•December 7, 2016•
The Moultrie County Board reorganized December 1 following oaths administered to newly elected members.
County Clerk Georgia England presided over the new board, reminding county board members they have been elected to serve the best interests of all 15,000 citizens of the county.
She also encouraged each board member to visit every county office, encouraging their involvement in all aspects of county government. Read More
Gypsy Soul
•November 30, 2016•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Gypsy Soul Revival, next to Thrifty Boutique is just full of beautiful eye candy. Colorful blouses and tees, an entire rack of pastel, plaid, flannel shirts, turquoise handmade jewelry and two comfy chairs in front of a table of goodies for that shopping-weary hubby.
The mother/daughter owners are Sheri Seabaugh and Darby Harden, and they started their store almost four years ago. They had been doing a runway show which was closing down, and they felt like gypsies with nowhere to go, and thus was the inspiration for their store name.
“I make most of the jewelry, and Darby makes a lot of the clothes,”said Sheri, “although some of the clothing comes from California. We are pleased to offer sizes from small to 3X including children’s clothing.” Read More
•November 30, 2016•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Simpler Thymes located across from the IGA is by no means simple but seems like a walk back in time with all the carefully selected antiques, primitives and vintage items artfully displayed by owner Brandi Novak and her staff. While many of the items belong to Novak, she does rent out space to other dealers.
“A lot of the materials in the booths are made by the dealers, said Novak. We have an art teacher from Windsor, and she makes all of the pottery in her booth”.
Most everything here is primitive, vintage antique or repurposed old items such as paintings on barn wood or painted window frames. The unique feature is that Simpler Thymes carries a lot of the larger items such as furniture, chairs, desks and cabinets that most stores of this genre don’t carry. Read More
•November 30, 2016•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Cathrine’s and West 5 Coffee and Wine Bar - these two stores in one are most welcoming and delightful. The owner is Cathrine Craig, but this is truly a family business. Husband, JR, is the barrista and her son-in-law does all of the custom framing. But her daughter and mother also put in time to help keep everything running smoothly.
“We felt that Sullivan needed a unique retail shop with a unique shopping experience for those looking for something special not found in the mall shops,” explained Craig. “We have people come from Decatur, Champaign, Chicago and even those on their way to a wedding stop by for a gift that is packaged and all ready to take to the gift table.” Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Chamber of Commerce executive director Laurrie Minor pictured with new intern Melinda Calhoun-Hurt.
•November 30, 2016•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Chamber of Commerce executive director Laurrie Minor welcomed me into her office and introduced me to her new intern, Melinda Calhoun-Hurt who was just completing her fifth day on the job.
Calhoun-Hurt is from Memphis, Tennessee and is a senior at Lake Land College majoring in administrative executive assistantship.
She learned about the position from her sister Amy who works at Moultrie County Counseling.
Minor said “I have had other interns from high school, but Melinda is the first one working on a degree in this job category so we are really happy to have her.” When asked her favorite part of the job, Calhoun-Hurt said, “Actually, working with Laurrie because she gives me a lot of confidence and allows me to work on a lot of different projects. I have done everything from helping with planning to getting soaked in the rain while delivering bags to members.” Read More
•November 23, 2016•
The Sullivan Community Unit 300 school board approved the 2016 payable in 2017 tentative tax levy of 4.99% based on a projected Equalized Assessed Valuation of $121,595,853.
Supt. Brad Tuttle explained the amount requested could be reduced and noted the district tax levy increase has averaged two percent per year since maximum rates were set in 1983.
Director of maintenance Kevin Landrus reported that work has begun on the elementary school chillers now that the cooling season in over. He told the board the new boiler was fired at the high school, and the middle school boiler is pending a gas flow regulation adjustment before it can be fired.
Landrus then explained a $23,000 construction change order for the high school HVAC system replacement. The roof top unit for the north wing of the high school was larger than expected and required additional steel reinforcement for the roof.
Supt. Tuttle went on to note that both the architect and carrier returned $2500 to the district because of the error that led to the required change.
“The change was heavier than expected so we had to make a quick decision,” Tuttle said of the problem, noting the architect and carrier’s contributions helped ease the pain. Read More
•November 23, 2016•
Kaden R. Dedman, 19, of Sullivan led authorities on a chase that ended with his taking a swim in Lake Shelbyville the evening of November 11.
According to reports, Illinois State Police first encountered Dedman traveling 108 miles per hour on the Findlay blacktop.
The car fled from the pursuing state trooper down country roads until crashing the vehicle that had been reported stolen earlier from Coles County. Read More
•November 16, 2016•
Elections have passed, and the Moutlrie County Clerk’s office is assembling tallies for the official caucus next week.
In the 2016 Moultrie County election chief election deputy Jamie Helton reported there were 370 new voters registered and 1400 absentee ballots voted. Of that number 1146 were voted along with early and grace voting periods while 254 were submitted by mail.
In the only race contested in the county incumbent Republican State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey withstood a challenge from former Democrat State’s Attorney Marvin Hanson.
Richey received 4121 total votes to Hanson’s 2040.
The state’s attorney received 710 early votes, 117 absentees and 3299 votes on election day. Hanson had 410 early votes and 109 absentees with 1521 election day votes. Read More
•November 16, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Courthouse office staff returned raises in an effort to get the Moultrie County Board to give salary increases to all staff at the Thursday, Nov. 10 meeting.
And it worked.
During a personnel session earlier, an effort was proposed to equalize county employee salaries after increasing the starting rate to $19,000 per year for full time staff.
This improved salaries by $2500 for county employees hired after Dec. 2014 but neglected veteran staff, many serving the courthouse from 10-30 years.
Personnel committee chairman Roger Glazebrook presented the motion with discussion open before the vote. Board member Tim Rose noted the wording led him to believe that any new hire would be eligible for the $1500 increase over the $19,000 starting salary.
County clerk chief deputy Pam Wittkowski suggested the county board consider giving those veteran employees an additional $1000 to help equalize the salary schedule across the board. Read More
•November 16, 2016•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board members passed a tentative estimated tax levy of 6.11%. Supt. Ken Schwengel explained that this estimate is based on an inflated EAV. “It is an increase in what the total levy would generate (minus bonds) based on our established tax rates and the inflated EAV.
It is not an indication of how much a person’s property taxes are going to increase,” he said. Schwengel receives estimates from each county which helps him calculate an estimated EAV. “I balloon the levy to protect the district from possible variances in the actual EAV. Regardless of how much I inflate the EAV, we will not receive more than our tax rate will generate,” he informed.
Last year’s projected EAV was $197,819,278 with a tax levy of 3.6753%. Schwengel estimated this school year’s EAV at $202,511,690. A truth and taxation hearing will take place at the board meeting in December. Read More