•December 8, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A program from the University of Illinois Extension held at Mid-Illinois Senior Services and Community Center is helping to keep brains active with fun activities. According to Cheri Burcham, University of Illinois Extension Family Life Educator, brain health is a hot topic because there is a huge population that is aging. The program called Wit Fit meets monthly at the center. Read More
District Facilities Committee Planning Process
•December 1, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
Arthur CUSD is looking to the future to ensure their students have what they need to be successful. U-Knight 305 is a community led master planning program tasked with identifying the current and future goals, aspirations and facility needs of the Arthur CUSD #305 School District.
The U Knights website (https://sites.google.com/bldd.com/u-knight305/home) has the latest presentation from meetings and a video from the first community engagement session. Read More
•December 1, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
Members of the ALAH school board met at the Atwood Grade School at their recent school board meeting held November 17. Superintendent Shannon Cheek reported that some of their bills were a bit larger than usual - one of the reasons being that they had both bond payments and interest that needs to be paid. There was nothing new to report in the treasurer’s report, but Cheek stated that the district received a payment from transportation; although it was the first they had received for this calendar year.
The audit for the calendar year through June 30, 2021 was presented. The district received financial recognition with a 3.9 Financial Score. Financial recognition is the highest level in the financial finding process. This recognition was also received in last year’s audit. In the treasurer’s bond finding, there were no bank accounts overdrawing the shares, and balances were being kept where they needed to be. The district’s debt is a total of $2.89 million dollars. COVID had an effect in some parts of the audit such as attendance, which was mainly because of many students having to quarantine or do remote learning during the last school year. The 305 School District attendance was down 86 students. The auditor mentioned that in most of the reports they did, these figures were all over the board for many school districts. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Angie (left) and Cory Neal (right) at their farm Moonlight Acres outside of Bethany. Currently the farm offers Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, and grave blankets and pillows for sale.
•December 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Moonlight Acres is ready for the holiday season. The farm which is located near Bethany has shifted their focus to the holiday season with Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, grave blankets and pillows. They have Frasier, Balsam, White Pine and Concolors for sale. Last year they received reports that their trees and wreaths held up and stayed green into the month of January.
This is the second year of business for Cory and Angie Neal. Earlier this year they planted their own trees, but they will not be ready for seven years. Grave blankets and pillows may be ordered and are decorated for no extra charge. “We want people to feel like we did it just for them,” Angie said. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Family Reading Night
Okaw Valley Elementary School Principal Heidi Vander Burgh reads a story during Family Reading Night at Marrowbone Public Library.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Demonstrating Musical Instruments
Kathy Doty, Music and Tech teacher at Okaw Valley Elementary School, demonstrates a didgeridoo during Family Reading Night. This year’s theme was Can You Read Music?
Photo by R.R. Best
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
Moultrie County Health Department, in conjunction with IDPH-IEMA, hosted two COVID-19 Booster and Vaccine Clinics last week at the Sullivan American Legion. The next clinic will be held on Friday, December 10 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Sullivan American Legion. This clinic will have Adult Covid-19 (including Pfizer for ages 12 and up) vaccines and boosters and pediatric (Pfizer for ages 5-11). For more information visit www.moultriehealth.org.
Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Kevin Corley, a retired teacher and school administrator from Shelbyville, spoke at the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society annual dinner on Thursday, November 18.
•November 24, 2021•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer
Members and friends of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society gathered November 18 for the annual dinner meeting at the Sullivan American Legion Hall. The guest speaker was author and historian Kevin Corley.
Corley taught history and coached several sports for many years in local high schools. Since retiring, he has pursued his real love of writing about the history he had shared with his students. His particular focus has been on some of the darker historical events in central and southern Illinois.
His first novel, “Sixteen Tons”, tells the incredible, violent story of central Illinois coal mining from 1898-1933. Corley used a power-point presentation with photographs for each of his five novels. Read More
Photo furnished
Command Sergeant Major Richard Carroll from the Illinois National Guard speaking to a crowd at Sullivan VFW on Veterans Day.
•November 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Sullivan VFW welcomed Command Sergeant Major Richard Carroll of Mattoon to speak about what it means to him to be a veteran on Veterans Day.
In June 1987, he was 17 years old and stepped off the bus at Fort McClellan in Alabama. He revealed that he joined the National Guard for the discipline and focus. In the summer of 1990, he was working security at the State Fair in the National Guard tent.
The next thing he knew, a few months later, he found himself in the middle of the desert during Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Carroll exited the Army in 1995 to pursue a family and his career in law enforcement. “It just never left me, and I think a lot of people who have served feel the same way,” he said. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
The Houser Agency
Production Assistant Jorjia Clements, Insurance Agent Kyler Houser and Financial Representative Elizabeth Houser.
•November 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Elizabeth Houser has added a new agent to her office, her son Kyler. A meet and greet was held at Country Financial at the end of October. With the addition of Kyler, the agency has become the Houser Agency.
Elizabeth started with Country Companies on March 28,2011. She has made six All Americans in a row. Recently there had been discussion about bringing in an associate agent but after another Country Companies agent retired recently Kyler was brought in as an agent.
Kyler graduated from Sullivan High School in 2016 and from Eastern Illinois University in 2020 with a degree in broadcast meteorology and earth science. Prior to going into insurance he worked for Marvin Keller. In his spare time he enjoys flying drones, ping pong and solving Rubik’s cubes.
He is fully licensed in auto, home, life, health, farm and commercial insurance as well as brokerage policies and medicare supplement.
According to Elizabeth their clients have 24/7 access to them whether it be by text, calling or e-mail. The Houser Agency is located at 1102 W. Jackson in Sullivan and can be reached by phone at 217-728-2591.
Photo furnished
Twenty four veterans and their boat drivers participated in the Second Annual Anglers Tribute to Veterans on Lake Shelbyville on Saturday, November 13.
•November 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Second Annual Anglers Tribute to Veterans was held Saturday, November 13, on Lake Shelbyville. This year the number of veterans participating was 24; last year, which was the first year for the event, 12 veterans went out on the water.
The day started with a color presentation by Sullivan American Legion and VFW, a word of prayer and the playing of “Taps.” Then, the veterans and their boat drivers went out on Lake Shelbyville for a day of fishing. Read More