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Easter Drive Thru

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Photo by R.R. Best
Easter Drive Thru
The Sullivan Fire Protection District protected young Easter Egg hunters this year by keeping a safe distance with the Easter Egg Drive-Thru. Above Volunteer Jason Fleming joined droves of first responders handing out Easter bags to waiting hunters. Some 200 drove up to the north parking lot at Wyman Park in Sullivan Sunday at 3:00 p.m. SFPD volunteers greeted the families with bags of Easter eggs for each child up to age 11. The bags were filled with a random selection of eggs plus select Easter bags contained bicycle certificates, which may be claimed by calling the Sullivan Fire Protection District.

Easter Blessings

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Easter Blessings
The Sullivan IGA Meat Dept. had to pick up their game this year because one individual donated 150 hams to the CEFS Moultrie County Food Pantry just before Easter. Dept. manager Barry Golden explained this person has donated 100 hams in the past, but considering the stress the COVID-19 crisis has put on families the donor stepped up his contribution to 150 hams this year. “I had quite a time rounding up that many hams,” Golden said, explaining the generosity is amazing. Delivering the hams to the Moultrie County Food Pantry just in time for distribution before Easter dinner last week were: Mason Harner, Seth Cobb, Barry Golden and, in front Blake Eller.

Local Animal Shelters Empty as Pet Adoptions Rise during Pandemic

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•April 15, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

People who are confined or house-bound are longing for some kind of companionship and ways to calm frayed nerves during this virus epidemic.
What better way than with a fluffy kitten to cuddle or a rowdy puppy who will play fetch and take walks with you?
The Missouri Humane Society, short on dogs and cats, is offering baby goats for an adoption fee of $50.
In Moultrie County the Moultrie County PAWS was ordered to close by 5:00 pm this past Saturday. Founder and Director, Betsy Miller, said, “We were so lucky to find homes or foster homes for all our animals. We are now closed until further notice and not taking in any animals.” Read More

Lauper Inducted

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•April 15, 2020•
Julie Lauper of Dalton City was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.
Lauper was initiated at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lauper is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Read More

Oh Brother: Changing Times Lead to a Time Changing Experience

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•April 15, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

These times keep changing and in order to hang on to my last bit of sanity I headed into the woods recently.
For a while I was able to escape COVID-19 reports while make a wonderful discovery... I like morel mushrooms.
I had only heard stories of the search for the famed fungal delight of the forest.
The morel mushroom is a funny cone shaped fungi, that prompts millions and millions of people to march the soft soils beneath favored trees every spring.
Signaled in southern Illinois by May apple sightings in the forest beds, my little brother Jeff turned the great morel mystery into reality for my very first time. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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This home is located on the corner of Middle St. & Washington St. in Lovington. It was well known for it’s large water fountain ordered from France and was named Nancy. It was built by real estate developer Frank Rittenhouse in 1907 for his family home. 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.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

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•April 15, 2020•
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Illinois, and to increase awareness the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services today released a new public service announcement highlighting simple things everyone can do to help keep children safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Letter to the Editor: 4-15-2020

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Courtyard Estates Staff Goes Above and Beyond During Crisis

Editors Note: This letter was sent by Betty Meeks to Courtyard CEO Mark Petersen and reflects the compassion of the staff during the coronavirus isolation.

Dear Mr. Petersen and staff,

I and all the residents that live here at Courtyard Estates in Sullivan, IL are writing this letter to let you know what a great job that your staff here is doing. This is about your Director all the way down to your housekeeper. They have all went above and beyond doing their jobs that you hired them for.
We have found ourselves in a very difficult situation within our home, our country, our world. I have been worried and confused about all that has been going on around here. I would like to give you just a few small examples of what has been happening in our little world.
It started with Erica and her staff had a meeting with all of the residents to try to explain what was happening and how they were trying to keep us safe and well. She was very calm and made us feel as comfortable as possible. Afterwards she or her staff tried to answer our questions as far as they knew. She has given us more information either by word or in bulletin form (inserted) whenever they have gotten news. Read More

Culverts Replaced

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Culverts Replaced
Keeping the water off the road and running in the ditches is a principal purpose of the Sullivan Township Road District culvert replacement project. Last week Township Road Commissioner Richard Rutledge and backhoe operator Matt Elder installed three culverts during a few hours one morning on Eden Street west of Sullivan. Rutledge explained the polycoated galvanized culvert replacements are more chemically resistant extending their life beyond the original 50 year expectancy. Sullivan Township replaces 12 to 15 culverts a year in a effort to keep the water off the roads and in the ditches. During the novel coronavirus crisis Rutledge explained social distancing was not a problem for the Sullivan township crew: “There are 96 miles of township roads keeping us a safe social distance from everyone else.”

IAHC Sheep to Clothing Event Postponed

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File photo
IAHC Sheep to Clothing Event Postponed
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center has decided the COVID 19 pandemic poses too great a threat to the health and well being of our volunteers, and our visitors to hold our Sheep to Quilts to Clothing event planned for June 6. We had hoped to again have our unique pancakes, liverwurst, and local maple syrup, demonstrations of many old time farm crafts, and children’s activities. We will get through this together, and when it is safe, we will plan an even better event!
IAHC is located just off Rt. 57, nine miles west of Arcola through Chesterville on Rt 133. FaceBook: Illinois Amish Heritage Center and on the web at www.illinoisamish.org for continued updates.