•June 20, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

A Moultrie County Board motion attempting to reimburse the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development $17,295 in expenses failed for lack of a second at the June 14 meeting.
Chairman Dave McCabe explained the county had previously approved $50,000 earmarked for SCED expenses relating to tourism in the county budget.
McCabe had presented the bill at the previous county board meeting with members delaying action until Executive Director Laurrie Minor updated the county on tourism efforts.
Minor appeared before the board explaining the SCED/Corp of Engineers Lake Shelbyville partnership had worked well at the Chicago Trade Show, and she had recently attended the Midwest Bloggers Convention to learn how to promote area tourism through traveling blogs.
Minor explained that since the county had increased its financial involvement, the chamber is expanding its reach to include Northlake Community Development which allows the promotion of all villages and businesses of Moultrie County.
Most recently SCED coordinated the Lake Shelbyville Crappie Classic and promoted area tourism at the Back 40 event held at the Great Pumpkin Patch. Read More

•June 20, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

City council members returned to their discussion on health insurance coverage for the retired city employees during the June 11 meeting.
This topic had been discussed some months ago with several of the retirees in attendance, but during that time, no definite decisions had been made. With the time to renew health insurance approaching, the council approved increasing retirees contribution level.
Presently, full time employees of the city are paying 40% of their contributions toward insurance and retirees are paying 15%. Rising health insurance costs prompted the city to look into equalizing the level. Read More

•June 13, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

If you happen to be standing outside the Little Theatre when this musical is playing, you may see the theatre’s foundation shift and the roof rattle. There is a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on inside because Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins are setting the stage on fire.

More than a few have said that this is the best musical they have ever seen here so don’t be that person standing outside. Get your tickets now because this will be a sellout.

This jukebox musical recounts that historic day of December 4, 1956 when Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins happened by chance to all visit Sun Records studio for the one and only time they would all play together. Fortunately, the jam session was recorded and is considered a seminal moment to rock and roll. Read More

Photo by Ariana Cherry
The introduction of the sewing machine improved quilting and clothes making, as demonstrated inside the Mose Yoder home during the Sheep to Sew event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.

•June 6, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

The first weekend in June brought a variety of events for both tourist and local residents to enjoy in Arthur. From sheep shearing to browsing, a variety of crafts and antiques at the Back 40 Market to getting refreshed from the heat while drinking a strawberry shake-up at the Strawberry Jam, the possibilities for everyone were endless.

Along Route 133 at the new site of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center near Chesterville, the Sheep to Clothing event took place Saturday, June 2. Folks were able to get a chance to watch and even try their hand at shearing wool from sheep, watch wool be strung into yarn, quilting and even some weaving.

The Moses Yoder farmhouse was open for a walk back in time.  Read More

•June 6, 2018•

Budget hearing scheduled June 20

By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

Superintendent Kenny Schwengel noted that the balance of all funds is $5,091,708.56 at the last meeting of the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board.

“All funds are in good shape aside from the transportation fund,” he said. “We are still waiting on a $144,000 transportation payment from the state,”

There was an abatement of the working cash fund, and $52,000 were moved from the education fund to the transportation fund. A tentative 2018 budget was approved and a budget hearing will be held at 6 p.m. June 20.

Other items that were discussed or voted upon: Read More