•December 29, 2021•

State Representative Brad Halbrook invites residents in Moultrie County to meet him or his staff after the New Year at the Sullivan American Legion to discuss state issues and other concerns. Rep. Halbrook’s traveling office hours bring his office to communities throughout the district to better assist those who want to discuss issues face to face. He will hold traveling office hours on Monday, January 10, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm at the Sullivan American Legion, 8 E. Strain St., Sullivan. “Conducting traveling office hours throughout the district is key to being able to meet one on one with more of the folks that I represent to update them on what’s happening in Springfield, and to hear their concerns, or to help with a problem they’re having,” Rep. Halbrook said. “This past year Democrats in the General Assembly passed measures that are directly impacting our families’ health care and parental rights. We head back to Springfield on January 4th, so we have a lot to talk about in the coming weeks.”
Representative Halbrook will be announcing more listening tour dates and locations in the coming weeks. He stressed that local residents are always welcome to call or stop by his Shelbyville office located at 203 N. Cedar (217-774-1306).

•December 22, 2021•

As required by Section 200/9-15 of the Property Tax Code, Moultrie County Chief County Assessment Officer, Cindy Kidwell, advises that she will be holding her Annual Meeting with the Moultrie County township and multi-township assessors on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. in the Moultrie County Board Room, 2nd Floor, Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 South Main Street, Sullivan, Illinois. The purpose of this meeting is to consult with and instruct the assessors in the uniformity of their functions. The meeting is open to the public.

•December 22, 2021•

A Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation was announced by the Governor on December 12 for the powerful storms and tornadoes that buffeted the southerly and central portions of Illinois. If there has been damage done to your property in Moultrie County please contact the Assessment Office to have your property reassessed. 217-728-4951. Lori Barringer, Chief County Assessment Officer.

•December 8, 2021•

The North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating the 66th Anniversary of tracking Santa’s yuletide journey around the globe! The NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, launching December 1, features Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, movie theater, holiday music, webstore, and more. The website is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese.
The official NORAD Tracks Santa app is also in the Apple App and Google Play stores, so parents and children can count down the days until Santa’s launch on their smart phones and tablets. Tracking opportunities are also offered through social media on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, as well as on partner platforms Bing, Amazon Alexa and OnStar.
Starting at 4 a.m. EST on December 24, website visitors can see updates as Santa makes preparations for his flight. Then, at 6 a.m. EST, trackers worldwide can call to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) where they will either speak with a live phone operator or hear a recorded update. Due to COVID concerns, the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center will have fewer phone operators, so callers who do not reach a volunteer will hear a regularly updated recording as to Santa’s current location. Anytime on December 24, Amazon Alexa users can ask for Santa’s location through the NORAD Tracks Santa skill for Amazon Alexa, and OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to locate Santa. Santa Trackers can also use the Bing search engine to learn of Santa’s location.
Tracking Santa has been a tradition since 1955 when a local newspaper advertisement informed children they could call Santa directly – only the contact number was misprinted. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty, U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, the predecessor to NORAD. Col. Shoup was quick to realize a mistake had been made, and assured the child he was Santa. Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls. Thus, a holiday tradition was born, which NORAD has carried on since it was created in 1958. Each year since, NORAD has reported Santa’s location on December 24 to millions of children and families around the world.
NORAD Tracks Santa is truly a global experience, delighting generations of families everywhere. This is due, in large part, to the efforts and services of numerous program contributors.

•December 8, 2021•

There will be a free Christmas drive thru meal on Wednesday, December 22 at 11:30 am at the Sullivan American Legion. The meal will be catered by Jim Griffin BBQ and will include ham, green beans, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes and brownie. Call the senior center by Wednesday, December 15 by 3:30 pm to reserve your meal. Limited quantities will be available.