Photo by RR Best
The Moultrie County Board held its monthly meeting last Thursday in what became a packed courtroom anxious to speak their thoughts about allowing zoos to set up shop in the county. The board eventually voted and approved by a count of 8-1 an amendment that would allow just that.

Ordinance amended Thursday to allow for wildlife parks

April 15, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Moving their monthly meeting to a third floor courtroom Thursday to allow for more members of the public to attend, the Moultrie County Board approved by a vote of 8-1 to amend the zoning ordinance to allow for zoos and wildlife parks in the county.
The board’s decision followed more than 45 minutes of public comment, 30 of which were from Urbana attorney Kent Follmer, who is representing 17 landowners opposed to, not only the zoning amendment, but also a specific wildlife project that has been proposed in the county, but that wasn’t up for consideration.
Known as the Aikman Wildlife Adventure, the park would initially span 45 acres and include both a drive-through area where patrons could feed animals and a walk-through that would be similar to a zoo but with much larger habitats. There would also be a 7,000 squared foot walk-through aviary featuring different species of birds that patrons could feed. The park would be located one mile west of the Great Pumpkin Patch southwest of Arthur.
Follmer’s presentation to the board Thursday included objections from the Moultrie County Farm Bureau and local veterinarian Dr. DeWayne Richter.
The Bureau, in a letter to the county board, expressed its stance, saying, “The Moultrie County Farm Bureau opposes production farmland taken out of production for non-agricultural use.”
This was a point that has been and continues to be echoed by Follmer when arguing the intent of the agricultural zoning ordinance and citing its preamble which in part outlines its goal as to “promote and protect the public health, safety and general welfare by separating incompatible nonagricultural uses from potentially incompatible agricultural uses…” Read More

Fundraiser for the Moultrie County Food Pantry April 24

April 8, 2015

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Golfers at the Sullivan Country Club won’t be “puttering around” when it comes to donating food for the Moultrie County Food Pantry later this month. In fact, they will be having their own kind of drive–one that will be aiming for more than just a hole-in-one or under-par as the community will have a chance to enjoy a few rounds of golf while helping donate to a good cause.
“This has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said the Sullivan Country Club golf pro Andy Wagner. “I know from personal experiences that there are a lot of unexpected things in life and things get tough so I thought what a great opportunity to help the food pantry so they can help others who are in need. Our community really stands together and helps when called upon. Both the Country Club and I feel this is a way for us to contribute.” Read More

Requests trial by jury

April 1, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A man accused of murdering a Sullivan woman pled not guilty Monday morning and requested a trial by jury.
Michael Yost, 40, of Sullivan, appeared before the Hon. Judge Dan Flannell Monday morning along with public defender Bradford Rau. Yost was to appear that afternoon for his preliminary hearing of which he instead waived.
Yost was found unresponsive on March 4 inside a Graham Street apartment along with Sheri L. Randall, 43, also of Sullivan. Randall was pronounced dead by Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed. A preliminary autopsy the following day concluded that Randall had died as a result of multiple stab wounds on the abdomen. Yost had also been found with stab wounds, but which appeared to emergency personnel to have been self-inflicted. After being transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur and released six days later, Yost was promptly arrested and brought up on four counts of first degree murder. Read More

Dependents’ costs questioned

March 25, 2015

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Discussions got heated when the question of health insurance coverage for retired employees came up during the regular meeting of the Sullivan City Council March 9.
Currently, all present employees pay 10 percent of the premium costs for their dependents (if they have any).
But in the city handbook, there is a clause stating that any employee who was employed with the city on July, 25, 1988 would have “comparable” health insurance paid for after retirement.
In 2013, when the city agreed to a new police union contract, one of the stipulations was that employees would begin paying a percentage of their dependents’ costs. Read More

March 11, 2015

Will show if village qualifies for grant money to help complete second phase of drainage project

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

As spring approaches with rain and melting snow, the board heard guests Kelly Lockhart and Kevin McReynolds from the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission (CCRP) speak on the potential to get phase two of the drainage project completed.

The phase two area is east of highway 121. Lockhart and McReynolds requested that they begin an income survey of the area where the work would take place to see whether 50 percent of residents are listed at the poverty level. If so, Lockhart and McReynolds would proceed with a grant application, that if awarded, would earn the village of Lovington $450,000 for the project. The village, however, would be required to put in $150,000. Read More