•July 21, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

After a long discussion at the June meeting, the Moultrie County Board voted 7-2 to reestablish voting precinct lines in Sullivan Township. After last month’s meeting, they returned to Bruce Harris and Associates and asked them to redraw the map. All the precincts are well under 800 voters each which leaves room for growth.
The new map was drawn for Sullivan Township only. Precinct lines have no bearing for whom a person votes, just the location at where a person votes.
Board members also voted 7-2 to allow the state’s attorney’s office to hire a part-time investigator for the remainder of the fiscal year for 14 hours a week at the rate of $14.00 to $15.50 an hour based on experience. State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver reported that this investigator would assist the state’s attorney’s office with things such as reviewing body camera footage and serving subpoenas. The office needs additional help in light of the criminal justice reforms that have come about from the state of Illinois. Read More

•July 14, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

David Bowers, a trustee of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society, spoke to the council concerning a proposal from Metro Communications to purchase the society’s building. The organization believes they have found a location to meet their needs. They are applying for a loan through the USDA; however, they also want some assistance from the city of Sullivan. “We understand that the council members may be unaware of our situation until now,” he said, “but we feel we have undertaken our move as a benefit for the city of Sullivan and its citizens in order to provide Zac Horn and Metro Communications the opportunity to have space adjacent to the business headquarters in order for them to grow in Sullivan.”
Bowers continued to say they are asking for assistance in the way of a $100,000 revolving loan and a grant of $100,000 from the city. They also plan to have a capital campaign and multiple events to take place at their new location if they can secure the funds to purchase it. “Our museum space will be more than doubled,” Bowers explained, “so we will have many displays that have often been rotated or not yet been seen.” Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Left to right: Heather Beck, John Stephens and Bonner Church, along with Emily Bacino Althaus, headlined the Little Theatre July 2 concert.

•July 7, 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

John Stephens, Executive Producer of the Little Theatre, peeked out at the June 4 free concert crowd and couldn’t hold back the tears. “We are performers,” he said, “and the audience is everything to us. For nearly two years we have come to a darkened theater and struggled to survive Covid-19. It was so emotional to see the large crowd waiting for our first post-pandemic performance and the chance to finally perform again.”
Continuing, John said, “The theatre has lost over a million dollars in revenues, and we have had to release valued staff during these 16 months. Our incredibly generous donors, sponsors and foundation grants have helped us survive so these three free concerts are our thank-you to an amazing community for their abiding support of this treasured theatre. With the grants we could bring our family of talented performers and not just put anyone on the stage.”
The July 2 crowd doubled the previous month’s size with the street fronting the theatre a sea of lawn chairs that flowed up and over the courthouse lawn. An estimated 400-500 people turned out to see perennial favorites, Heather Beck, Bonner Church and Emily Bacino Althaus sing their hearts out in a two-hour program of some 25 hit songs. Read More

• Click HERE for the Sullivan 4th of July activities photos

• Click HERE for the Bethany Celebration activities photos

Photo by Ashley Rincker Photography
Sullivan resident Jennifer Hobbs released her first book “CALMED. Growth After Trauma” on July 1. She will be at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Tuesday, July 13 from 6 to 7 pm for a meet and greet and book signing. She will also be at 5 West Coffee and Wine Lounge on Thursday, July 15 from 5pm to 7 pm where she will be doing a reading from her book.

•July 7, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Jennifer Hobbs spends her days during the school year teaching third grade at Sullivan Elementary School, but in December 2003, life was very different. Hobbs and her husband are Army National Guard veterans and were deployed December 7, 2003 with the 1544th Transportation Company out of Paris. The book titled CALMED, Growth After Trauma, is told from the perspective of Jennifer, along with Ryan Hobbs, who is now her husband.
The book contains background on how they both ended up joining the military and serving in the same unit. The 1544th Transportation Company of Paris lost five people during that deployment which is indicated by five sets of combat boots in the book’s cover design.
Jennifer’s husband was hit by a roadside bomb on October 6, 2004. She says her husband went through a lot after being hit by the bomb, and she was hoping he would co-author the book, but his perspective is still contained in the text. “He spoke and I tried to write his perspective and tone as best I could,” she said. The book was available for pre-order during the month of June and had an online launch July 1. Read More