News Progress

Photo by R.R. Best
Megan Thompson is applauded by the child in her lap and supported by the crowd who surrounded her during the Sullivan Hoop Shoot.

•January 24, 2018•

By Jason Brown
for the News Progress

In 2014, former Sullivan resident Megan (Buxton) Thompson was watching an NFL game with her husband in mid-October during breast cancer awareness month. Players and coaches wore pink and she kidded about checking to make sure she didn’t have a lump.

She had been recently experiencing pain in her left chest so she jokingly performed a self-exam and found a lump.

“Within two weeks, I was diagnosed with (Stage 3b) breast cancer,” she said. “We don’t have any family history of cancer, and I don’t have the BRCA gene. My chances of getting breast cancer at 27 years old with no family history or genetic mutations was less than two percent.”

She decided no matter what the diagnosis, with the help of family, friends and faith, she was going to fight.

She went through a mastectomy, six months of chemo, six and a half weeks of radiation, and started on hormonal therapy. Read More

Ron White

•January 17, 2018•

Moultrie County Board members voted to accept the resignation of longtime board member Ron White during the regular meeting January 11.

Chairman Dave McCabe noted it was with deep regret that he accepts the 15 year board member’s resignation. The budget and finance chairman had overseen the construction of the jail and health department, McCabe said of his years of service. “I will miss his sound and usually sage advice.”

He went on to explain the chairman of the Republican party will have 60 days to name a successor. The appointment Republican will serve until the November 2018 election when a candidate will be elected to serve the remainder of White’s term which ends in 2020. Read More

•January 10, 2018•

A plan to ease elementary school overcrowding while increasing course options was proposed by Sullivan Unit 300 Supt. Ted Walk to the school board Monday.

Moving the fifth grade from the elementary school to the middle school building in the 2018-2019 school year should provide a permanent solution to a problem that has existed for several years.

“Every classroom in the elementary school is being used,” Supt. Walk said. “There are times when occupational therapists and aides are working with students in storage closets.”

Built in 1996 Sullivan Elementary School exceeds its capacity with 548 students and 29 teachers. Read More