News Progress

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

At their regular meeting earlier this month, the Sullivan school board approved four staff resignations and also approved the dismissal of a third year teacher.

Certified preschool teacher Brittney Phebus was dismissed after the board discussed the potential action in closed session. Because she had less than four years of continuous service to the district, the board does not, nor did it, disclose the reason for her dismissal. As Brad Tuttle, superintendent, explained, a faculty member with less than four years and excellent ratings could still be dismissed. Read More

Decision to ban firearms on all school property up in the air

by Ariana Cherry
& Keith Stewart
Reporting in Arthur

Thoughtful silence filled the room for a few moments during a discussion regarding Policy 8:30 during last Wednesday’s Arthur-Lovington school board meeting.

According to the present handbook, Policy 8:30 states “Arthur-Lovington District 305 has established a policy that prohibits guns, ammunition, knives and any other weapons from school property.” Although, with the Concealed Carry Law, that could change.

The Concealed Carry Law reads, “The new law generally allows license holders to carry concealed firearms in areas of the state not designated as prohibited areas. Those prohibited areas include buildings or portions of buildings under the control of local governments such as schools, public libraries, court buildings, parks, playgrounds, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation, etc...” Read More

Advanced Disposal cancels attendance at city council meeting

by Joash Tiarks
Reporting in Sullivan

After passing an ordinance last month limiting garbage contracts to no more than one year, the Sullivan city council was told that a representative from Advanced Disposal–an area garbage collection service provider–would attend last week’s meeting.

But a local residential representative with Advanced Disposal, instead, called the city prior to last week’s meeting inquiring about the ordinance.

According to the council, Ed Worker, the representative, was read the ordinance over the phone by city clerk Monte Johnson, after which Worker explained that there would no longer be a need for someone to attend on behalf of AD. Worker assured Johnson that the call meant nothing more than their desire “to be legal.” Read More

Fireworks fundraiser underway

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

When Mike Keown and his family moved to Sullivan in 1958, the only thing more memorable than Richard Nixon’s visit to Wyman Park was the fireworks display that the local American Legion had routinely sponsored.

“They were spectacular,” said Keown. “The night sky was just lit up. Even though we lived right by the park, we all took a blanket and went to Wyman Lake.”

But now, the certainty as to whether Sullivan will continue to have its annual display is up in the air, or perhaps, not quite yet.

“The Legion has always paid the cost of the fireworks as long as I can remember,” said Keown. “But right now, we can’t do that. We don’t have the money to pay it.” Read More