Category Archives: News

County Awards ARPA Funds to Three Organizations

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•September 21, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Three more organizations were awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds during the Thursday, September 15, Moultrie County Board meeting. The board approved a motion to award $80,000 to Moultrie County Animal Control, an additional $280,000 to the Moultrie County Beacon and $75,000 to the United Methodist Church. The animal control will use the money to add on to the current facility to house cats.
The Moultrie County Beacon’s amount is due to loss of revenue during COVID. The United Methodist Church funds will be used toward repairs on the historical part of the church. They have several organizations that use their facilities, and they are unable to use some of their space because repairs are needed.
The board approved a motion to remove Georgia England from the county credit card and permission for the County Clerk’s office to obtain a new credit card using Rita Florey’s name. A motion was also approved to transfer the County Clerk’s credit card account from Rita Florey to the newly elected County Clerk effective December 1, 2022. A motion was approved to remove Jeff Birch from the county credit card and add Kyle Steele. Read More

Sullivan City Council Approves Resolution of Funding Support for ITEP Grant Project

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•September 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Monday’s City Council meeting began with a public meeting for federally funded Phase 4 Streetscape Improvements. Later in the meeting, a resolution of funding support for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Cycle was passed. Lee Beckman of Milano and Grunloh said the goal of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) is to allocate resources to well-planned projects that provide and support alternate modes of transportation through preservation of visual and cultural resources and improve the quality of life for members of the communities. Read More

Cruise Night on the Square

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•September 7, 2022•
The Sullivan Street Machine Association held Cruise Night on the Square in Sullivan on Saturday, September 3. There was live music and dash plaques for the first 100 registered. There was also a power wheels demo derby for ages 3 to 9. More photos are on page 10.

Illinois Amish Heritage Center Announces Herschberger-Miller Barn Raising Event for October

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•September 7, 2022•
The Herschberger-Miller barn, that was originally constructed three miles west of Arthur, Illinois in 1879, was dismantled by Firmitas, formerly Trillium Dell Timber Works, in spring of 2022. The intricate process raised massive media coverage in the region because the barn was not only being removed from its original site, but, the 143-year structure was tagged, labeled, dismantled piece by piece, and will be relocated, refurbished, and rebuilt at its new home, Illinois Amish Heritage Center (IAHC), located between Arcola and Arthur, on Illinois Route 133.
On Friday, September 23rd at 4 p.m., the IAHC will be hosting a public groundbreaking for site prep of this historical barn. The unique event will feature a horse drawn slip scraper for breaking the ground which was very common during the era of the original barn usage. Read More

Blood Drive in Honor of River Helmuth on September 10

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•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A blood drive in honor of River Helmuth will be held on Saturday, September 10 from 8 am to 2 pm at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. River is the daughter of Tony and Stephanie Helmuth of Sullivan. River was born in December 2015 and shortly after diagnosed with Down Syndrome and a heart condition that would require surgery. Read More

Law Enforcement Officers Train to Meet Requirements

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Law enforcement officers from Lovington, Sullivan and the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office participated in scenario based trained behind Mason Point last week during a three day training designed to meet training requirements set forth in the SAFT-T act implement in July of this year.

•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

For three days last week law enforcement officers from police departments throughout Moultrie County went through training to meet the training requirements set forth in the SAFE-T act implemented in July. The act requires 32 hours of scenario based training in a three-year period. Read More

ALAH School Board Passes Tentative FY 2023 Budget

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•August 24, 2022•
by Ariana R. Cherry
NP Writer

The ALAH School Board met Wednesday August 17, a few hours after some had just had their first day back at school after summer break. Principals and staff were excited and still giddy from the day’s activities. Principal Seegmiller and Nathan Seal had spent the day grilling out and playing games for the students’ first day. “It was the best first day of school I’ve ever had. It was awesome!” Seal said happily.
After sharing some of the day’s activities, the board got down to business and spoke about the tentative FY 2023 budget. Read More

MCHGS Moves into New Location

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Photo by Crystal Reed
MCHGS Moves into New Location
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society finished moving in to their new location on Wednesday, August 10. The museum portion of the building is not open to the public at this time. However, the library is open Tuesday and Thursday of each week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment by calling 217-728-4086. They are located at 1303 South Hamilton in Sullivan.

2022 Two Story Outhouse Festival

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Childrens Activities
Annalyn Clawson enjoyed going down the inflatable slide in the children’s area at the Two Story Outhouse Festival.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Showing Off Cars
This Jeep Sahara was in the festival spirit displaying a roll of toilet paper on its antenna during the car show at the Two Story Outhouse Festival in Gays.

Photo by Crystal Reed
A 1970 Plymouth Cuda owned by Gary and Jackie Huddlestun was on display during the car show at the Two Story Outhouse Festival.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Car Show Trophies
This year’s trophies for the car show at the Two Story Outhouse Festival were made out of car parts. In addition to the car show, the festival included food and craft vendors, live music and a children’s area with pony rides and inflatables.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Outhouse Replica
A two story outhouse replica was paraded down the street on the back of a bicycle during the Johnny Loo Small Engine Parade at the Gays Two Story Outhouse Festival.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Small Engine Parade
The Outhouse Festival Committee led the Johnny Loo Small Engine Parade Saturday in Gays.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Live Music
Jake Schumacher and the Workin’ Class Heroes were one of the bands that played under a tent in Gays during the Two Story Outhouse Festival. Other bands that played were Katzmandu and Danny Shelton and the Bird Dogs

Photo by Crystal Reed
Windsor FFA Serves Breakfast
Members of the Windsor FFA served breakfast and sold spaces for Bessie Bingo during the Gays Two Story Outhouse Festival on Saturday, August 13. Members are Robbie McDaniel, Rylan Rincker, Hannah Gossard, Kloey McDaniel, Claire Sims, Rhett Rincker and advisor Hallie Horsman.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Little Miss Mattoon
2021 Little Miss Mattoon Saylor Morgan rode in a wagon behind a lawnmower during the small engine parade at the Two Story Outhouse Festival. More photos are on page 8.

ARPA Fund Applications Available

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•August 17, 2022•
Moultrie County, along with counties and municipalities all over the country, is a recipient of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Moultrie County to date has received approximately $2.8 million from the US Treasury. The Moultrie County board assembled a bi-partisan ad hoc committee made up of members representing the villages and towns around the county. Read More