Photo by R.R. Best
Harvest Time
Harvest time in here! Brian Crawford was picking beans on his farm last week. Please be aware of farm vehicles when you are traveling on the roads.
Harvest Time
Category Archives: News Section
Local University of Illinois Extension Educator Wins National Awards
Cheri Burcham
•September 30, 2020•
University of Illinois Extension Educator Cheri Burcham (pictured) along with team members Cara Allen (retired), Karla Belzer, Chelsey Byers, Tessa Hobbs-Curley, Molly Hofer and Susan Sloop were honored recently at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) 86th annual session, whose theme was “Life Elevated”. The team received Second Place Central Region NEAFCS Educational Curriculum Package Communications Award at the conference held virtually on September 14 - 16, 2020. Read More
Council Approves Raises For Full Time Non-Union Employees
•September 30, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council approved full-time non-union employee raises after having a closed session on Monday night.
The council approved a wage increase of 2.75% for all non-union full time employees with the said increase to be retroactive to May 1, 2020 for those employees who were non-union as of May 1, 2020.
Also the council moved that the increase be retroactive to August 1, 2020 for employees of the gas, street and sewer departments who were formerly covered by the collective bargaining agreement that expired July 31, 2020.
The board also approved a bid for the Hagerman Street project. The bid was awarded to Wallace Excavating in the amount of $35,370.64. A bid was also approved for the Titus Home Demolition Project which was awarded to Yoder Farm and Drainage in the amount of $52,600. Read More
Buxton’s Garden Farm Hosts Market
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sophia and Hannah Grandon pick out pumpkins during the Buxton's Garden Farm Harvest Field Market last Saturday.
•September 30, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The harvest spirit was alive at Buxton’s Garden Farm this past Saturday and people packed the property for the business’s Harvest Field Market. The event was in its fourth year and it included food trucks, pumpkins, crafts, home décor and much more. According to Paula Buxton there were 2,000 people in attendance at this year’s market.
Buxton said that compared to previous years this was their biggest market due to COVID-19 and having more vendors. Read More
Steve Jenne Details Adventures of Nixon’s Buffalo Barbecue Sandwich in New Book
Photo by Crystal Reed
Steve Jenne with his book “The Sandwich That Changed My Life” which he wrote with Scot England.
•September 23, 2020•
Steve Jenne, formerly of Sullivan, remembers when Richard Nixon visited Sullivan 60 years ago. Jenne’s boy scout troop was tasked with being security for Nixon as he sat at the picnic table at the buffalo barbecue that was held in Wyman Park on Sept 22, 1960.
Jenne doesn’t just have memories he actually was able to take the sandwich that at that time Vice President Nixon had taken a bite out of when no one was looking. He recalls his memories of Nixon’s visit to Sullivan and how the sandwich he obtained that day has changed his life in a book titled “The Sandwich That Changed My Life!” by Steve Jenne with Scot England.
According to a previous article in the News Progress a bunch of wild eyed 20 and 30 somethings sitting at a barbecue 50 years ago came up with the idea of trying to get presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy to come to Sullivan and debate. The debate was to be reminiscent of the historical Lincoln-Douglas debates, dreamed the young Moultrie County residents. Read More
Blood Drive Held In Honor Of River Helmuth
Photo by Sonya Best
Blood Drive Held In Honor Of River Helmuth
An American Red Cross blood drive was held in honor of River Helmuth this past Saturday at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. The blood drive collected 102 units. During the blood drive a certificate was presented to American Legion for 5,000 units collected from when they started keeping track. River’s mother Stephanie received a certificate for being the 99th donor. Terrie Punches was also awarded her 14 gallon pin. Pictured from left to right: Jeri Sanders Davis, Legion Commander Bob Sims, River Helmuth and Stephanie Helmuth.
ALAH School District Makes It Through During COVID Pandemic
District is now officially a one-one device learning district
•September 23, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
At the opening of the most recent ALAH School Board meeting, a number of new teachers were introduced. Some were brand new to the teaching field whereas others had previous experience. At least half of the public “audience” for last Wednesday night’s meeting was made up of the district’s new teaching staff. Teachers were from Lovington Grade School, Atwood-Hammond and Arthur Grade School. They all introduced themselves and their positions with the district. Excited to be a part of a wonderful district, they were eager for their introductions and a few stayed behind for the remainder of the meeting.
After the warm welcome to the new teaching staff, a budget hearing for FY21 was in session. Shannon Cheek explained that nothing much had changed since last month’s meeting and that the budget had been available for viewing for the appropriate time. Afterward, the hearing was closed, and the board would go on to vote for the budget later in the meeting, which was approved. Read More
Special Olympic Athletes Hold Prayer Walk
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Special Olympics coach Les Todd of Sullivan, fourth from the left, receives a blanket from his athletes during a fundraising walk held this past Saturday at Peterson Park in Mattoon to help with costs he is incurring while battling cancer.
•September 23, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer
On September 19, the athletes and families of Special Olympics held a Prayer Walk at Peterson Park in Mattoon for their beloved coach, Les Todd, who has been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. The walk was organized to help raise funds for the cost of his surgery.
Les and Lisa Todd organized the local Special Olympics nearly ten years ago to give their son, Bradlee, and other intellectually disabled children the opportunity to engage in sports and compete as other children do. They devoted most of their lives to coaching and training their wards in basketball, softball, flag football, bowling, bocce, swimming and track and field. Read More
County Board Approves Variance
•September 16, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Board approved an application from Shady Crest Market for a variance to build 25 feet from the west property line for an addition to the existing business last week. According to Wilbur Gingerich, the expansion will be 13,000 square feet and will allow them to add on more deli, bakery and store space.
The board heard guest speakers Laurrie Minor and Cassie Yoder talk about Economic Development and COVID-19. Minor said that it looks different how they market the county now with Covid.
The Illinois Department of Tourism recently released some figures for the county. According to Minor, the travel expenditures went up by 3.7% and the local tax revenue went up by 4.8% but none of these correlate to camping, that is just what the hotel to motel tax generates. Read More
Spaghetti Drive Thru Donations
Photo by Crystal Reed
Green Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care held a spaghetti drive thru dinner on Sept. 4 with donations going to the Moultrie County Restore. According to Restore manager Tara Reed there are plans to build two new Habitat houses next year. They were unable to build any Habitat houses this year due to COVID 19. Green Gardens raised $1,038 with their spaghetti drive thru dinner. Pictured from left to right are: Christina Arnold, Executive Director of Green Gardens; Tara Reed, Restore manager; and Kathy Hawbaker, Director of Operations/Community Relations at Green Gardens.