Category Archives: News Section

County Board Legislative Committee Recommends Changes To Cannabis Ordinance

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•September 8, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board Legislative Committee met Friday, September 3, and voted to recommend changes to the cannabis business establishments ordinance to the board. According to county board chairman Dave McCabe, they were required by state ordinance to pass an ordinance relative to allowing or prohibiting cannabis businesses by December 2019.
Will Bates, who owns Central Roofing and Central Storage Solutions in Sullivan, began pursuing craft grower and dispensary licenses about seven months ago. He said their main goal is to do the craft grow only in Moultrie County and not the dispensary. According to Bates, “The state requires us to set up programs where we donate up to a certain percentage to substance abuse centers, veterans support and schools. A well-run facility can generate a lot of money for the community.” Read More

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground for New Build

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Photo by Crystal Reed
New homeowner Tammy Martin and Rev. Bob Vail break ground on the new Habitat home while Gary Smith, President of Moultrie County Habitat Board of Directors looks on.

•September 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity broke ground on their 31st build Sunday. Tammy Martin and her sons Trey and Timothy were selected for this home. Tammy is a single mother and native of Sullivan.
She has worked in the local high school cafeteria for seven years. Trey and Timothy are autistic. The boys enjoy watching Disney movies and spending time with their grandpa Ron Martin. Tammy has rented homes for many years, and home ownership appeared to be an unrealistic dream. Read More

Windsor Native Releases First Book

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Jeremy David Williams had a book signing at Windsor Storm Memorial Public Library recently. His first book “The Price of Survival” is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Williams is pictured with his high school english teacher Nancy Fontaine.

•September 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Jeremy David Williams, a Windsor native and 2004 Windsor High School graduate, recently released his first book. He wrote the book his senior year of high school, he picked it up again in college to edit it and then a few years ago picked it up again to have it professionally edited.
The book is a sci-fi adventure titled “The Price of Survival” and is book four in the Trials of Triangulum series. Williams said that in the book its a battle between good vs. good and the evil deeds that good people sometimes have to do. The story also has gripping characters. Read More

Senator Chapin Rose Speaks at ALAH District School Board Meeting

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•September 1, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Senator Chapin Rose made an appearance at the most recent ALAH School Board meeting and spoke about his plan for pursuing a class action lawsuit regarding Governor Pritzker’s latest mask mandates for all schools in Illinois.
“The mask isn’t an issue, Rose said, “I am a lawyer, but I am not allowed to give legal advice,” he noted. Rose related that he has buckets of schools who have decided not to comply with the recent mask mandate, have been threatened that their funding will be taken away and will not be able to be a recognized school, etc. “They have been coerced into a position of compliance,” he said.  “What is fundamentally an unAmerican action is threatening restraint for a vote that is never going to happen anyway. I don’t care what anyone’s view is about masks or not masks - you can’t threaten an official’s license to force them to take action or refrain from taking action,” Rose added. He went on to share his idea for taking action against the mandate.
“It makes no sense for a school district to go at it alone. The idea is that everybody gets in a room and puts money in a pot to go forward in the name of local control - this is not about masks or no masks. School boards have the right to say what they want. No, JB,” he said. Rose explained that there would be a meeting for school districts who are interested in moving forward against the governor. They would share the cost of the lawsuit by pooling their money. Read More

Counties Unite In Relay for Life

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Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Survivors beginning their lap at the Coles-Moultrie County Relay for Life last Saturday at Peterson Park in Mattoon.

•August 25 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

The Relay for Life is one of the Cancer Society’s major fundraisers, but Covid has prevented the relay from being held for the past two years. With limited funds to restart their program, the Moultrie and Coles county relays have combined resources and created the Coles-Moultrie County Relay for Life.
Their first fundraiser was held Saturday, August 21, at Mattoon in Peterson Park. The theme was “Saddle Up-Let’s Ride” so a lot of ladies wore blinged-out jeans and cowboy boots while children were treated to horse and pony rides.
Kathy Beals, event leader, noted that attendance was far less than expected due to the high temperature and humidity. She said “Normally, we try to have at least one member of each team on the track at all times, but some teams don’t have anyone walking the laps. It is just too hot.” Read More

City Council Tables Bruder Tank TARP Project

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•August 25 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The City Council tabled the Bruder Tank TARP Project during Monday night’s meeting. The business is planning to expand their Sullivan operations by adding an additional facility at 1201 S. Hamilton Street. The project was to be paid for using a $225,000 state legislative grant and $12,045.82 from TIF fund.
City Administrator Dan Flannell reminded the council there had been a strategic planning meeting designating the grant for the city building; however, Mayor Richard Glazebrook noted that they wanted the money to go into infrastructures such as roads. He said he talked with Chapin Rose’s office, and he indicated it could be put on this road.
Flannell said, “Are they aware that it’s not infrastructure? It’s not infrastructure if it’s built on private property.” He went on to say that Bernius does not own that tract and that Phyllis Harshman owns that ground. “All Mr. Bernius has is an easement across that,” Flannell said. He continued to say that it would be going on private property, and all Mr. Bernius has is an easement to access that. The land is private property, not a public street.
Glazebrook tabled this item to the next meeting. Read More

Gary Rabine Bus Tour Stops in Arthur

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Gary Rabine, a candidate for Governor, visited Yoder’s Kitchen in Arthur on Tuesday, August 17. The stop was part of a two-day bus tour through downstate Illinois leading up to Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair.

•August 25 2021•
Gary Rabine, a candidate for Governor, was in Arthur on Tuesday, August 17 as part of a two-day bus tour through downstate Illinois leading up to Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair where he emphasized the failed policies of the past and how they will only result in more failed outcomes for Illinois families.
“Illinois is never going to fix its problem by electing the same kind of woke, liberal politicians,” Rabine said. “Failed career politicians have declared a war on families. Whether it’s nonsense mandates, or debilitating tax increases or their horrific approach to crime, our state leaders are waging war on our families, and it is costing us dearly.”
Rabine said it is not the role of government to make healthcare decisions for individuals and families and to intrude in our lives as is happening far too frequently now. Read More

Buck Retires After Over 40 Years of Volunteer Fire and EMS Service

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Robert Buck, 78, of Findlay, celebrated his retirement after 40+ years of service as a firefighter at the Findlay American Legion. He is pictured with several plaques and a house resolution that was presented to him by State Representative Brad Halbrook.

•August 25 2021•
Robert Buck, 78, of Findlay celebrated his retirement from the fire service on Saturday at the Findlay American Legion. The day was made even more special with a visit from State Representative Brad Halbrook who presented a resolution from the Illinois House of Representatives in recognition of Buck’s years of service.
Buck began his service with the Shelby Fire District in 1980 and became in EMT in 1984 and worked on the Township Aid Ambulance for the Iroquois Memorial Hospital. He later became an EMT Intermediate and Firefighter 2. Buck served as the President of the Eastern Illinois Regional Fire Aid from 1988-1992. Read More

Chalk the Walk

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Chalk the Walk
Bo and Viola Neal stand near some of their chalk drawings that they drew at Okaw Valley Elementary School on Monday night.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Be Super This Year
Kala and Hank Cesar with Hank’s chalk drawing that he drew at Okaw Valley Elementary School. The Okaw Valley PTO sponsored the event that encouraged families to come chalk the walk prior to the first day of school.

Comments Get Heated About Mask Mandates at Special Public Meeting of the ALAH School Board

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•August 18, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Concerned parents, guardians and members of the ALAH school district community filed into the high school gym Thursday, August 11, to voice their concerns about the recent mask mandate that Governor Pritzker has put into place. At the time of the public meeting, the school had voted on a safe return to school plan, citing that “masks were recommended for those who were not vaccinated,” but they wouldn’t be checking vaccination statuses, etc. The district wanted to focus more on being educators and not allowing the pandemic to get in the way. Although, with the rising cases of the new Delta variant, many of us are feeling “deja-vu”, and it seems as if we are on replay from last year as mandates and mitigations come back into our lives once again. Read More