Category Archives: News

County Salary Improvement Plan Proposed to Board

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016•

A plan to improve courthouse employee starting salaries was presented to the Moultrie County Board personnel committee September 6.

Committee chair Roger Glazebrook greeted representatives from the courthouse clerical staff as well as attending office holders to the afternoon session.

Courthouse staff spokesperson Krista Helmuth presented committee members with information on comparative  salaries in surrounding counties, revealing Moultrie County’s starting clerical salary of $18,000 is lower than all.

“The circuit clerk’s office recently lost two longtime employees to the city of Sullivan,” Helmuth said, noting a pattern of new employees training for various tasks in a county office only to leave after receiving a better offer outside is putting a strain on existing employees and service.

Cindy Braden noted the last opening she posted had four applicants. “When faced with turnover issues with corrections in the past, the county improved starting salaries in an effort to keep employees,” Braden said of county board practice in a similar situation. Read More

Two of the Oldest Banks in Moultrie County to form a New Bank

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•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

Supervisor of Assessments Was The Ultimate Public Servant

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016•

Cindy Kidwell passed away in her sleep Sunday. She was 67 years old and just announced her retirement after serving 15 years as Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessments.

Services are at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan at 7 p.m. Friday.

In a departing email sent out last week Kidwell noted that after 15 years of service “my body feels like it has been like a hundred so I want to get out while I can hopefully do all the things on my list before my legs give out.”

It was a list left incomplete.

For those past 15 years Cindy soothed taxpayers upset about property taxes while meticulously taking care of the myriad of legal requirements for the chief county assessment office. Last year was a quadrennial tax assessment year when all properties are evaluated.  Read More

First Color Run Fundraiser Planned for Titus Manor

News Progress Posted on by

•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

LHS Alumni Honor Three Graduates

News Progress Posted on by

•September 7, 2016•

The Lovington High School Alumni Association will honor three Lovington graduates at its banquet September 10 at Yoder’s Country Kitchen in Arthur.

Dan Bolsen, Class of 2009, will receive the Outstanding Athletic Hall of Fame award.

Bolsen made the LOVC All Conference and All Area teams in basketball and football his sophomore, junior and senior years at LHS. He made the AP All State team in basketball and the Illinois Press Association’s All State Journalism team his senior year. Bolsen also played basketball and then football at Eureka College, where he received his bachelor’s degree. He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois. Read More

Moultrie County Awarded Federal Funds For Food Pantry

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•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

Moultrie County Prepares for Real Estate Tax Sale

News Progress Posted on by

•September 7, 2016•

Moultrie County, as Trustee, has completed their tax deed proceedings on real estate properties that were delinquent for 2012 and prior real estate taxes.

The County, as Trustee, will now offer for sale the real state obtained to the public. They will offer approximately five items through a sealed bid auction sale. All sealed bids must be in the Moultrie County Treasurer’s Office located in the Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 S. Main Street, Suite 10, Sullivan, Illinois 61951 no later than the close of business on September 23, 2016.

The sale of these lots should be a major benefit to both the taxing districts and the neighboring property owners. This sale will place the properties into the hands of individuals who have interest in owning them.  Read More

New TIF District Explored South of Sullivan

News Progress Posted on by

•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

Tabor Park Clearing Opens Asa Creek Walk

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers Large brush clearing equipment was contracted to help clear Asa Creek in Tabor Park

Photo by Mike Brothers
Large brush clearing equipment was contracted to help clear Asa Creek in Tabor Park

•August 31, 2016•

By Gerry Mander
for the News Progress

Walkers and runners visiting Tabor Park in Sullivan the past week may notice a different look along the creek.

“We are in the process of clearing honeysuckle and cleaning up around Asa Creek,” park’s supt. Kory Wiley explained.

Over the past decade honeysuckle and other invasive overgrowth has closed in on the walking paths at the 40 acre Tabor Park where Asa Creek flows.

Wiley explained clearing that brush away has opened the trails and should make those using the trails for exercising more comfortable.

The park district contracted with a Mattoon excavating firm for the major clearing which was accomplished over six days. Read More

44th Annual Cheese Festival in Arthur over the Labor Day Weekend

News Progress Posted on by

•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