Category Archives: News Section

Candidate Forum Held Last Wednesday

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•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

Sullivan City Council Hears Proposal

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•October 28, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council heard from Pat Stinson, Sullivan IGA store manager about the city’s liquor ordinance. He wants the council to change the ordinance where employees have to be 21 to scan alcohol to 18 years old.
“Most nights I have one 21 year old employee in the building after 5:00 and they run back and forth all night scanning alcohol,” he said. Stinson said that he has an employee that just turned 21 that he schedules ever other weekend 4-9 just to scan alcohol.
He went on to note that there are cameras on every register, back room and service desk. They have 32 cameras in the local store.
The city attorney Andrew Bequette, was present to answer questions. He said that you can restrict the times that the younger person can scan alcohol or serve alcohol in a restaurant. Read More

Food Pantry Candy Fundraiser Makes Changes

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Devon Flesor Story and Ann Flesor Beck pictured with some of the baskets that can be purchased as part of the candy sale to benefit the Moultrie County Food Pantry.

•October 28, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Flesor’s Candy Kitchen will be accepting Christmas candy orders from Sullivan, Moultrie County, and surrounding county residents this year from now through November 16. Usually the fundraiser is held at Cathrine’s Gallery but due to COVID-19 they are taking mail orders instead of holding an in-person event. All Christmas candy orders will be delivered to Cathrine’s Gallery for pick up on December 16th. Read More

County Board Candidate Profiles

News Progress Posted on by

•October 28, 2020•

Gary Smith

I have been a life-long resident of Moultrie County. My past civic duties include being the Village Trustee of Lovington, Mayor of Lovington, President of Central Illinois Municipal Officials Association, Moultrie County Board Member, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); some current duties are the Lovington Fire Chief, President of Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity, Sons of the American Legion, and Okaw Honor Fire Guard.
Having recently retired after 45 years managing the grain elevator in Lovington, I would like to focus more on giving back to the community. As a Moultrie County Board member, I will listen to everyone’s thoughts and my vote will be what is best for the citizens and wellbeing of Moultrie County. I have a proven record of working with the public in all aspects of my past career and civic experiences. Read More

Fire Safety Day

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Photo by R.R. Best
Fire Safety Day
Chelsea Lindley with Frank the Fireman during the Fire Safety Day event held last Saturday morning at the intersection of Hamilton and Jackson Streets. The event included fire trucks and ambulance on site for viewing, the fire prevention trailer for home safety tips, meet and greet with local firefighters and paramedics and more.

Storytime

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Storytime
Sullivan firefighters Kenny Graven and Kaleb Randol were guests at a storytime hour held at Wyman Park last Wednesday. Pictured is Randol reading the book Clifford the Firehouse Dog to those in attendance.

City of Sullivan Designated A P.O.W.-M.I.A City

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mayor Richard Glazebrook holds a proclamation and sign that the City of Sullivan received for earning the designation of being a P.O.W.-M.I.A. City.

•October 21, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The city of Sullivan was awarded a special designation by Jefferson Barracks during the most recent City Council meeting. Pat Freesh, co-chair of the P.O.W./M.I.A. Cities, Counties and Campus Program of Jefferson Barracks, declared Sullivan a P.O.W./M.I.A. City.
Freesh said that P.O.W. means prisoners of war and M.I.A. stands for missing in action and that there are currently still more than 80,000 prisoners of war and those missing in action. He presented Mayor Richard Glazebrook with a proclamation and signs that will eventually be placed at the entrances to Sullivan depicting the city as a P.O.W./M.I.A. City. Read More

County Board Amends Budget For MCHD

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•October 21, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board approved amending the Moultrie County Health Department FY 2020 budget by increasing the revenue by $123,094 in the following amounts: DHS Census 2020 FY grant $10,000, COVID 19 Crisis Grant $35,672 and COVID 19 Contract Tracing Grant $77,422. “These were grants that came in after the start of the year; that’s why they weren’t initially in our budget,” Angie Hogan said.
The board approved a motion to reinstate payment in lieu of tax monies to the townships for FY 2021. According to Chairman Dave McCabe, they originally decided to take money out of the funds to help fund a request for the dive team, but the Budget and Finance Committee discussed this over the last few meetings and decided that it was not fair to the townships to take that money out of the townships’ budgets. Read More

Field Fire

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Photos by R.R. Best
Field Fire
The Sullivan Fire Department responded to a field fire last Wednesday at 3:25 pm on Cooks Mills Road just east of New Life Church.