City of Sullivan Approves New Subdivision

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Map overlay courtesy Kirk Real Estate
Burdick Subdivision offers nine lots ranging from one acre to three acres southeast of Sullivan.

•April 18, 2018•

With the final plat approval by the city of Sullivan Darin Burdick is opening a new residential subdivision in the southeast section of the city.

“I wasn’t really looking to start a subdivision,” Burdick, local farmer and apartment owner said, “but the city has a need, and they have been really good to work with me.”

Of the 99 acres Burdick owns, the nine lots he is offering are at least one acre each and will have complete city utilities.

The property is staked and subdivided with Kirk Real Estate the handling agent for Burdick who is asking $35,000 per lot.

“Those building will have convenants similar to most subdivisions,” Burdick said, noting he realizes being five miles from the lake may attract people with boats so he has made provisions for up to 1500 sq. ft. outbuildings for boat storage. Read More

OV Dairy Judging Team Wins Section Contest

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OV Dairy Judging Team Wins Section Contest
OVHS FFA dairy judging team: Kailynn Bobbett, Sadie Zimmerman, Garrett Tippit, Sophie Zimmerman, and Sidney Zimmerman. The OV FFA dairy judging team competed in the Section Dairy Competition in Clinton. As a team they came home with a first place finish. Individually results were as follows, Garrett Tippit (1st), Kailyn Bobbett (2nd), and Sadie Zimmerman (5th). FFA member Ethan Macklin traveled to Monticello to participate in the District 4 Public Speaking Competition.

Circuit Clerk Candidate 

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Christa Helmuth

•April 18, 2018•

Christa Helmuth of Sullivan is seeking the Republican nomination for the remaining two years as Moultrie County Circuit Clerk.

The election in November will determine who completes the remaining two years of Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden’s term. Braden has accepted a position with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield.

Helmuth noted her past experiences working within the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk’s office inspired her to make a change for the citizens of Moultrie County.

“The circuit clerk’s office can be a very intimidating process for most citizens,” Helmuth said. “Customers will be greeted with a smile and helped with the process to the best of our ability without giving legal advice.”  Read More

OV Musical Starts Thursday

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Photo by Jeni Yantis
OV Musical Starts Thursday
The Okaw Valley High School Drama Club will present Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis’s “Urinetown: The Musical,” winner of three Tony Awards. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. April 19, 20 and 21 in the OVHS gym.
When a 20-year drought leads to a severe water shortage, the government responds with a ban on private toilets. The citizens must fight the manipulative and sinister Urine Good Company to regain their right to use toilets for free. Their unlikely hero, Bobby Strong, finds himself thrust into the revolution by a beautiful young woman named Hope who fills him with, well, hope.
Included in the cast are seniors Hannah Landreth, Natalie Jeffers, Lexi Roe, Grace Harlin, Hope Ruppert; juniors Gavon Hargrove, Shelby Hagerman, Kaylee Taylor, Bella Benning; sophomore Kate Jeffers and freshmen Haven Caulfield, Julia Hildebrandt and Hannah Durbin.
For ticket information contact the OVHS office at 665-3631.

2018 OVHS  Prom Court

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Photo by Jeni Yantis
2018 OVHS  Prom Court
The Okaw Valley Junior-Senior Prom will be held at Mason Point at 7 p.m. Saturday April 28. Coronation will begin at 7:45.  Pictured front row - Hope Ruppert, Natalie Jeffers, Grace Harlin, Hannah Landreth. Back row - Hayden Francisco, Hutson Dickens, Austin Hill, Trey Yarnell.

Sullivan Board Sets Graduation, Hires Teachers

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Scholarships Presented May 2

•April 18, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit 300 school board learned that 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20 is high school graduation on the football field if weather permits.

High school principal Erik Young also reported that awards presentations will be split between an evening session Wednesday, May 2 for scholarship presentations and in school student recognition day Wednesday, May 9.

Supt. Ted Walk presented the amended tentative budget which will be available for viewing until the public hearing on June 11. He noted removing contingencies and shifting some fund designations have all areas of the budget in the black with an anticipated $84,000 surplus.

Personnel actions include Craig Toler employed as high school physical education teacher due to the resignation of William Manning. (BS+0) He is currently special education aide and volunteer assistant basketball coach. Read More

Jury Trial Sought in SHS Bomb Threat Case

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•April 18, 2018•

The student accused of making a terrorist bomb threat at Sullivan High School will be allowed a bond reduction hearing Thursday, April 19.

Jalon A. Warren appeared before the Hon. Judge Hugh Finson in Moultrie County court along with defense attorney Phillip Tibbs who made the request to reduce the $100,000 bond which has held the defendant in county jail since March 23.  Read More

OVES/OVMS Enjoy Maker Day

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OVES/OVMS Enjoy Maker Day
OVES and OVMS recently participated in Maker Days. A Maker Day is a facilitated event that requires participants to thoughtfully and fully engage in design thinking and creative problem solving and experience hands-on activities. Lara Macklin, OVHS media specialist, made the day possible with creative planning and help from OVHS students.

County Dems. Select New Circuit Clerk

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Photo by Mike Brothers
New Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Beth Pruitt, County Democrat Central Committee Chairman Stuart Wade and outgoing Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden following the county central committee selection of Braden’s replacement last Friday. Following county board approval Pruitt takes office May 1.

•April 11, 2018•

by Mike Brothers
for the News Progress.

Mary Beth Pruitt moved across the courtroom as she accepted appointment as Moultrie County Circuit Clerk on Friday.

The Democrat Central Committee, selected Pruitt to replace outgoing Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden.

Braden begins her new position May 1 as court operations analyst with the Court Services Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Court in Springfield.

Pruitt of Sullivan is a court reporter and has spent her career keeping track of the verbatim records of the courts; now she moves across the courtroom to handle the public side of court record keeping.  Read More

Lovington Board Prepares for Clean up Day

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•April 11, 2018•

The Lovington Village Board met in special session March 26 discussing issues  regarding the village water leak adjustment calculator.

The regular meeting on March 12 included clean up day and townwide garage sale discussions.

President Roger Walker noted he has a problem with leak adjustments from unoccupied homes when pipes freeze and burst. “Because of the water leaks we have had, we need to do something that will help us,” Walker told the board. Read More