Category Archives: News Section

Fuel Plant Fire

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Photo by R.R. Best
Fuel Plant Fire
Windsor Fire Department was paged at 8:50 pm Monday night to respond to the FS Bulk Fuel Plant, west of Gays. When the department arrived, the fire was fully involved and they called for mutual aid for extra water. They used water for extinguishing part of the fire and the rest of the fire was put out using foam. Departments that responded to the fire were Sullivan, Lincoln, Wabash, Neoga, Mattoon, Findlay and Strasburg. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Crews were on scene until 2 am.

Sullivan City Council Hears Needs and Options Review for City Building

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•January 27, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council heard a needs and options review for the city building from Colton Davis of Utz and Associates during their meeting Monday evening. The firm was contacted in November by City Administrator Dan Flannell to do an inspection of the city building.
Davis said the air quality issues with the building were evident to them when they entered the building for the inspection and that the existing HVAC system is not enough to handle the amount of water intrusion coming into the basement.
“In the basement the existing brick foundation has been eroded over the years; there are temporary steel supports that are supporting the first floor in that area,” he said. Davis went on to speak of the roof structural system saying that it is too weak for what could support an HVAC system. Read More

Teachers Receive Grants from Illinois Retired Teachers Assn.

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•January 27, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Teachers from Lovington and Okaw Valley have received grants from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. The Association had 247 applications in 2020, and these projects were two of the recipients.
Jennifer Hostetler, a third-grade teacher at Lovington Grade, was one of two recipients from this area. She will use the $250 grant she received to purchase coding robotics Dash and Dot. According to Hostetler, Dash is the most powerful robot companion that kids can use to apply and extend their coding knowledge. Packed with sensors and capabilities, kids may program the robot to move, light up, make sounds, avoid obstacles and even respond to their voices. Read More

Fuel Plant Fire

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R.R. Best
Fuel Plant Fire
Windsor Fire Department was paged at 8:50 pm Monday night to respond to the FS Bulk Fuel Plant, west of Gays. When the department arrived, the fire was fully involved and they called for mutual aid for extra water. They used water for extinguishing part of the fire and the rest of the fire was put out using foam. Departments that responded to the fire were Sullivan, Lincoln, Wabash, Neoga, Mattoon, Findlay and Strasburg. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Crews were on scene until 2 am.

Moultrie County State’s Attorney Office Welcomes New Victim/Witness Coordinator

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Melanie Long is the new part-time Victim/Witness Coordinator for the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s office. She retired in December from the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office after 21 ½ years of service as the Victim Services Coordinator.

•January 27, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Melanie Long has been hired as a part-time victim/witness coordinator in the office of the Moultrie County State’s Attorney.
She retired in December from the Macon County State’s Attorney’s office after 21-½ years as their Victim Services Coordinator. She began working with Moultrie County earlier this month.
Long said the purpose of a victim/witness coordinator is to serve victims of any type of crime as a guide to the criminal justice system. “I help them understand what their rights are and if damages can be repaid through restitution,” Long said. She added that part of her role is explaining what’s next and what could happen during a case. Read More

ALAH District Considers Possibility of Solar Energy in the Future

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Brad McGill presents $1,000 in memory of his son, Brandon

•January 27, 20201•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Coach Brad McGill, who recently lost his son Brandon McGill, attended the school board meeting to present a check for $1,000 in memory of Brandon. “There are no words that adequately express the love and appreciation from this district and community,” he stated. Brad and his wife also wanted to publicly acknowledge their thankfulness and appreciation of everyone’s prayers, thoughts, support and donations. The $1,000 donation will be used as the #BeStrong and #BeKind Brandon Memorial Award. The $1,000 will be split into $250 awards to anyone who has received special services from the district.
Kyle Loyd of Future Green gave a presentation concerning the possibility of using solar energy in the school district in the future. If the district moves forward with the project, Future Green will lease the space (the roof), and they would give the school power which would be at a “X” discounted rate (15-20% estimate). The district will not have to provide a deposit or money upfront. The lease is for 25 years, and after 20 years, the school will be given a choice whether to renew. After 15 years, the district may decide whether they want to purchase depending on what the cost is at that time. The condition of the roof where the system would be placed is very important before beginning the project. At this time, there is still more work that needs to be done to the roof. Read More

Moultrie County Begins Phase 1B Vaccinations

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•January 27, 20201•
The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) is pleased to announce confirmation of additional COVID-19 vaccines. The health department began scheduling phase 1B vaccine appointments for Moultrie County residents aged 65 years and older, as well as Moultrie County critical infrastructure personnel on Monday, January 25, 2021.
“We greatly appreciate the patience of our residents as we work to remain compliant with the IDPH guidance and make this vaccine available for those who qualify in our county,” Moultrie County Health Department Administrator Angela Hogan, RN, MSPH stated, “We are hopeful that our COVID-19 vaccines remain in steady supply. The MCHD will continue to open and schedule clinics as long as vaccines are available.” Read More

Board Approves Motions for Route 32 and County Hwy 4 Intersection

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•January 20, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board approved two motions related to the Illinois Route 32 and County Highway 4 intersection during their meeting Thursday evening. The first item was a cost sharing agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the improvement of the Illinois Route 32 and County Highway 4 intersection.
The second item was a Moultrie County Funding resolution regarding the improvement of the Illinois Route 32 and County Highway 4 intersection in the amount of $2,900. According to County Engineer Jeff Birch, the final cost for the project will be determined by the bid cost. He anticipates that IDOT will take the project for a March bid letting. Read More

Okaw Valley Ag Program Receives ADM Cares Grant

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Photo by Crystal Reed
One of Okaw Valley’s heifers with her baby that was born on January 7. Through an ADM Cares grant this year the ag program was able to purchase two bred heifers and one bred gilt. The two heifers will be the foundation of the Okaw Valley Ag Beef program.

•January 20, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Housed in a blue nondescript building behind Okaw Valley High School is a unique hands-on experience that allows students to learn about agriculture while they are still in school. Okaw Valley High School ag instructor Wes Wise believes that his program is offering an experience no one else in Illinois is doing.
The Okaw Valley ag program was started in 2016 in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers which involved an ag lease in exchange for in-kind services. The past two years the program has received ADM Cares grants.
The goal for the program is to build a university farm on the high school level. They have a land lab and land for agronomy as well as a science, fishery, tree and wildlife program. Read More

Dumping Tires

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Dumping Tires
Recently John Durbin discovered that about 75 tires had been dumped in a drainage ditch in Sullivan Township. Last week through the cooperation of the Sullivan Township and Neal Tire in Sullivan, Township Highway Commissioner Richard Rutledge, operator Matt Elder and volunteers Joe and Mark Kuhns cleared out the drainage ditch using a backhoe with a thumb and loaded the tires into a truck. Neal Tire volunteered to dispose of the tires that were removed from the ditch.