November 12, 2014

Photo by RR Best
Outgoing sheriff Jeff Thomas holds a plaque congratulating him on his retirement at a public gathering in October.

Outgoing sheriff’s tenure up Nov. 30

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

There’s a new sheriff in town–almost. And another, well, not quite leaving, but turning in his badge.

After more than four decades of service with the Moultrie County Sheriff’s office Jeff Thomas is retiring. And when Thomas leaves office November 30, he will be 90 days short of having spent 42 years of service to Moultrie County.

Thomas joined the sheriff’s office in 1973 and was elected to the office of sheriff in 2002.

“I’ll do anything that I want that does not require that I be responsible for actions of 22 other people,” said Thomas of his upcoming retirement. “I plan to spend time playing golf, fishing, traveling, along with spending time with the grandkids.” Read More

November 5, 2014

Shelbyville man listed in critical condition

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

AShelbyville man’s vehicle was struck by a train last Tuesday in Dalton City, sending the single occupant to Carle Hospital in Urbana where he was listed in critical condition this week.

According to a Moultrie County sheriff’s crash report 43-year-old James N. Lewis’s 1997 Pontiac Grand Am collided with a locomotive near the railroad crossing situated closest to the intersection of Illinois Routes 128 and 121 in Dalton City at 4:55 a.m. October 28. Read More

November 5, 2014

IGA staff to try and set record fundraising total

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

For Moultrie County Food Pantry outreach coordinator Kristy Dawson, her typical week includes purchasing ground beef once a week and then traveling to both the Sullivan IGA and the Windsor Food Center for two grocery pickups a week.

But more recently, the purchases have been happening more often and in larger quantities due to a severe lack in donations.

“We’ve had several small food drives here and there in recent months, but it’s been three months since our last large food drive,” said Dawson, “so purchasing food has been happening more often than normal.” Read More

October 22, 2014

Part of reconstruction costs eligible for TIF funds

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

Steve Sadikoska and Tim Halili of the Red Apple Restaurant were in attendance at the October 13 city council to hear discussion regarding possible Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to help with the reconstruction of the restaurant that burned down July 29.

Mayor Ann Short opened the discussion expressing the feelings of the city: “All of us feel so badly because of your unfortunate situation. That was just horrible.”

Short then went on to explain that the TIF program is when construction is completed and taxes are assessed by the county, the difference between what taxes were before the fire and what they are after construction is completed. In talking with the city’s TIF attorney it has been determined that the construction would be eligible for TIF funding for the reconstruction of the restaurant. Read More

October 15, 2014

Jr. high moves towards 1:1 learning to prepare for high school

by Ariana Cherry
Sullivan/Arthur Reporter

Junior high mathematics teachers Sarah Smith and Jami Budd opened the ALAH School Board meeting with discussion about the new Google Chrome notebooks and Google accounts that have recently been set up with the junior high classes. Seventh and eighth graders are learning about using Google email, documents, slide, groups, and sharing documents.

“It will be good for group projects so that kids can work together from home and be live via Google. It is unbelievably exciting to watch. We are trying to prepare them for high school because we know that is the direction we are going towards,” said Smith. Read More