Photo by Crystal Reed
Dressing Festive
County Assessment office employees were dressed in festive outfits on Friday, December 17. From left to right: Sarina Van Meter, Alicia Morgason, Jessica Bathe and Lori Barringer.
Dressing Festive
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Carolers at Marathon Gas Station
Photo by Crystal Reed
Carolers at Marathon Gas Station
On Friday, December 17 employees from Moultrie County Baby Talk decided to spread some Christmas cheer by caroling inside the Marathon gas station in Sullivan.
Vander Burgh Appointed to Moultrie County Board
•December 22, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
John Vander Burgh was appointed to the Moultrie County Board during their monthly meeting Thursday, December 9. He fills the vacancy left by Dave McCabe who resigned in November. Vander Burgh and his wife Heidi live in Bethany and their three children have attended Okaw Valley schools. He has a farm, a forensic accounting firm called 20/20 Forensic Accounting and Vander Burgh Financial Services.
Vander Burgh is an MBA, a CPA and a certified fraud examiner. He has worked in public accounting firms, national corporations and banking. In addition to now being a Moultrie County board member he is also the treasurer of the Okaw Valley School Board.
“I feel a civic responsibility to use my God-given abilities to help,” Vander Burgh said. He continued to say that he doesn’t have any preconceived notions about the board position; he just wants to help in a leadership capacity. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, family activities and being involved in church.
Santa’s Helpers Make a Merry Christmas for Head Start Students
Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Volunteers for Santa’s Helpers helped wrap presents for Head Start students. L-R Mike Keown, Ruth Keown, Becky Bragg, Jeri Davis, Matthew Todd, Kathy Camp.
•December 22, 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer
On a recent chilly December evening six Santa’s Helpers met at the American Legion Hall to wrap presents for Sullivan’s 24 Head Start students and their teachers.
Jeri Davis founded Santa’s Helpers four years ago when a friend in Head Start told her there was no Christmas party for the children. “The children are so very appreciative of everything they receive, and they just love the party,” Davis said. She continued, “It is a full year of fundraising and hard work, but watching Santa come in and seeing the children joyfully opening their presents makes it all so worthwhile.” Read More
Karen Golden Retiring from Sullivan IGA
Photo furnished
Karen Golden (center) will be retiring from the Sullivan IGA on December 31. Jake Golden (left) will be the new assistant manager at the store. Also pictured is Manager Pat Stinson (right).
•December 22, 2021•
Karen Golden will retire from Sullivan IGA December 31. She began at IGA in March of 1979 when Ellsworth Lehman and Burl Jividen owned the store. She started out as a cashier, ordered health and beauty items and stocked shelves. She was the office manager for 20+ years before being promoted to administrative assistant in 2003. In 2013 she became assistant manager which is the position she currently holds.
Golden’s 42 years of experience, knowledge of the grocery business, and personal customer service have been invaluable over the years and will be missed by the store. She is looking forward to spending time with Barry Golden, her husband, who recently retired from the store, as well as spending time with her 11 grandchildren. Read More
Annual Meeting with Township Assessors
•December 22, 2021•
As required by Section 200/9-15 of the Property Tax Code, Moultrie County Chief County Assessment Officer, Cindy Kidwell, advises that she will be holding her Annual Meeting with the Moultrie County township and multi-township assessors on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. in the Moultrie County Board Room, 2nd Floor, Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 South Main Street, Sullivan, Illinois. The purpose of this meeting is to consult with and instruct the assessors in the uniformity of their functions. The meeting is open to the public.
Recent Obituaries: Loueva Spires
Loueva Spires
Loueva Spires, 81, of Sullivan, formerly of Litchfield, passed away at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday December 21, 2021 in Mason Point, Sullivan.
Private family graveside services will be Thursday December 24, 2021 in the Rosamond Grove Cemetery in Rosamond, Illinois with Pastor Roy Eller officiating, assisted by Pastor Don Lusk. Memorials are suggested to the Baptist Children’s Home in Carmi, Illinois. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Loueva was born December 31, 1939 in Coffeen, the daughter of Lawrence E. and Hazel D. McClain Williams. She had worked as a medical billing clerk for various area doctors. She was a member of the Sullivan Southern Baptist Church. Loueva married Kenneth Spires on July 5, 1958 in Oconee, and he preceded her in death on July 1, 2014.
Surviving are her sons William (Linda) Spires of Springfield, David (Daina) Spires of Bartelsville, Oklahoma and Lonnie (Jennifer) Spires of Bollingbrook; daughter Lisa (Eric) Shuman of Sullivan; brother Lorrie George Williams of Crossville, Tennessee; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Lawrence “Lannie” Williams and a grandson Tyler Lawrence Spires.
Dr. Mauck Retirement Open House
•December 22, 2021•
Dr. Mauck at Kaskaskia Valley Animal Hospital in Sullivan is retiring after 36 years. His retirement will be celebrated with an open house at the clinic on Thursday, December 30 from 3 to 6 pm.
Disaster Proclamation
•December 22, 2021•
A Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation was announced by the Governor on December 12 for the powerful storms and tornadoes that buffeted the southerly and central portions of Illinois. If there has been damage done to your property in Moultrie County please contact the Assessment Office to have your property reassessed. 217-728-4951. Lori Barringer, Chief County Assessment Officer.
Recent Obituaries: Robert Floyd Abbott
Robert Floyd Abbott
Robert Floyd Abbott, 77, of Sullivan, passed away 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at his home in Sullivan.
Memorial services will be held 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, with Military Rites following the memorial service by the Sullivan American Legion Post #68. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Wednesday evening at the funeral home in Sullivan. Face masks are suggested and please practice social distancing for the service. Burial will be at a later date in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.
Robert was born on March 25, 1944, in Mattoon; the son of L. G. and Lulu (Gullion) Abbott. Robert attended Sullivan Schools. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Robert married Mary Elizabeth Musson on December 20, 2003, in Mattoon; she survives. He was a member of the Grant Street Church of Christ in Sullivan. Robert worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as an inspector and he was a ASC Certified Mechanic. He loved NASCAR, was an avid Jeff Gordon fan and had a huge Jeff Gordon memorabilia collection. Robert built his own Drag Car and loved drag racing, he also loved country music and came from a musical family and he played the bass guitar.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of Sullivan; son, Robert Glen Abbott of Michigan; daughter, Melinda Dawn Abbott of Mattoon; step-daughter, Lila Drennan of Tennessee; siblings, Merlyn Abbott of Mattoon, Eva Closson of Flora and Glenda Webster of Mattoon. He is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, aunts and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother, Albert Lloyd Abbott; brothers, Roger, Bill and Clark; step-daughter, Shari Caine.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com