Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Lincoln Day Dinner
State Senator Darren Bailey spoke during the Moultrie County Lincoln Day Dinner held at the Sullivan VFW last Tuesday night, March 16. He is a state senator for the 55th district and is running for governor. The event was sponsored by the Moultrie County Republican Central Committee.
Board approves to move forward for bids for roof work at AGS and LGS
AHGS is approved for boiler replacement
•March 24, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
ALAH Superintendent Shannon Cheek reported that the district still has not received a transportation payment but noted that he is still hoping to get one more. Cheek also informed the board that all of the CARES dollars have been exhausted, and the grant for the second round is open and available for the school district to start developing a plan on how they will allocate the dollars. The district has until September 2023 to spend those funds. A tentative plan will be brought to the board to begin planning how those CARES dollars will be used.
“We are looking at a significant amount,” said Cheek. “I am estimating it to be around $900,000. We want to be careful with those funds. I am pretty proud of the route we took with the last funds. We were able to be responsible with the spending, and we were also pretty strategic about how we approached it. We need to be even more strategic about how we approach the second round,” stated Cheek.
Athletic Director Nathan Seal reported that the district is finishing up its basketball season, and the junior high is finishing volleyball. Seal complimented the coaches and athletes for doing their part in following all the guidelines. “I feel good that we are participating in all sports, and our kids are getting an opportunity to play,” he added. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings was recently made a full time chief/paramedic with the Bethany Fire Department. This allows the fire department to offer paramedic level services during business hours.
•March 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Recently the decision was made to make Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings a full time chief/paramedic. This decision allows the fire department to offer paramedic level services during business hours.
“We saw a deficiency of coverage during the day and decided to make the position full time due to our aging community,” Jennings said. He continued to say that the department is on pace to have 300 calls this year, and they have already received 60.
According to Jennings, the national average for response to EMS calls is seven minutes. He reported they have had response numbers between one and three minutes. “We haven’t dropped a call in over 200 calls,” and added that as a department they have worked hard to get where they are with their money invested in training and equipment. “Taxpayers pay taxes to have an ambulance available, and they deserve to have one arrive quickly,” Jennings said. Read More
Dr. James Lehman
•March 17, 2021•
Dr. James (Jamie) Lehman received the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award March 2 during the association’s 52nd Annual Meeting, held virtually. Established in 2008, the award recognizes swine industry veterinarians who have demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in delivery of veterinary service to their companies and their clients, as well as given tirelessly in service to the AASV and the swine industry.
Lehman was introduced to veterinary medicine as a sophomore in high school after being hired by Dr. Jason James as a janitor and kennel worker for the Sullivan Veterinary Clinic. Over time, he was allowed to ride with the vets on farm calls and to help with the many embryo transfer surgeries that Dr. James performed. He credits the mentorship of all the vets and staff at the clinic for the early exposure to veterinary medicine which served as a foundation to his career. Read More
•March 17, 2021•
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center located 3 miles east of Arthur and six miles west of Arcola and I-57, will begin its fifth year by moving the historical Miller Amish German schoolhouse to the IAHC site on Friday, March 26. The one hundred year old schoolhouse was built about 1920 and was located two miles west of Arthur on Illinois Route 133. The school was moved in 2011 to the Miller farm two miles further west where it was preserved in its original historical condition by Karen Miller, whose father and grandfather taught in the school. Read More
•March 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Board approved eliminating the highway department paying rent for space in the courthouse for fiscal year 2022 and beyond. “For many years the highway department has paid rent for their space here in the courthouse,” County Board Chairman Dave McCabe said. “We’re in a position now that we don’t need that additional revenue.”
Cassie Yoder of Cass Concepts addressed the board concerning the digital campaign in Moultrie County her company has formed to promote and encourage tourism in the county. They strategically placed ads within a 100-mile radius, tapping into a variety of interests and activities. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development 2020 Citizen of the Year award was given to Margi Gaither and the Sullivan Stitchers by Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Executive Director Laurrie Minor.
•March 10, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development has awarded its 2020 Citizen of the Year award to Margi Gaither and the Sullivan Stitchers.
Gaither saw a need for mask distribution after watching a news program about the pandemic and had an idea. Though she does not sew herself, she knew she could organize, and that’s what she did. She organized a group of 20 individuals in the community to create cloth masks, which were approved by Decatur Memorial Hospital, for those who needed them during the pandemic.
She found sewing machines for those who didn’t have them but had the skills to sew and put out a call for materials and even set up a safe distribution system to get the masks to those who needed them. The Sullivan Stitchers under her leadership gave away more than 8,000 masks to local hospitals, staff and students of local schools and citizens in this community. Read More
•March 10, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A Sullivan High School graduate was recently awarded with the San Francisco Going Above and Beyond Award for her support of the Alzheimer’s Association. Emilie Sanders Lee was born and raised in Sullivan and graduated from Sullivan High School.
After graduating from high school, she attended and graduated from Loyola University of Chicago. She and her husband spent a few years in Santa Monica, California and then six years in the San Francisco Bay area where they had their two daughters. They recently moved back to the central Illinois area in October. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Habitat House
Members of the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity surprised their newest family that they will be partnering with to build a house. The house is anticipated to be built this fall on Faith Lane in Sullivan. They are partnering with Tammy Martin and her family. “We’re excited to partner with her to build a home for them,” Cheryl Thomas of Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity said.
Pictured are Gary Smith, Tim Schoenselder, Tammy Martin, Trey Schoenselder, Cheryl Thomas, Crissy Dycus, Roger Glazebrook.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Students Visit Animals
Elise Hagerman and Cheyanne Gourley pet a horse during the petting zoo at Okaw Valley High School last Friday.
Straw Bale Toss
At immediate left, students and staff participated in a straw bale toss at Windsor High School as part of the school’s FFA week activities. The school also had dress up days that included Dress Like A Windsor FFA Officer, Wear Your FFA Shirt, Dress Like A Farmer, Support Your Favorite Tractor and Wear Red or Green and Wear Your Favorite Ag based Hat Day. The group hosted an ag coloring contest at the grade school and two divisions of an ag photo contest for the junior high and high school students and staff.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Petting Zoo
Jack Grooms pets a pig that is being held by Mia Harris during the petting zoo at Okaw Valley High School last Friday. Due to the pandemic, Okaw Valley’s FFA is spreading out some of its activities to celebrate FFA week. This month they plan to have a tractor drive-in day, a pork burger cookout for the FFA students and an ag open house towards the end of the month.
Photo submitted
Tractor Day
Windsor High School students with one of the tractors brought to the school for Drive Your Tractor To School Day.