arcola.
Her presentation, “Forget Me Not: Conversations About the Stages of Dementia and Alzheimer’s” focused on many informative details about the disease and those who have already been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. An estimated 5.7 million Americans are living with the disease and by the year 2050, the number is projected to rise to 14 million. Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s (http://www.alz.org). Read More

Appreciation Plaque

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Appreciation Plaque
Moultrie County Board Chairman presented outgoing Democrat county board member Gary Smith of Lovington with an Appreciation Plaque for his years of service. Smith was the only Democrat on the board which is all Republican following the November election.

One Book One Sullivan Presents: The Running Dream

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Photo furnished
Sullivan Rotary Club donates the total operation costs for One Book One Sullivan, allowing everyone in the community to join the reading program directed by Sullivan Middle School students.

•November 28, 2018•

One Book One Sullivan is excited to present The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Drannen as the 2018-2019 book choice.
Sullivan Middle School students worked diligently to choose the book that would best match interests of middle school through adult readers.
According to Penguin Random House’s website, when Jessica is told she’ll never run again, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before. The acclaimed author of Flipped delivers a powerful and healing story.
Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She’s not comforted by the news that she’ll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run? Read More

Hydro-Gear Employees Collect Big for Food Pantry

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Hydro-Gear employees pitched in donating 7084 food items plus $6,696.38 in matched funds to the Moultrie County Food Pantry as the result of a companywide two-week fund raising effort. Helping unload seven pallets of food onto the food pantry shelves Monday were Hydro-Gear volunteers (from left) Chad Woollen, Larry Conlin, Larry Rose, Andy White, Krystal Rose, Trudy Patterson, Jim Buck, Troy Yokley and Christopher Zerrusen. Accepting the giant check on behalf of the food pantry was Moultrie Outreach Director Mariah White-Landrus who expressed her appreciation of Hydro-Gear’s employees’ generosity. Donations filled the food pantry shelves at a time when the need is greatest.

•November 28, 2018•

A volunteer team of Hydro-Gear employees filled the Moultrie County Food Pantry in Sullivan Monday, Nov. 26, unloading seven pallets of food items.
Hydro-Gear in Sullivan recently hosted a food drive to support the local food pantry.
“What started as a hope to change a few families’ Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays ended with a response that no one would have seen coming,” said Krystal Rose of Hydro-Gear.
The Moultrie County Food Pantry provides meals to more than 400 families in the county.
“We really appreciated the effort of the employees of Hydro-Gear to help the Food Pantry help those who need it most,” CEFS Moultrie County Outreach Coordinator Mariah White-Landrus said.
The Hydro-Gear family rallied together and hosted an internal competition, leaving one big winner…the patrons of the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
“I have helped in food pantry drives in the past that didn’t get nearly this response,” Hydro-Gear volunteer Chad Woollen of Shelbyville said. “To collect 7000 food items is an amazing effort by Hydro-Gear employees over just two weeks.” Read More

Candy Sells for Food Bank

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Candy Sells for Food Bank
The crowds were waiting at 9 a.m. Saturday for the Flesor’s candy sale at Cathrine’s in downtown Sullivan. It was the best sale yet with 20% of all sales Saturday supporting the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Ava Harshman of Sullivan found this white chocolate Santa to satisfy her chocolate cravings on Saturday.

Lovington School Celebrates Bicentennial

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•November 21, 2018•

Lovington Elementary School celebrated Illinois Bicentennial recently by taking a trip back in time when Native Americans danced their stories.
Junior high social studies teacher Chris Davis and first grade teacher Vickie Newberry started working on the day long observance of the state’s 200th birthday in August, and on Friday, Nov. 9 it all came together.
Students learned of the early Native American culture, about the animals of Illinois from the Douglas Hart Nature Center of Mattoon, fur trading in pioneer life, bow making and topped off with a visit from Abraham Lincoln.
In the morning program Kaskaskia River Dancers Brandon Helm and Matt Clayton dressed in full Cherokee regalia explained that Native Americans told their stories through dance. Read More

SPD Increases Holiday Patrols

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•November 21, 2018•

The Sullivan Police Department and law enforcement throughout Illinois will be working around the clock through Thanksgiving and the remainder of the year to make certain travelers are buckled up and driving sober, Chief of Police Jim Waggoner announced Sullivan Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and nearly 200 local police and sheriff’s departments to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Drivers and passengers can expect a ticket from Sullivan Police Department if they are spotted without a seat belt or with an unbuckled child in their vehicle. Additionally, motorists are being warned that driving after drinking or using drugs or other impairing substances will not be tolerated. Stepped-up patrols including seat belt enforcement zones and roadside safety checks will be seen throughout Sullivan and the state. Read More

Senior Center Honors Veterans At Luncheon

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Veterans recognized at Senior Center observance.

•November 21, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Senior Center ceiling was a sea of swag in patriotic colors of red, white and blue with the tables in matching tablecloths and place mats to welcome veterans to a complimentary lunch on Nov. 13. Each veteran and guest received a treat box filled with cookies and candies as well as a ticket for the drawing for a patriotic quilt.
Pre-luncheon entertainment was provided by Ellen Ferrera who performed piano arrangements of the theme songs for each of the armed forces including “The Navy Hymn” and “America the Beautiful”.
The luncheon was sponsored by Peace Meal and Reva Martin, Supervisor of the Peace Meal at the Senior Center, welcomed the veterans and their spouses. She remarked that, “we are so honored to be able to thank our veterans with this special meal and share this day with them.” Read More