Rubbish Fire Spreads Destroying Mast Construction 

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Drone photo by RR Best
The morning after the Mast Construction fire northeast of Sullivan. Fire destroyed building materials, completed prefab walls and three outbuildings at the business owned by Chester Mast Thursday, June 8. See more photos here.

Mutual Aid Helps Save Home

By Mike Brothers

A rubbish fire got out of control at Mast Construction northeast of Sullivan June 8, destroying three buildings plus raw construction materials valued at more than $250,000.

Sullivan Fire Department was dispatched at 7:14 p.m. to the 1560CR 1475E Sullivan location owned by Chester Mast whose business involves constructing prefabricated walls for homes. He stated that a large number of pre-fab walls were stacked outside ready to ship.

Those prepared walls along with multiple bunks of raw lumber stacked around the site created a scene of intense heat and fire by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.

Sullivan Fire Captain Larry Edwards explained that at 7:24 pm when equipment first arrived at the scene, fire had engulfed the first shed and the stacks of pre-fab walls. Read More

Cool Beverage on a Warm Day

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Cool Beverage on a Warm Day
These enterprising young people served lemonade to thirsty shoppers traveling from location to location during Sullivan’s Townwide Rummage Sale June 9-10. Above from left: Dillon Richards, Nevaeh Wilson, Gracelyn DoVel and Myah Richards served ice cold lemonade to visitors to their parents’ Water St. sale.

Music Teacher Conducts Crappie Catch

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Music Teacher Conducts Crappie Catch
While casually fishing Saturday, Sullivan schools’ music teacher Jeff Thomas caught a monster sized crappie in Wyman Lake. It was only a pound under the Illinois state record. The crappie was 17.5 inches long and weighed 3.5 lbs. Not a lot of people think of the local show choir director as an avid fisherman, but Thomas actually grew up in a lake community very similar to Sullivan and has fished his whole life. “It’s a great way to relax between the crazy schedule of show choir,” Thomas explained. “Who knew such big fish were here in Wyman Lake?”

Agri-Fab and Hydro Gear Mentor Students

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Agri-Fab and Hydro Gear Mentor Students
Students from Okaw Valley High School working at Agri-Fab and Hydro Gear spent time learning about manufacturing recently. Okaw Valley has five students working for Agri-Fab and Hydro-Gear this summer in a student learner program that gives students knowledge in the manufacturing field. Students participating are Jared Bunfill, Austin Hll, Anthony Jones, James Burns, and Cameron Nickerson. Chris Crowley, Agri-Fab’s Continuous Improvement Manager, led the group through a lean simulation based on a fictitious company that produces paper airplanes. The simulation introduced the students to learn manufacturing and continuous improvement of any and all processes. Students learn why it’s important to reduce inventory and other wastes while always trying to improve processes and create more value for the customers.

MCRT Learn of Teacher Shortage

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MCRT Learn of Teacher Shortage
Kyle Thompson, Regional Office of Education Assistant Superintendent, was speaker at a June 7 meeting of Moultrie County Retired Teachers Association.
Thompson spoke on school funding and the shortage of teachers in Illinois.
He is pictured with president Linda McCabe.

New Awnings

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
New Awnings
The Mid-Illinois Senior Services and its subsidiary Thrifty Boutique are both sporting new awnings to help spruce up the square. A bright navy blue one with white trim replaces the tattered and torn awning at the Boutique. The Senior Center rocks its first ever awning in a classy brown stripe.

New Home for Habitat

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Photo by Mike Brothers
New Home for
Habitat
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity presented Paige and Chance Schoonover with the keys to 604 Hope Lane on Friday, June 9. Above Habitat Family Support Cheryl Thomas, Paige and Chance and Director of the Care A Vanners for Habitat Bob Gillespie. Gillespie thanked all subcontractors and volunteers for building the home in 29 days, 23 hours and 40 minutes, just under the 30 day build schedule. Approximately 50 volunteers, family, friends and Moultrie County Habitat board members were on hand for the dedication with Deacon John O’Brien blessing the home.

Metro Communications Honored with BESI Award

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File photo
Zak Horn of Metro Communications in Sullivan on the job.

•June 7, 2017•

Sullivan business leader Zak Horn received the Business Ethics and Social Involvement (BESI) award from the East Central Illinois Development Corporation recently.

Horn, who founded Metro Communications of Sullivan in 2000, was recognized for enlightened business practices while displaying social leadership.

Over the past 17 years Metro Communications extended fiber optics in 32 central Illinois counties, constructing 2000 route miles of fiber since 2011.

With a staff of 50 central Illinois professionals Metro provides wholesale carrier, enterprise and consumer services in underserved rural communities. Read More

SES Visits Nature Center

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SES Visits Nature Center
First graders from Sullivan Elementary School took a trip to Ballard Nature Center in Altamont. Presenters from the nature center taught them all about birds and insects while discussing this year’s theme, “things with wings”. Students participated in a nature hike where they found plenty of “things with wings” native to Illinois natural habitats. Students also played hands-on games where they guessed the animal or insect based on certain characteristics. Finally, they got to explore and play inside Ballard’s wonderful Discovery Education Center.

Sullivan Farmers Market

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Sullivan Farmers Market
Those looking for fresh garden produce and a variety of speciality crafted items may find them on the square in Sullivan this summer. Every Friday through September 5 local growers and crafters display their goods from 3 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. This year the market is accepting EBT cards. It is being sponsored by the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Sullivan Area ARTS.