November Brings Proposed Tax Increases for Bethany

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OV school district proposes 9.1 percent
increase in new money

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

Near the end of the fiscal year, towns and school districts across Illinois are tasked with deciding what amount they will increase property tax levies for the next calendar year. Sometimes these tax increases go largely unnoticed for residents, as city councils and school boards alike can pass up to a five percent increase without notifying the public. But when the financial climate necessitates larger tax increases or the introduction of new taxes, these institutions are required to provide an open opportunity for discussion with the communities they govern. Read More

Feeling the Proration Pinch, Sullivan Schools Max Rates

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9.98 percent increase now, cuts to come later in school year

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The Sullivan school district will vote on a tax increase next week, but not before holding a truth-in-taxation hearing.

At last month’s board meeting, the district preliminarily approved a tax increase resulting in approximately $234,901 of new money. This would result in a 22 cent or less increase per $100 equalized assessed value, or EAV. According to Superintendent Brad Tuttle, this would mean for a home with an EAV of $50,000, there would be an increase of $23.47 on their tax bill for the district’s portion. Read More

Suspicious House Fire

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Photo by RR Best Fire Departments from Lovington, Bethany, and Sullivan all responded to a house fire early Sunday morning near the Okaw Valley Orchard. Since then, the State Fire Marshal Arson Investigator has been called in, but according to media spokeswoman Milly Santiago, the investigation is still ongoing. Santiago did say that the fire appears to have originated in the bathroom. Lovington fire chief Gary Smith said his department is still assessing the damge.

Photo by RR Best
Fire Departments from Lovington, Bethany, and Sullivan all responded to a house fire early Sunday morning near the Okaw Valley Orchard. Since then, the State Fire Marshal Arson Investigator has been called in, but according to media spokeswoman Milly Santiago, the investigation is still ongoing. Santiago did say that the fire appears to have originated in the bathroom. Lovington fire chief Gary Smith said his department is still assessing the damge.

Which To Choose?

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Photo by Keith Stewart Three-year-old Ava Long of Toledo, along with her mother Lyndsay, tries to decide from which candy to choose Saturday. The Longs were just a few of the many customers of Saturday’s candy sale held at the Coffee Bean in Sullivan. Featuring freshly made chocolates and candy from Tuscola’s Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, the sale promised to donate 20 percent of the day’s proceeds to the Moultrie County Food Pantry. This year’s sale bested last year’s inaugural sale by 50 percent, resulting in more than a $1,200 donation to the pantry. Pictured in the foreground is part owner of Flesor’s Candy Kitchen Devon Flesor-Story.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Three-year-old Ava Long of Toledo, along with her mother Lyndsay, tries to decide from which candy to choose Saturday. The Longs were just a few of the many customers of Saturday’s candy sale held at the Coffee Bean in Sullivan. Featuring freshly made chocolates and candy from Tuscola’s Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, the sale promised to donate 20 percent of the day’s proceeds to the Moultrie County Food Pantry. This year’s sale bested last year’s inaugural sale by 50 percent, resulting in more than a $1,200 donation to the pantry. Pictured in the foreground is part owner of Flesor’s Candy Kitchen Devon Flesor-Story.

Girl Scout Food Drive

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Submitted The Lovington Girl Scout Troop 3009 conducted their annual food drive November 16, collecting more than 500 pounds of nonperishable food and paper goods for Lovington’s Christ Pantry which supplies food to those in need not only in Lovington but in surrounding communities.

Submitted
The Lovington Girl Scout Troop 3009 conducted their annual food drive November 16, collecting more than 500 pounds of nonperishable food and paper goods for Lovington’s Christ Pantry which supplies food to those in need not only in Lovington but in surrounding communities.

Helping Local Heroes

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Photo by RR Best Jackson Family of Dealerships recently took part in the Chevrolet Drive to Help a Hero program, a voluntary cause which the Sullivan dealership began with the Sullivan Fire Department at their recent pancake and sausage breakfast. There, the dealership offered free test rides, with each successful ride resulting in $20 donated towards the department. In total, Jacksons was able to donate $1,000 to the fire department, which fire chief Mike Piper says will most likely be used to fund the purchase of structural fire fighting boots for the department’s volunteer force.

Photo by RR Best
Jackson Family of Dealerships recently took part in the Chevrolet Drive to Help a Hero program, a voluntary cause which the Sullivan dealership began with the Sullivan Fire Department at their recent pancake and sausage breakfast. There, the dealership offered free test rides, with each successful ride resulting in $20 donated towards the department. In total, Jacksons was able to donate $1,000 to the fire department, which fire chief Mike Piper says will most likely be used to fund the purchase of structural fire fighting boots for the department’s volunteer force.

Turkey Donation

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Photo by Keith Stewart Owner and operator of Sullivan McDonald’s Angie Matlock (middle) recently donated a $500 check to the Moultrie County Food Pantry, which in turn used the money to purchase turkeys for the Thanksgiving holiday. Pictured to her left is Lindsay Schmohe, a volunteer with the Moms On a Mission in Sullivan group, and to her right is the food pantry director Barbara Waymire.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Owner and operator of Sullivan McDonald’s Angie Matlock (middle) recently donated a $500 check to the Moultrie County Food Pantry, which in turn used the money to purchase turkeys for the Thanksgiving holiday. Pictured to her left is Lindsay Schmohe, a volunteer with the Moms On a Mission in Sullivan group, and to her right is the food pantry director Barbara Waymire.

AL Volleyball Awards

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Photo by Darian Hays AL Volleyball Banquet Awards The Arthur-Lovington volleyball team held their awards banquet Tuesday, November 19. Pictured are this year’s award recipients. Front row, L-R: Brooke Tabb, best serve percentage (94), best attack percentage (90), most digs (281), and hustle award; Kalli Martin, team spirit award; Emily Seegmiller, most aces (55), and most valuable player; Jessica Davis, best attack percentage (90), and best block percentage (19); Logan Kauffman, most improved. Back row, L-R: Karly Goodman, best ace percentage (21), highest kill percentage (40) and most kills (206), most blocks (27), best block percentage (19), serve-reception percentage (90), sportsmanship and coaches’ award; Sherelle Coller, best setting percentage (98), most assists (563), assist percentage (33), variety captain, and coaches’ award; Hannah Schrock, best block percentage (19). The team also celebrated three All-LOVC selections. First team: Karly Goodman and Emily Seegmiller; second team: Sherelle Coller.

Photo by Darian Hays
AL Volleyball Banquet Awards
The Arthur-Lovington volleyball team held their awards banquet Tuesday, November 19. Pictured are this year’s award recipients. Front row, L-R: Brooke Tabb, best serve percentage (94), best attack percentage (90), most digs (281), and hustle award; Kalli Martin, team spirit award; Emily Seegmiller, most aces (55), and most valuable player; Jessica Davis, best attack percentage (90), and best block percentage (19); Logan Kauffman, most improved. Back row, L-R: Karly Goodman, best ace percentage (21), highest kill percentage (40) and most kills (206), most blocks (27), best block percentage (19), serve-reception percentage (90), sportsmanship and coaches’ award; Sherelle Coller, best setting percentage (98), most assists (563), assist percentage (33), variety captain, and coaches’ award; Hannah Schrock, best block percentage (19).
The team also celebrated three All-LOVC selections. First team: Karly Goodman and Emily Seegmiller; second team: Sherelle Coller.

State Test Scores Released: Moultrie County Schools Left Wondering

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Tougher standards implemented before instruction can catch up leaves ISAT scores laggingArthurLovingtonSchools

by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter

At the beginning of November the state of Illinois made the scores of last year’s major standardized tests, the Illinois State Achievement Test (ISAT) and the Prairie State Achievement Test (PSAE), available to the public. The “State Report Cards”, as the Illinois Board of Education calls them, are released yearly, and this year the results are presenting a mixed message for schools all over the state—a problem since administrators and teachers alike rely upon the state report cards to guide instruction.  Read More

ALAH Football Awards

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Photo by Darian Hays ALAH Football Banquet The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond football team held their sports banquet Tuesday, November 19. Pictured, Front row, L-R: David Rosenbaum, Most Improved; Tyler Schuring, captain & offensive player of the year; Curtis Plank, captain; Steven Wright; and Mitchell Helton, captain & coaches’ award. Back Row, L –R: Jesse Ruff; Jordan Feagin, special teams player of the year & offensive player of the year; Logan West, captain, defensive player of the year, & MVP; Colton Yeakley; Dylan Black; and Brandon Bontrager. Not pictured is Ethan Gingerich, lineman of the year. The team also celebrated 15 All-LOVC selections. First team: Logan West, offensive lineman, linebacker; Tyler Schuring, quarterback; Jordan Feagin, running back, defensive back; Curtis Plank, wide receiver, defensive back; Ethan Gingerich, defensive lineman; Jesse Ruff, punter. Second team: Dylan Black, offensive and defensive lineman, ; Colton Yeakley, offensive lineman; Steven Wright, running back; Jesse Ruff, defensive lineman; Steven Wright, linebacker; Tyler Schuring, defensive back; Jordan Feagin, place kicker. Honorable mention: Mitchell Helton, wide receiver, linebacker.

Photo by Darian Hays
ALAH Football Banquet
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond football team held their sports banquet Tuesday, November 19. Pictured, Front row, L-R: David Rosenbaum, Most Improved; Tyler Schuring, captain & offensive player of the year; Curtis Plank, captain; Steven Wright; and Mitchell Helton, captain & coaches’ award. Back Row, L –R: Jesse Ruff; Jordan Feagin, special teams player of the year & offensive player of the year; Logan West, captain, defensive player of the year, & MVP; Colton Yeakley; Dylan Black; and Brandon Bontrager. Not pictured is Ethan Gingerich, lineman of the year.
The team also celebrated 15 All-LOVC selections. First team: Logan West, offensive lineman, linebacker; Tyler Schuring, quarterback; Jordan Feagin, running back, defensive back; Curtis Plank, wide receiver, defensive back; Ethan Gingerich, defensive lineman; Jesse Ruff, punter.
Second team: Dylan Black, offensive and defensive lineman, ; Colton Yeakley, offensive lineman; Steven Wright, running back; Jesse Ruff, defensive lineman; Steven Wright, linebacker; Tyler Schuring, defensive back; Jordan Feagin, place kicker.
Honorable mention: Mitchell Helton, wide receiver, linebacker.