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Sullivan Council Accepts Bid for Sanitary Project

News Progress Posted on by

•February 1, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry,
for the News Progress

The Sullivan City Council accepted a bid of $830,777 from Followell Construction Company of Marion, Ill. for the sanitary project.

Discussions for this project began about seven years ago after the city had applied for grants for funding which were declined. They applied for a city grant and was approved for funding of $450,000 to help pay for the project.

The council also approved research to install a new water tower. Lee Beckman of Milano and Grunloh suggested that in order to find the best place for the tower, the city needs to perform a hydraulic analysis of the existing water system which will cost $20,000. Council members approved the hydraulic analysis.

Other news that was discussed or acted upon: Read More

Okaw Valley Takes Tri-County at LOVC Tourney

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by RR Best
Taylor Coleman passes the ball against Decatur LSA.

•February 1, 2017•

by Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team defeated Tri-County 53-41 to take third place in the 46th annual Little Okaw Valley Conference boys’ basketball tournament in Nancy Stiff Gymnasium in Arcola Saturday.

The Timberwolves took an early lead, jumping out to an 11-0 run to start the game with Garret Fritz’s two baskets and a free throw, along with some free throws made by Austin Hill.

Okaw Valley advanced to gain an 18-point lead the first half but let the Titans back within six in the third quarter.

In the next six minutes though, Okaw Valley went on a 14-2 run to put the game away.

Okaw Valley held Tri-County to 34 percent shooting from the field (15-of-44) and out-rebounded Tri-County 38-24.

Fritz was the top scorer for Okaw Valley with 11 points.
Read More

Obituaries 2-1-2017: Ron Hatfield

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Ron Hatfield

Ronald Lee Hatfield, 76, of Shelbyville died at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 in St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home with visitation 5-8 p.m. today (Wednesday). Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville. Read More

The Little Museum Time Has Forgotten at Mason Point

News Progress Posted on by

Photos by Ellen Ferrera
Through the doors of the Ward Museum at Mason Point are treasures from a lifetime of collecting frozen in time.

•February 1, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Up the steps of the main Mason Point building, through the front door and about 100 yards ahead you will arrive at the entrance to the magical world of the Abraham L. and Cora Ward Museum - frozen in time since it opened in 1948. Inside are some 25,000 items, many valuable and rare with mysterious origins as intriguing as the story of the museum itself.

When ill health forced Mr. Ward into retirement in his early forties, he and Cora set out on train trips all over North America, Mexico, Canada and Cuba.

It was their custom to purchase a train ticket as far as they could travel to a good sized city by daylight. They would spend the night in a hotel and the following day engage in their passion of collecting anything and everything of interest.

His passion was sea shells and hers was glass tumblers and goblets, but their interests were wide-ranging. When they tired of one city, they would buy another ticket as far as daylight would take them. Read More

CIC Tourney Third Place for Sullivan Girls’ Team

News Progress Posted on by

•February 1, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan girls’ basketball team placed third in the Central Illinois Conference tournament by defeating No. 2 ranked Central A&M 52-49 in Clinton Jan. 26.

Down 20-17 in the first half, the Redskins outscored the Raiders 18-8 in the third quarter and held on for the 52-49 win.

“A great team win tonight,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “We did not play extremely well in the first half, but they stepped it up in the second half.”

Esther Miller led the Redskins with 20 points. She was 6-of-6 from the free throw line, with five rebounds and five steals.

“Esther Miller played a phenomenal all around game for us,” said McCain. “She was everywhere on the floor.” Read More

ALAH Girls’ Basketball Team Breaks into Top Ten

News Progress Posted on by

•February 1, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team’s winning streak came to an end at 11 games this week.

The Knights battled back to win two more games and broke into the top 10 ranking of teams in Class 2A at No. 9.

They defeated Argenta-Oreana Jan 23 and Decatur LSA Jan 26.

Against Argenta-Oreana Monday night, the first half was back-and-forth, and the Bombers went into half with a 1-point lead, 22-21.

The Knights blew open the game in third quarter, outscoring A-O 23-4.

ALAH held on in the fourth for the 54-36 win

The win was the Knights’ 20th on the season. Read More

Public Meeting for New TIF

News Progress Posted on by

•February 1, 2017•

The city of Sullivan is holding a public meeting Tuesday, Feb 14 for the proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District IV.

Held at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library the city will advise the public taxing districts having real property in the redevelopment project area, taxpayers who own property in the redevelopment project area, and residents in the area its intent to prepare a new TIF district and designate a Redevelopment Project Area.

This is the opportunity for public comment on the project proposal south of the city.

Mo. Co. Ended Year with Lowest Unemployment Rate

News Progress Posted on by

•February 1, 2017•

Moultrie County ended the year with the lowest unemployment rate of all surrounding counties at 4.6 percent.

In December 2015 Moultrie County was leading the area at 5.0 percent. The seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.6 percent in December 2016 compared to 12.2 percent at the peak of the economic cycle in January 2010.

Unemployment rates fell in all surrounding counties with Vermilion County reporting a high of 7.2 percent unemployment in 2016 compared to 7.7 percent in 2015.

Douglas County was second lowest with 4.7 percent, improving by 0.8 percent from 5.5 percent in 2015. Read More

Election Notice To the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities for the April 4, 2017 Consolidated Election

News Progress Posted on by

•February 1, 2017•

Citizens who are not registered to vote and cannot leave their home or nursing home facility because of a permanent physical disability may arrange for voter registration and voting by contacting the Moultrie County Clerk’s office.

The last day to register to vote before the April 4, 2017 Consolidated Election is Tuesday, March 7 with the exception of grace period registrations and transfers between March 8 through election day.

Anyone may register at the county clerk’s office, Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 S. Main in Sullivan from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, if a person is unable to come to the courthouse, they may call the county clerk’s office and arrangements for registration will be made.

All polling locations in Moultrie County are accessible to the elderly and persons with disabilities. Voting aids and assistance are available, if needed, in marking the ballot. If for some reason a person is unable to go to the polls on election day, they may call the clerk’s office and arrange for a Vote by Mail ballot. The last day a Vote by Mail ballot may be mailed out is Thursday, March 30, 2017. The last day to Early Vote in person at the county clerk’s office is April 3, 2017 with the exception of Grace Period Registration and Voting.

For further information concerning polling locations, Vote by Mail, Early Voting and Grace Period Registration/Voting, contact the Moultrie County Clerk’s office at 728-4389.