Sullivan Rocks! The Proof is Hidden in Plain Sight

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Rocks! Facebook group members from Moultrie Counseling Center display a few of the rocks you may find around Sullivan. Pictured standing from left: Hollie Atchison, Audrey Mosier, and Katrina Lynn with Penny Arthur kneeling center.

•July 12, 2017•

By Skip N. Stone
for the News Progress

Sullivan rocks! And if you don’t believe it, take a look around the square.

Brightly painted rocks with inspirational messages have been turning up on window ledges and various spots around town. What do you do when you find the rock?

“Either keep it or hide it again and post it on our Facebook page,” explained one of the Sullivan Rocks! founding members Audrey Mosier. It is an idea that grew from a co-worker’s late night FB troll.

“I was trolling Facebook one night, and I saw where this person had found a rock in some town in Iowa and was asking what to do with it,” Katrina Lynn, who works with Mosier at Moultrie Family Counseling Center said.

Lynn explained the Facebook craze is sweeping many areas of the country now, with some of the groups growing to 160,000 members and more. Read More

2017 Chamber Jackpot Winner

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Chamber Jackpot Winner
Winning the annual Sullivan Economic Development and Chamber Fourth of July Jackpot for 2017 was Barb Dobbs of rural Sullivan. Pictured are Chamber Director Laurrie Minor, $4865 prize winner Barb Dobbs and Chamber Adminstrative Asst. Malinda Calhoun Hurt during the presentation. Dobbs said she has plans to get tires for her car and replace the 1970s shag carpeting in her home.

Prairie Sunshine May Become Money Maker for Local Farms

News Progress Posted on by

•July 12, 2017•

Farmers Offered Land Leases

By Mike Brothers

Solar farms may shine a different light on the prairie soon.

Over the past few months farmers in Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, and Edgar counties received packets from solar farm companies interested in locating on the prairie.

Illinois Farm Bureau held an information meeting at Lake Land College June 28 to give interested farmers some direction.

“We have only had two or three inquiries at our office since the packets were sent out,” Tyler Harvey, Moultrie Douglas advisor said.

There were some 75 area farmers attending the Illinois Farm Bureau sponsored session that included Jason Carr of Cypress Renewables, one company that sent the packets. Read More

Enhanced 9-1-1 System Celebrates with Open House

News Progress Posted on by

•July 12, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Coles-Moultrie 9-1-1 consolidation was recently completed with an open house held at the Dispatch Center across from Sarah Bush Lincoln in Coles County.

The highway 16 facility was open from 3-6 p.m. June 28 with Director Bernie Buttrum conducting tours and explaining the path to completing the enhanced 9-1-1 emergency communication system.

Included in the tour was a look into the dispatch operations located safely in the windowless basement of the building.

Assistant Director Amanda Williamson explained committing to being a dispatcher means giving up a lot since they work from 8-12 hour shifts and can not leave the dispatch center .

“What we try to do in the beginning is explain to the candidate what they are up against,” Williamson began, noting that many applicants have a glorified image of the dispatch job as displayed on television. Read More

Enhanced 9-1-1 Open House

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Enhanced 9-1-1 Open House
Coles-Moultrie 9-1-1 Director Bernie Buttram and Moultrie County States Attorney Jeremy Richey during the recent open house at 9-1-1 dispatch headquarters.

Sullivan Council Wrestles with Health Coverage Options

News Progress Posted on by

•July 5, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Sullivan City Council members debated the issue of health insurance again at their most recent meeting. The debate was whether the retired employees over 65 and their dependents should share the cost of their health insurance with the city. Insurance carrier Health Alliance has urged a decision with commissioners Jerry Risley and Mike Mossman pointing out the need for further information. Commissioner Mike Kirk felt that they shouldn’t wait another year. “It isn’t fair to the people or to the city,” Kirk noted.

The outcome of their decision would affect about 10-15 people currently on the city’s health insurance plan. Retired city employee Joe Thompson spoke on behalf of the retired city employees, asking that the city stick with the plan that they made several years ago. With the costs of health insurance reaching a million dollars for the city the question is whether they can continue on the “promise” that was made back in the 80’s.  Read More

A Warm Reception for a Cold War Veteran

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Navy veteran Bill Zoetvelt was in the Iron Angel squadron serving on aircraft carrier Bon Homme Richard during the Cold War era.

•July 5, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Bill Zoetvelt hadn’t thought about taking the Lincoln Honor Flight for veterans in June until he met Marsha Bowyer.

Bowyer from Sullivan, a nurse who has been on six honor flights as guardian, saw Zoetvelt’s hat from his Iron Angel’s Navy squadron and asked if he had considered going on the June flight.

He explained they were both at Dr. Dennis Costerisan’s office in Mt. Zion so he went home, discussed it with his wife Marilyn, and decided to go.

“It was fantastic, from the reception at the airport in Springfield to the memorials we visited in Washington,” Zoetvelt said of the Honor Flight on which Bowyer accompanied him as guardian. She also went as guardian for Gordon Wood of Sullivan. Read More

ALAH Amended Budget Approved, State Owes $1.4 Million

News Progress Posted on by

Student fees announced

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board approved an amended 2017-18 budget at the June 21 meeting.

Superintendent Kenny Schwengel reported the total of all the funds in the ALAH district was $3,279,199.97. This past month, there were $128,887 in bills, and the transportation fund had a deficit of $290,000. In order to bring the fund out of debt, the district borrowed $325,000 from the Education Fund. Presently, the state of Illinois owes $1,437,592.48 to the ALAH school district.

The board also discussed the new rates for the 2017-2018 school year. Students in grades one through eight will have a $35 book fee. High school students - $10 per book;  new English class, Best Sellers, will have a $10 fee. It is the only English class with a fee. Read More

Knee High

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by RR Best
Knee High
Betty Mode and Judy Featheringill prove the old adage “Knee High by the 4th of July”.
Shown here standing in a field farmed by Dennis Smith of Sullivan which was planted in late April, the corn has already tasseled.