Photo furnished
OVHS/Corps Get to Work
Tanner Coleman and Dylan Holt, seniors at Okaw Valley High School, met with Corps of Engineer officials recently. They will participate in a year long work study in which they will work mornings with the Corps. The students will participate in a variety of projects around Lake Shelbyville. Coleman is the son of Tracy Coleman and Chrissy Grant, and Holt is the son of Mike and Candis Holt.
Photo furnished
New Faces at Okaw Valley CUSD #302
Okaw Valley CUSD #302 would like to welcome new staff members. From left to right: Superintendent, Kent Stauder, Okaw Valley Elementary Aide: Kara Thomas, Okaw Valley Second Grade Teacher: Mandy Stollard, Okaw Valley Fourth Grade Teacher: Ashley Christensen, Okaw Valley Third Grade Teacher: Kalyn Poland, Okaw Valley High School Science Teacher: Shelby Mueller, and Okaw Valley Resource Aide: Diana Seitz.
Drone photo by RR Best
Bethany Fire Protection District
On Saturday, August 12 the Bethany Fire Protection District put equipment on display outside the building as the public was welcomed inside during the annual open house celebration for refreshments from 4-7 p.m.
Photo furnished
The Music of Mamma Mia comes alive at The Little Theatre on the Square through August 20.
•August 9, 2017•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Mamma Mia closed on Broadway in 2015, but it’s open now at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan through August 20.
The 14-year run on Broadway grossed over $2 billion worldwide and was seen by more than 60 million people.
With words and music written by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, former ABBA band members, it showcases the legendary hit songs of ABBA.
This is a happy, fun-filled musical essentially about a young girl (Sophie) searching for her father, but it is also about reunions – Sophie reuniting with her friends, Donna and her former pop group members and Donna and her former lovers, Sam, Bill and Harry – one of whom is Sophie’s father. Read More
Longevity Increases Proposed
•August 9, 2017•
By Mike Brothers
The Moultrie County Board personnel committee heard different views on how to approach future salary schedules among the 20 courthouse employees.
Jeff Birch, supt. of highways, was appointed to chair an ad hoc committee consisting of courthouse elected and appointed officers by county board chairman Dave McCabe to make recommendations of the future salary structure for courthouse employees.
Birch presented the committee chair Bill Voyles and members with a schedule that would tie county employee salary increases annually to the consumer price index. Birch plotted the scale based on the CPI from 2009 to 2016. By increasing salary levels with the CPI the $19,000-21,000 starting based recommended would have improved to $21,215-$23,455 range for first year courthouse employees. Read More
Photo furnished
Wins Festival Preteen Pageant
Okaw Valley seventh grader Grace Moeller was recently crowned Miss Preteen at the Illinois Preteen festival held during Decatur Celebration.
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Elementary teachers such as Cindy Yoder and Micah Meddins of Sullivan join educators all over Illinois by digging into their own pockets for school supplies to help their students learn.
•August 9, 2017•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The amount of money teachers spend out-of-pocket every year for their classrooms is growing.
In Sullivan Unit #300 schools 53% of elementary students are at poverty level leaving the burden for providing basic school supplies on others. And who are the people closest to these children in need - teachers.
Each of the teachers interviewed reported spending $500-$1,000 each year to fill another education funding gap. Parents of elementary school students spend $45 per student for required school supplies with the amount growing to $70-$80 per middle and high school student. Read More
OVHS Dual Credit Program Expands
•August 9, 2017•
By Brody Sparks
for the News Progress
Dual credit programs allow students to earn college and high school credits simultaneously by participating in college level courses.
These courses are taught by high school teachers who are certified to instruct college classes. Okaw Valley High School is on the forefront of making these opportunities available to students.
“Okaw Valley High School is one of the leading schools in the area when it comes to dual credit offerings,” said OVHS principal Matt Shoaff. “Last year OVHS offered 50 hours of dual credit, and that increases to 65 for the 2017-2018 school year.”
Dual credit classes are available for Okaw Valley students in a variety of subjects including nine credit hours in agriculture, nine hours in business, 12 credit hours in English, 26 hours in math, six hours in social studies, and three hours in science. Generally, an associate’s degree requires 60 credit hours (around 20 college courses). Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Lovington Homes board members and Garmon Properties personnel at First Community Bank of Moultrie County in Lovington: Elaine Rice; bank president and board treasurer Sally Duncan; Lovington Homes board president Norma Brust; Judy McGregor; village board president and board member Roger Walker; new owners Tracy and Dennis Garmon. Lovington Homes board members not pictured are Bev Morgan, Ron Nettles and Alma Fair.
•August 9, 2017•
By Mike Brothers
Since 1969 Lovington Homes has assisted people with housing operating with a volunteer not-for profit board.
All that changed August 1 when Dennis and Tracy Garmon purchased Lovington Homes from the community volunteer group. Garmon Properties has taken over the 50-year-old operation.
A well-timed set of circumstances in the Garmons’ lives and with the Lovington Homes board led to the sale. Read More
•August 2, 2017•
Moultrie County recorded the lowest non-seasonal unemployment rate in the area with 3.9 percent for June.
Moultrie’s unemployment rate in June 2016 was 4.2 percent, which was the lowest of 11 reporting counties in central Illinois.
Iriquois County was next lowest with 4.1 percent improving from 4.7 percent in 2016.
Douglas County improved one tenth of a percent over the 4.5 percent rate from 2016 to 4.4 percent in 2017.
Piatt County is 4.2 percent in June 2017 compared to 4.8 percent unemployment in 2016. Shelby County improved to 4.5 percent in June 2017 from 5.3 percent in June 2016. Read More