Photo furnished
Jim McMahan has retired from Bethany Fire Protection District. He is pictured with the truck that was purchased when he served as Fire Chief.

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Troy Yokley recently retired from Bethany Fire Protection District. He was known as the department “chef.”

•January 5, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Bethany Fire Protection District

recently recognized three of their members who are retiring from the department, Jim McMahan, Tom Rucker and Troy Yokley.
McMahan came to the department in 1997. He served with the department for many years before holding the position of fire chief in the years 2013 through 2017. Over the years, the district has had countless cleanup days where the bays and trucks get cleaned, and nine times out of 10 he was there. After retiring as fire chief, he opted to stay on as a volunteer. He retired at the end of 2020 but returned in 2021 when response numbers were down and something as simple as a driver was needed.

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Tom Rucker recently retired from the Bethany Fire Protection District. After retiring as Fire Chief he came back as a volunteer.

Tom Rucker came to the department in 1988. He joined the department and continued his education in EMS and became an EMT. Rucker has advanced through the ranks of the department from FF/EMT, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Assistant Fire Chief and then Fire Chief from 2018 to 2019. He then retired from the position but didn’t want to retire from the department. Rucker has seen all but one of the department’s vehicles purchased and was on the committee for most of the apparatus currently in service.
Troy Yokley came to Bethany Fire in 2014. He was the department “chef.” When the department would have fundraisers that involved burgers, that was Yokley’s pride and joy. A couple months after he joined the fire department, his daughter tragically passed away in an accident. Troy and his wife Ella created the Chalyssa Yokley Foundation whereby a gift is presented to the firefighter and EMT of the year within the department.[/s2If]

•January 5, 2022•
June 2
Memorial Day services were held in Bethany and Sullivan. The Sullivan American Legion conducted ceremonies at Greenhill and Moultrie County Cemetery; Bethany American Legion led ceremonies at Marrowbone Township Cemetery. In Sullivan Pastor Bob Vail lead prayer and Becky Lawson spoke. At Marrowbone Township Cemetery, the Bethany American Legion held their ceremony at the Civil War monument. Chaplain Jack Scott led prayer and Pastor Marge Overlot spoke.
Sullivan residents Siobhan and Austin Hunter found a box of family memories when they cleaned out her grandfather’s barn. Through Facebook and other efforts they were able to find a person to return the box to. That person was Wayne Carter of Decatur. Read More

•December 29, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

At the beginning of the ALAH School Board meeting held Wednesday, December 15, a couple students from the fourth grade at Arthur Elementary showed the board some of their recent products they created from home while learning about economics. Students from the classes of Mrs. Eads and Mrs. Martinez asked students to use their imagination to create a product they could market to other students. Students were given the chance to showcase their products in the cafeteria, and three people from each class were given the chance to come shop for free.
In doing all of this, students also learned lessons about supply and demand. Superintendent Shannon Cheek commented on the talent and creativity from all the students and also browsed through their “market” that was presented in the cafeteria.
Parent Sam Miller questioned the board on whether there had been any more discussion regarding whether masks would be optional in the school district. “At that time, the motion was to see if there were any other options out there,” replied President Beth Wiley. “There haven’t really been any changes at this time. It is something that we will have to discuss as a board to see where we are at this time,” she added. Read More

•December 22, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

John Vander Burgh was appointed to the Moultrie County Board during their monthly meeting Thursday, December 9. He fills the vacancy left by Dave McCabe who resigned in November. Vander Burgh and his wife Heidi live in Bethany and their three children have attended Okaw Valley schools. He has a farm, a forensic accounting firm called 20/20 Forensic Accounting and Vander Burgh Financial Services.
Vander Burgh is an MBA, a CPA and a certified fraud examiner. He has worked in public accounting firms, national corporations and banking. In addition to now being a Moultrie County board member he is also the treasurer of the Okaw Valley School Board.
“I feel a civic responsibility to use my God-given abilities to help,” Vander Burgh said. He continued to say that he doesn’t have any preconceived notions about the board position; he just wants to help in a leadership capacity. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, family activities and being involved in church.