•March 16, 2016•

Nearly 32,000 residents are owed an estimated $2.7 million after they purchased a product or service from telecom giant Sprint but did not receive the rebate that incentivized the sale, treasurer Michael Frerichs charged in a lawsuit announced today.

Frerichs pursued the lawsuit after the telecommunications giant and its clearinghouse partner, Young America Corp. of Minnesota, kept the rebate money. The treasurer’s office has the ability to sue because rebates are considered unclaimed property if not paid within five years and must be surrendered to the state treasury. These purchases were made between 2003 and 2005.

“It is frustrating and wrong when these large companies with deep pockets and corporate attorneys break their promises, keep money that is not theirs, and dare people to file a lawsuit,” Frerichs said. Read More

•March 16, 2016•

A project by Archer Daniels Midland is underway to pipe anhydrous ammonia from New Orleans area production facilities to Decatur and a distribution terminal in Dalton City.

The Moultrie County Board heard a report from NuStar who operates the pipeline intended for the extension in to Moultrie and Macon counties.

During the county board planning and zoning report chair Todd Maxedon moved a variance request to allow John Denning to build one foot from the east property line at 1 Leisure Acres be approved which it was.

Kay C. Nalbach/NuStar Pipeline Company requested a 10 acre site outside Dalton City be changed from Ag-1 to I-2 to allow construction of the terminal which will contain four to five 90,000 gallon bullet tanks and a two bay truck loading facility.

Gary Hannig of Morrill and Associates explained that ADM had approached NuStar to extend the existing Ammonia pipeline in Shelby Co, 44 miles to Decatur. Read More

Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Two students from Moultrie County earned straight A’s during the first semester at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and are among five area students named to the fall semester academic dean’s list. Earning straight A’s were Paul E. Kaiser of Bethany and Paula J. Dolan of Sullivan. The other three on the dean’s list are Trent E. Doty of Lovington, Michael A. Hermann of Sullivan and Kimberly D. McHenry of Findlay.

Two Decatur Area Vocational Center students from Bethany have been selected students of the month for February. They are Ronnie Butt and Karie Skidmore. AVC teachers select the students based on regular and punctual attendance, grades, both theory and lab experiences and a demonstration of positive work habits.

Lori Ann Byers, a senior at Lovington High School, who is in the top two percent of her graduating class, has been recognized with a certificate for overall academic excellence through the Tandy Technology Scholars program.

Nine Moultrie Countians earned degrees at the close of the fall semester at Eastern Illinois University. Graduates from Bethany are Christopher S. Keller, Terri Rena Bolen and Mindy Carol Winskill. Lovington graduates are Pamela A. Grohmann and Linda Kay Casteel; and Sullivan graduates are Rebecca Ann Dickens, Denise Renae Jones, Samantha Jean Davis and Candace Sue Monroe. Read More

•March 9, 2016•

The Secretary of State mobile unit is coming to Sullivan library Thursday, March 17.

Secretary Jesse White announced the event held in cooperation with the Elizabeth Titus Library in Sullivan is offering drivers a chance to renew their driver’s license or vehicle registration renewal sticker, obtain a duplicate or corrected license or obtain an Illinois identification  card.

The mobile unit will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library located at 2 W. Water St. in Sullivan. Read More

•March 9, 2016•

The SMS Scholastic Bowl JV team fell short to Monticello March but defeated the Meridian Hawks.

Reagan Crouse led the team with 10 toss ups followed by Brett Johnson- three, Noah Bates- two, Parker Addison- two and Austin Scott- one.  Read More