Sullivan Moves Toward Future Growth with a Leaner Operation

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•August 16, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Administrator Dan Flannell transitioned from policymaker as Chief Circuit Judge in Moultrie County to the implementer of Sullivan City Council policy and has learned a lot during the past six months.

“I believe the administrative role as chief judge helped me grasp the bigger picture of the city,” Flannell said of administering a multitude of city departments operating within a $28 million budget.

“Most people don’t realize how big an operation the city has including utilities, but that kind of revenue also helps the city keep tax rates down,” he continued.

Problem solving is one of the challenges the city administrator enjoys with the number of departments and employees within the city limits those have been solved with a great deal of help. Read More

County Board Acts on Planning and Zoning Proposals

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•August 16, 2017•

Moultrie County Board opened the August 11 meeting with planning and zoning recommendations ranging from boundary expansion for Mast Construction to an ordinance regulating solar farms.

In June fire destroyed Mast Construction northeast of Sullivan, leaving the manufacturer of prefabricated walls for homes in burned rubble.

Chester Mast is in the processing of rebuilding and expanding the business, seeking to rezone his property to I-1 plus asking for variances to build 20 feet from all zoning boundary lines. His requests were approved unanimously by the board.

Planning and zoning chairman Todd Maxedon recommended passage of the ordinance amending the Moultrie County zoning ordinance on solar farms.

Under the special use section that already contains provisions for wind farms, solar farm regulations are now included. Read More

Mason Point Chapel Entrance Has Makeover

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is the Mason Point Chapel Garden.

•August 16, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

With a grant from the Chapel Fund, the maintenance and ground staffs at Mason Point have been able to create a new flower garden and reinstall the entrance lamps to the Mason Point Chapel.

The right side of the walkway was edged in concrete blocks, and a raised flower bed complete with a stone bench was created on the left side of the walk. My Garden staff designed and supervised the plantings while the ground crew filled in the soil and mulch. The original Gothic entrance lamps were refurbished and reinstalled on either side of the entrance steps to complete the makeover.

In 1925 the original chapel was created at the end of a corridor in what was the Royal Arch Hospital and had a pulpit and the newest moving picture screen and projecting equipment obtainable. The chapel was used for religious services, weddings, entertainment and funerals.

This arrangement soon proved unsatisfactory as anyone entering the chapel had to pass through the hospital. The board of directors made the decision that a new chapel would be built and would be independent of the hospital and dormitories. At that time, before automobiles, the Masonic Home staff lived in dorms or small rooms within the complex. Read More

The Vineyard Church Seeks to Partner with Community

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•August 16, 2017•

New Purpose for  Old Shopko 

The Vineyard Church of Sullivan expanded with the purchase of the 35,000 sq. ft Shopko building last week. Now they have room to dream.

“We are unique in our mission,” Pastor Jim Plank began. “We as a congregation would like to give back to the community, and this is a big step toward that.”

Plank explained that the church built on 24 acres south of Sullivan in 2009 was limited in space, and the 35,000 square foot Shopko building offers grand possibilities.

“We are seeking information from various groups in the community to help us determine the greatest needs and how we can best use this space to help,” Plank said, noting that the 15-member Campus Leadership Team will be discussing options over the next few weeks. Read More

Blue Dolphins Help Anchor Relay for Life

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Blue Dolphins Help Anchor Relay for Life
Diane Waggoner, Jesse Jess and Rob Young from Moultrie County Relay for Life accepted an important donation from the Blue Dolphin Swim Team just in time for the August 11-12 Relay. The 610 cans of food collected on behalf of Relay for Life were anchors for the luminaries. This is the third year the Blue Dolphins donated to Relay for Life. Relay for Life’s Waggoner explained that after the cans help anchor the luminaries during the Relay for Life at Sullivan High School they are donated to the Moultrie County Food Bank. The 65 member Blue Dolphin team coached by 15 year veteran Jason Drury enlisted the support of 42 families collecting canned goods in a week. The Blue Dolphins have been longtime supporters of the Moultrie County Food Bank as well as donating to Sullivan Civic Center equipment needs.

Moultrie County Relay for Life Reaffirms Life

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Tony Holly, Community Dev. Mgr. of North Central Region, Diane Waggoner, Moultrie County Relay for Life coordinator, and Jesse Jess, assistant for American Cancer Society.

•August 16, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Last Friday ended in a perfect, cool evening with the sun casting a golden light over the high school football field as festivities began for the 21st annual Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Diane Waggoner, coordinator, welcomed the crowd of about 400, and so began the Opening Ceremony which included a prayer, a poem, presentation of the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance by the Boy Scouts, and John Stephens (executive director of The Little Theatre) singing a beautiful and emotional “Star Spangled Banner”.

The Memorial Award was made to Mike Grose and the Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Jamie Crosier. Both Grose and Crosier passed away last year after years of service to the American Cancer Society. Grose had served as the DJ for this event, and Crosier had been a runner. Read More

Lovington Board Holds Two July Sessions

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•August 16, 2017•

Lovington Village Board held a meeting July 10 and followed up with a special meeting July 24 as a planning session.

Two hours of the planning session were spent in executive session, returning to open session to discuss seeking bids on the village insurance coverage including health and liability and vehicle converge.

The condition of some properties within the village were discussed, and a guest to the meeting Dennis Day asked for village assistance with property across the street from him. Read More

OVHS/Corps Get to Work

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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.

New Faces at Okaw Valley CUSD #302

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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.

Bethany Fire Protection District

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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.