Photo by R.R. Best
Easter Egg Prep
Sullivan fifth grade Girl Scouts worked on their Bronze medal while helping volunteers at Courtyard Estates prepare 14,000 plastic eggs for the April Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Sullivan Fire Protection District. Above from left: Annabelle Griffin, Phyllis Sheridan, Addison Brush and Zoe Conlin. The Sullivan Fire Dept. Easter Egg Hunt begins at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 1 at Wyman Park.
Attorneys agree to exchange viewpoints
•March 14, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The village of Bethany and landlords ongoing issues over who pays utility charges for delinquent renters will wait for attorneys to review a possible compromise.
Andrew W. B. Bequette of Bequette Law Office in Urbana is representing Gary Meritt and other landlords regarding the village of Bethany’s proposed Landlord/Renter Agreement.
He asked the board to table any action they were contemplating until he and the village attorney could meet and discuss concerns. Bequette outlined some of those concerns and advised that some of the items in the agreement could leave the village open to litigation. The two attorneys exchanged viewpoints and agreed to meet. Read More
•March 14, 2018•
Staff reduction was among items approved at the Sullivan Community District #300 school board meeting Monday, March 12.
Supt. Ted Walk noted that the annual review of staff levels revealed the district was overstaffed and recommended honorable dismissal of SHS head football coach Andrew Kerley from his duties as a social studies and driver education teacher.
School board members also approved the resolution for the honorable dismissal of business teacher Tori Hale.
Supt. Walk noted both teachers were low in seniority, and if the district has a future opening, they would be first for consideration to fill an opening,
Chaney Miller, high school science teacher, submitted her resignation effective at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. Read More
•March 14, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
Moultrie County treasurer and judge candidates expressed their views at the candidates forum held Thursday, March 8 at Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
Sponsored by Sullivan Economic Development and the Moultrie County News Progress, Sullivan Unit #300 Supt. Ted Walk moderated the forum which was streamed live on News Progress FaceBook. Each candidate presented opening remarks, asked three questions, then allowed to close with a one minute statement.
County treasurer Marci Thompson is retiring with two candidates competing for the Republican nomination and two candidates competing for the Democrat nomination on the March 20 ballot.
Michelle Liddiard and Stephanie Helmuth are running on the Republican ticket;
Pam Wittkowski and Diane Waggoner are running on the Democratic ticket. Read More
•March 14, 2018•
Registration is now open for the Lovington Townwide Rummage Sales to be held Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2. Sign-up forms are available at Village Hall, the Lovington Public Library and online on the “Putting Back the Love in Lovington” Facebook page. Read More
Photo furnished
Jump Rope for Heart
SES just finished raising funds for “Jump Rope for Heart.” Coach Don Typer has been coordinating the school’s efforts to help the American Heart Association for the last 16 years. This year the students of Sullivan Elementary were able to raise more than $16,750.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Early Voting
Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England noted early voting has been brisk but not overwhelming. Voters are eligible for early voting in the General Primary election at the Moultrie County Clerk’s office through March 19. Voting hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Special Saturday, March 17 hours are 9 a.m.- noon.
•March 7, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Elizabeth Houser of Country Financial and Cathrine Craig of Cathrine’s Gallery of Sullivan are showcasing women business owners in Moultrie County, Friday, March 16.
“We have so many resources in Sullivan that people don’t even know about,” Houser said, noting a recent conference on leadership she attended inspired the ideas for “Empowering Women”. “The group is a way for women business owners to come together and share their ideas and products with each other and the public.”
She explained that many people don’t know, for example, that Country Financial can write 401K plans for companies. Read More
•March 7, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
At the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting members of the board discussed the possibility of reorganizing the grade school buildings within the district.
Presently, the junior high students have been bused to the high school building for physical education, and high school students have been having to find other additional rooms for study hall such as the cafeteria.
The district has considered converting the current grade school into an “attendance center,” which would contain specific grades in each center. Read More
•March 7, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
The design won architectural awards when it opened in 1964, but the Sullivan Civic Center has had a tortured history of repairs and renovations.
IGW Architects Riley Glerum and Rick Krall of Urbana presented an assessment of the center’s condition and possible solutions for the Sullivan City Council to consider during a special meeting Thursday, March 1 at Elizabeth Titus Library.
City administrator Dan Flannell first dispelled rumors about the civic center to the room filled with 50 citizens.
“In spite of rumors and FaceBook posts you may have heard or seen,” Flannell began, “there is absolutely no plan to close the Civic Center. The Civic Center will remain open well into the future.”
The question that remained at the end of the session is just how much is the community of Sullivan willing to pay in order to keep the facility or one like it opened? Read More