Lovington Revitalization Meeting March 26

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March 18, 2015 A Lovington Revitalization meeting with Mike Crews of Illinois Coalition Community Service is set for March 26 at 6:30 p.m.at the Lovington Public Library. The public is invited. Discussions will center on a summer lunch program for the youth. Tony Schuering the V.P. of of Municipal Consulting Group will also be present to give information on TIF (Tax Increment Financing). Other topics of interest may be discussed. The effort is looking for fresh, innovating ideas, or events that have been done in the past that may be rejuvenated. Volunteers are also needed and welcome. For more information, … Read More

Art Club Kicks Off 2015 Saturday with Workshop

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March 18, 2015 Returning artist, Joycelyn Padgett, will kick off Sullivan Art Club’s 2015 workshop season on Saturday, March 21. The workshop will be conducted in the St. Columcille Church hall located on the east end of the church at the corners of W. Jackson and McClelllan Streets. There is a dedicated entrance to the hall adjacent to the parking lot. … Read More

Rural Housing Loans For Low Income Families

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March 18, 2015 Home-buying season is just around the corner, but saving enough money to qualify for a mortgage is one of, if not the, biggest barriers to buying a home. Through the 502 Direct Single Family Housing Loan program, USDA Rural Development helps low income individuals and families purchase a home with 100 percent financing. As homeownership grows, rural communities across Illinois are strengthened. Heather and her husband had no idea where they would get the money for a down payment on a larger home for their growing family. They, and 240 other families around Illinois in FY2014, qualified … Read More

State Behind on Transportation and Special Education Payments

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ALAH district still in the black, for now March 18, 2015 by Ariana Cherry Arthur/Sullivan Reporter Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond superintendent Kenny Schwengel informed the board at its regular meeting last Wednesday that the state was behind on several payments to the transportation and special education funds. The transportation fund has been prorated at 71 percent and on top of that has received just one payment of $126,000. The amount includes one regular payment and a special education payment for Arthur-Lovington and Atwood-Hammond. Payments are still being made to Atwood-Hammond since the state was previously behind on them. The district has received only … Read More

UPS Honors Haycraft

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March 18, 2015 UPS recently announced 86 elite drivers from Illinois are among 1,445 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving. UPS driver David Haycraft of Dalton City, was one of the 86 recognized. … Read More

LTE: 3.18.15

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Enjoying “Romance of Railroading” I’m pleased to see Jerry Ginther has written an additional article about the railroad (per his facebook post). Until his first article I wasn’t aware of the “ins and outs” of railroading. However, I did find the information quite interesting. How many of us just sit and watch those huge trains go by in a blur? Now, I find myself reflecting on some of the information I learned by reading the first of Mr. Ginther’s accounting of his railroad career. … Read More

Public Notices Must Stay in the Sun

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By Jim Zachary March 18, 2015 As we recognize Sunshine Week, the public’s right to know is under assault throughout the United States. State lawmakers are whittling away at Sunshine Laws in multiple ways, not the least of which is the effort to remove requirements to publish public notices in the place where communities are most likely to find important information they want and need to know — in the local newspaper. Efforts to allow local governments the option of placing required public notices on government websites, or on third party sites that bury the information is poor, ill-advised legislation … Read More