Sullivan Schools Prepare for Reductions-in-Force

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Also vote to cut adoptive P.E. at $11,000 estimated savings

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

While the Sullivan school district did make area news with hiring Gerald Temples as the new head football coach last week, the board also addressed other matters, including the initial stage of a reduction-in-force.

The Monday night action was only to give Superintendent Brad Tuttle the go-ahead to tell the Sullivan Education Association, (local teacher’s union), that the district plans to issue a reduction-in-force (RIF) at least 45 days prior to the end of the school year. Read More

WHS Homecoming Royalty

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Submitted 2013 WHS Homecoming Royalty Windsor High School held their homecoming dance December 21 and Alex Allen and Sarah Hostetter were crowned king and queen. Pictured left to right: 2012 Homecoming King Cole Tilford, senior king candidates Spencer Blackburn and Hayden Cole, junior attendant Dalton Turner, sophomore attendant Christian Williams, freshman attendant Zach VanHyfte, crown bearer Patton Voris, 2013 king Alex Allen, 2013 queen Sarah Hostetter, crown bearer Jayden Bushue, freshman attendant Bailey Fleshner, sophomore attendant Taylor Wiback, junior attendant Sydney Bohem, senior queen candidiates Jessica Dodd and Courtney Fallert, and 2012 queen Bailey McQueen.

Submitted
2013 WHS Homecoming Royalty
Windsor High School held their homecoming dance December 21 and Alex Allen and Sarah Hostetter were crowned king and queen. Pictured left to right: 2012 Homecoming King Cole Tilford, senior king candidates Spencer Blackburn and Hayden Cole, junior attendant Dalton Turner, sophomore attendant Christian Williams, freshman attendant Zach VanHyfte, crown bearer Patton Voris, 2013 king Alex Allen, 2013 queen Sarah Hostetter, crown bearer Jayden Bushue, freshman attendant Bailey Fleshner, sophomore attendant Taylor Wiback, junior attendant Sydney Bohem, senior queen candidiates Jessica Dodd and Courtney Fallert, and 2012 queen Bailey McQueen.

Tournament Winner

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Submitted Tournament Winner The winner of the American Legion Post 507 Poker Tournament was Luke Dorsey of Mt. Zion.  Dorsey defeated a field of 25 other poker players.  The American Legion uses the tournaments to raise money for the Okaw Valley Academic Scholarships and. to date, has raised approximately $1,500.

Submitted
Tournament Winner
The winner of the American Legion Post 507 Poker Tournament was Luke Dorsey of Mt. Zion.  Dorsey defeated a field of 25 other poker players.  The American Legion uses the tournaments to raise money for the Okaw Valley Academic Scholarships and. to date, has raised approximately $1,500.

Bethany Amends Liquor Ordinance for Longer Hours, and Gambling

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Small Crowd Arrives to Show Support for Local Saloon

by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

There are always at least two sides to every story and this month’s village board meeting proved no exception.

The normally adequate conference room at the village hall seemed almost overcrowded for this month’s board meeting as several members of the community were present to express to the trustees their support of Hired Hand Winery and Saloon.

Last month, proprietor Shane Weybright presented a request to the board that the liquor ordinance, and subsequently their liquor pouring license, be amended to allow for longer hours of business. He stated that he felt “his hands are tied” with the current hours of operation, with a relatively small number of customers being able to arrive and relax before alcohol could no longer be served. He said that if business hours were extended to 10 p.m. on weekdays, for example, he would be able to serve a much more diverse portion of the community, turn a much better profit, and so benefit the village by then paying more in taxes.  Read More

Arthur-Lovington Schools Pass Levy in December

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Former Lov. district tax payers to see smaller levy

by Keith Stewart & Ariana Cherry
keith@newsprogress.com

In their December meeting, the Arthur-Lovington school board approved the 2013 levy, which is payable this year.

But due to working cash bonds that were approved prior to the reorganization of Arthur and Lovington schools, the levy branches off into two figures depending on whether one lives in the former Arthur or Lovington district. Read More

Casey’s Suffers Hit and Run

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Photo by Keith Stewart The southwest corner of the Casey’s store front remains damaged after a hit and run incident occurred on December 28. The damage went beyond just the outside facade to include the kitchen and an office inside as well.

Photo by Keith Stewart
The southwest corner of the Casey’s store front remains damaged after a hit and run incident occurred on December 28. The damage went beyond just the outside facade to include the kitchen and an office inside as well.

Incident leaves kitchen and exterior badly damaged

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The Casey’s General Store in Sullivan was the victim of a hit and run December 28, which in turn left the business badly damaged on both the interior and exterior.

Jermel D Barlow, 24, of Decatur was arrested by Sullivan police at 10:35 p.m. shortly after the incident.

According to the crash report, for reasons yet to be determined, Barlow allegedly accelerated, jumping the curb before then colliding with the south side storefront of Casey’s. Barlow then backed out and fled the scene but was stopped a few blocks away by police.

According to Casey’s general manager Samantha Drake, not only did the incident damage the exterior of the building, but it also damaged the kitchen, an office, and a freezer. As a result, the kitchen was closed both the day of the incident and another day for repairs to be made, each causing an inability to make food including pizza. Read More

Gillis Resigns from Streets and Alleys

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by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

Streets and alleys department worker Chris Gillis submitted his resignation by letter at the Lovington Village Board meeting Monday night. The resignation was to take effect on January 10. Gillis has been with the village of Lovington for eight years. The position is now open, with applicants needing a class B CDL, ability to operate heavy equipment and mechanical knowledge of equipment. A committee was formed to select a new employee, and applications will be accepted until noon January 17.  Read More

White Out In Moultrie

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A hawk sits in the middle of Harrison Street in Sullivan feeding on a cold meal Sunday morning.

Photo by Keith Stewart
A hawk sits in the middle of Harrison Street in Sullivan feeding on a cold meal Sunday morning.

First the snow, then the cold

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

“It’s for the birds.”

Likely, much of the midwest was saying just this when over the weekend and into Monday a 1-2 punch of winter weather stretched its way across the nation’s middle, dumping upwards of 30 inches according to preliminary snowfall reports Monday.

Here in Moultrie County official totals didn’t exceed eight inches.

The snow started later than at first expected, early Sunday morning, and continued for most of the day. That evening, wind gusts up to 35 mph caused drifts, some reported as tall as six feet, that in turn severely hampered travel and even ushered in the closing of dozens of IL roadways, including a portion of IL 121, 32, and IL 128 here in the county. As such, emergency crews had to wait for assistance from snow plows before being able to make treks into rural areas. Read More

Local Businesses Also Impacted by Winter Storm

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by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

While it’s true that the recent spell of winter weather brought havoc in the form of diminished visibility, poor road conditions, and life threatening temperatures, the craziness began well before the weather arrived.

Area grocery stores quickly ran out of bread, milk, eggs, and other basic foods.

“The grocer’s best friend is the W on the screen, but we just don’t ever want what comes with it,” said Sullivan IGA manager Pat Stinson. “We had a huge, record sales day Saturday, which then led to a record week…it was the best we’d ever done.” Read More