Catlin Couple Injured in Allenville Crash

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Catlin Couple Injured in Allenville Crash
A Catlin couple was hospitalized following a head on collision near Allenville Saturday evening.
James Dolan, 80, and his wife Nancy were traveling west on Hwy. 121 when the traffic accident occurred, Moultrie County Chief Deputy Gary Carroll said referring to the accident report.
The Dolan car was hit head on by a vehicle driven by Matthew Ashby, 16, of Mattoon. Ashby was eastbound and passed another eastbound vehicle not seeing the oncoming Dolan vehicle. The collision was at Hwy. 121 at the 1050N intersection.
Sullivan ambulance service transported the Dolans to a Champaign hospital with charges pending further investigation.
Moultrie County Sheriff’s deputies were called to an accident scene at the intersection of Rte. 32 and Hwy. 121 at 5:35 p.m. Saturday.
A vehicle driven by Jeremy Browder, 19, of Alabama was traveling south on Rte. 32 when he told the Moultrie County Sheriff investigator he fell asleep at the wheel.
The Browder vehicle traveled through the Rte. 32/Hwy.121 intersection over the railroad tracks and came to rest in an open field. Browder was not injured in the crash.

Sullivan Schools Early Debt Retirement Plan Approved

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•January 10, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

A bond issue refinancing $492,300 of Sullivan Unit 300 debt should save district taxpayers $137,000 Supt. Ted Walk told school board members at the January 8 meeting.

Tim King of Kings Financial Consulting of Monticello explained the issue of $492,300 Taxable General Obligation Refunding School Bonds would pay down the district debt one year early for the $137,000 savings.

King noted since the district is purchasing the bonds from the education fund they will also earn interest on the payback.  Read More

LED Outdoor Lighting Proposed for County Jail

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•January 10, 2018•

LED lighting will illuminate the outdoors at the Moultrie County Correctional facility provided building and grounds committee recommendations are approved by the Moultrie County Board.

County maintenance superintendent Rick Matthews explained the nine pole lights can be replaced with light emitting diode (LED) fixtures for $5,641.20. Read More

First Responders Keep Responding, Saturday

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•January 10, 2018•

Sullivan first responders were kept busy with a couple of accidents and a structural fire to end the evening Saturday, Jan 6.

Emergency services personnel first responded to a single vehicle accident at the intersection of Rte. 32 and Hwy 121 at 5:35 p.m. While still assisting at the Rte. 32/121 accident scene Sullivan Ambulance was called to a head-on collision at 6:07 p.m. in Allenville where an extrication and transporting of a couple to the hospital were involved. Read More

Regional Supt. Candidate Responds to Sullivan Board Questions

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•January 10, 2018•

Michael N. Smith, Republican primary candidate for Regional Supt. of Schools, answered questions from Sullivan school board members during the CUSD #300 regular January 8 meeting.

Smith, eight year superintendent of Tuscola schools, said he felt it was important for the Regional office to mentor, lead and support the schools in the seven county region.

Board member Steve Poland asked Smith his position on tailoring vocational programs to community needs.

He explained that Tuscola looked to cooperate with Parkland College and larger high schools to offer vocational and technical options to students. Read More

New Bi-literacy Seal for Six SHS Students

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Sullivan High School bi-literacy students recognized by the state of Illinois: Front from left - Annie Hogan, Grace Mauck, Madilyn Keller; back row from left - Bryce King, Tommy Schibur, Austin Schmohe, Bretton Crouse, Luke DeLong and Mason Harner.

•January 10, 2018•

Six Sullivan High School students received the new Seal of Bi-literacy granted by the state of Illinois.

The state seal of Bi-literacy is awarded students demonstrating proficiency in English and reading, writing, listening and speaking in a foreign language.

It is a new award which is added to the student’s diploma and high school transcripts.

SHS students Grace Mauck, Annie Hogan, Madilyn Keller, Luke DeLong, Austin Schmohe, and Bryce King received the Seal of Bi-literacy from the state. Read More

Year End Review (continued from our Jan. 3 edition)

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•January 10, 2018•

October 18, 2017

A family donation to the city of Sullivan requesting a pavilion be built on the square has prompted a tangle of issues surrounding such a structure, and the city council has yet to come to an agreement.

Scarlett A. McKinzie, 37, was sentenced to two years prison on charges stemming from a Feb. 10 bus crash at the Findlay Road/Rte 32 intersection. McKinzie pled guilty to the Class 4 Felony aggravated driving under the influence charge which prompted the sentence from Judge Hugh Finson in Moultrie County Circuit Court.

The Moultrie County Board approved the proposed retirement plan allowing Jan Haegen to be ESDA half time coordinator for a $30,657 annual salary. Karen Cody is taking over full time planning and zoning duties in the office.

Movies are on the horizon for The Little Theatre on the Square. Plans are to show movies Friday night with Saturday and Sunday matinees. Read More

Sullian Educators Recognized

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Sullian Educators Recognized
The Sullivan Education Association (SEA) with the support of the Sullivan School District recognized a teacher from each building and one support staff member of the semester. Teachers and support staff members were nominated by their colleagues, and the SEA executive officer chose the recipients. The award is part of the Morale Matters program that was started in the district in 2016 by former SEA president and current FFA teacher Don Lockwood.
The recipients this year all show extreme dedication to their profession, the students, and community of Sullivan. They all go above and beyond what is asked of them, provide a positive learning environment, and show leadership within the district. This year the Chamber of Commerce has generally donated Chamber Bucks for the recipients, and Kevin Landrus donates his time to detail the vehicle for the winner. This year’s recipients are (from right) Don Lockwood (HS), Deena Lee (MS), Lauren Fultz (ES). Inset Cindy Tarr (Support Staff).

Bethany Fire Dist. Promotes Two

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Bethany Fire Dist. Promotes Two
The Bethany Fire Protection District has announced the promotion of Assistant Fire Chief Tom Rucker to the position of Fire Chief. Rucker (left) has been with the department for 30 years and for most of those years held a state license as an EMT. Rucker is a certified Firefighter II with the Illinois State Fire Marshal. Stepping up to the chief position Rucker has promoted Training Captain Michael Jennings as Assistant Fire Chief. Jennings is in his eleventh year with the fire department . He is a licensed paramedic and Firefighter III certified.

New Assistant Fire Chief for Sullivan

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Sullivan Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Larry Edwards and Chief Mike Piper in background.

•January 3, 2018•

Even as a kid when Larry Edwards heard sirens it made him curious. “I wanted to be able to find out what was going on,” Sullivan Assistant Fire Chief Larry Edwards recalled his reason for becoming a firefighter.

On December 18, 2017 Sullivan Fire District Captain Larry Edwards was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief, next in command to Chief Mike Piper, by the Sullivan Fire Protection District board of trustees. He has been captain since August 2005.

Edwards, certified as Firefighter III since 2004, got his chance to pursue that dream as a kid when he became a volunteer firefighter in 1997.

“I found out those sirens were usually heading someplace to help somebody in trouble,” Edwards continued. “It is a step that changed my life.”

By July 18, 1998 Edwards became a full time paramedic and firefighter with Sullivan Fire Protection District and was beginning to understand what being a first responder was all about.

“This is something I like doing,” he said. “The camaraderie among first responders is amazing. At a fire or accident scene working together as a team to get the job done is what it is all about.” Read More