As residents were busy digging out their driveways earlier this week after the heavy snowfall and drifting from the weekend, Sullivan city employees were busy cleaning up the roads around town and on the square. Many businesses were closed Monday.
•January 8, 2025•
As the time for making New Year’s resolutions is here, the American Red Cross asks you resolve to make a difference and support your community by becoming a volunteer in 2025.
“We’re seeing both the frequency and intensity of disasters increase across the country and the Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters as we did a decade ago to help people. This uptick in responses means we need more volunteers. The need to help has never been greater,” said Catherine Rabenstine, Interim CEO of the Illinois Red Cross.
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•January 8, 2025•
Over the few weeks of December the Village of Bethany had a Christmas light contest with the residents, with winning prizes being utility credit. Through the days December 9th and the 25th, judges visited homes and ranked contestants lights, the results are in.
First place: David Martin, $100 utility credit
Second place: Sam Ozier, $50 utility credit
Third place: Tyler Wagy, $50 utility credit
Honorable mentions: Denise Orris, JC Fultz, Jim McMahan and Robert and Nicole Dick, $25 utility credit per family.
•January 1, 2025•
January
The Moultrie County Childcare Committee announced the awarding of a substantial grant totaling $21,600 to Sullivan Preschool in acknowledgment of its exemplary commitment to providing exceptional childcare services in Moultrie County. This grant reflects the committee’s dedication to supporting and enhancing early childhood education within our community.
The Sullivan City Council agreed to helping the Sullivan Fire Department during their regular meeting on Monday, January 8.
The first item under new business was discussion and possible approval of a TIF agreement with the Sullivan Fire Protection District. The fire protection district has asked help to purchase a new truck. They asked for $40,000 a year for ten years out of TIF funds. Doug Shook said that fire trucks are important and that he would hate to lose a house in Cedar Dale or elsewhere. “If it can prevent one house fire I think it would be money well spent,” he said. The council agreed and approved the help.
Read More•January 1, 2025•
by Ariana R Cherry
The December meeting of the ALAH Board of Education was marked by a continued discussion on the referendum that had recently failed to pass. Community member Jeremy Hale voiced his disappointment at the outcome, emphasizing the community’s division and the urgent need to prioritize the children’s education and future.
“I am here to help, and I want success for us,” Hale began. “I’ve heard a lot of good and bad things here about this school. I am disappointed that not everyone is on the same page in this community. I don’t feel that everyone is putting our kids first,” he continued. I feel good about the growth of the referendum from both the first and second time. I feel there are still potential yes votes out there about the referendum and those who still haven’t been informed enough yet,” Hale went on. “We should all be on the same page when it comes to our kids. We shouldn’t be focusing on the building. All the other towns (Tuscola, Sullivan, etc) - they are all moving forward. We are stagnant…and keeping our kids stagnant. We’ve got to improve, rebuild, and we have to make it better for our kids and our future,” he concluded.
Read More•January 1, 2025•
by Sharon Barricklow
The Sullivan City Council wrapped up their 2024 meeting schedule Thursday night by approving annexing some property and revising some city codes.
The council opened the meeting with a public hearing on a plan to annex Windmill Legacy Farms, south of the city on South Hamilton Street west side of the road. During the hearing, Mayor Mike Mossman was asked if there are current plans to develop the five plus acre property.
Read More•December 25, 2024•
by Sharon Barricklow
A 45 year old former Okaw Valley school teacher was sentenced to a total of five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on December 12 after pleading guilty to Grooming, a Class 4 Felony, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, a Class 2 Felony.
Jason R. Engler of Shelbyville was a teacher and junior high cross country coach at the time of his arrest. He was sentenced in Moultrie County Court and still faces charges in Shelby County. Investigators said Engler sent pornographic pictures of himself to victims and a journal investigators entered into evidence showed he planned to take one student to his native Ohio and “make her his wife”.
•December 25, 2024•
Don’t let your Christmas tree go to waste this year after the holidays. Extend your tree’s life by donating it for Fish Habitat Improvement Day at Lake Shelbyville. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance and Illinois Department of Natural Resources will place the discarded trees into Lake Shelbyville to enhance the fisheries for years to come.
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•December 25, 2024•
The Sullivan Elementary 3rd graders put on a special performance on the morning of Thursday, December 19th at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services center, singing Christmas songs, reading poems and wishing for gifts from Santa for all to see.
The estimated 80 students filed into their lines and began their performance with seasonal favorites like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Deck the Halls.
“Dear Santa Claus, it’s me again and I’m here to remind you I’m here and have a list of gift this year,” recited all the students, “A stack of comic books, a dozen apple pies, a box of chocolate brownies and an elephant that flies!”
The program continued with groups standing to perform speaking parts thanking the audience for watching and wishing for gifts from Santa in between songs and poems.