•September 25, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

There are miracles and there are miraculous events.
What happened to Kaye Webb of Sullivan last week may be a little of both.
Most everyone around knows Kaye for her talents with genealogy through her work with the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society.
Kaye is also one of the select readers of the Moultrie County News Progress who picks their newspaper at the office as soon as it comes off the press on Wednesday.
Circulation guru at the News Progress, Carolyn Collier has a constant stream of fresh newspaper visitors on Wednesday afternoon from about 1:00 p.m. when the paper comes off the press until closing time. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Senior Services Exec Dir Kathi Garvey(l), Assistant Vonnie Lee and Counselor Kim Adamson at Senior Expo.

•September 18, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Every last table in the Sullivan American Legion Hall was commandeered for seating and most of the vendors ran out of promotional items as over 300 senior citizens converged for the annual Senior Expo sponsored by the Mid-Illinois Senior Services September 13.
Griffin’s Catering prepared the free lunch of BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, cole slaw and chocolate cake. The lunch was provided, as it has been for several years, by State Senator Chapin Rose and State Representative Brad Halbrook.
Some 20 members of the SHS Student Council volunteered to serve the meals so the seniors would not have to stand in a long lunch line.
Thirty vendors ringed the hall and offered an array of free promotional items such as umbrellas, hats, pill cases, note pads, key chains, plastic shopping bags and coin purses. The vendors also had drawings for many door prizes which are always favorites of the attendees. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Peace Corp volunteer Kathleen Preising is helping with Sullivan Spark.

•September 18, 2019•
Long Winding Road

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Kathleen Preising’s parents were both Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador. Her father later took a job with the United Nations and she completed her high school education at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy.
It is Sullivan’s MAPPING program that brings her here. Sullivan’s program was renamed SPARK so people wouldn’t think it was a geography project.
SPARK was to ignite economic development in Sullivan. She is here for the next year assigned to the Chamber of Commerce to help SPARK develop and implement community economic development programs.
Kathleen has been here only a week but she says of her assignment, “I am excited with what is going on here in Sullivan with so many people actively engaged and ready for change. I have been to a few of the shops and am just very excited about my year here.” Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Zone Three County Clerk and Recorders -Back Row from left: Mark Sheldon - Champaign Co. Recorder, Michael Gianasi - Christian Co. Clerk/Recorder, Josh Tanner Macon Co. Clerk, Mary Kennedy - Moultrie Co. Deputy Clerk, Dana Smith - DeWitt Co. Clerk/Recorder, Laura Lee - Clark Co. Clerk/Recorder, Dawn Kupler - Woodford Co. Clerk/Recorder.
Front Row: Jessica Fox - Shelby Co. Clerk/Recorder, Mary Eaton - Macon Co. Recorder, Lindsey Light - Vermilion Co. Election Deputy, Cathy Jenkins - Vermilion Co. Clerk, Theresa Moore - Logan Co. Clerk/Recorder, Kristy Masching - Livingston Co. Clerk/Recorder, Judi Pollock - Douglas Co. Clerk/Recorder, Georgia England - Moultrie Co. Clerk/Recorder, Jill Kenyon - Marshall Co. Clerk/Recorder, Bev Howard - Cumberland Co. Clerk/Recorder, Julie Coe - Coles Co. Clerk/Recorder.

•September 11, 2019•

The 3rd Annual Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders Zone III picnic meeting was held at Purcell’s Pond located near Decatur August 29.
The meeting this year was hosted by Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England with the meal provided by her election vendor, Liberty Systems LLC. There were 18 clerk/recorders present, along with four deputy clerks, four representatives from the State Board of Elections/ISP-STIC, seven vendors and three guests.
England stated that all Zone meetings consist of a business meeting, legislative review, updates from the State Board of Elections, STIC (Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center), Department of Revenue, and by any vendors attending the meeting.
One of the hottest topics at the August meeting was regarding elections and cyber security.
A couple of Illinois counties have made the news recently regarding Iranian attacks to websites causing concerns to many citizens.
Counties were advised that the best protection of county systems are when county boards recognize the importance of getting all the county offices on board, not just the county clerk’s office. Read More

Illustration furnished
Drawing of the Titus home by Francis Elder while Winifred still lived there.

•September 4, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Although the Sullivan City Council purchased the Winifred Titus Manor at 513 Worth St for $210,000, it won’t cost the city anything.
At a special city council meeting held at Elizabeth Titus Library Thursday, Aug. 29 Mayor Richard Glazebrook moved to purchase Titus Manor from Titus-Sentel estate trustee Busey Bank at private sale for the appraised amount of $210,000. Mike Fowler seconded with Abbey Sherwood, Chuck Woodworth and Peggy Hargis unanimously approving the purchase. Read More