Photos by Stu D. Baker
Travis Phelps displays an antler rack from a four year old buck, about twice normal size.

Animal Crackers Treat the Herd

•August 3, 2016•

By Stu D. Baker
For the News Progress

Travis Phelps Moultrie County Monsters Deer Farm northwest of Sullivan is anything but scary.

To prove his point Phelps scooped a cup full of animal crackers up and headed in to the eight foot high corral that’s home to five young deer. As the yearling does and bucks gathered around the cups of animal crackers, Phelps pointed out one of the his favorite benefits of deer farming.

“It doesn’t matter how rough work has been,” Phelps, a veteran Illinois Department of Corrections employee, said, “As soon as I enter the pen, I’ll sit down on a bucket, and the deer gather around for a few animal crackers, and all the stress of the day drops away.”

The monsters theme of the farm started with one deer who got a little eager for the animal crackers.

“Each deer has its own personality, and we gave them fun names like Cookie Monster,” he said, noting they even went as far as to incorporate Silence of the Lamb movie characters Hannibal and Clarice into the monster mix. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
A group touring the state with An Appeal to Heaven stopped in Sullivan last week. Pictured following prayer at the Moultrie County Courthouse flagpole from left to right Christiane Sheets, Roy Lyerla, Moultrie County Courthouse officer Mike Brewer, Jim Skaggs, Pat Sheets, Ron Turnbow, Lee Clawson.

•July 27, 2016•

It was high noon Thursday on the Moultrie County Courthouse lawn, and in spite of the 90 degree heat people of faith from around the state gathered around the flag pole for “An Appeal to Heaven”.

Pastor Patrick Sheets of Peoria began his trek visiting all 102 counties in Illinois April 8, 2016.

The Moultrie County courthouse July 21 was the 58th visit.

“The state of this state and this nation has reached crisis stage,” Sheets said, explaining he had presented county clerk Georgia Clerk with  “An Appeal to Heaven” flag for the county.

The group then gathered around the courthouse flag pole and prayed for the condition of the country to improve. Read More

•July 20, 2016•

Photos by RR Best
Sullivan Summer Park program director Melissa Haegen records video of water play day at Wyman Park last week. Sullivan Fire Department personnel brought the ladder truck and treated the 100 kids participating in the summer program to a day filled with water based fun. Fire fighters finished the afternoon off serving the group hot dog lunches.

Dog Kennel Questioned

•July 20, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Concerns over the noise level of a dog kennel brought an audience to the Moultrie County Board meeting July 14.

When planning and land use committee chair Todd Maxedon presented the motion for a special use permit allowing Duane Schrock to operate a dog kennel in rural Arthur, neighbors voiced concerns.

Bill Crane spoke for a number of neighbors explaining the prior owner had a puppy mill in the location, and the noise was unbearable.

“There are a lot of people living within 400 feet of the area,” Crane pointed out, “and putting up with 60 or 70 yelping dogs is not what we want.”

Gary Cornwell lives next door to the proposed kennel. “When those dogs are howling at night, it’s like a freight train,” he said, pointing out coyote traffic in the area added to the dogs’ agitation.

Planning and zoning director Jan Haegen pointed out four P&Z directors met at the property, returning a split vote to the planning and zoning committee, which approved the permit with recommendations. Read More

Land Line Locators Left

•July 13, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Coles-Moultrie enhanced 911 system became the first emergency dispatch consolidation approved in Illinois.

Bernie Buttram told Moultrie County Board Public Health Safety and Welfare Committee members July 6 the process could move to the next step.

“This is indeed very good news, and I’m excited about moving forward,” committee chair Arlene Aschermann said of the approval.

The Coles-Moultrie Emergency Communications approval by the Illinois State Police administered program followed a state 911 board approval in Springfield last week.

“Thanks to the help from Kelly (Lockhart) and Kevin (McReynolds) from Coles County Regional Planning the mapping process is already underway,” Buttram said.

McReynolds explained the address enhancement utilizing aerial photos last updated in 2002 was a challenge. Read More