•April 20, 2016•

A thirty two year old Windsor man was transported to Carle Hospital following a head on crash into the rear of a planter on Highway 32 Tuesday afternoon.

Macon County Chief Deputy Gary Carroll said that the Toyota RAV driven by Seth Polk was shredded beyond recognition after driving headon into the yellow planter being pulled south while he was traveling south on Rte 32 about a mile from the Bruce-Findlay road.

First transported to Sarah Bush Lincoln then to Carle Hosptial in Champaign, Polk managed to escape with a back injury.

The Moutlrie County Sheriff’s Department noted charges are pending further investigation, once Polk in released from the hospital.

Photo by Mike Brothers
This Wilborn Creek Road crossroads will be realigned for safety to remove a sudden jog which can catch drivers by surprise as part of the summer project.

•April 20, 2016•

The Moultrie County Highway Department is announcing a road rehabilitation project to improve the roadway smoothness and safety on County 5/16 (Wilborn Creek Road, CR 625E).

Work is tentatively scheduled to begin May 2 and is anticipated to be completed in September.

The project begins south of the Illinois Central Railroad at Illinois Route 121 and extends southward approximately 3.7 miles.

Included is the replacement of across road culverts (which will cause periodic road closures), pavement removal and replacement south of the Wilborn Creek Access Road. Read More

•April 13, 2016•

By Jose Pound
For the News Progress

Sunday, 13 March – Day 1.

Now I’ll relate some of our daily activities in Cuba beginning with our arrival at Jose Marti Airport in Havana via a chartered Aruba Airline flight (both going to and coming home from Cuba). Jose Marti is a national hero, poet of the Cuban people emphasizing “freedom” and godfather of current Cuban political life. His is the main statue in Revolutionary Square in center of Havana, where both Pope Francis and President Obama spoke to huge crowds of Cubans. It reminded me of a smaller version of Tiananmen Square in Beijing China…surrounded by government ministries.

On our arrival, after the 45 minute flight from Miami, the airport terminal was jammed with people, without much control as where we were to go. Plus it was hot (in the 80s) and humid like a summertime greenhouse without air conditioning. The exit lounge at the airport on our return home was “somewhat” air conditioned. Finding our luggage after arrival from Miami was a two hour event, which was a real strain on your disposition. However, when we all had our luggage, we were directed to a “new” Chinese made luxury bus, which served us well for the next seven days plus it was delightfully air conditioned. There were numerous antique (50s) vintage cars in the airport parking lots. We soon learned that these cars have been carefully maintained/rebuilt as Cuban taxis.

Cuba is being inundated with US visitors…like us. We were there on a People to People program based on regulations of the US Department of Treasury. A Road Scholar contact person told me Cuba is their most sought after travel destination of late. After our experience, I understand why. Read More

•April 6, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

New streets and sidewalks will surround the recently renovated Moultrie County Courthouse. Rerouted traffic and construction noise are what it takes to get there.

The Sullivan city council approved a bid to resurface the square and other surrounding streets that includes Harrison, Jefferson, Main, Washington and S. Main streets at the last meeting. The estimate of the project was $750,000 with concrete costing $140,000. The lowest bid was from Ne-Co Asphalt Co at $919,126.30.

Presently,the street improvement fund doesn’t have enough to cover the entire project so other funds will come from TIF and the electric fund. TIF had reserved  $450,000 for the project. The street improvement fund has $400,000 with the electric fund contributing $100,000.

It was noted that street improvement projects usually spend anywhere from $20,000 to $42,000. Typically, there is $50,000 in the budget for normal street maintenance unless a larger project has to be completed.

Other costs that aren’t included in the estimate are engineering and road striping. Mayor Ann Short estimated that the entire project could cost a million dollars. “We have $850,000 available, and we could borrow from the electric department to help fund other costs,” she informed.

Commissioner Ken Johnson said he planned on having the project finished within a three-day period.  Read More

Photo Submitted
FAME Award for Singers
Sullivan Singers placed fourth runner-up in FAME Chicago last weekend with qualifying scores for FAME Nationals. Grant King was named “Best Male Soloist.” The Singers were awarded the prestigious FAME Award that is given to the most “professional and easy to work with ensemble and director.”

•April 6, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

After the Sullivan Singer’s cancellation of the annual invitational last year, the Singers knew they had to make a comeback, director Jeffrey Thomas said.

More than 20 groups participated in the competition, and 4,000 spectators flocked to the SHS gym March 11 and 12.

Singer’s alumni and school board member Jeff White was the emcee for the high school competition, and middle school principal Ted Walk hosted the junior high competition Friday evening.

Read More