Neighborhood Clean Up Begins Mission

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Photo furnished Picking Up Litter Eiley Poe, 8, Bella Harden, 9 and Drake Poe, 11, all of Sullivan.

Photo furnished
Picking Up Litter Eiley Poe, 8, Bella Harden, 9 and Drake Poe, 11, all of Sullivan.

•May 25, 2016•

Megan and Jerrod Harden’s three children, Eiley Poe, 8, Bella Harden, 9 and Drake Poe, 11, all of Sullivan, felt it was up to them to clean their neighborhood after taking a walk one day.

They noticed a great amount of litter lining the rolling greens and road to South Shores subdivision.

The neighborhood clean up crew collected 10 bags of litter wading through the ticks and mud to get the job done.

“We are beyond proud of their efforts and found this to be something other kids in the community should be aware of...see... and do as well!”  Megan said of her children’s efforts. Read More

Yost Trial Date Set

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•May 25, 2016•

The Michael Yost jury trial begins at 9 a.m. August 1 in the Moultrie County Courthouse.

Yost, 42, is charged with the March 5, 2015 death of Sheri Randall, 34, of Sullivan and was not present for the status hearing May 24.

Public defender Brad Rau, State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey and special prosecutor Ed Parkinson appeared before Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell set August 1 as the first day for jury selection and discussed a letter from Yost, complaining of jail conditions.

Directing state’s attorney Richey and Yost’s attorney Rau to discuss the complaint with sheriff Chris Sims, Judge Flannell pointed out this was the second complaint made by the Moultrie County inmate. Read More

New Water and Sewer Rates Ahead for Lovington Residents

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•May 25, 2016•

Lovington water and sewer rates are increasing in an effort to cover production and provide improvements to the system.

Village board members unanimously approved the ordinance with new rates during the April meeting.

The water rate increases by 50 cents for the first 1000 gallons with no cost change for additional 1000 gallons. Sewer rates increase to $4.50 first 1000 gallons with a 50 cent charge for each additional 1000 gallons. A $5 reserve fund for both water and sewer was added with no SSM change.

Lovington Park and Recreation week is Monday, June 6 through Friday, June 10 and received $700 from the village. Jennifer Peck appeared before the board explaining the program was starting from scratch so everything from supplies to totes for storage are needed. The room next to the clerk /treasurer’s office at the village hall is being cleared for park recreation storage space. Peck related that approximately 40 Lovington children are planning to participate in the weeklong event. Lunches will be provided by Fun in the Sun every day but Friday which is a Little Caesar’s Pizza party. Read More

American Legion Post 68 Presents Flag

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Photo furnished American Legion Post 68 Presents Flag Fifth graders at Sullivan Elementary school are in charge of raising and lowering the flag daily. When they noticed the flag was tattered and worn, Cheyenne Fleshner, a fifth grade student in Nichole Hendry’s class, wrote to the Sullivan American Legion and asked whether they would donate a new one. Less than a week later, Bob Sims of the Sullivan Legion, came to school and offered the flag to Cheyenne and thanked her for her letter. He then addressed the class and informed them of the Legion’s purpose to serve the community. He added that if they knew of anyone in need of new flags or other services the Legion offers, to write a letter with the request. Pictured are Hendry’s fifth grade class and Sims.

Photo furnished
American Legion Post 68 Presents Flag
Fifth graders at Sullivan Elementary school are in charge of raising and lowering the flag daily. When they noticed the flag was tattered and worn, Cheyenne Fleshner, a fifth grade student in Nichole Hendry’s class, wrote to the Sullivan American Legion and asked whether they would donate a new one. Less than a week later, Bob Sims of the Sullivan Legion, came to school and offered the flag to Cheyenne and thanked her for her letter. He then addressed the class and informed them of the Legion’s purpose to serve the community. He added that if they knew of anyone in need of new flags or other services the Legion offers, to write a letter with the request. Pictured are Hendry’s fifth grade class and Sims.

ALAH Prom Court

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Photos courtesy Mark Jones Tin Type ALAH Prom Court ALAH Prom Court left to right: Cade Day, Makayla Brown, Braxton Eckart, Sydnie Hanscel, Kayla Hodge, Zach Hingson, Hannah Leal, and Ricky Wright. 

Photo courtesy Mark Jones Tin Type
ALAH Prom Court
ALAH Prom Court left to right: Cade Day, Makayla Brown, Braxton Eckart, Sydnie Hanscel, Kayla Hodge, Zach Hingson, Hannah Leal, and Ricky Wright.

Arthur Christian School Breaks Ground

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Photo furnished Arthur Christian School Breaks Ground The new facility for Arthur Christian School will be more than double the size of the current space. The new facility will serve around 250 students as opposed to the current space with a max capacity of approximately 90. The future school home will also accommodate athletic events. Ground Breaking photo: left-right - Vern Kuhns (school board member and general contractor overseeing project), Valerie Kuhns (student council member), Dave Witbeck (school board member), Landon Gingerich (student council president), Jeremy Rhoades (school board member), Abby Mast (student council member), Greg Mast (ACS principal), Chad Yoder (school board president).

Photo furnished
Arthur Christian School Breaks Ground
The new facility for Arthur Christian School will be more than double the size of the current space. The new facility will serve around 250 students as opposed to the current space with a max capacity of approximately 90. The future school home will also accommodate athletic events. Ground Breaking photo: left-right - Vern Kuhns (school board member and general contractor overseeing project), Valerie Kuhns (student council member), Dave Witbeck (school board member), Landon Gingerich (student council president), Jeremy Rhoades (school board member), Abby Mast (student council member), Greg Mast (ACS principal), Chad Yoder (school board president).

OV Softball Senior

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Photo furnished Okaw Valley Softball Senior Kaylee Thomas was the only senior on the 2016 OV softball team. Due to several rain delays, OV senior night was celebrated before the regional game May 18 in Crowder Park in Bethany.

Photo furnished
Okaw Valley Softball Senior Kaylee Thomas was the only senior on the 2016 OV softball team. Due to several rain delays, OV senior night was celebrated before the regional game May 18 in Crowder Park in Bethany.

Can a Solar Customer Operate Economically in Sullivan?

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Sullivan City Council researching net-metering policies

•May 18, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

Recently, resident Mike Fowler approached the Sullivan City Council about installing solar power in his home. Fowler has never had solar energy anywhere else, but he does know it can save money.

“I have a niece and nephew-in-aw in the St. Louis area who installed a solar system two years ago, 2014, and I spoke with them, and they are very happy with their system and the amount of money they are saving on their electric bill,” he commented. “ During the summer months when the sun is shining bright on their solar panels and their air-conditioning is running full force, they get electric bills of three to six dollars per month,” he added.

Fowler is no stranger to how utilities work. He does, after all, have a background in the electrical industry. “I graduated from Lake Land Community College with an associates in electronics before becoming a journeyman electrician after serving a four-year IBEW apprenticeship. If you go back even further, I worked at the Sullivan electric plant my senior year in high school, mopping floors, and then I’d go for in for the maintenance crew on day shift and help the meter readers on second shift,” he said.

Fowler realizes that a few years have passed since he last spent time in the industry. Read More

Sullivan Board Changes Behavior Policy, Hears Dance Team Proposal

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•May 18, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan School Board adopted new student behavior policies and learned a dance group may be forming.

Nathan Ogle, assistant principal, explained to board members the student behavior policy changes proposed were mandated by recent legislation addressing student behavior (formerly known as student discipline), suspension procedures and expulsion procedures.

Ogle commended the district teachers who put in extra time and effort to improve performance of struggling students over the past year.

High school principal Erik Young reported that interest had been expressed in starting a Sullivan dance team.

He explained that according to policy the formation of a new group must be self-sufficient for the first three years, and at that time the board would decide whether the new program becomes part of the regular extracurricular schedule.

Kassie Thomas, recently hired children’s choir director, is also a dance instructor and submitted the proposal for dance team.  Read More