Benedictine University at Springfield recently announced its Dean’s Recognized List, which includes part-time students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average or above. Making the list included Kari Marie Burnett of Lovington and Amanda J. Dickens-Montgomery of Sullivan.
July 1, 2015
The Moultrie County treasurer’s office has reported several real estate tax bills being returned to their office despite having the correct address on file.
Treasurer Marcy Thompson is encouraging all county property owners that if they have not received their tax bill by now, that he or she should contact the treasurer’s office at 728-4032.
The Sullivan Area Merchants and Sullivan American Legion Post No. 68 will be sponsoring this year’s Fourth of July Celebration in Sullivan.
The activities began Tuesday, June 30 with the carnival opening. Hours for the carnival will be 5-10 p.m. through Friday July 3.
On Saturday, July 4, the celebration will begin with the parade at noon followed by turtle races at 2 p.m. and the watermelon eating contest and sack races at 3 p.m. The carnival will also open early, immediately after the parade’s conclusion.
The celebration will culminate Saturday night with the fireworks display scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m.
June 24, 2015
Contestants for the Strasburg Lion’s Club Homecoming Talent Show are being sought within a 50 mile radius of Strasburg. The event is scheduled for Friday, July 10, at the Strasburg park and will begin at 7 p.m. There will be two age groups: 14 and older and 13 and younger. Prize money will be awarded for first, second, and third places for each age group.
There is no entry fee. Those interested in performing should contact Marlene Wirth at 217-728-4373 by July 8.
The Scovill Petting Zoo is headed to Findlay. This Saturday, June 27 at the Findlay Mini Park, Scovill's animals will be there and ready to meet the public from 9-11 a.m. The public is not only encouraged to visit the petting zoo, but also to check out the Findlay Farmers' Market located right across from the Findlay Mini Park.
For more information, click here.
Friday, June 19•UPDATE at 1:45 p.m.
According to Sullivan Street Department Superintendent Doug Daily, both Roane and Wagoner streets in Sullivan are closed. The section of Roane affected is between Market and Lincoln streets. Daily clarified that Wagoner is closed between Worth and Washington. His department will be doing another road check in approximately an hour.
Lovington and Bethany are still without reports of any road closures.
County highway engineer Jeffrey Birch said that the only county highway that was closed earlier–county highway 3, or also known as CR1500E–was expected to have re-opened early this afternoon. He did cite that a tree had fallen into the road, but that it was removed. The road, in particular a mile south of Bruce-Findlay road, was closed earlier this morning after as much as eight inches of water had been measured in one section in particular.
Birch added that many township roads do remain closed. He did explain that one of those roads, CR1350E, which is located in Whitley township, section 5, has been partially washed away and that a nearby bridge is under water. That section of road has been barricaded off.
"The townships have really been on top of things," said Birch.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Moultrie county at 11:42 a.m. due to the closure of several roads in the county. The flood warning is expected to last until 5:45 p.m. Friday. It is expected that another half inch to two inches of rain is to fall this afternoon. The NOAA urges motorists to not drive vehicles into areas where water covers the roadway. Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep a vehicle off the road.
Birch added that he has observed many areas of standing water to be rapidly receding since this morning.
"If we receive no more rain, most everything should be passable by tomorrow. with a few exceptions," he explained.
Friday, June 19• 10:20 a.m.
As of 9 a.m. Friday morning, IL Route 121 was experiencing water on the pavement just west of Coles Station and approximately 1 mile east of Allenville, but was still passable. Flooding was also occurring near the Coles-Moultrie county line on IL Route 121 near Coles Station. Drivers should use caution in this area.
According to the Sullivan Streets Department as of 10:05 a.m. Roane street between Market and Lincoln has been closed, as has Wagoner, between Worth and Washington.
According to county highway engineer Jeffrey Birch, as of 9:55 a.m., only County Highway 3 is closed; in particular, also known as CR1500E, the road is closed for one mile south of the Bruce Findlay road.
Officials from both Bethany and Lovington village hall report no road closures within village limits as of 10:20 a.m.
Based on observations, other roads and streets within the county are experiencing heavy flooding. Motorists should exercise caution in these condition and heed the advice of the National Weather Service, which strongly urges motorists who encounter a road with standing water to turn around as most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
The NOAA issued a flash flood warning for Moultrie County at 5:26 a.m. Friday morning after weather spotters reported heavy rains falling in the area, including 4.5 inches near Allenville. The warning is set to expire at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
The News•Progress will provide road closure updates throughout the day.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan today alerted Illinois residents to a phone scam in which callers pose as representatives of the Attorney General’s office in an attempt to con people into sending money on supposed unpaid fines.
Madigan’s office received several complaints last week from people who have been contacted by scammers pretending to be officials representing the Illinois Attorney General with bogus claims that the call recipients have warrants out for their arrest. Call recipients, some of whom received multiple calls, are told they will be arrested if they do not pay the fines within 30 minutes.
The phone scams “spoof” caller ID devices into displaying what appear to be legitimate calls from the (773) area code in the Chicago area. Scam artists on the other end of the line claim they are representatives of the Illinois Attorney General collecting on a phony debt and instruct their targets to contact the caller within 30 minutes to make payment arrangements in order to avoid arrest by local authorities.
“Someone calling you to demand money upfront is the hallmark of a phone scam, especially if the caller claims to represent a legitimate government agency. My office will never contact you seeking money or threatening your arrest,” Madigan said. “If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately.”
Madigan urged Illinois residents to report the scam to her Consumer Fraud Bureau at 1-800-386-5438 or by visiting her website.
June 17, 2015
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will hold their monthly general meeting Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m. in the Heritage Center in Sullivan. The speaker for the evening will be Andy Brantner, Illinois NRCS District Conservationist for Douglas and Moultrie counties. Brantner will use a Power Point presentation to explain how the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the primary federal agency that works with private landowners to help them conserve, maintain, and improve their natural resources. A social hour will follow the program with refreshments being served.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Pageants (ages 4-6) to be held in July should contact Sandy Hoke, pageant director at 493-3583 by Friday, June 19.
All applications may be found at moultriedouglascountyfair.com.
The Moultrie County Relay for Life will be held this coming Saturday at Wyman Park in Sullivan.
The event will run from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and kickoff with the survivors lap.
More information may be found by clicking here.