•July 15, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan is spending $39,000 for a digital marketing campaign to bring in tourists, who may become residents, of the city.
Chamber and Economic Development President Linda Huber introduced Marketing consultant Cassie Yoder, who proposed a six month digital marketing plan to promote tourism in Sullivan.
By using a multi media digital approach to niche markets, Yoder told the council people who are attracted to Sullivan for tourism can be potential residents.
Huber went on to point out if five families moved into Sullivan as a result of the digital commercials it would pay for the contract.
That was based on the formula that each family generates an average $8000 income for the city.
“This is good for business and economic development,” Mayor Richard Glazebrook said, urging the council to approve Yoder’s proposed six month campaign.
Commissioner Peggy Hargis, noting this was the first she had heard of such a plan, requested the item be tabled for commissioners to further review details. Read More

•July 15, 2020•
Lovington village board met Monday, July 13 with action expected on a request from Casey’s General Stores for curbside beer sales.
Casey’s request from Gayle Begalske proposed that a Casey employee take a tablet to the car, allowing the drivers license to be scanned and payment made prior to the sale.
At the regular meeting on June 8 guest Roger Brust questioned trustees on three points.
He was requesting the village have a clean up day. Read More

•July 15, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County farm is up for lease with bid packets available from July 15 through August 5 in the county clerk’s office.
Moultrie County board members approved continuing the two-year lease of the 217.58-acre county farm during the regular Thursday, July 9 meeting of the county board in courtroom A to accommodate social distancing.
In order to submit a cash rent proposal, the bidder must own 40 acres or live in Moultrie County.
Provisions to provide 2/3 ton of lime and maintain soil quality are the renter’s obligation.
An additional $5.40 fee from Ag Answers ensures soil fertility is maintained through tissue sample testing.
Bid opening is 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Clint Robinson entered the two-year lease in 2018 with a bid of $82,500 ($379.17A). The term expires October 31, 2020.
In 2018 four bidders showed interest in the county farm: Zeb Hughes bid $70,713.50 ($325A); Shuman Brothers bid $67,658.68 ($310.96A); Robinson, $82,500 and prior renter Mark Kuhns bid $75,520.26 ($347A). Read More

•July 8, 2020•
The Moultrie County Beacon annual Fried Pie Sale started with the usual high expectation and supporters came through, however due to the Covid 19 health crisis the sale is cancelled.
This is a major fundraiser for the Beacon, along with the Annual Beacon Benefit, which was also postponed this year.
Fried Pies were to be in production the week of March 16th with delivery to be March 19th.
As you recall, Governor Pritkzer of Illinois announced a statewide public health crisis due to Covid-19 at the same time, so production of pies was halted due to the need to social distance from others. Read More

Vanausdoll Goes to Tuscola
By Ariana Cherry,
for the News Progress

•July 1, 2020•

Superintendent Shannon Cheek and members of the Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond school board discussed what the upcoming school year could possibly look like this fall.
“It is a whole new way of thinking and a whole new way of creating,” Supt. Creek began. The school district was still waiting for guidance from the state.
Creek stated that more teachers had been added to the committee for remote learning. The district might be looking at a hybrid model, but there are a couple of different plans that are being discussed.
Some of those ideas included some grades doing remote learning at home while others would be in the school buildings and “vise-versa.”
Each teacher will be doing about 35-40 hours of remote learning training, which they all will do voluntarily. Teachers also will receive credit for doing the training. The committee will continue to develop plans this summer for mask regulations and how bus transportation will be handled, etc. Read More