•January 29, 2020•

Sullivan American Legion Post 68 announced applications are available for the 2020 Irrevocable Scholarship program.
The one $1000, four year annually renewable scholarship application deadline is March 30, 2020.
Graduating high school seniors in Moultrie County who are descendants of members in good standing of the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 may request a copy of the application packet from high school counselors at Sullivan High School and Okaw Valley High School in Bethany.
Packets are also available by contacting Sullivan American Legion Post 68 at 217/728-4612 or Mike Keown, secretary Irrevocable Scholarship Trust, at 217/855-1949.

•January 29, 2020•

The Moultrie County Board report in the January 22 News Progress contained some errors in the discussion of quadrennial year assessments.
The part of the story in error begins when Christa Helmuth pointed out Assessed values increased 157% and 240% in her neighborhood. (I incorrectly referred to real estate taxes).
Those percentages are figured by taking the 2019 assessed value subtracting the 2018 value and dividing the 2018 value by the difference.
Vanguard did not help in converting the property record cards. “I saved the Townships and the County $500,000 by having the assessment office staff do the conversion. Vanguard is the company name of the CAMA program that the county is using and has been using for commercial since 2011.” Supervisor Barringer said.
To complete a land study the state requires 25 good sales in a 3 year period. There was not 25 good sales in a three year period.
Therefore, the Supervisor of Assessments looks at coefficient of dispersion (land to building ratio) based on good sales with buildings on them that occurred in the three year period (2016, 2017 & 2018).
“This is how I determined the land value for Moultrie County in tax year 2019,” Supervisor of Assessments Lori Barringer explained.
Farmland has been assessed every year. It has been 12 years (2007) since the last residential land study was completed for Moultrie County. This means residential land value has not changed since 2007 in Moultrie County.
Barringer noted once through the transition, assessed values should have minimal increases or decreases because with a digital system for keeping records this is a more efficient way to look at the market every 4 years as per property tax code.
Moultrie County has gone to DIGITAL property record cards!
January 20, 2020 and thereafter, it will cost $1.00 to email a property record card.
A paper copy of a property record card will cost $0.25 per page.
Property record cards will be available on our website January 20, 2020, with a subscription fee of $10.00 per month or $120.00 per year. Contact our office to learn more on subscribing.

•January 22, 2020•

SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, February 20 at the Senior Center, Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212.
SBL Lincolnland Home Care, Lincolnland Hospice and Lincolnland Home Medical will sponsor bingo from 9 – 10 a.m. following the blood pressure clinic.

•January 22, 2020•

A benefit for the family of the late Rusty Richardson begins at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 at Sullivan VFW Post 6410.
Rusty worked at Hydro Gear lived in Bethany and left wife Quinn and five children to go on without him. All proceeds go to assist the family.
Dinner catered by Niemerg’s Steakhouse is served from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and includes ham and fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, homemade noodles, cole slaw, rolls, butter and dessert. Carry out is available. Meal tickets should be purchased by the Feb. 8 deadline at the VFW cafe or by calling Libbi Feruson at 217/855-0833.
You do not have to participate in the meal to attend the benefit.
There is a gun raffle, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, regular auction plus a night of fun and music by DJ Ed Ballinger.

•January 15, 2020•

The Senior Citizen Potluck is Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at the Senior Citizens Center in Sullivan.
Senior citizens are encouraged to bring a dish to share at the 11:30 a.m. dinner. Ham for the potluck has been furnished.