•October 20, 2021•
Every city council or school board has issues large and small that impact the lives of the people it serves.
Should residents be allowed to have chickens within city limits?
Should the city-owned hospital be sold?
What programs should the school district cut to have a balanced budget?
How should students be allowed to dress in school?
Even matters that may seem trivial are important to someone. It is the duty of public officials on public bodies to give every matter serious consideration. And it is the duty of citizens to whom those matters are important to provide input. Read More
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Obituaries 10-20-2021: Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson
Michael Leslie Johnson, loving husband, father of two children and devoted grandfather, passed away at age 71 on Tuesday, October 12. Read More
Obituaries 10-20-2021: Betty Selby
Betty Selby
Betty J. Selby, 64, of Sullivan, passed away at 11:22 p.m., Saturday September 25, 2021, in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Read More
Trunks for Treats
•October 20, 2021•
Smyser Christian Church is having Trunks for Treats on Saturday, October 30 from 5-8 pm at the church. There will be decorated trunks, candy, an obstacle course, bounce house, horse rides and food. The event is free. The church is located at 1521 Whitley Point Rd in Gays.
Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured above is third grade Lowe School students 1978-1979. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Little Theatre Fall Season
Photo by R.R. Best
Daniel Durston as Elvis and Monica Ricketts as Marilyn Monroe in “The King and Marilyn.”
•October 20, 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer
The Little Theatre opened the summer with three wildly successful outdoor concerts which were enthusiastically received by crowds longing for a chance to mingle and socialize after nearly two years of quarantine. The performers were grateful for the opportunity to once again share their wonderful talents with a live audience.
The stunning “The King and Marilyn” just closed October 17 with Daniel Durston in the role of Elvis and Monica Ricketts as Marilyn Monroe. The musical is based on the fantasy of what might have been if Elvis and Marilyn had developed a relationship after their only meeting on a Hollywood movie lot. Elvis fans were treated to all of his biggest hits.
“The King and Marilyn” will forever be tied to Sullivan because Durston conceived and wrote the musical while he was here performing as Elvis in “Million Dollar Quartet”. Who says Sullivan isn’t an inspiring town? Read More
County Board Adopts Recommendations of Grievance Investigation Committee
•October 20, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Board adopted three recommendations of the Grievance Investigation Committee findings. The first is the board’s need to establish a type of human resources department to deal with issues existing in the courthouse and with county board members. Second is a standardized grievance form developed and utilized for non-union county employees with all employees trained on completion and distribution of such forms and third, allowing the county assessment office to form its own GIS work from employees within that department.
The board approved transferring $30,000 from Moultrie County reserves to the Moultrie County Health Dept. as per ongoing agreement. At the time the new health department building was constructed, there was an excess of TIF funds for the amount needed so the county used that to pay off the remaining balance on the jail. The county agreed to repay those funds to the health department over a period of years. Read More
Coat Drive and Giveaway
•October 20, 2021•
The No Kids Left in the Cold Coat Giveaway in honor of Margie Pondo is now accepting donations of new and clean used coats as well as hats and gloves. The coat giveaway was started 7 year ago and Margie Pondo joined about three years ago. Last May, Margie passed away. Last year they gave away 300 new coats and they anticipate 400-500 coats to be given out this year. They carry up to size 20 coats for children. They are also accepting individual donations so that they can shop for coats. The coat giveaway will be on Thursday, October 28 from 1 pm to 8 pm at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. They are also looking for volunteers to help the day of the event. To donate or for more information contact Jeri Davis at 217-859-2101.
SCEF Receives Gift from Estate
•October 20, 2021•
The Sullivan Community Education Foundation provides grants for school and community needs each year. One of the ways to contribute to SCEF is through estate planning.
The SCEF wishes to acknowledge the generous gift of $86,000, from the estate of Lloyd and Helen Maurer. The Maurers’ were former Sullivan residents. Mr. Maurer was a farmer for over 40 years and a gifted golfer. Mrs. Maurer taught elementary grades at Lowe School for 25 years and retired in 1982. They were the parents of sons, Gary and Joel. After retiring, they moved to Florida.
We, as board members of the SCEF, were so appreciative of this unexpected gift! Generous donations like this one allow the foundation to continue its mission to promote and improve lifelong learning opportunities in our community and schools. For more information about the SCEF visit: http://www.SCEF.info.
Talking Out of Both Sides of Your Mouth and Other Inconsistencies
•October 20, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Today please enjoy a mailbag column from readers who have observed some pretty weird linguistic anomalies in recent weeks.
But first, I have a question for White Sox manager Tony La Russa, who was hot with a capital H after the Pale Hose were unceremoniously shown the door in Game 4 of the ALDS.
“The stuff there in the eighth inning leaves just a bitter taste in your mouth and in my gut,” he told reporters after the game. And seconds later: “You don’t want to come back because you got a contract. I would just leave if they don’t want you back.”
Who are you talking about, Tony? You, us, someone else?
What do you mean by “in my mouth and your gut”?
And “I would leave ... if they don’t want you back.”
Is this some sort of shared declaration of misery? Read More