Category Archives: News Section

County Board Learns Dangers of Lyme Disease, Lowers Salaries for New Office Holders, Approves Increases for Sheriff/County Clerk

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•April 18, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Lyme Disease is a worldwide pandemic where a poppy seed sized tick can change your life forever.

That is the message Karen Allen and her husband Pastor Gail Allen of Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany presented Moultrie County board members April 12.

She explained the disease she and her family members have contracted creates devastating health problems when not diagnosed quickly.

The proclamation declaring May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month was presented to the board by Allen, who noted when detected early the auto immune disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics.

The proclamation was passed unanimously by president Dave McCabe and members Neil Bryan, Arlene Aschermann, Todd Maxedon, Billy Voyles, Kevin McReynolds, Gary Smith and Mike Barringer. Read More

A Chance to Lend a Helping Hand and Feel Good Doing It

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Amy Rickelman and Amy Conlin are working to provide the Nohren family, who lost everything in a 2017 fire, this home, but volunteers are needed.

•April 18, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Everyone feels good when they are helping someone in need.

It is that good feeling Kristen Conlin and Amy Rickelman are starting to get with the Nohren project.

Joined by partner Andy Pistorius in Fireside Investments, the two hope to turn their normal house flipping operation into something good for Matt, Nikki, Hayden and Whitney Nohren.

In October 2017 the Nohren’s lost everything in a fire that destroyed their Sullivan home.

Since then, the First Apostolic Church has offered the church parsonage as temporary residence for the family, but it will take a lot more to get the family back on their feet again. Read More

Musicians Wanted For Sullivan Community Band

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Band leader Shaun Schaefers

•April 18, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Have you longed for the thrill of playing again in your high school or college band?

Well, oil up that slide trombone and bang out some buzz rolls on the drum because a community band is being organized, and all musicians aged 14 and up are invited to join.

Shaun Schaefers, Sullivan High School band director, has received a major grant from the Sullivan Community Education Foundation to help create a community band. “In even the smallest towns where I’ve taught there has been a community band,” Schaefers began.  “Sullivan has been supportive of the arts so I was surprised there wasn’t one here. It is something I would really love to do”. Read More

City of Sullivan Approves New Subdivision

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Map overlay courtesy Kirk Real Estate
Burdick Subdivision offers nine lots ranging from one acre to three acres southeast of Sullivan.

•April 18, 2018•

With the final plat approval by the city of Sullivan Darin Burdick is opening a new residential subdivision in the southeast section of the city.

“I wasn’t really looking to start a subdivision,” Burdick, local farmer and apartment owner said, “but the city has a need, and they have been really good to work with me.”

Of the 99 acres Burdick owns, the nine lots he is offering are at least one acre each and will have complete city utilities.

The property is staked and subdivided with Kirk Real Estate the handling agent for Burdick who is asking $35,000 per lot.

“Those building will have convenants similar to most subdivisions,” Burdick said, noting he realizes being five miles from the lake may attract people with boats so he has made provisions for up to 1500 sq. ft. outbuildings for boat storage. Read More

OV Dairy Judging Team Wins Section Contest

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Photo furnished
OV Dairy Judging Team Wins Section Contest
OVHS FFA dairy judging team: Kailynn Bobbett, Sadie Zimmerman, Garrett Tippit, Sophie Zimmerman, and Sidney Zimmerman. The OV FFA dairy judging team competed in the Section Dairy Competition in Clinton. As a team they came home with a first place finish. Individually results were as follows, Garrett Tippit (1st), Kailyn Bobbett (2nd), and Sadie Zimmerman (5th). FFA member Ethan Macklin traveled to Monticello to participate in the District 4 Public Speaking Competition.

Circuit Clerk Candidate 

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Christa Helmuth

•April 18, 2018•

Christa Helmuth of Sullivan is seeking the Republican nomination for the remaining two years as Moultrie County Circuit Clerk.

The election in November will determine who completes the remaining two years of Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden’s term. Braden has accepted a position with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield.

Helmuth noted her past experiences working within the Moultrie County Circuit Clerk’s office inspired her to make a change for the citizens of Moultrie County.

“The circuit clerk’s office can be a very intimidating process for most citizens,” Helmuth said. “Customers will be greeted with a smile and helped with the process to the best of our ability without giving legal advice.”  Read More

OV Musical Starts Thursday

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Photo by Jeni Yantis
OV Musical Starts Thursday
The Okaw Valley High School Drama Club will present Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis’s “Urinetown: The Musical,” winner of three Tony Awards. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. April 19, 20 and 21 in the OVHS gym.
When a 20-year drought leads to a severe water shortage, the government responds with a ban on private toilets. The citizens must fight the manipulative and sinister Urine Good Company to regain their right to use toilets for free. Their unlikely hero, Bobby Strong, finds himself thrust into the revolution by a beautiful young woman named Hope who fills him with, well, hope.
Included in the cast are seniors Hannah Landreth, Natalie Jeffers, Lexi Roe, Grace Harlin, Hope Ruppert; juniors Gavon Hargrove, Shelby Hagerman, Kaylee Taylor, Bella Benning; sophomore Kate Jeffers and freshmen Haven Caulfield, Julia Hildebrandt and Hannah Durbin.
For ticket information contact the OVHS office at 665-3631.

2018 OVHS  Prom Court

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Photo by Jeni Yantis
2018 OVHS  Prom Court
The Okaw Valley Junior-Senior Prom will be held at Mason Point at 7 p.m. Saturday April 28. Coronation will begin at 7:45.  Pictured front row - Hope Ruppert, Natalie Jeffers, Grace Harlin, Hannah Landreth. Back row - Hayden Francisco, Hutson Dickens, Austin Hill, Trey Yarnell.

Sullivan Board Sets Graduation, Hires Teachers

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Scholarships Presented May 2

•April 18, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit 300 school board learned that 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20 is high school graduation on the football field if weather permits.

High school principal Erik Young also reported that awards presentations will be split between an evening session Wednesday, May 2 for scholarship presentations and in school student recognition day Wednesday, May 9.

Supt. Ted Walk presented the amended tentative budget which will be available for viewing until the public hearing on June 11. He noted removing contingencies and shifting some fund designations have all areas of the budget in the black with an anticipated $84,000 surplus.

Personnel actions include Craig Toler employed as high school physical education teacher due to the resignation of William Manning. (BS+0) He is currently special education aide and volunteer assistant basketball coach. Read More

Jury Trial Sought in SHS Bomb Threat Case

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•April 18, 2018•

The student accused of making a terrorist bomb threat at Sullivan High School will be allowed a bond reduction hearing Thursday, April 19.

Jalon A. Warren appeared before the Hon. Judge Hugh Finson in Moultrie County court along with defense attorney Phillip Tibbs who made the request to reduce the $100,000 bond which has held the defendant in county jail since March 23.  Read More