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Remember When? 7-15-2020

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen contest pageant features 11 contestants. Vying for the crown are Miss Lovington Jenny Uphoff, Miss Lovington runner up Jennifer Elliott, Shannon Phillips of Sullivan, Ellecia Parsell of Arthur, Miss Tuscola Casey Herschberger, Miss Newman Jessica Luth, Heather Sumption of Newman, Jadie McLane of Arthur, Miss Villa Grove Janis Dunn, Sheri Wyant of Villa Grove and Tosha Clodfelter of Villa Grove.
Sullivan prepares to celebrated the silver anniversary of Lake Shelbyville. Festivities begin with the Sullivan Singers ribeye and brat cookout on the IGA parking lot. The Sullivan Band Boosters host breakfast at the Masonic Lodge with the event wrapping up with a fish fry the next day.
Marion Best was able to get out of cleaning her desk when Midge Farris, predecessor to News Progress mother hen Ruth Suddarth, dropped by. Read More

Funding Provided for Organizations Offering COVID-19 Relief

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•July 15, 2020•
Funding will support organizations providing housing, support services, food, and other resources in areas most impacted by the pandemic
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced it will make $7.1 million in funding available to organizations providing support services and resources to communities hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Interested organizations must submit an application to ICJIA by July 24th. Read More

Moultrie Co. Offers Real Estate at Tax Sale

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•July 15, 2020•
Moultrie County, as Trustee, has completed their tax deed proceedings on real estate properties that were delinquent for 2016 and prior real estate taxes.
The County, as Trustee, will now offer for sale the real estate obtained to the public.
They will offer approximately four items through a sealed bid auction sale.
All sealed bids must be in the Moultrie County Treasurer’s Office located in the Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 S. Main Street — Suite 10, Sullivan, Illinois 61951 no later than the close of business on July 31, 2020. Read More

Mobile Coronavirus Testing

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Photo by R.R. Best
Mobile Coronavirus Testing
The Douglas County Health Department offered mobile testing for corona virus last week. Those wishing to be tested drove up to the Moultrie-Douglas Fairground where they were greeted by testers. Douglas County Health Dept. Director Amanda S. Minor, MPH, LEHP, expressed her appreciation for the partnerships with the Village of Arthur, Arthur Police, Douglas County Sheriff, IT and highway, the park board, Douglas County MRC volunteers and the Millikin University nursing students. “Because of everyone
working together and sharing resources, we had a great turnout and it went very smoothly,” Minor said. “We are hopeful to have another one soon in Tuscola for the Eastern part of the county to again be accessible to all of the residents.” There were 101 tested at the mobile clinic with five positive for Douglas County and two for Moultrie County, Stacy Shonkwiler, RN, MSN Director of Nursing at the Douglas County Health Department reported.

Sullivan’s Final Clean Up Day

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•July 15, 2020•

The city of Sullivan final City Clean Up Day is Saturday, July 18 for those living south of Harrison St.
Those not living in the corporate city limits are not eligible to participate in the clean up day; therefore, any items set out will not be picked up.
Items must be on the curb by 7 a.m.
Items not accepted for City Wide Clean Up pickup include but are not limited to include tires of any kind or size; car parts or components of any kind; solvents such as paints, oils, fuels, and thinners; yard waste such as clippings, trimmings, leaves, limbs, and branches; batteries; fluorescent light tubes; concrete, bricks, and rocks; burnt material/ashes of any kind; appliances (stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, dryers, freezers, and air conditioning units).
Waste electronic equipment such as computers, monitors, and televisions; asbestos materials/hazardous waste; petroleum-contaminated soil; industrial waste; chemicals; herbicides and pesticides; radioactive materials; flammable liquids; propane tanks or equipment; motor oil; transmission oil; lubricants/hydraulic oil/oil filters/contaminated; oils (mixed with solvents &/or gasoline); antifreeze; lead paint chips; railroad ties; medical waste; animals; and liquids are also not acceptable.

Expirations Extended a Month

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•July 15, 2020•

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses/ID cards and license plate stickers have been extended an additional month – from Oct. 1, 2020, to Nov. 1, 2020.
This new Nov. 1 extension also includes those who have July, August and September expiration dates. As a result, expired documents will remain valid until Nov. 1 so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities, especially during the current heat wave.
“Extending expiration dates until November 1 means people with an expired driver’s license, ID card or license plate sticker do not need to rush into a Driver Services facility immediately,” said White. “During this current heat wave, I would suggest residents consider delaying their visit to a facility. But if you must visit a facility, please come prepared to wait outside due to social distancing, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time.”
White continues to urge the public to consider using online services when possible instead of visiting a facility due to heavy customer volume. Customers who can conduct business online may go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com to take advantage of online services – such as renewing license plate stickers – from the comfort of their own home. People who conduct online transactions will avoid waiting in line at a facility.
White noted that online transactions continue to flourish, with June 2020 seeing an increase of 110 percent in online license plate sticker renewals when compared to June 2019.
Month/Year Online License Plate Sticker Renewals
June 2020 447,103 (110% increase)
June 2019 212,396
Through July 31, Driver Services facilities are serving ONLY new drivers, customers with expired driver’s licenses/ID cards and vehicle transactions. Face masks are required. Customers who must visit a facility are asked to be patient due to heavy volume and prepared to wait outside in various types of weather. This is due to social distancing, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time.
In addition, customers who must visit a facility to renew their driver’s license or ID card are encouraged to first use the preregistration application at www.cyberdriveillinois.com, which will speed up their transaction while at the facility.
Governor JB Pritzker extended the Disaster Proclamation an additional month, which in turn extended the expirations for driver’s licenses/ID cards and vehicle registration stickers an additional month to Nov. 1.

Grant Funds to Local Food Pantries

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•July 15, 2020•

First Mid Bank & Trust was recently awarded $20,000 in grant funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by the pandemic. Today, the bank has announced that the awarded grant funds will be distributed across the bank’s footprint to local food pantries. Read More

Metzger Named to UA President’s List

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•July 15, 2020•
Ross Metzger, of Gays was named to The University of Alabama Presidents List for spring 2020.
A total of 16,470 students enrolled during the 2020 spring term at UA were named to the Dean’s List with an academic record of 3.5 or above or the President’s List with an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s). Read More

Resolution Supporting First Responders, County Farm Gets Board Action

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•July 15, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County farm is up for lease with bid packets available from July 15 through August 5 in the county clerk’s office.
Moultrie County board members approved continuing the two-year lease of the 217.58-acre county farm during the regular Thursday, July 9 meeting of the county board in courtroom A to accommodate social distancing.
In order to submit a cash rent proposal, the bidder must own 40 acres or live in Moultrie County.
Provisions to provide 2/3 ton of lime and maintain soil quality are the renter’s obligation.
An additional $5.40 fee from Ag Answers ensures soil fertility is maintained through tissue sample testing.
Bid opening is 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Clint Robinson entered the two-year lease in 2018 with a bid of $82,500 ($379.17A). The term expires October 31, 2020.
In 2018 four bidders showed interest in the county farm: Zeb Hughes bid $70,713.50 ($325A); Shuman Brothers bid $67,658.68 ($310.96A); Robinson, $82,500 and prior renter Mark Kuhns bid $75,520.26 ($347A). Read More