Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Candy Sells for Food Bank
The crowds were waiting at 9 a.m. Saturday for the Flesor’s candy sale at Cathrine’s in downtown Sullivan. It was the best sale yet with 20% of all sales Saturday supporting the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Ava Harshman of Sullivan found this white chocolate Santa to satisfy her chocolate cravings on Saturday.
Photo by Mike Brothers
River Dancers Brandon Helm (front) and Matt Clayton demonstrate Native American story telling through dance at Lovington Elementary School.
•November 21, 2018•
Lovington Elementary School celebrated Illinois Bicentennial recently by taking a trip back in time when Native Americans danced their stories.
Junior high social studies teacher Chris Davis and first grade teacher Vickie Newberry started working on the day long observance of the state’s 200th birthday in August, and on Friday, Nov. 9 it all came together.
Students learned of the early Native American culture, about the animals of Illinois from the Douglas Hart Nature Center of Mattoon, fur trading in pioneer life, bow making and topped off with a visit from Abraham Lincoln.
In the morning program Kaskaskia River Dancers Brandon Helm and Matt Clayton dressed in full Cherokee regalia explained that Native Americans told their stories through dance. Read More
•November 21, 2018•
The Sullivan Police Department and law enforcement throughout Illinois will be working around the clock through Thanksgiving and the remainder of the year to make certain travelers are buckled up and driving sober, Chief of Police Jim Waggoner announced Sullivan Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and nearly 200 local police and sheriff’s departments to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Drivers and passengers can expect a ticket from Sullivan Police Department if they are spotted without a seat belt or with an unbuckled child in their vehicle. Additionally, motorists are being warned that driving after drinking or using drugs or other impairing substances will not be tolerated. Stepped-up patrols including seat belt enforcement zones and roadside safety checks will be seen throughout Sullivan and the state. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Veterans recognized at Senior Center observance.
•November 21, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The Senior Center ceiling was a sea of swag in patriotic colors of red, white and blue with the tables in matching tablecloths and place mats to welcome veterans to a complimentary lunch on Nov. 13. Each veteran and guest received a treat box filled with cookies and candies as well as a ticket for the drawing for a patriotic quilt.
Pre-luncheon entertainment was provided by Ellen Ferrera who performed piano arrangements of the theme songs for each of the armed forces including “The Navy Hymn” and “America the Beautiful”.
The luncheon was sponsored by Peace Meal and Reva Martin, Supervisor of the Peace Meal at the Senior Center, welcomed the veterans and their spouses. She remarked that, “we are so honored to be able to thank our veterans with this special meal and share this day with them.” Read More
•November 21, 2018•
Sullivan Schools observed Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12 with the high school program organized by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English class seniors.
Following the school assembly lunch was provided by students, members of the Baking Brigade of Sullivan, and staff members for the 40 veteran guests who attended.
“I appreciated the cooperation and support of the Sullivan High School staff, especially Mr. Wilson and Mr. Schaefers,” Lawson began. “Without the help of my co-corkers this program could not happen.”
“I am proud of my students. Many of them stepped out of their comfort zones to organize and hold the assemblies we do, and that is not easy,” she continued.
“They also made gifts for the veterans, designed t-shirts, made food, drew up layout plans, organized and ran the program, etc..”
“This is a learning experience for them and an opportunity for them to serve our community,” Lawson concluded. Read More
•November 21, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
The Moultrie County Board took away $500 earmarked for the CEFS Interagency and gave $50,000 to the Sullivan Chamber Economic Development for tourism promotion at the regular meeting Nov. 15.
In reaction to the County Board’s removal of its annual support for the Interagency group which directly helps Moultrie County people in need, County Clerk Georgia England announced courthouse employees would immediately start collecting food and donations to help make up the $500 taken away from the Food Pantry and other groups helped through the Interagency.
“The Interagency helps people with the greatest needs and the least ability to pay; we will collect donations to make up the $500 gap,” England said.
County Board chairman Dave McCabe noted State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver reviewed the Interagency request and said it was “probably not appropriate to make that donation” prior to moving to rescind the previously approved motion. The board voted unanimously to rescind the $500 contribution. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Laurrie Minor received Community Builders Award.
•November 14, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Laurrie Minor, Executive Director of the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, was honored with the Community Builders Award by Sullivan George A. Sentel Masonic Lodge #764.
She received a plaque in recognition of her work with the Chamber at the Past Masters dinner and awards ceremony held Friday, Nov. 9 at the Masonic Lodge.
Worshipful Master, Ron Chenoweth, welcomed the members and guests and offered an opening prayer.
“Our golf outing and other fundraisers were very successful this year.” He reported “We provide three scholarships to high school students in Windsor, Sullivan and Okaw Valley each year. Excess funds are then given to community organizations.” Read More
File photo
Dive team members Jesse Scribner, Rob Martz and Amanda Farley make do with outdated equipment.
•November 14, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
Members of the Moultrie County Public Health and Safety committee learned how underfunded the County Dive Team is and will make recommendations for the county board to help.
Moultrie County Dive Team coordinator Clay Brush appeared before the committee recently to explain changes in public safety diving standards and how it affects the ten-member dive rescue team.
With a budget of $5,000 per year the team isn’t able to cover the cost to equip a diver with full dry suits and face masks as required under new standards. The cost is about $7,800 to fully equip and certify one diver.
A separate department of county Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, Brush pointed out the dive team has two of the dry suits, which have a life expectancy of five years, that were purchased in the early 1990s with three others purchased around the turn of the century. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Flesor’s Candy Kitchen is set up at Cathrine’s Gallery in Sullivan Nov. 17. Devon and son Paul will help visitors select from the variety of holiday treats with 20 percent of sales on Saturday helping the Moultrie County Food Pantry. A sweet deal all around.
•November 14, 2018•
By Jimi Candy
for the News Progress
Saturday, November 17 is a sweet time in Sullivan.
The annual Flesor’s Candy Kitchen candy sale for the Moultrie County Food Pantry will be held at Cathrine’s Gallery from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Sullivan.
With 20 percent of all sales donated to the food pantry, Devon Flesor Story and son Paul, a fourth generation candy maker, will be on hand providing delicious hand dipped chocolates, original gift designs including a variety of the Flesor signature candies and the traditional chocolate turkeys just in time for Thanksgiving.
Devon noted visitors to the candy sale Nov. 17 may still make special orders for Christmas gifts.
With Flesor’s prices remaining the same, the value of the custom made gifts increases. “If a customer wants to make a custom order, we can do that,” Devon said of the flexibility of the candy kitchen in Tuscola.
In addition to the favored candy tins and assorted treats, Devon is introducing a larger gift basket just in time for the Sullivan sale this year.
Innovative packaging is part of the creative side of the team of Devon and sister Anne Flesor Beck’s resurrection of their grandfather Gus’s Candy Kitchen. Read More