•October 7, 2015•
The Marching Redskins competed Saturday, October 3 at the Eastern Illinois University Panther Marching Band Festival, one of the largest in the state.
Despite a large competitive class of nine bands, the Marching Redskins took second place overall.
They were recognized with awards for Best Color Guard, Drum Major, and General Effect.
Look for the Marching Redskins this week at many of the homecoming festivities.
•October 1, 2015•
Sullivan - Eastern Illinois Foodbank will distribute a truckload of food to hungry area families. The distribution will be held at Sullivan VFW (1146 State Hwy 32, Sullivan) on October 3, 2015 from 9:00 AM to noon. All Moultrie County residents who meet income eligibility criteria are welcome (see below). Those attending are asked to bring bags or boxes to transport food. A representative from Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be present to assist families and individuals interested in applying for SNAP benefits.
The distribution is part of the Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to areas of chronic or extreme need. Through the program, local companies and organizations are invited to contribute toward a one-day distribution of food and optionally participate in the distribution process. The cost to partner with the Foodbank on a Foodmobile distribution is $3,000.
The Foodmobile distribution comes at a critical moment for area residents. Data released by Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks, shows that a staggering 15% of people in eastern Illinois are considered food insecure, which means they sometimes lack adequate access to food. More shockingly, over 23% of children are food insecure. (http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspx)
All eligible residents of Moultrie County needing food are welcome to attend the Foodmobile distribution. To be eligible, a household must have an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, or approximately $3,739 per month for a family of four. Full eligibility criteria are listed below. Other area Foodmobile distributions can be found by visiting the Foodbank’s website at www.eifoodbank.org and clicking “find help.”
Maximum monthly income per eligible household:
Eastern Illinois Foodbank works to alleviate hunger in eastern Illinois through cooperation with a network of food pantries, agencies and other programs like the Foodmobile Program. The Foodbank distributes donated and discounted food throughout a 14-county service area in cooperation with 220 member agencies and programs. Through these agencies, the Foodbank provides food to more than 100,000 different men, women and children each year. The Eastern Illinois Foodbank is a member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), Feeding Illinois, the United Way of Coles County, and the United Way of Champaign County.
•September 30, 2015•
The Jonathan Creek Christian Church is sponsoring a cookout and old fashioned sing along noon-2 p.m. Sunday, October 4.
Located at 1425 Jonathan Creek Road, Sullivan, the menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, vegetables and dip, iced tea, lemonade, desserts and ice cream.
Donations will go for “Weekend Snak Paks” given to children at the Lovington Library and for the Jonathan Creek Food Pantry. Everyone is welcomed to attend.
•September 30, 2015•
Shelbyville Fish & Wildlife Management Area is holding trapping drawings Saturday, Oct. 3 for 20 trapping areas on the Kaskaskia and West Okaw areas.
Permits are for the 2015-16 trapping Season. Registration is noon to 1 p.m. at Shelbyville Fish and Wildlife Management Office, 562 State Highway 121, Bethany (six miles west of Sullivan).
Drawings are at 1 p.m. A current 2015 trapping license or one obtained that day is required in order to participate in the drawings.
Those wishing to participate must be present at drawing time. For more information call Shelbyville Fish and Wildlife office at (217) 665-3112 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•September 30, 2015•
The Marching Redskins competed at Mt. Zion High School Saturday, September 26 and received second place in Class A. The color guard was recognized as best in their class. The Marching Redskins will compete again next Saturday at Eastern Illinois University.
•September 30, 2015•
Former State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) announced his candidacy Thursday for State Representative in the 102nd District. “My service in the Illinois House of Representatives was the highlight of my public service. I’m looking forward to serving again and helping to turn Illinois around.”
Halbrook served as State Representative from 2012 until 2015.
•September 23, 2015•
A Sullivan man held on federal charges was pronounced dead by coroner Lynn Reed at the Moultrie County Jail at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Reed said the death is under investigation.
Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims said the death while in custody was believed to be self inflicted. Illinois State Police Criminal Investigators and Crime Scene investigators are conducting a full investigation of the scene.
In July Justen W. Troxell, 30, of Sullivan was charged by federal investigators with child pornography following a complaint from a 23 year old Douglas County woman who reported receiving a photo from Troxell of a three year old female and adult male performing a sex act.
Contact was made through social media initially with other pornographic images sent to the woman over time.
In June, Troxell waived his right to a preliminary hearing. At that time U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric Long ordered him detained in Moultrie County Jail pending trial.
He was represented by federal public defender Peter Henderson.
•September 23, 2015•
Members of Sullivan Life Chain will gather at the corner of Harrison and Jackson streets in Sullivan for a prayer vigil 2-3 p.m. Sunday Oct. 4.
As part of “National Life Chain Sunday” local committee members will have signs for participants to hold while standing along these streets as they pray for abortion to end. Women who are considering having an abortion will be included in the prayer. This is a peaceful prayer vigil while taking a stand against abortion.
Questions may be directed to Life Chain committee members at 232-8881 or 433-7767. Those having a large group should notify the committee soon in order to have ample signs.The event will be held rain or shine. Those unable to stand may bring lawn chairs.
•September 23, 2015•
Sullivan Police Department has issued an IRS scam warning to residents.
Chief John Love explained some residents have been called by someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). “They’re telling people they owe the IRS money and should send a cashier’s check or money order to keep local police from being sent to arrest them.” Love explained.
“It just isn’t true, that’s not how we operate,” he said, noting anyone receiving one of these calls should call local police to report the scam.
•September 16, 2015•
Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois University are hosting two joint alumni events this month and alumni who graduated both institutions are welcome to attend.
A joint reception will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Mattoon Golf and Country Club, 6700 N. Country Club Rd., Mattoon, from 5-7 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet administrators and trustees from both institutions. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Lake Land College President Josh Bullock and EIU President David Glassman will speak at approximately 6 p.m. regarding the current state and the partnership of both institutions.
On Friday, Sept. 25, join fellow alumni, friends and family for the Coles County Clash Tailgate from 5-7 p.m. at O’Brien Field in Charleston. Tickets for the tailgate cost $10 each and a portion of those proceeds will go toward a scholarship fund for Lake Land College students transferring to EIU. Please RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 23.