Category Archives: News

County Board Acts on Planning and Zoning Proposals

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•August 16, 2017•

Moultrie County Board opened the August 11 meeting with planning and zoning recommendations ranging from boundary expansion for Mast Construction to an ordinance regulating solar farms.

In June fire destroyed Mast Construction northeast of Sullivan, leaving the manufacturer of prefabricated walls for homes in burned rubble.

Chester Mast is in the processing of rebuilding and expanding the business, seeking to rezone his property to I-1 plus asking for variances to build 20 feet from all zoning boundary lines. His requests were approved unanimously by the board.

Planning and zoning chairman Todd Maxedon recommended passage of the ordinance amending the Moultrie County zoning ordinance on solar farms.

Under the special use section that already contains provisions for wind farms, solar farm regulations are now included. Read More

Mason Point Chapel Entrance Has Makeover

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is the Mason Point Chapel Garden.

•August 16, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

With a grant from the Chapel Fund, the maintenance and ground staffs at Mason Point have been able to create a new flower garden and reinstall the entrance lamps to the Mason Point Chapel.

The right side of the walkway was edged in concrete blocks, and a raised flower bed complete with a stone bench was created on the left side of the walk. My Garden staff designed and supervised the plantings while the ground crew filled in the soil and mulch. The original Gothic entrance lamps were refurbished and reinstalled on either side of the entrance steps to complete the makeover.

In 1925 the original chapel was created at the end of a corridor in what was the Royal Arch Hospital and had a pulpit and the newest moving picture screen and projecting equipment obtainable. The chapel was used for religious services, weddings, entertainment and funerals.

This arrangement soon proved unsatisfactory as anyone entering the chapel had to pass through the hospital. The board of directors made the decision that a new chapel would be built and would be independent of the hospital and dormitories. At that time, before automobiles, the Masonic Home staff lived in dorms or small rooms within the complex. Read More

The Vineyard Church Seeks to Partner with Community

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•August 16, 2017•

New Purpose for  Old Shopko 

The Vineyard Church of Sullivan expanded with the purchase of the 35,000 sq. ft Shopko building last week. Now they have room to dream.

“We are unique in our mission,” Pastor Jim Plank began. “We as a congregation would like to give back to the community, and this is a big step toward that.”

Plank explained that the church built on 24 acres south of Sullivan in 2009 was limited in space, and the 35,000 square foot Shopko building offers grand possibilities.

“We are seeking information from various groups in the community to help us determine the greatest needs and how we can best use this space to help,” Plank said, noting that the 15-member Campus Leadership Team will be discussing options over the next few weeks. Read More

Blue Dolphins Help Anchor Relay for Life

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Blue Dolphins Help Anchor Relay for Life
Diane Waggoner, Jesse Jess and Rob Young from Moultrie County Relay for Life accepted an important donation from the Blue Dolphin Swim Team just in time for the August 11-12 Relay. The 610 cans of food collected on behalf of Relay for Life were anchors for the luminaries. This is the third year the Blue Dolphins donated to Relay for Life. Relay for Life’s Waggoner explained that after the cans help anchor the luminaries during the Relay for Life at Sullivan High School they are donated to the Moultrie County Food Bank. The 65 member Blue Dolphin team coached by 15 year veteran Jason Drury enlisted the support of 42 families collecting canned goods in a week. The Blue Dolphins have been longtime supporters of the Moultrie County Food Bank as well as donating to Sullivan Civic Center equipment needs.

Moultrie County Relay for Life Reaffirms Life

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Tony Holly, Community Dev. Mgr. of North Central Region, Diane Waggoner, Moultrie County Relay for Life coordinator, and Jesse Jess, assistant for American Cancer Society.

•August 16, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Last Friday ended in a perfect, cool evening with the sun casting a golden light over the high school football field as festivities began for the 21st annual Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Diane Waggoner, coordinator, welcomed the crowd of about 400, and so began the Opening Ceremony which included a prayer, a poem, presentation of the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance by the Boy Scouts, and John Stephens (executive director of The Little Theatre) singing a beautiful and emotional “Star Spangled Banner”.

The Memorial Award was made to Mike Grose and the Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Jamie Crosier. Both Grose and Crosier passed away last year after years of service to the American Cancer Society. Grose had served as the DJ for this event, and Crosier had been a runner. Read More

Lovington Board Holds Two July Sessions

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•August 16, 2017•

Lovington Village Board held a meeting July 10 and followed up with a special meeting July 24 as a planning session.

Two hours of the planning session were spent in executive session, returning to open session to discuss seeking bids on the village insurance coverage including health and liability and vehicle converge.

The condition of some properties within the village were discussed, and a guest to the meeting Dennis Day asked for village assistance with property across the street from him. Read More

Mamma Mia! Brings the Music of ABBA to Sullivan’s stage

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Photo furnished
The Music of Mamma Mia comes alive at The Little Theatre on the Square through August 20.

•August 9, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Mamma Mia closed on Broadway in 2015, but it’s open now at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan through August 20.

The 14-year run on Broadway grossed over $2 billion worldwide and was seen by more than 60 million people.

With words and music written by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, former ABBA band members, it showcases the legendary hit songs of ABBA.

This is a happy, fun-filled musical essentially about a young girl (Sophie) searching for her father, but it is also about reunions – Sophie reuniting with her friends, Donna and her former pop group members and Donna and her former lovers, Sam, Bill and Harry – one of whom is Sophie’s father. Read More

County Weighs Different Approaches to New Salary Schedule

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Longevity Increases Proposed

•August 9, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board personnel committee heard different views on how to approach future salary schedules among the 20 courthouse employees.

Jeff Birch, supt. of highways, was appointed to chair an ad hoc committee consisting of courthouse elected and appointed officers by county board chairman Dave McCabe to make recommendations of the future salary structure for courthouse employees.

Birch presented the committee chair Bill Voyles and members with a schedule that would tie county employee salary increases annually to the consumer price index. Birch plotted the scale based on the CPI from 2009 to 2016. By increasing salary levels with the CPI the $19,000-21,000 starting based recommended would have improved to $21,215-$23,455 range for first year courthouse employees. Read More

Teachers Dig Deep To Help Support Student Learning

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Elementary teachers such as Cindy Yoder and Micah Meddins of Sullivan join educators all over Illinois by digging into their own pockets for school supplies to help their students learn.

•August 9, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The amount of money teachers spend out-of-pocket every year for their classrooms is growing.

In Sullivan Unit #300 schools 53% of elementary students are at poverty level leaving the burden for providing basic school supplies on others. And who are the people closest to these children in need - teachers.

Each of the teachers interviewed reported spending $500-$1,000 each year to fill another education funding gap. Parents of elementary school students spend $45 per student for required school supplies with the amount growing to $70-$80 per middle and high school student.  Read More

Students are Going to High School While Attending College

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OVHS Dual Credit Program Expands

•August 9, 2017•

By Brody Sparks
for the News Progress

Dual credit programs allow students to earn college and high school credits simultaneously by participating in college level courses.

These courses are taught by high school teachers who are certified to instruct college classes. Okaw Valley High School is on the forefront of making these opportunities available to students.

“Okaw Valley High School is one of the leading schools in the area when it comes to dual credit offerings,” said OVHS principal Matt Shoaff. “Last year OVHS offered 50 hours of dual credit, and that increases to 65 for the 2017-2018 school year.”

Dual credit classes are available for Okaw Valley students in a variety of subjects including nine credit hours in agriculture, nine hours in business, 12 credit hours in English, 26 hours in math, six hours in social studies, and three hours in science. Generally, an associate’s degree requires 60 credit hours (around 20 college courses).  Read More