25 Years Ago This Week
A roadblock conducted by Illinois State Police and the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. at the Bruce-Findlay Road and Rt. 32 yielded 53 tickets and 22 warnings. Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
A roadblock conducted by Illinois State Police and the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. at the Bruce-Findlay Road and Rt. 32 yielded 53 tickets and 22 warnings. Read More
•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A blood drive in honor of River Helmuth will be held on Saturday, September 10 from 8 am to 2 pm at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. River is the daughter of Tony and Stephanie Helmuth of Sullivan. River was born in December 2015 and shortly after diagnosed with Down Syndrome and a heart condition that would require surgery. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Law enforcement officers from Lovington, Sullivan and the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office participated in scenario based trained behind Mason Point last week during a three day training designed to meet training requirements set forth in the SAFT-T act implement in July of this year.
•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
For three days last week law enforcement officers from police departments throughout Moultrie County went through training to meet the training requirements set forth in the SAFE-T act implemented in July. The act requires 32 hours of scenario based training in a three-year period. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Ground was broken for the newest Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity home in Lovington on Sunday, August 28. Pictured are Moultrie County Habitat Board of Directors President Gary Smith, Pastor Rodney Houser, Senior Pastor at Lovington First Church of God; new homeowner Jennifer Franklin and her children Abbie and Maddox.
•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity broke ground for their newest home Sunday in Lovington. Jennifer Franklin and her children Abbie and Maddox were selected for the home.
The groundbreaking ceremony began with a greeting from Gary Smith, president of the Moultrie County Habitat Board of Directors, followed by an invocation by Pastor Rodney Houser, senior pastor at Lovington First Church of God. The family, Habitat Board members and some of the Care-a-vanner builders in attendance were introduced. Read More
•August 31, 2022•
On Tuesday, September 13 at 6 pm at the Effingham Public Library, Shannon Nosbisch of Effingham Area Alzheimer’s Awareness will talk about memory loss. Information to be shared includes the difference between normal aging, confusion caused by treatable medical conditions and memory loss/cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Other topics that will be discussed include how to seek a diagnosis, what to expect at your visit and why it is important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible and what researchers and doctors say is the best way to reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. To register for this free in person presentation register at effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464.
•August 31, 2022•
Branden Featherling of Sullivan recently graduated from the South Plains College Law Enforcement Academy. He was the class valedictorian and the recipient of the Top Show Marksmanship Award.
•August 31, 2022•
The Sullivan Street Machine Association will hold Cruise Night on the Square in Sullivan on Saturday, September 3 starting at 3 pm. All makes, models and years welcome. There will be live music, free popcorn provided by Boy Scout Troop 39 and dash plaques for the first 100 registered. There will also be a power wheels demo derby for ages 3 to 9 starting at 6 pm. For more information contact 217-460-0826 or 217-273-8487.
•August 31, 2022•
Due to the Labor Day holiday our office will be closed on Monday, September 5. There will be early deadlines for our publications. Early deadlines for the Fish Wrap will be Noon on Thursday, September 1. Early deadlines for the News Progress will be Noon on Friday, September 2.
Mary Goetz
Mary Katherine Goetz, 95, of Bethany, passed away 4:56 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at Sullivan Health Care and Rehabilitation.
Graveside services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany for future growth. McMullin-Young Funeral Homes is in care of the arrangements.
Mary was born on September 16, 1926, in Gays; the daughter of Dormethus E. and Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Fuller. She married George E. Goetz on June 19, 1949, in Gays; he preceded her in death on May 31, 2007. Mary was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany. She owned the Village Shop in Bethany and was the Treasurer for the Habitat for Humanity.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Goetz Morgan of Hendersonville, TN; grandchildren, David, Joshua and Chris Morgan all of Hendersonville, TN.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 brothers and sisters.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
•August 24, 2022•
Shopping is foremost on the minds of many people come the holiday season. When considering loved ones and acquaintances while making holiday shopping lists, tangible gifts, such as clothing or items for the home, may be the first things that come to mind. However, experiential gifts also merit consideration. Experiential gifts are those that focus on experiences rather than items. These can include anything from a horseback riding adventure to a spa day to concert tickets to getting behind the wheel of a race car. Experiential gifts can be tailored to people’s interests. A 2014 study by researchers at San Francisco State University showed people tend to realize greater well-being from life experiences and consider them to be a better way to spend their money. Overall satisfaction tends to be greater with gifted experiences than with material things. Furthermore, the Harris Group found that 72 percent of millennials actually want to spend more money on experiences rather than things. GG229230