Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Surprises Newest Homeowner
On Tuesday, April 18, Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Board members and co-workers of the recipient gathered in the courthouse rotunda to surprise the newest homeowner Becky Comstock. Pictured is Howard Sanders, Gary Smith, Gene Mueller, Sandy Sanders, Becky Comstock, Cheryl Thomas, Tony Feeler and Roger Glazebrook.
•May 3, 2023•
Danielle Simpson, a senior at Okaw Valley High School, has been named an Illinois State Scholar. She has a 4.125 gpa on a 4.0 scale after 7 semesters. In her time at Okaw Valley she has received straight A’s and been on high honor roll all through high school. Read More
•April 26, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry
Principals and math teachers presented a potential new math curriculum for the ALAH school district recently. They have been meeting and researching different ones since last fall. Two pilot ones, Bridges and Reveal, were started around Christmastime. Members of the pilot team for grade school math are Adrienne Seal, Rose Hollingsworth, Rhonda Rhodes, Erin Beck, Chris Foreman, Andrew Peralta and Marla Graham. There were teachers in grades K-5 and Special Ed who participated in the pilot programs. The mathematics program at which the grade schools are looking is called Bridges. Positive points about Bridges include a hands-on curriculum, focus on number sense and explaining different ways to get the answer. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Scott Bales teaching the Sullivan High School Spanish Club CPR, which actually turned into a surprise retirement party.
•April 26, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan High School Spanish Club gathered on Friday, April 14, early in the morning to learn CPR. At least that’s the reason for which physical education and health teacher Scott Bales thought he was in the commons area in the high school that morning. Little did he know that the Spanish Club and the high school Spanish teacher Patricia King had a surprise for him.
After Bales had demonstrated how to administer CPR on mannequins and also demonstrated how to operate an AED, there was an announcement made that they had invited him not for a CPR lesson but to celebrate him as he is retiring at the end of this school year. Bales has spent 34 years in the teaching profession, 25 of those in Sullivan. Read More
•April 19, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Moultrie County Board had their regular meeting Thursday, April 13. At the beginning of the meeting Jessie McClusky of the University of Illinois Extension presented to the board by highlighting some of the things the organization offers.
There are six Moultrie County Master Gardeners. In the SNAP-Ed category they help families gain knowledge and skills needed to make healthier choices through in-person classes and online resources. SNAP-Ed also works with organizations and community groups to promote healthier food options and environments in communities struggling with limited resources. There are mini food pantries established in Lovington and Sullivan. In Moultrie County alone the pantries have provided 10,530 pounds of produce this year and are helping approximately 200 families through food mobiles and family life programs including Wits Fitness, Illinois Strong Couples and Mental Health First Aid. Read More
•April 19, 2023•
Spores and More Festival will be held in Windsor on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be food trucks, small businesses, vendors, live music, great deals and morel mushrooms. The event will be held on Maine Street and at the Red Barn.
At 11 a.m. the Windsor American Legion will serve mushroom soup and spaghetti with traditional or mushroom sauce. This year there are over 40 vendors set to attend the festival. Vendors will have a variety of items including homemade crafts, ceramics and jewelry. Read More
Photo Submitted
Pictured are retiring staff members Scott Bales and Kay Lehman.
•April 19, 2023•
On Thursday, April 13, the Sullivan Community Education Foundation hosted their annual Teacher Appreciation Banquet at Building 1225 in Sullivan. The theme for the evening was baseball, and it opened in the first inning with the Star-Spangled Banner sung by Kaylee Ogle.
After Invocation given by Dan Fultz in the second inning, teachers and staff were treated to a baseball style meal of hot dogs, brats, etc., catered by Griffin’s catering for the third inning. Read More
Photo furnished
Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessment Lori Barringer was presented the 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award (Small Jurisdiction) during the Illinois Property Assessment Institute banquet on March 27 in Normal.
•April 19, 2023•
The Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessment Lori Barringer was presented the 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Property Assessment Award (Small Jurisdiction) during the Illinois Property Assessment Institute banquet on March 27 in Normal. Barringer was nominated by Mark Armstrong and the award was presented by Mary Tamez.
According to the speech given at the event. Barringer has hit the ground running since the start of her assessment career. By statute, counties of fewer than 50,000 persons should have a coefficient of dispersion of 30% or below. Barringer’s jurisdiction has a population of less than half of that. With such a small sample size and a large rural area containing a significant number of farm parcels, reaching that target is difficult. In the face of challenges, however, Barringer has met this goal every year she has been in office, with an average coefficient of 26.3% during that time. Read More
•April 12, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
During Monday’s meeting, the Sullivan City Council authorized the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the construction of the Eastview Lift Station. According to Commissioner Chuck Woodworth, the city received $300,000 last year and were supposed to get another $300,000 at the end of this year. The city has received only half of it. The reason that Eastview Lift Station was chosen is because it is the oldest.
Tia Punches approached the council in regard to money she has raised from Pack the Park the past two years plus money she has earned by making pies. She asked whether it would be possible for her to sign over the money to someone from the city. She noted if the city doesn’t want to use the money for a bandstand, they may use it for something else.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said that park crews have been mowing, trimming trees, mulching and making a list of trees that need to be taken down in both parks. Read More
•April 12, 2023•
Illinois Amish Information Exhibits Inc., known as Illinois Amish Heritage Center, has been awarded a $500,000 grant through the Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program. Designed to support local festivals and attractions and drive tourism across the state, Illinois increased the funding available from $15 million to $22.5 million in order to support additional attractions. The additional $7.5 million was secured during the Illinois General Assembly legislative session in early January 2023 and the program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The total project budget projection for the visitor center/museum building is $2 million. The visitor center/museum building for the IAHC will serve as a welcome center, museum, archive, event center and portal to tourist experiences available in the Douglas, Moultrie and Coles County region. The welcome center/museum will provide a place where visitors can begin their exploration through interpretive exhibits, classroom space, archive and theater and gather afterwards for more information and even the opportunity to purchase crafts and goods made by local Amish artisans on site and further into the communities around the site. Read More