•February 7, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

A Moultrie County jury determined Nathan Ragsdale, 39, was not fit to stand trial for the 2016 felony charge of disarming a police officer.

“We, the jury, find the defendant Nathan Ragsdale unfit to stand trial and also that there is a substantial probability that the defendant, if provided with a course of treatment, will attain fitness within one year.”

At 4:48 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 after 45 minutes deliberation the jury returned the “unfit” verdict for the Sullivan man. Ragsdale was remanded to Moultrie County Jail awaiting transportation to MacFarland Mental Health Center in Springfield where he will receive treatment and evaluation for his eventual return.

Circuit Judge Hugh Finson presided over the trial in which the defendant asked a jury rather than court appointed experts to determine his fitness. Read More

•January 31, 2018•

Moultrie County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to Constance Beard, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. Read More

Photo furnished
In the June 13, 1952 Moultrie County News Woodrow Spaugh is shown demonstrating one of the individual loud speakers installed at the Sullivan Drive-in theater.

•January 31, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Drive in opened northeast of town on June 6, 1952 by Lee Norton, who had owned the Grand Theater on the square since 1944.

With successful drive in theaters operating in Shelbyville and Mattoon Norton saw a chance to join the trend in Moultrie County.

The opening Friday night feature was “At War with the Army” with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and the Saturday late show was “Murder, My Sweet”.  Prices were 50 cents for adults and children under 12 free. Special favors were given to the kiddies on opening night, and there were always two cartoons on every program. Read More

•January 31, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

Editor’s Note: Former Sullivan resident and author Eden Martin has compiled a history of theaters in Sullivan. This second installment starts with the opening of the Globe Theater.

On October 23, 1909, the Decatur Daily Review reported as follows: Sullivan is to have a new up-to-date moving picture show which will be absolutely fireproof and have a raised floor with opera chairs which is something better than has ever seen here before. S.T. Herman of Monticello is the manager, and it will be known as the Globe theater and will be ready for business Saturday night in the old post office building on the south side of the square.

The new Globe apparently got off to a great start. On November 8 the Decatur newspaper reported that it “had the largest crowd at the performance Saturday night that they have had since starting their moving picture show here. At the three performances there were people standing out in the street waiting to get on the inside. S.T. Herman, the manager and owner, has put in the nicest moving picture show which has ever been in the city and deserves a good crowd. He has a raised floor and opera chairs to add to the comfort of those visiting his theater.” Read More