Category Archives: News

Celebrating FFA Week

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Students Visit Animals
Elise Hagerman and Cheyanne Gourley pet a horse during the petting zoo at Okaw Valley High School last Friday.

Straw Bale Toss
At immediate left, students and staff participated in a straw bale toss at Windsor High School as part of the school’s FFA week activities. The school also had dress up days that included Dress Like A Windsor FFA Officer, Wear Your FFA Shirt, Dress Like A Farmer, Support Your Favorite Tractor and Wear Red or Green and Wear Your Favorite Ag based Hat Day. The group hosted an ag coloring contest at the grade school and two divisions of an ag photo contest for the junior high and high school students and staff.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Petting Zoo
Jack Grooms pets a pig that is being held by Mia Harris during the petting zoo at Okaw Valley High School last Friday. Due to the pandemic, Okaw Valley’s FFA is spreading out some of its activities to celebrate FFA week. This month they plan to have a tractor drive-in day, a pork burger cookout for the FFA students and an ag open house towards the end of the month.

Photo submitted
Tractor Day
Windsor High School students with one of the tractors brought to the school for Drive Your Tractor To School Day.

Governor Signs the Criminal Justice Reform Legislation Bill

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•March 3, 2021•
Last week Governor JB Pritzker signed the criminal justice reform legislation omnibus bill (HB 3653 (Rep. Slaughter,Chicago/Sen. Sims,Chicago) into law. This was despite overwhelming express opposition by state’s attorneys, police chiefs, sheriffs, police officers, crime victims, and many citizens across Illinois. The opposition is not just to significant portions of contents of the bill but also the way the bill was passed. On January 13, 2021,the 764-page bill was presented to the Illinois Senate at 3:04 a.m. and was voted on that same morning at 4:49 a.m. Read More

COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Effects on Mental Health

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•March 3, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

From wearing masks to social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes to our lives in the past year. While some social distancing is good, don’t let that turn into complete isolation from others.
According to kff.org, during the pandemic, about four in 10 adults in the United States have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in 10 adults who reported those symptoms from January to June 2019. A KFF Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 also found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance abuse (12%) and worsening chronic conditions (12%) due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.
Dave Cole, director of the Moultrie County Counseling Center, said that statistically there has been a rise in mental health concerns and substance abuse due to the coronavirus. “I feel that it is a very big concern that the longer COVID continues it becomes an ongoing issue,” he said. Read More

Pets Need Extra Care In Frigid Weather

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by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Because cats and dogs are covered in fur, we tend to think they are protected from the cold, but such is not the case. Dogs and cats are as susceptible to frostbite as humans, especially on the former’s ears, tails and feet.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that if it’s too cold for you to be outdoors, it is probably too cold for your pets as well.
My cousin’s husband, Dr. Trent Fisher, is a graduate of Purdue University Veterinary School and is recently retired after many years at his veterinary clinic in Salem, Indiana. Dr. Fisher offers the following tips for pet care during the winter:
.  Make sure dogs and cats are microchipped or have a collar in case they get lost. More dogs are lost in winter storms than any time of the year.
.  Make sure they have shelter to keep them warm and dry. If sheltered outside, bed them with straw and blankets and turn their shelter away from the wind. Read More

City Council Approves Agreement

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•February 24, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The City Council entered into an intergovernmental agreement for the transfer of property from the Moultrie County Rural Public Water District to the city of Sullivan during Monday night’s meeting. The purchase price of the property which is adjacent to the water plant is $10,000. The acquirement of the property will allow for some space between the new water plant and the above-ground water storage tank. Read More

ALAH District Extends School Day by Half an Hour, Dismissal at 2:00 P.M. to Begin March 1

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Board hires Marla Graham as the new Lovington Grade School Principal
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Jacob Bettinger, an Eagle Scout, attended the ALAH District School Board meeting Wednesday, February 17. Last year he had informed the board of his plan to build an enclosed see-through bus stop shelter at Lovington Grade School.
The enclosed bus stop will measure approximately 6 ft. by 12 ft. to accommodate 10-12 students and will be located east of the old Lovington High School parking lot. He wishes to buy the supplies to build the enclosure rather than buy a prebuilt one as that would be more cost effective. Prebuilt structures cost about $6,000 whereas it would be only around $3,000 to build one himself. He hopes to get sponsors, donations and volunteers to help. His reasoning behind choosing this as his project is because he and his parents have noticed several of the high school students waiting to ride the bus from Lovington to Arthur outside in the elements - especially when it is either raining or snowing. Superintendent Shannon Creek is very pleased with Jacob’s idea and mentioned it would be a great idea to document the project as it is built. After the board reads through some of the designs and plans for the project, they are looking forward to signing its approval. Read More

City of Sullivan Establishes A Revolving Loan Program

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•February 17, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
During the Feb 8 City Council meeting, an ordinance establishing a revolving loan program for the city of Sullivan was approved. The council appropriated a sum of $400,000 for initial funding of the program.
Prior to 1992, the US Department of Agriculture had a revolving loan program available to communities at low interest rates to push development and employment. That program had the amount of $250,000 appropriated to it. City Administrator Dan Flannell said that through that program the city of Sullivan made many loans to businesses, but as interest rates declined the need for the program went away. Read More

Austin Kelley wins Moultrie County Spelling Bee

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Photo submitted
Moultrie County Spelling Bee Champion Austin Kelley with a book he got to help prepare him for the bee. Austin is the son of RJ and Dawn Kelley.

•February 17, 2021•
The Moultrie County Spelling Bee was held last Wednesday virtually using the Scripps online platform. Students participating in the virtual bee were from Lovington Grade and the Sullivan School District.
Sullivan School District participants were James Conlin, Austin Kelley, Hannah Creek, Brady Stollard, Landon Jesse, Xandria Smith. Alternates were Rowan Mast and Nixon Dundee. Lovington Grade School participants were Isabella Menna, Brian Hadley, Rylie Pitts, Macelyn Boddy, Maxton Boddy and Jacob Hurt. Alternates were Makenna Liming and Samantha Fowler.
Austin Kelley from Sullivan School District was named the Moultrie County Spelling Bee Champion. Runner-up was Maxton Boddy from Lovington Grade School. Austin will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 13 at 9 am at Richland Community College in Decatur.

Board Approves Resolution Urging Governor To Veto Bill Regarding Criminal Justice Reform

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•February 17, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board met last Thursday night and approved a resolution urging Governor Pritzker to veto House Bill 3563 regarding criminal justice reform. “Most of us feel pretty strongly about the negative aspects of this legislation,” County Board Chairman Dave McCabe said.
The bill was passed by the Illinois House and Senate in January. The News Progress reported in January that the bill was concerning for local officials.
Some of the things included in the bill include eliminating cash bail, requiring body cameras to be in place by 2022 with all agencies having them implemented by 2025. Read More

City Council Hears Citizens Concerns About Utility Rates

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Photo by Crystal Reed.
Chase Eller (right) receives a certificate from Mayor Richard Glazebrook (left) during the city council meeting. Eller recently saved a baby from choking when he was dining at a restaurant in Decatur.

•February 10, 20201•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Citizens expressed their concerns about utility rates during Monday’s meeting of the Sullivan City Council. Allison Beard addressed the council saying her utility bill this past month was almost $400.
“My boyfriend has recently started going to work early every day of the week just so we can afford to pay this extremely high utility bill,” she said. Beard added that she has had several people reach out to her saying their bills are high as well.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook said the staff has put a lot of time in this and received a lot of calls. He said that the usage is up and is a lot more than it was last year. Read More