Moultrie Courts Procedures Change Due to COVID-19

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Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Piatt and Moultrie County Courts will reduce operations in order to minimize personal contact and deter the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The following procedures and rules are consistent with Supreme Court recommendations and shall remain in effect through March 31 unless extended by further order of the court. The following Piatt and Moultrie County cases and court proceedings are postponed through March 31 unless extended further by the court: • Civil cases (L, LM) • Traffic, conservation, and ordinance violation cases (TR, DT, CV, OV) • Criminal misdemeanor cases (CM) – except … Read More

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Dear Sullivan School Family, Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we navigate through unchartered territory. I wanted to provide some reminders of important items and an update on Food Service during the closure. Packets for continuity of learning will be emailed to all parents and also be available for pickup from 10am-6pm on Tuesday for those who would prefer a paper copy. Packets for SES students (and 314th grade iPads) can be picked up in SES Cafeteria, and packets for SMS/SHS students can be picked up in the Commons. SES families should enter through the WEST cafeteria door … Read More

A message from Sullivan School Superintendent, Ted Walk, to parents, community, and staff:

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With the new development of confirmed COVID-19 cases in our region, Sullivan Schools will not have student attendance on Monday, March 16th. We understand the additional hardship this causes for our students, families, and community, and this was a difficult decision. Teachers and staff will have an Institute Day. Packets for continuity of learning will be emailed to all students and parents and also be available for pickup from 10am-6pm on Tuesday for those who would prefer a paper copy. Packets for SES students (and 3rd/4th grade iPads) can be picked up in the SES cafeteria, and packets for SMS/SHS … Read More

Recent Obituaries: William McLaughlin

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William McLaughlin William Dean “Bill” McLaughlin, 64, of Centralia passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at his home in Centralia. He was born on August 11, 1955 the son of Dr. Dean and Thelma (Bierman) McLaughlin in Sullivan, IL. Survivors include his loving siblings, David McLaughlin and wife Janet of Maryville, MO, Jean Kim and husband David of Carmel Valley, CA, Susan Selock and husband Dan of Goreville, IL, John McLaughlin of Centralia, Elizabeth Ann McLaughlin of Centralia; step-mother, Mary McLaughlin of Sullivan, IL; brother-in-law, Ted Dzierzynski of Astoria, NY; step-sisters, Cathy Norman, and Shawna Tatarchuk; step-brother, Brian Wakeland; and … Read More

Potluck at First Baptist Church

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•March 11, 2020• Reverend Mark Bjorbak will be installed as the new Pastor at First Baptist Church of Sullivan on Sunday, March 15 at 2:00 pm. The public is cordially invited to a potluck following the morning church service at 11:30 and also the reception following the installation. The potluck and reception will take place in the church’s Fellowship Hall. … Read More

Superintendent-Y Stuff: School Calendar Days

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•March 11, 2020• By Supt. Ted Walk Sullivan CUSD #300 There has been a lot of variation in dates of attendance for schools in Illinois over the years. Currently, a district is required to schedule 180 days, with an additional five days reserved as Emergency Days for instances when school has to be closed due to weather. Apart from a standard Pupil Attendance Day, schools may use some of these days for items such as Teachers Institutes, School Improvement, or Parent-Teacher Conferences. … Read More

EIU Announces Fall Dean’s List

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•March 11, 2020• Eastern Illinois University’s Fall 2019 Deans’ List recognizes undergraduates who excelled academically during the university’s 2019 fall semester. Students who achieved a GPA of 3.80 to 4.00 (on a 4.00 scale) while completing a minimum of 12 graded semester hours, excluding credit/no credit grades are named on the university Deans’ List. They include: … Read More

MCHG Society Meets Thursday, March 19

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•March 11, 2020• The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will hold their monthly General Meeting, Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. in the Heritage Center in Sullivan. The program for the evening will be “Fire Departments from the 1800’s” presented by Mr. Jeff Hendricks of Mt Zion, formerly of Sullivan. … Read More

Letter to the Editor: 3-11-2020

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To the editor — I want to congratulate Bob and Kathy Best on the sale of their family newspaper to Paddock Publications. The phrase “the end of an era” is overused, but it certainly applies here. No community can stay honest and strong without a local source of dedicated, professional journalism, and the Best family has provided that for Moultrie County since JFK was a new president. It wasn’t easy, but I never heard any of them complain. Dan Hagen … Read More

Splish, Splash, Toddlers are Having a Bash

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•March 11, 2020• By Ellen Ferrera for the News Progress The new Toddler Tuesday program at the Sullivan Civic Center is attracting moms and grandmothers with toddlers to the kiddie pool in growing numbers. On March 2 Suzy Crawford brought her grandson, Jack Grooms, to the pool and was chasing a red rubber ball in the water. “He is just loving it,” Crawford said. “This is such a great program for moms and grandmothers especially in winter. He will be ready for a nap after this workout!” Another grandmother, Janice McFarland, was in the pool with granddaughter, Loretta Bichel. … Read More