Category Archives: News

Bethany Village Meters Steve Sowers’ Exit

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Metered retiree Steve Sowers (left) received plaque and electric meter lamp from Shannon Risley and Village President Bill Ashley.

•November 15, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Bethany village board recognized retiring village employee Steve Sowers for 32 years of service during their regular meeting November 9 at village hall.

After President Bill Ashley gaveled the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Sowers was presented with a plaque and a desk lamp fashioned from a water meter.

A report was made by the Christmas committee on plans for the Santa Coming to Town and tree lighting. They requested some street closings for safety concerns. The committee’s next meeting is at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at Scott State Bank, and volunteers are welcome.

The board approved an Appropriation Ordinance and a TIF Ordinance agreement with Jeff Taylor. Taylor is planning to open a bakery on Main Street and is seeking funds to help with roof and wall repair of his building. Read More

Moultrie Democrats Turn Out in Force to Meet Candidates

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•November 8, 2017•

By A. E. Stevenson
for the News Progress

Moultrie County Democrats turned out in force at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Friday, November 3.

Event coordinator County Clerk Georgia England noted that more than 150 people enjoyed the spaghetti dinner in which a variety of local and area Democrat candidates participated.

Featured speaker Glenn Poshard was not among candidates but delivered a passionate case for the Democratic party’s commitment to pay as you go budgets, equal education, equal justice and reminded the audience how unions built the middle class and Great Society of the 1960s.

Dr. Poshard was the former U.S. Representative in the 19th district which included Moultrie County as well as past governor candidate and President of SIU. Read More

Community Multi-use Path Seeks IDOT Funding

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•November 8, 2017•

A proposed Wyman Park urban multi-use path project will be reviewed by the Sullivan City Council during special session Monday, Nov. 13.

Held at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library at 6:30 p.m. those interested may comment on the project. A federal grant application to the Illinois Department of Transportation is from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement. Read More

Blue Inspired Dinner

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Blue Inspired Dinner
Front from left: Dressed in blue county Dem shirts precinct committeeman Linda Alumbaugh, county clerk Georgia England and featured speaker Dr. Glenn Poshard. Back: Joy Voltenburg, precinct committeeman Ed Voltenburg, precinct committeeman Tim Singer, county board member Gary Smith, county treasurer candidate Pam Wittkowski, county board candidiate Steve Mayberry, county treasurer candidate Diane Waggoner and Democrat county chairman Stuart Wade. Story on page 3.

Joins County Treasurer Race

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Diane Waggoner

•November 8, 2017•

Diane Waggoner will be running as a Democratic candidate for Moultrie County Treasurer in the March 2018 primary election.

She brings almost 20 years of banking experience to the position and has worked at First Community Bank of Moultrie County, formerly known as First National Bank of Sullivan, since 2003.

From 1998 until 2003 she was employed with First-Mid Illinois Bank and Trust of Sullivan. Throughout these years Waggoner acquired a wealth of knowledge in finance as teller to her current job title of new accounts. Gaining this banking knowledge throughout these years qualifies her for Moultrie County Treasurer. Read More

County Personnel Committee Recommends Salary Increase for Courthouse Employees

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Rejects Bonus Plan

•November 8, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County board personnel committee agreed to recommend an additional $300 annual salary increase for county employees to the county board for vote Nov. 9. They had previously approved $1000 annual increases in the tentative 2018 budget

A motion by Gary Smith and seconded by Kevin McReynolds  approved the additional $300 with Ron White dissenting.

The recommendation for across the board raises was prompted following requests from Supervisor of Assessment Lori Barringer to give three full time office employees a one time $2000 bonus.

Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden also proposed a one time $2000 bonus for eight employees.

Motions for both bonuses failed for lack of a second. Read More

SMS Community Project is a Leap of Faith

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Middle School eighth grader Sydney Williamson shows Tara Standerfer her artistic efforts as she decorates a pumpkin for SCED Oktoberfest weekend.

•November 1, 2017•

Sullivan Middle School’s first community service day began as a leap of faith for principal Nathan Ogle.

By the end of the morning Thursday, October 19 it set the bar for Proudest Principal Moment.

“I believe that one of the responsibilities we have as educators is to instill in our students a sense of ownership in their community,” Ogle said. “If our small town is going to succeed in the next century, it is because individuals take responsibility to make it so.”

Service Day at Sullivan Middle School included eighth grade students painting pumpkins to help the Chamber of Commerce decorate for Octoberfest; seventh grade students traveling to Mason Point to visit residents, do crafts and entertain; and sixth grade students spending the morning with K-first grade students on reading activities.

“Our teachers tackled the challenge with enthusiasm and came up with ideas beyond anything I had in mind,” Ogle continued, noting they coordinated all the community events to make Fall Service Day take shape. Read More

Republican Treasurer Race Adds Candidate 

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Stephanie Helmuth

•November 1, 2017•

Stephanie Helmuth is seeking election as a Republican candidate for the Moultrie County Treasurer position.

“I feel I can bring new eyes to the processes,” Helmuth said, “and help find efficiencies and work towards saving the taxpayers dollars.”

She has nine years in banking after graduating college in 2008, two of those doing audit and analysis and seven of them in trust services.

She has worked at The First National Bank in Mattoon for seven years and has been the trust officer for the last four years.  Read More

Chicken Ordinance Scratched for Lack of Second

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•November 1, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The city’s animal ordinance regarding chickens was brought to light at a council meeting on October 9 when Enos Yoder asked if it was possible to have a couple of chickens at their home.

Sullivan administrator Dan Flannell had looked into the issue and reported to the council. During the discussion of the ordinance, Flannell instructed the council that they would have to be careful how they crafted it.

Details to consider include enclosures (and the visual effect they would cause), if it were necessary for families to hold permits, what would happen if animals were to escape and the restriction of the number of chickens/animals a family could have.  Read More