photo furnished
Rose Meets Rotary
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) met with local officials and community leaders from Moultrie County in Sullivan Aug. 22. Rose discussed jobs and economic growth initiatives for the area during the Sullivan Rotary Club luncheon.
•August 23, 2017•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
City commissioners revisited the discussion concerning cooking oil dumped into the city’s sewer system back in July.
Commissioner Grant Wade reported that the city ran tests to determine the type of oil clogging the sewer system. A portion of the cooking oil partially clogged the system and then came through later. Wade stated that it had taken at least three truckloads to remove all of the oil. Presently, there has been no more disposing of the oil.
A motion was made to give the Sullivan Blue Dolphins a $3400 donation after their very informational report that they presented at the previous meeting. It was stated that the team contributes greatly to the community and the Civic Center.
Other items that were discussed/voted upon: Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan third grader Ellie Lehman works diligently on her Chalk Art creation along with 40 other entries during the Sullivan Chamber and Sullivan Area Arts Council contest held last Friday.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Eclipsing Temperature
As the solar eclipse brought students out with special glasses and viewing devices at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon Sullivan eighth graders Samantha Montague and Lilly Graham calculate the temperature drop as part of a field test for middle school science teacher Troy Rogers. As the sun darkened, the cicadas began chirping, the streetlights came on and the temperature dropped by a couple of degrees.
So Many Projects
Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development director Laurrie Minor and assistant Malinda Calhoun Hurt stop by Washington Plaza, one of the featured projects of the chamber’s streetscape efforts, enticing those visiting the Little Theatre on the Square to return.
•August 23, 2017•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
As you look around the Streetscapes or take a break at Washington Street’s Plaza, hints of Sullivan Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to make the city better are all around.
The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce has one full-time staff, one part-time staff and a modest annual budget of $140,000. The 183 members of Chamber and Economic Development generously donate their time to serve on the board and committees such as Restoration Enhancement and Events. This is in addition to working at their full-time jobs and donating thousands of dollars in products for community activities.
The Chamber does so much for Sullivan, and a lot of it goes unnoticed. A considerable amount of staff time is also spent pursuing projects that never materialize.
So, what does the Chamber do? The focus is in four main areas: Economic Development, Tourism, Events and Restoration Enhancement; although, there is so much more as will be revealed in a series of articles on the Chamber.
Community Enhancement is an important aspect of the Chamber’s programs. An attractive, vibrant downtown appeals to both tourists and potential businesses/residents. Read More
Photo furnished
News Teachers at Sullivan Community Unit #300
Front L-R: Kristie Hardimon, Tiffany Swalls, Allison Wright, Ashlee Florey, Melissa Nichols, Heather Moore-Hinton, Erin VanDeursen, Nichole Watkins Back L-R: J.D. Graham, Andrew Kerley, Chris Wilson, Susan Kuhn, Tabitha Davis, Sarah Atchison, Shaun Schaefers
•August 23, 2017•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
When Mary Lou Kidwell retired some 25 years ago, she was restless so she began Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) and set about creating activities that would unite seniors with the youngest elementary school children in the county.
For the past 24 years, the Senior Sewing Club has met and handsewn nap quilts, totes and little pillows for every kindergarten child in Moultrie County. This year nearly 200 of these were delivered to children in Bethany, Sullivan and Lovington the first week of school.
During the year five ladies at the Senior Center, two at Courtyard Estates and seven at the Allenville Christian Church cut out 4”x4” squares of brightly colored material which are pinned together in batches of nine squares. The volunteers then mix and match the solid colors and patterned squares and hand sew them into colorful little quilts that eventually measure 3’x5’. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
New Sign in Lovington
The Lovington Fire Protection District unveiled a new programmable electronic sign in July. Not only capable of displaying time and temperature the sign in front of the Lovington Fire District on Route 32 can add personal messages which are offered for anyone in the village for five dollars a message. The sign is in memory of past firefighters and was purchased from the Fire District Memorial Fund saved over the past several years. There are 19 volunteers in the Lovington Fire Protection District. Pictured above along with the new sign are front from left: Ethan Gingerich, Jeff Trower, Bill Harlin, Josiah Kinert; back row: Rick Franklin, Gary Smith, Don Humphrey and Kevin Franklin.
Photo by RR Best
The eclipse in Sullivan Monday, August 21, 2017.
Photo furnished
Retired Teachers Award Grants
Moultrie County Retired Teachers Association awarded grants to three of nine ALAH applicants during the association’s luncheon. The three teachers receiving grants for ALAH were (l to r) Jann Harris, Stevi Stutzman, Denise Strack.