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Miss Moultrie-Douglas 2015 Contestants

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Photo by RR Best Miss Moultrie-Douglas Contestants Pictured are the contestants who will compete in the 53rd annual Miss Moultrie-Douglas pageant , which will be held Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in Arthur. Pictured, from left to right, are this year’s contestants: Kiela Martin, Villa Grove; Becca Greathouse, Arthur; Ashton Doty, Bethany; Lauren Cody, Sullivan; Taylor Reifsteck, Tuscola; 2014 Miss Moultrie-Douglas Maria Meyer, Tuscola; Lexi Sluder, Tuscola; Gabrielle Uphoff, Sullivan; Michelle VanCleave, Tuscola; and Brittany Rader, Lovington. Not Pictured – Morgan Miller, Sullivan; Karla Madden, Newman; Hannah Leal, Arthur

Photo by RR Best
Miss Moultrie-Douglas Contestants
Pictured are the contestants who will compete in the 53rd annual Miss Moultrie-Douglas pageant , which will be held Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in Arthur. Pictured, from left to right, are this year’s contestants: Kiela Martin, Villa Grove; Becca Greathouse, Arthur; Ashton Doty, Bethany; Lauren Cody, Sullivan; Taylor Reifsteck, Tuscola; 2014 Miss Moultrie-Douglas Maria Meyer, Tuscola; Lexi Sluder, Tuscola; Gabrielle Uphoff, Sullivan; Michelle VanCleave, Tuscola; and Brittany Rader, Lovington. Not Pictured – Morgan Miller, Sullivan; Karla Madden, Newman; Hannah Leal, Arthur

Photo by RR Best Jr. Miss Moultrie-Douglas Contestants Pictured are the contestants who will compete in the Jr. Miss Moultrie-Douglas pageant , which will be held Monday, July 6 at 7 p.m. in Arthur. Pictured, from left to right, are this year’s contestants: Kali Pierce, Tuscola;Lexie Jaeger, Arcola; Julia Kerkhoff, Tuscola; Calista Clark, Lovington; Sydney Hoel, Tuscola; Janette Comstock, Lovington; Brandi Reinhart, Tuscola; Sidney Edwards, Oakland; 2014 Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas Kayla Hodge, Arthur; Kenli Nettles, Lovington; Sabrina Alcorn, Tuscola; Emma Lee, Arthur; Faith Hardwick, Tuscola; Madysen Melton, Arcola; Meyha Evans, Arthur; and Logan Streible, Atwood. Not pictured is Kyla Carson, Arthur.

Photo by RR Best
Jr. Miss Moultrie-Douglas Contestants
Pictured are the contestants who will compete in the Jr. Miss Moultrie-Douglas pageant , which will be held Monday, July 6 at 7 p.m. in Arthur. Pictured, from left to right, are this year’s contestants: Kali Pierce, Tuscola;Lexie Jaeger, Arcola; Julia Kerkhoff, Tuscola; Calista Clark, Lovington; Sydney Hoel, Tuscola; Janette Comstock, Lovington; Brandi Reinhart, Tuscola; Sidney Edwards, Oakland; 2014 Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas Kayla Hodge, Arthur; Kenli Nettles, Lovington; Sabrina Alcorn, Tuscola; Emma Lee, Arthur; Faith Hardwick, Tuscola; Madysen Melton, Arcola; Meyha Evans, Arthur; and Logan Streible, Atwood. Not pictured is Kyla Carson, Arthur.

Photo by RR Best Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Contestants Pictured are the contestants who will compete in the Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas pageant , which will be held Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in Arthur. Pictured, from left to right, are this year’s contestants: Top Row-Salina Kimberlin, Sullivan; Lilly Evans, Atwood; Chloe Smith, Hammond; Alyssa Adkins, Tuscola; Morgan Casteel, Lovington; Addison Dixon, Atwood; Sawyer Cleland, Tuscola; and Brooklynn Colter, Arthur; Bottom Row-Aymara Leal, Arcola; Gracelyn Johnson, Sullivan; Anna Rawlins, Pierson Station; Paislee Lorenzen, Newman; 2014 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Brynlee Moore, Lovington; Alyssa Ryherd, Sullivan; Emeline Greathouse, Arthur; Aaliyah Osborn, Sullivan; and Emmersyn Jainnoni, Sullivan. Not pictured is Kate Foltz, Tuscola.

Photo by RR Best
Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Contestants
Pictured are the contestants who will compete in the Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas pageant , which will be held Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in Arthur. Pictured, from left to right, are this year’s contestants: Top Row-Salina Kimberlin, Sullivan; Lilly Evans, Atwood; Chloe Smith, Hammond; Alyssa Adkins, Tuscola; Morgan Casteel, Lovington; Addison Dixon, Atwood; Sawyer Cleland, Tuscola; and Brooklynn Colter, Arthur; Bottom Row-Aymara Leal, Arcola; Gracelyn Johnson, Sullivan; Anna Rawlins, Pierson Station; Paislee Lorenzen, Newman; 2014 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Brynlee Moore, Lovington; Alyssa Ryherd, Sullivan; Emeline Greathouse, Arthur; Aaliyah Osborn, Sullivan; and Emmersyn Jainnoni, Sullivan. Not pictured is Kate Foltz, Tuscola.

Sullivan Council Signs Agreement with Hughes and Tenney Law Firm

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Council plans to pursue legal action concerning the Sullivan Civic Center roof

July 1, 2015

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

At their June 8 regular meeting, the Sullivan City Council decided they would move forward with litigation concerning the roof of the Sullivan Civic Center.
Problems with the Civic Center roof began back in 2006 when it was decided that a new roofing system would be constructed.
After receiving bids, Advanced Wayne Cain of Champaign, was chosen to start work on the roof in 2007 which would be completed during that spring and summer. Then, in 2013, when it was noticed that the top covering of the roof was loose, Advanced Wayne Cain was called back to help fix it. The roof was secured in order to stop it from blowing and being damaged any further. According to Sullivan commissioner Mike Mossman, it was never completely repaired as it was only secured until it could be permanently fixed. Read More

Obituaries 7-1-2015: Mark Marquis

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Marquis, MarkMark Marquis

Memorial graveside services for Mark Lane Marquis, 57, of Lovington were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Keller Cemetery in Lovington with military rites by Lovington American Legion Post #429. Arrangements were by McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington.

He passed away at 7 p.m. Monday June 22, 2015 in his home.

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Obituaries 7-1-2015: Billy Wood

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Billy B WoodBilly Wood

Billy B Wood, 95, and a lifelong resident of Moultrie County, passed away at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, June 28, 2015 in Mason Point in Sullivan.

Celebration of Life services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mason Point Chapel in Sullivan with John Plummer officiating. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with public Masonic Rites at 8 p.m. Visitation will also be held one hour before services in Mason Point Chapel. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery in Lovington.

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“Swing!” Hits the Stage at a Furious Pace

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Photo by Keith Stewart Pictured are Jordan Cyphert and Megan Farley in the Little Theatre’s latest production, “Swing!”

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured are Jordan Cyphert and Megan Farley in the Little Theatre’s latest production, “Swing!”

July 1, 2015

By Dan Hagen
NP Theatre Critic

The scene: an urban night club during World War II, and if the atmosphere is particularly realistic, that’s because the bricks and the loading dock are the actual back wall of the Little Theatre, cunningly incorporated into the scenery.
More than Jen Price-Fick’s set is cunningly done in this musical, Swing!, directed and choreographed by Amber Mak and Todd Rhoades.
Unencumbered by plot in any but the most abstract sense, Swing! swings from bebop to scat singing to torch songs at a brisk pace that never flags.
Sound problems lost us Brady Miller’s Boogie Woogie Country during the dress rehearsal, but those ought to be fixed when the show opens today.
Colorfully costumed by Jeannine La Bate (orange shirts, blue fringed cowboy jackets, the works), this show is all song and — particularly — dance, and as my friend Bart Rettberg pointed out, a great deal could have gone wrong with the show that didn’t. The dancing is furious yet fairly flawless.
When this show opened on Broadway in 1999, the people who could remember these song and dance numbers first-hand were already in their 60s. Many are now gone, a fact that has to shift the reception of the show somewhat. We’re looking at a lost world being evoked. Read More

Some Tax Bills Rejected by USPS

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July 1, 2015

The Moultrie County treasurer’s office has reported several real estate tax bills being returned to their office despite having the correct address on file.
Treasurer Marcy Thompson is encouraging all county property owners that if they have not received their tax bill by now, that he or she should contact the treasurer’s office at 728-4032.

Sullivan Man Arrested for Child Pornography

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FBI make arrest last Thursday

July 1, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A 30-year-old Sullivan man was arrested last week after a federal investigation into claims of child pornography.
Justen W. Troxell, 30, of Sullivan was arrested by federal investigators and with the assistance of Sullivan police last Thursday.
According to an affidavit filed with the United States District Court in Urbana, the investigation began on June 21 when a 23-year-old woman in Douglas County contacted the Tuscola Police Department in regard to a child pornography complaint.
The woman told police that she had received a pornographic image on her cell phone from a white male whom she had met on social media and that later appeared to be Troxell according to federal investigators. The image was presented to Tuscola police and was also observed by FBI special agent Brian Schenkelberg, who, in the affidavit, described it as depicting a female child approximately three-five years performing a sex act with an adult male. Read More

ALAH School Board Approves Amended Budget

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Influx of money helps, but still short

July 1, 2015

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board approved an amended budget for 2014-2015 at their last regular board meeting after receiving an unexpected payment of $285,000 from the state.
“We are definitely excited about the additional revenue,” said superintendent Kenny Schwengel.
The district received $121,000 for transportation, $122,900 for special education services and $42,000 from the “adequacy grant.” Although the board received the unexpected funding, the state is still short, sending the district about $225,000 due to the 89% proration (11% cut). “Had we not received that money, we would have been about a half a million short of what we should have received,” explained Schwengel. “We continue to look for opportunities to save money due to the financial outlook in Illinois. Purchases have to be reduced. Staffing will be reduced when possible due to attrition,” he added. As of May 2015, the district’s overall balance stood at $1,128,388.12. Read More

BREAKING: Sullivan Teacher Struck by Vehicle While Jogging Tuesday

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Submitted Pictured are emergency personnel meeting with a Life Flight helicopter, which transported Christina Sanders from Arthur to Carle Hospital Tuesday evening after she was stuck by a vehicle in rural Sullivan.

Submitted
Pictured are emergency personnel meeting with a Life Flight helicopter, which transported Christina Sanders from Arthur to Carle Hospital Tuesday evening after she was stuck by a vehicle in rural Sullivan.

Woman in critical condition

July 1, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
A Sullivan elementary school teacher is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening.
Shortly before 7:13 p.m. Tuesday, Christina Sanders, 30, of Sullivan was struck by an automobile while jogging in rural Sullivan according to a press release from the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department.
The release further adds that the automobile was being driven by Kali Forsyth, 18, of Sullivan. Read More

Fourth of July Carnival and Celebration 2015

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July 1, 2015

The Sullivan Area Merchants and Sullivan American Legion Post No. 68 will be sponsoring this year’s Fourth of July Celebration in Sullivan.
The activities began Tuesday, June 30 with the carnival opening. Hours for the carnival will be 5-10 p.m. through Friday July 3.
On Saturday, July 4, the celebration will begin with the parade at noon followed by turtle races at 2 p.m. and the watermelon eating contest and sack races at 3 p.m. The carnival will also open early, immediately after the parade’s conclusion.
The celebration will culminate Saturday night with the fireworks display scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m.