•November 18, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A motion to approve an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation regarding cost sharing responsibilities for the improvement of the Illinois Route 32 intersection with Moultrie County Highway 4, Section 1,2 N unanimously failed Thursday evening. The Moultrie County Board, in a letter drafted and signed by county engineer Jeff Birch and board chair Dave McCabe, opted to record their opposition to the current IDOT plans for the intersection.
The county is responsible for one leg of the intersection while the remainder of the intersection is the responsibility of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Birch said the plans for the road include a raised concrete median where the left turn lane is located. “IDOT proposed something that the county just can’t agree with,” he said. Read More

ALAH Principals Present School Improvement Plans
Superintendent Cheek shares COVID19 update

•November 11, 2020•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Superintendent Shannon Cheek opened the ALAH school board meeting Oct. 21 with the treasurer’s report, noting that all funds are on track. Cheek mentioned that the district received four very generous donations in the past month. The one of which he is most proud came from Jack Martin, a senior, who donated his time and materials to power wash the front of the school building.  A total of $3,400 was collected in donations from Edward Jones for the FFA and Ag programs and Aikman’s Wildlife Adventures. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center also reimbursed $700 to the athletic program.
The district obtained a grant which allows them to purchase and provide all students in the district with water bottles. The grant covers half of the expense. The ALAH district also applied for a grant through ADM in the amount of $14,000 which will assist in paying for a tractor and seed cleaner for the district’s popcorn field as well as purchase a camera for documentation. After some popcorn has been harvested, the district will donate some to ADM as a thank you. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed.
Andrew Fultz of Bethany casts his vote on Election day at the Bethany Firehouse.

•November 11, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The elections were held last Tuesday and the county saw one of the highest turnouts ever.
In the 2020 Moultrie County election Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England reported that there were over 3,000 people that went to the polls. There were 1,809 people that voted during early voting and 1,163 that voted by mail.
When it came to voting on the State of Illinois Constitutional amendment there were 1,477 votes for yes and 5,089 votes for no. There was also a referendum question for Illinois separation that received 4,610 yes votes and 1,969 no votes.
There were six candidates that ran for four County Board seats. Totals for the county board race were Elizabeth Houser 4,769; J. John Fayhee 3,854; Larry R. Baker 3,799; Neil Bryan 3,623; Rita Florey 2,549 and Gary P. Smith 2,417. Read More

Photo submitted
A sign in the Sullivan IGA promoting the 9th Annual Round Up which benefits the Moultrie County Food Pantry.

•November 4, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

It’s Round-Up time at Sullivan IGA from now to Nov 7 giving every customer a chance to help buy turkeys for Moultrie County Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving.
“It’s amazing how quickly it adds up,” IGA Manager Pat Stinson said of the ninth annual fundraising event for the food pantry.
“The most you can donate is 99 cents and even a penny makes a difference” he continued, noting the week long event contributes some $1,200 annually to the food pantry’s Thanksgiving meal giveaway.
Over the course of the week, Stinson explained, some 6,500 transactions at Sullivan IGA check out counter raise the funds a few cents at a time for the food pantry. Read More

•October 28, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development and Moultrie County News Progress co-sponsored a candidate forum last Wednesday evening at the Little Theatre on the Square. The moderator for the event was Amanda Standerfer, and time keeper was Laurrie Minor. A video of the forum may be found on the News Progress Facebook page.
The first part of the forum was for Moultrie County Board. Gary Smith was the first to speak. He is a lifetime resident of Moultrie County and was raised on a farm south of Lovington. He went to school in Lovington and graduated from Lake Land College. Upon graduation he began working at the grain elevator in Lovington and finished his 45 years at the elevator, retiring in early October.
He has been mayor of Lovington for more than 20 years as well as the fire chief in Lovington and president of Habitat for Humanity of Moultrie County. Read More