Photo courtesy Rick Matthews
Monumental Graduate
Sullivan High School graduates adopted one more member to the Class of 2020. The courthouse lawn memorial to those who fought in the Civil War from Moultrie County was dressed in cap and gown to honor high school graduates parading around the courthouse square on May 17.
Photo by R. R. Best
Dreams Come True
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high, and the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby. Photographer R.R. Best caught a photograph of this double rainbow over Sullivan last weekend. So if you believe dreams can come true it just might be true.
•May 20, 2020•
After much discussion with the levying bodies, the State’s Attorney, and county board members made the difficult decision to maintain the tax cycle and mailing of tax bills as we have always done in the past.
We know these times have been trying for many, but we also know we need to keep moving forward. We reviewed the Illinois State Statutes and the requirements by law for the tax due dates and levying body distributions. Read More
•May 20, 2020•
Moultrie Counseling Center in Sullivan deals with mental health issues on the front line every day. Now more than ever is a time for awareness.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and comes at an appropriate time, as we are all struggling on some level with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the virus, anxiety about the pandemic is contagious, so we need to work to maintain our own emotional equilibrium.
This is especially true for so many on the front lines of COVID, including behavioral health professionals. We are proud to recognize Mental Health Month and celebrate the behavioral health heroes on the front lines.
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
According to a recent article written by Jean Holthaus, LISW, MSW, mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. People struggling with their mental health may be in your family, live next door, teach your children, work in the next cubicle or sit in the same church pew. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
SHS Graduates’ Parade
Sullivan High School Class of 2020 had a parade to commemorate a most unusual school year. Seniors gathered in their vehicles at the high school at 2:30 p.m. Sunday with the parade circling the square allowing well wishers to maintain social distancing while recognizing the graduates. Valedictory and salutatory addresses were played online, and on radio during the parade, as were the announcement of each graduate. Due to inclement weather each graduate marched across the high school gym in a private diploma presentation which included up to seven guests of the graduating senior.
•May 20, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
A Moultrie County Board fielded a referendum request from an Illinois Separation group and a push to reopen business from within at the May 14 meeting.
County board chairman Dave McCabe, Arlene Aschermann, Tyler Graven and Kevin McReynolds attended in person. Board members Neil Bryan, Mike Barringer, Bill Voyles, Elizabeth Houser and Todd Maxedon participated through the GoTo meeting site due to Covid 19 personal spacing recommendations.
County clerk Georgia England and treasurer Stephanie Helmuth also attended at the courthouse.
Bethany resident and New Illinois advocate Scott Buxton (attending by GotTo meeting), asked the county board to allow the separation referendum on the Nov. ballot. Read More
•May 20, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress
The May 14 agenda for the Bethany Board of Trustees was full with some 20 items for discussion but most were tabled or postponed due to the uncertainties and unknowns surrounding corona virus regulations.
The Board voted to extend shut-offs and penalties for utility bills to July 1. Many closed businesses are maintaining utilities even though they have no income and many people are still out of work prompting the extension of the original May 1 date. There has been a small uptick in unpaid utility bills. Read More
•May 15, 2020•
SULLIVAN, IL, May 14, 2020 – The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) announces their eighth and ninth confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19). The patients are both females who are isolated at home. One patient is in her 20s and one is in her 50s. The cases are unrelated to one another. Public health officials are contacting and verifying all close contacts. To date, 196 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 186 tests were negative for coronavirus, and one is still pending.
As communities open, the spread of this virus will continue. The MCHD cautions all individuals to consider themselves at risk for exposure.
“Remember that hand washing, keeping a physical distance of six feet from others, avoiding large gatherings, keeping children at home and bypassing nonessential trips into the public are still the best ways to protect you and your family,” said Angela Hogan, Administrator for the Moultrie County Health Department. “To protect others and help contain the spread of COVID-19, wear a mask when going out into the public and stay home when you are ill.” Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include fever, fatigue, a dry cough, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of smell or taste. Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or a bluish color in the lips or face. If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival. For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.
Contact: Glenda Plunkett
Public Health Services Coordinator
Glenda@moultriehealth.org
217.728.4114
•May 13, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan City Council authorized Milano and Grunloh to start Elizabeth Titus Home demolition procedures during the May 11 meeting.
Commissioner Peggy Hargis moved for the engineering company in Effingham to prepare a demolition plan with Commissioner Mike Fowler seconding the motion.
Commissioners Abbey Sherwood, Chuck Woodworth and Mayor Richard Glazebrook unanimously approved.
City administrator Dan Flannell explained the next step was for the RFP, Request for Proposal. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
By Tracy Weaver
Mo.Co. State’s Attorney
In light of the most recent executive order issued by the Governor, the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office has received many questions regarding the reopening of local churches and businesses.
I, like other state’s attorneys and many of our citizens and government officials, have concerns about the constitutionality of the executive order and the authority for such order from laws previously passed.
When considering the issue of religious services, for instance, something we as citizens have a fundamental right in which to engage, I cannot agree that the current executive order is the least restrictive and most narrowly tailored option for addressing the COVID-19 outbreak. Read More