Das Clubhaus License Approved 

•February 17, 2016•

by Mike Brothers

Following an executive session discussion Moultrie County Board members ratified a three year contract with county corrections officers.

Included in provisions for the new agreement was a three percent salary increase over the contract period.

An additional provision was if a corrections employee left county employment before one year of service, 100 percent of the training cost would be reimbursed the county. If the employee leaves before two years, they will be responsible for half their training cost.

The county board approved a Class B liquor license that allows Don Frevert  to open Das Clubhaus at the Sullivan Country Club.

Action was taken during the February 11 county board meeting to approve the license following recommendation of the Liquor Commission. Chairman Dave McCabe noted that Frevert is from Sullivan and is planning to reopen the clubhouse at the country club in April. Read More

•February 10, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

The Moultrie County Inter-Agency is lacking almost a third of their annual budget to assist those who need it most.

Established in 1981 to help those in need, the Sullivan based agency helps in various ways.

Needs the agency meets include utility assistance for elderly and disabled, rent assistance, emergency shelter such as a hotel room if need be, food, car repair, prescriptions, pest control, and other situations deemed suitable for assistance.

Originally, the agency supplied Christmas gifts to children whose parents met the guidelines. Gift certificates in the amount of $25 to Dollar General and Pamida, prior to its closing, were given to the parents per each child.

Once the Moultrie County Inter-Agency had noticed similar Christmas spending had been covered by other organizations in the community, they began to focus on meeting other unfulfilled needs for families and individuals.

Also, the Inter-Agency is able to give those who qualify something called ‘Chamber Bucks’. This special form of currency may be used at only specific places in town, such as the city to pay bills and gas stations.  Read More

•January 27, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

Kevin McReynolds, housing manager for Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission, presented the Sullivan City Council with a housing grant opportunity during the January 11 council meeting. The grants are available for single family owner occupied homes and up to $45,000 may be spent for home improvement repairs such as replacing the roof, furnace, electrical and windows. McReynolds stated that these grants are important for improving neighborhoods and bringing homes up to code. Mayor Ann Short felt that there were families who could benefit from the grants. In order to get started, there would be a $3,500 application fee, the only cost to the city. After conducting a survey, McReynolds said there are about three neighborhoods in the city that qualify for these grants based on their income. Commissioner Bill Hagen made a motion to hire McReynolds and his organization. The council voted to start the application process.

Other news that was discussed or acted upon:

· Zak Horn expressed interest in purchasing Rotary Park. He has submitted a proposal to bury a vault. He needs the property because his business, Metro Communications has been expanding.  Read More

•January 20, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

Superintendent Kenny Schwengel shared some good news at the last Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond school board meeting.

The district received an unexpected $101,800 in incentive funding, although the state still owed them $240,000.

“Our current checkbook balance is $6,578,329.69,” he said. “ All funds are in the black.”

With a state budget still not in place, Illinois will no longer pay for students to take the ACT as they have in the past. For the last 15 years, the state has paid for the test. Once the state could no longer pay for the ACT, legislators passed a bill requiring the state to offer some type of college entrance exam. The Illinois Board of Education broke its longtime partnership with ACT by putting the test up for bids.

The SAT’s offered a contract $1.37 million less than ACT’’s bid. Although, the state can’t sign anything until it reviews and evaluates a protest from ACT. This puts a lot of this year’s juniors in a tough spot for college testing as well as the district as they try to help their students prepare for testing.

High school principal Buck Condill stated that they are still awaiting instruction from the state regarding funding or if they are planning on giving the SAT to their students. Read More

•January 20, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie is among 23 counties in Illinois that could qualify for Illinois Emergency Management Agency assistance because of recent flooding.

Jan Haegan, Moultrie’s planning and zoning director who is responsible for collecting flood damage information in the county, reported Moultrie County received $165,741.12 in uninsured storm and flood damage.

In his report to the Moultrie County Board January 14, Haegan explained that the minimum $53,000 in damages was surpassed in the county.

Once submitted to the IEMA public assistance program, Haegan explained the total damage in the 23 disaster declared counties would need to exceed $18 million in damages before federal disaster money would be available. Read More