Understanding Illinois: The Pols Won’t Do It, So You Balance State Budget

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•May 3, 2017• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist As we enter a third year without a state budget, I turn to readers to close a gap of about $9 billion between state expenditures of $72 billion (hard numbers difficult to nail down, as no budget) and annual revenues of about $63 billion. There are of course two ways to do this: cut expenditures and/or increase revenues. Nearby I lay out a necessarily compressed and incomplete set of prominent, quite real budget options. Can you select among the options to come up with $9 billion in actions that would close … Read More

Historic Amish Workshop To Be Moved To The New Amish Heritage Center

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•May 3, 2017• The historic 1860s workshop of Moses Yoder, one of the first three Amish settlers in the Arthur/Arcola area, will be moved to the new Illinois Amish Heritage Center located just west of Chesterville. The workshop is one of the earliest Amish buildings in the area. Moses Yoder purchased his farm east of Arthur in 1865. Soon after, he built a two-story, timber-frame house and various farm buildings. His house was moved to the Amish Heritage Center last September along with the 1882 Daniel Schrock house. The workshop was originally a multi-purpose building used for woodworking, blacksmithing, harness … Read More

Sullivan Unit #300 School Board Reorganizes

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•May 3, 2017• Sullivan Community Unit #300 school board reorganized with Jeff White as president while four newly elected members took seats. The previous school board approved minutes of the last meeting and verified election results before Supt. Brad Tuttle was appointed president pro tempore with Becky Batman as interim secretary until offices were filled. Vote totals were verified prior to new board members taking their seats. Ann Wheeler won a two year term with 1234 votes. Zak Horn – 1402; Tyson Grooms -1197; Erik Stollard – 954 were all elected to four-year terms.  … Read More

Sullivan City Council Welcomes New Member

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•May 3, 2017• By Ariana Cherry for the News Progress A possible new online payment option (Payment Service Network) offer to the residents of Sullivan was discussed at the most recent council meeting. This new online option would have paperless billing and send email notifications to customers when their utility bill is due or late. Treasurer Sarah Golden advised that the city processed 3,000 bills per month. Going paperless would cut back on work for the clerks, and it would automate payments for the customers. In addition to saving paper, this could also save the city money on postage. The … Read More

Sullivan Softball Team Holds Off Neoga

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•May 3, 2017• The Sullivan softball team held off Neoga 7-6 at home Thursday but lost to Charleston away Monday. Against Neoga, Sullivan scored two runs in the first inning, two in the third and two in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. The Redskins tacked on an important run in the fourth to extend the lead to seven. Neoga bounced back with three runs in the sixth inning and three runs in the seventh inning but could not complete the comeback. Sullivan totaled 12 hits. … Read More

Red Cross Blood Drive

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•May 3, 2017• The American Red Cross and  Sullivan Legion Post 68 will host a blood drive  noon-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 at the American Legion. Blood supplies are at a critical low level right now so every donation is important. For every unit donated a possible three people can be helped. Those coming in and donating (or attempt to donate) will receive a chance for one of three $1000 gift cards. Walk-ins are welcome, but having an appointment ensures proper Red Cross staffing and decreases wait time. Call Jeri Davis at 273 9456 for an appointment or go to redcrossblood.org … Read More