Photo by R.R. Best
Parking Space Art
With Sullivan students attending the first day of school Wednesday, August 15 high school seniors got a head start on the school year. Starting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, August 3 SHS seniors were allowed to personalize their parking spots. Above blue handprints mark the spot for Hannah Schlieker and Kyleigh Read.
•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
Photo by Mike Brothers
The Northenders at DC
The Northenders endured a torrential downpour during the All Wheel Extravaganza in Dalton City on July 22. The Northenders Band members Jan Courtright, Chris Eckel and Mike Harmison survived all kinds of weather but kept on playing.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Shucking Corn
During the Steam Threshing and Baling show held at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center August 3 and 4 people from all over the area gathered at the Center east of Arthur to watch field demonstrations from early farming. Above the horse powered corn shucking machine cut a single row of stalks which were stacked on wagons for further preparation. Demonstrations of past farming operations included silage chopping, oat combining, disking, plowing, sickle mowing and hay loading by horses and tractors.
•August 1, 2018•
By Gillespie Roberts
for The News Progress
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity is preparing for the 30th home build and is recruiting volunteers for ReStore in Sullivan, which generates the funds for Habitat homes in the county,
On Saturday, August 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity is hosting a volunteer recruitment event at the ReStore on Hamilton Street in Sullivan.
“We would love to sign up Friday and Saturday volunteers,” said Cheryl Thomas of the Habitat board. “Possibly families could spend a few hours on Saturdays maybe once a month.
“ReStore also needs people who could move furniture on a on-call situation or possibly a few hours a week,” Thomas said of the volunteering needs. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Fun Week
The Sullivan Parks and Recreation week of fun came to a close on Friday with Sullivan Fire District providing a cool closing followed by serving lunch to everyone participating in the weeklong program. Above fire department volunteer Dave Reed, Fire Chief Mike Piper and volunteer Rob Young serve Park and Recreation summer program participants.
•August 1, 2018•
For more than two decades Moultrie County Relay for Life has helped comfort those fighting cancer.
On Friday, August 10 survivors and supporters will gather at Sullivan High School from 5-10 p.m.
Moultrie County Relay coordinator Adam McReynolds noted that 14 teams have already signed up and begun their fund-raising efforts.
“Right now Moultrie County Pest Control team is leading with $2600 raised,” McReynolds said, noting this year’s goal is $50,000.
He explained that funds raised not only go toward research such as one project underway at the University of Illinois but goes to help those dealing with everyday issues while under treatment. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
ReStore in Sullivan is Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity’s home building fund raiser and one unique department store located north of the tracks on Hamilton Street. A portion of the friendly volunteer staff from left: Pauline Rowles, Mary Ann Hargis, Dee Ann Daily, Cheryl Thomas and ReStore Manager Tara Reed. Back row: David Conklin and Mike Daily.
•August 1, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
Tara Reed has a vision and since taking over as manager of the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Sullivan, it’s a vision teamed with elbow grease.
“I love cleaning and organizing,” Reed said, noting her goal is to give ReStore customers a warm, friendly, local department store experience.
Since May, Reed and the band of devoted Habitat for Humanity volunteers have been sorting through rooms filled with donated inventory. Grouping items by kind, cleaning and keeping the best items, the group is reorganizing the store into easy to shop departments.
“We want everything to be worthy of putting in your home,” she said, noting the displays when entering the Hamilton Street store are constantly changing.
Displays such as a dining room table, set with china near the entryway allows Reed to feature different items from furniture to glassware.
Store window displays are constantly changing, and seasonal items will be featured as well. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pat Cribbet is displaying one of Huntsburger’s books on Hood Ornaments.
A Collector who Shared
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
At a recent meeting in a Titus Library conference room in Sullivan I noticed a large collection of car hood ornaments along one wall. The benefactor of this collection was Lynn R. Huntsburger.
Huntsburger was born on the last day in December, 1913 in a little frontier town in North Dakota. His mother was from Lovington, and when she died, he was sent to live with relatives in Kansas and then to others in Cadwell.
He grew up with a love of machinery and cars and in 1946, with a little seed money, he started O.K. Jobbers in his basement to sell auto parts and industrial supplies. In 1974 he bought his first antique car – a 1949 Kaiser, and by 1990 he had 14 antique cars which he loved to restore.
While restoring his cars he began collecting hood ornaments, mascots and other car trim. By 2004 he had more than 2,000 hood ornaments and was known world-wide as a premier collector of hood ornaments. He was interviewed by PBS TV, and his collection had been widely exhibited including at the Burke’s Museum at Millikin University. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
DC Extravaganza
The Eighth Annual All Wheel Extravaganza was held in Dalton City with 105 vehicles on display. Bob Montague of Sullivan brought his 347ci powered1962 Ford Ranchero with the crowd traveling to and from Harley’s Hide Out and the Shamrock during rainy spells. The Northenders endured weather and heat to play from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 22.