Category Archives: News

Local Animal Shelters Empty as Pet Adoptions Rise during Pandemic

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•April 15, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

People who are confined or house-bound are longing for some kind of companionship and ways to calm frayed nerves during this virus epidemic.
What better way than with a fluffy kitten to cuddle or a rowdy puppy who will play fetch and take walks with you?
The Missouri Humane Society, short on dogs and cats, is offering baby goats for an adoption fee of $50.
In Moultrie County the Moultrie County PAWS was ordered to close by 5:00 pm this past Saturday. Founder and Director, Betsy Miller, said, “We were so lucky to find homes or foster homes for all our animals. We are now closed until further notice and not taking in any animals.” Read More

Top IPA Award

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File photo by R.R. Best
Top IPA Award
Moultrie County News Progress photographer Robert R. Best was awarded First Place in the Illinois Press Association 2019 contest. Best’s first place photograph was for Class 20 Spot News Photo in Division A. The photograph of the aftermath of the explosion of the Larry Schrock home in rural Sullivan showed fire fighters and police risking life and health in search of the lone survivor of the Feb. 1, 2019 fire. Illinois Press notified Best of the award April 1 with official presentation made during the IPA Convention October 22-23, 2020.

Windsor “Miss You” Parade

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Windsor “Miss You” Parade
Windsor CUSD 1 teachers and staff miss the students tremendously!
So much they had a parade through Windsor and Gays Thursday, April 2 beginning at 1 pm (in Windsor) and approximately 2 pm (in Gays).
The route began at the elementary school and traveled through town and down the east and west roads through the towns.
Social distancing maintained (at least 6 feet apart from one another and no more than 10 people in an area) during parade.
The streets were filled with students holding signs and cars of educator filled vehicles with plenty of waving teachers and staff.

CEFS Moultrie County Outreach Services Continue During Crisis

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Food Pantry Still Open
Above Jimmy Livingood of Bethany picked up his food box at the back door of the Harrison Street CEFS Moultrie County Food Pantry. The Sullivan based food pantry is operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Pantry director Lisa White explained due to social distancing requirements those seeking food orders should call 728-7721 and a Food Pantry volunteer will bring the order to the back door for loading. Easter is a time for greater needs and this year the anonymous ham donor has stepped up his donation to the Food Pantry. Sullivan IGA meat dept. manager Barry Golden explained the usual 100 ham order was increased to 150 hams for this Easter from the anonymous community benefactor. Director White explained Easter order requests have been made with delivery expected for Moultrie County Food Pantry recipients April 9.

•April 8, 2020•

C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation is still providing services in Moultrie County to those in need during this COVID-19 crisis.
Our doors are closed to the general public, but we are still providing services. Below are the services we are providing and contact information to obtain those services:
The Outreach office is providing rent assistance, homeless services, and referral services. Utility assistance (LIHEAP) is now available until June 30. Read More

Local Businesses Can Seek Emergency Funding

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•April 8, 2020•

The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development is working along with the city of Sullivan to help with emergency funding for local businesses.
“The Disaster Recovery Loan applications take about ten minutes to complete with an anticipated ten day turnaround,” SCED Director Laurrie Minor explained, noting there are businesses in Sullivan who have begun the application process.
“This is the time of year when our local businesses are ramping up for the season and they can’t do it under the circumstances,” she emphasized.
A second funding cycle begins with applications due April 15. Public notice will be issued April 22 and City Council review will occur May 4.
First round applications were to be submitted by April 6. Read More

Superintendent-Y Stuff: Where We Go From Here

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•April 1, 2020•
By Supt. Ted Walk,
Sullivan CUSD #300

This week’s update is dedicated once again to items related to COVID-19 issues. As of the time of submission of this article, students in Sullivan Schools are scheduled to return on April 13, but that may have changed by the time you are reading this article.
Over the weekend, the Illinois State Board of Education released some guidance on Remote Learning. Sullivan Schools have been preparing for this scenario for weeks. Students will be able to either access materials online or complete paper copies of assignments. If the closure is extended, we will be adding additional pick-up and drop-off dates for learning materials. Though the Governor’s stay-at-home directive has an exception for picking up remote learning materials, school personnel will be delivering packets to those who are unable to come in during designated pick-up times. Read More

Sullivan Suspends Utility Shut offs During Crisis

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•April 1, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

The city of Sullivan adopted an ordinance declaring a state of emergency due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus.
With social distancing observed at the March 23 city council meeting, the session was live streamed on FaceBook from the Elizabeth Titus Library.
Due to the pandemic associated with COVID-19 the city council approved immediate suspension of all residential utility customer shutoffs due to delayed or missed payments and further suspended residential customer late payment fees or penalties through April 30,2020 Read More

HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Cares for COVID-19 Patient

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•March 31, 2020•
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed that a patient being treated at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19. The patient is a woman in her 50s who presented to the emergency department at St. Mary’s on Wednesday, March 25, and we received a positive confirmation for the virus that causes COVID-19 on Friday, March 27. The patient’s condition is stable. The patient is under quarantine and receiving care at the hospital.
St. Mary’s Hospital is providing all care precautions for our colleagues and patients in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and IDPH.
“We have a multidisciplinary team onsite that is continuing to keep our colleagues prepared,” said Mike Hicks, president and chief executive officer for St. Mary’s Hospital. “We continue to ask the community to do its part by practicing social distancing, washing their hands and doing all they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to ensure that we will continue to be prepared to care for those most in need during this time.”
The hospital continues to implement numerous precautions to identify any potentially infected persons and prevent illnesses from spreading. As a reminder, St. Mary’s has implemented a no visitor policy with few exceptions.

Election Drop Off Streamlines Moultrie County Vote for Judges

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Virus Requires Innovation

•March 25, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

The Tuesday, March 17 election was met with challenges created by COVID-19, but Moultrie County completed the primary without incident and in record time.
The first precincts were delivered to the courthouse at 7:31 p.m. and the final precincts arrived at 8:26 p.m.
Of the 8,422 registered voters in the county 2,378 voted for a 28.24% turnout.
One measure that was taken to protect election judges was the County Clerk’s office had drive up service. Each precinct’s judges drove to the west door of the courthouse, the official packets were gathered by courthouse personnel allowing election judges to go home rather than wait inside the courthouse.
“We did this to protect the election judges,” County Clerk Georgia England said, noting once they delivered final packets they went home without entering the courthouse. Read More

District Discusses Plans During the COVID19 Pandemic

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•March 25, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

Practicing their social distancing by sitting six feet away from each other, the ALAH School Board met Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm with the principals not in attendance.
Before discussing the agenda, Darren Powell of Lovington who is on the Lovington Board of Trustees and serves with the Lovington ambulance service, approached board members about possibly making the old football field at the Lovington Grade School a designated landing zone for Medevac helicopter. Currently, the ambulance has landing zones in Arthur and Sullivan. Superintendent, Shannon Cheek, suggested that they come up with an intergovernmental agreement before moving forward.
Powell will return in April with an agreement that the board could look at. Read More