•September 14, 2016•

Ray Duncan, Chairman of the board of First National Bank of Sullivan and chairman and CEO  of Hardware State Bank of Lovington, announced last week that the two banks will merge to form a new state bank named First Community Bank of Moultrie County.

Hardware  State Bank has been serving the county since 1885, and the First National has been in business since 1905.

Both banks provide a wide array of banking services meeting the needs of their communities.

First National Bank Sullivan received a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating of “Outstanding” on its March 2, 2015 examination. For the last 15 years, Hardware State Bank has maintained a 5-Star Superior rating from Bauer Financial. Read More

•September 14, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Titus Manor located at 513 N. Worth St. has been a part of Sullivan for a little over 150 years. In its quiet part of town, Titus Manor was built by Joseph B. Titus who came to Sullivan in 1862 with his family.

The Titus Manor is hosting its first ever Color Run Saturday, September 24 in Wyman Park. (Rain date is October 1). Sign-in begins at 8 a.m., and the walk/run starts at 9 a.m. Registration deadline is Sept. 23.

This year Titus Manor decided to try something different- a Color Run. “Because of the popularity of Color Runs, we decided to try one in hopes we could raise enough funds that we could just have one event this year, along with our fall bazaar, instead of having several smaller fund-raisers throughout the year,” said Lisa Smothers, office manager. There have been several businesses who have come together to support the Color Run. “The response from the community has been amazing, and we could’ve never pulled it off without them,” stated Smothers. Read More

•September 7, 2016•

$2,800 for Food and Shelter

By Stu Baker
For the News Progress

Moultrie County has been chosen to receive $2,800.00 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. The Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A Local Board is made up of representatives from local government, Salvation Army, United Way, Catholic Charities and a former homeless person who will determine how the funds awarded to Moultrie County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.  Read More

•September 7, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Possible development of an Alzheimer treatment facility south of Sullivan could lead to a new Tax Increment Financing district.

Mayor Ann Short explained that Dr. Faisal Burkhari of Sullivan and a group of investors contacted the city expressing interest in building a treatment facility near Vineyard Church, south of Sullivan on Route 32.

Short noted the area is within the city limits, and if the city of Sullivan annexed property to the east, a TIF 4 district could be formed to allow future growth in the area.

Mayor Short noted those property owners could benefit from increased development of subdivisions as well as commercial expansion without endangering tax bases for existing agricultural operations.

“The city has been able to work with landowners to encourage participation in successful TIF districts, with those expiring possibly included in a new district,” she said. Read More

•August 31, 2016•

by Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

“The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese,” said singer/songwriter Willie Nelson.

Of course, there won’t be any reason to fight over cheese - there will be plenty of opportunities for free cheese at this year’s 44th Annual Cheese Festival in Arthur over the Labor Day weekend. There will be a variety of events, live entertainment, cheese tasting and shopping for everybody.

The celebratory “Cutting of the Cheese” kicks off the festival at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 3 with “Erste Kase Schnitzen.”

At 11 a.m., 300 pounds of free cheese will be given away at the main cheese tent at Cheesy Hollow.

Attendants who enjoy a good refreshment and need to cool off during the live music entertainment may visit the beer tent (sponsored by Angie’s Food and Spirit) and wine (sponsored by Wine on Vine). It is near the Welcome Center. Read More