Sullivan Moves Toward Future Growth with a Leaner Operation

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•August 16, 2017• By Mike Brothers Sullivan City Administrator Dan Flannell transitioned from policymaker as Chief Circuit Judge in Moultrie County to the implementer of Sullivan City Council policy and has learned a lot during the past six months. “I believe the administrative role as chief judge helped me grasp the bigger picture of the city,” Flannell said of administering a multitude of city departments operating within a $28 million budget. “Most people don’t realize how big an operation the city has including utilities, but that kind of revenue also helps the city keep tax rates down,” he continued. Problem … Read More

New Unemployment Insurance Process 

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•August 16, 2017• Beginning September 11, the Illinois Department of Revenue’s MyTax Illinois will become Illinois employers’ most convenient option for filing unemployment insurance monthly wage reports, quarterly unemployment insurance reports, and for making contribution payments. The transition is a joint effort between the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) to simplify the tax experience for both new and existing Illinois employers. “By utilizing MyTax Illinois for IDES’ unemployment insurance processes, employers will be afforded an easy, secure method to file and pay unemployment insurance taxes,” said Connie Beard, IDOR Director. “With more … Read More

Understanding Illinois: State’s High Taxes, Low Services Explained-the Pension Albatross

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•August 16, 2017• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist With the recent increase in income taxes in Illinois, our state is once again among the top eight or so in state and local tax burden, while our state services to taxpayers are among the lowest. For example, state financial support for public schools as a percentage of total school spending is lowest among the 50 states. Why, you might ask? It’s all about the pension albatross, Stupid! Moody’s Investor Services reports the state’s five public employee pension systems are $251 billion short of assets adequate to meet guaranteed future obligations. … Read More

County Board Acts on Planning and Zoning Proposals

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•August 16, 2017• Moultrie County Board opened the August 11 meeting with planning and zoning recommendations ranging from boundary expansion for Mast Construction to an ordinance regulating solar farms. In June fire destroyed Mast Construction northeast of Sullivan, leaving the manufacturer of prefabricated walls for homes in burned rubble. Chester Mast is in the processing of rebuilding and expanding the business, seeking to rezone his property to I-1 plus asking for variances to build 20 feet from all zoning boundary lines. His requests were approved unanimously by the board. Planning and zoning chairman Todd Maxedon recommended passage of the ordinance … Read More

Okaw Valley Golf Team Has State Ambitions

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•August 16, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports If the Okaw Valley golf team wants to make a run at state this year, then it has started off the season in correct fashion. The Timberwolves won its first meet of the season, the Meridian Early Bird Invite, Thursday. Junior Case Crawford, the most improved award winner from last season, won the Individual with a score of 78. Senior Cameron Nickerson placed fourth with a score of 84. Head coach Steve Nickerson in his second year returns a senior and junior filled team including eight letter winners and six senior boys … Read More

Thinking About Health: Stalemate in D.C. Leaves Health Insurance in Limbo

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•August 16, 2017• By Trudy Lieberman, Rural Health News Service What should you expect now that the drive to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act appears dead – at least for the moment? Given how legislation gets made in Washington, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some elements of the repeal and replace bill surface again, possibly tacked onto what’s known as must-have legislation. All that, though, is speculation at this point! What’s more important to millions of families who must buy health insurance for next year is how much will it cost and what will it cover? It’s … Read More

Lovington Alumni Honorees

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•August 16, 2017• The Lovington High School Alumni Association will honor six people at its banquet September 23. The Hall of Fame Committee selected Aaron Fleming to receive the Hall of Fame Award, Ed Webb and the late Earl Funston for the Who’s Who Award, Bill Dickson and Chas McFarland for the Athletic Hall of Fame Award, and Ray Duncan for the Honorary Alumnus Award. The theme for homecoming is “The Times, They Are A-Changin’.” In a break from tradition, the banquet will start at 4 p.m. at the Sullivan American Legion. The awards presentations and business meeting will be … Read More

Findlay ARC Blood Drive Meets Goal

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•August 16, 2017• The American Red Cross blood drive August 8 hosted by the Findlay American Legion Auxiliary met their goal of 20 pints. Helping reach that goal were 23 potential donors who answered the call for blood, which is at a critically low level. All presenting donors received a St. Louis Cardinal shirt. It was a ‘gold star day’ for the Dotson family. All four members of the Dotson family donated blood – Wayne, Connie, Brody, and Connor. The next blood drive will be Oct. 4 at the American Legion Auxiliary in Findlay. … Read More

Mason Point Chapel Entrance Has Makeover

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•August 16, 2017• By Ellen Ferrera for the News Progress With a grant from the Chapel Fund, the maintenance and ground staffs at Mason Point have been able to create a new flower garden and reinstall the entrance lamps to the Mason Point Chapel. The right side of the walkway was edged in concrete blocks, and a raised flower bed complete with a stone bench was created on the left side of the walk. My Garden staff designed and supervised the plantings while the ground crew filled in the soil and mulch. The original Gothic entrance lamps were refurbished and … Read More