Photo Submitted
Sabretooth Cave was visited by Windsor FFA members: (from left) Mehria Khan, Brad Farmer, Tristan Boehm, Travis Fox, Gillian Sanders, Desirae Milligan, Mitchell Haddock, Advisor Jennifer Boberg. Not pictured Shelby Lawrence.
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SBL Sullivan Clinic Donates to Sullivan Athletic Booster Club
Sarah Bush Lincoln Sullivan Clinic recently donated $1,680 to the Sullivan Athletic Booster Club from sports physicals performed over the summer. The physicals were provided at reduced costs to numerous athletes by Matthew Dorner, MD, and Tammy Munch, PA-C, who donated their time. The physicals were $20 each, and all the proceeds were donated back to the school. Pictured are (back row, left to right) Connie Lane, Wanda Norris, Tiffany Kuebler, Beth Cook, Tonya White; front row: Athletic Director Ryan Aikman, Dr Matthew Dorner, Tammy Munch PA-C, Teresa Harlin.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Turkey Time
Sullivan IGA delivered all the turkeys purchased as a result of customer donations during the fourth annual roundup fundraiser for the Moultrie County Food Pantry just in time for Thanksgiving. IGA Shoppers rounded up their tickets, donating toward the turkey purchases. On November 23 IGA store manager Pat Stinson, meat dept. manager Barry Golden, Seth Cobb and Matt Martin delivered 98 turkeys to CEFS coordinator Kristy Dawson. Those turkeys went out to 98 families who had signed up previously with the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Included in that Thanksgiving basket from CEFS are ingredients for green bean casserole , stuffing mix, noodles and chicken broth, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, marshmallows and yams, fruit, cranberry sauce, pumpkin filling and pie crust mix.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Librarian Leah Fleming reads Pigeon Needs a Bath to “campers” during Family Reading Night at Sullivan Elementary School November 19. The Secretary of State Family Reading Night Camping theme was complete with tent and stories around the campfire.
at Sullivan Elementary School
•November 25, 2015•
By Mike Brothers
Family Reading Night became a camping adventure at Sullivan Elementary School on November 19.
With around 200 parents and students roaming from one indoor campsite to another from 6-7p.m. the Illinois Secretary of State sponsored event got families involved.
School librarian Leah Fleming coordinated the annual family reading night with the help of teachers who volunteered time as readers for the event.
“This is a way to encourage families to get out together,” Fleming said of the statewide initiative.
“It’s a fun night with the family reading together instead of spending it in front of TV or an iPad.”
Coordinating an event shuttling 200 people to eight different locations is a task that requires a bit of preliminary work. Read More
4.97% Levy Increase Ahead
•November 25, 2015•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
The checkbook currently has $7,169, 575.50, and all funds are in the black,” stated superintendent Ken Schwengel at the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting. “The state aid payments are scheduled through December 20, but after the first of the year, I am not sure what will happen,” he stated. “We’ve received 90% of the property taxes and have not received any incentive funding yet,” he added.
The board also discussed and approved a tentative 2015 tax levy for property taxes paid in 2016. The levy is set at a 4.97% increase in property taxes. There won’t be a Truth in Taxation hearing since the increase is less than 5%. The levy was calculated from the estimated 3% increase in the district’s assessed value. In 2014 it was $193,270,479 and in 2015 it increased to $199,068,593. The tax rate for Arthur and Lovington will be $3.56 per $100 assessed value and those in the Atwood-Hammond area will be $4.62 per $100. The board will vote on the final tax levy at their December 9 meeting.
Other matters that were discussed or voted upon:
-The district received $3,700- their first check from Piatt County sales tax. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Careers student Brad Kay introduces WWII veteran Myron Haney.
•November 18, 2015•
By Mike Brothers
Veterans Day observations filled Sullivan schools on Nov. 11 with a musical tribute to attending veterans at the elementary school followed by the high school program featuring veteran speakers.
Coordinated by the careers class at Sullivan High School who were emcees of the event, the high school program began as a middle-high school assembly at 10:30 a.m. in the gym.
The American Legion Post 68 Color Guard presented the flag with Sullivan High School band performing the Star Spangled Banner to open the assembly.
World War II Veteran Myron Haney opened recalling his service in Europe with the 9th Army at the end of the war.
Haney served in Europe, was discharged and called up again during the Korean Conflict when he returned to Europe as part of the U.S. occupying force.
Haney had left high school during his junior year to join the Army and received his diploma along with his oldest grandson in 2003.
Brandi Binder is a 1996 Sullivan graduate and veteran of two National Guard tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. She received her bachelors in psychology from EIU in 2014 and is currently pursuing a masters in social work at the U of I. She is currently working on forming a non-profit organization called Harbored Veterans.
Binder recalled her road to gain respect from cadets as a sergeant in the Guard. Read More
•November 18, 2015•
Moultrie County board members learned of the progress of the No Job Left Behind initiative at the November 12 meeting.
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Stepheny McMahon explained that the initiative to promote jobs and job training for local businesses has grown since 2013.
“We have grown to include 160 different people from business, manufacturing and education,” McMahon said. “ During our recent No Job Left Behind manufacturing tour, Okaw Valley took the whole school.”
The partnership between area schools, manufacturing and business has led districts to implement new vocational offerings for those wishing to enter the workforce right out of high school.
McMahon explained the $5000 investment by the county continues to produce results with the No Job Left Behind initiative.
“We are implementing a new program at the eighth grade level to help get students thinking about their future goals,” McMahon said, indicating they were working to expand into the lower grades to increase awareness.
Central Illinois Public Transportation mobility manager Jennifer Moore responded to questions from board member Roger Glazebrook concerning the service to which Moultrie County contributes $1000 annually. Read More
Photo by Glenn Austin
Blessed Harvest
Nestled among the Bethany Grain Company’s grain bins is the century old Bethany Cumberland Presbyterian Church watching over the harvest.
Photo by RR Best
Timber Fire
Sullivan firefighters responded to a timber fire two miles north of Allenville Sunday afternoon. Although the blaze at the Dan Fultz property was being fanned by the wind, firefighters utilized brush equipment to quickly extinguish the flame.