Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Tony Holly, Community Dev. Mgr. of North Central Region, Diane Waggoner, Moultrie County Relay for Life coordinator, and Jesse Jess, assistant for American Cancer Society.

•August 16, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Last Friday ended in a perfect, cool evening with the sun casting a golden light over the high school football field as festivities began for the 21st annual Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Diane Waggoner, coordinator, welcomed the crowd of about 400, and so began the Opening Ceremony which included a prayer, a poem, presentation of the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance by the Boy Scouts, and John Stephens (executive director of The Little Theatre) singing a beautiful and emotional “Star Spangled Banner”.

The Memorial Award was made to Mike Grose and the Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Jamie Crosier. Both Grose and Crosier passed away last year after years of service to the American Cancer Society. Grose had served as the DJ for this event, and Crosier had been a runner. Read More

Longevity Increases Proposed

•August 9, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board personnel committee heard different views on how to approach future salary schedules among the 20 courthouse employees.

Jeff Birch, supt. of highways, was appointed to chair an ad hoc committee consisting of courthouse elected and appointed officers by county board chairman Dave McCabe to make recommendations of the future salary structure for courthouse employees.

Birch presented the committee chair Bill Voyles and members with a schedule that would tie county employee salary increases annually to the consumer price index. Birch plotted the scale based on the CPI from 2009 to 2016. By increasing salary levels with the CPI the $19,000-21,000 starting based recommended would have improved to $21,215-$23,455 range for first year courthouse employees. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Elementary teachers such as Cindy Yoder and Micah Meddins of Sullivan join educators all over Illinois by digging into their own pockets for school supplies to help their students learn.

•August 9, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The amount of money teachers spend out-of-pocket every year for their classrooms is growing.

In Sullivan Unit #300 schools 53% of elementary students are at poverty level leaving the burden for providing basic school supplies on others. And who are the people closest to these children in need - teachers.

Each of the teachers interviewed reported spending $500-$1,000 each year to fill another education funding gap. Parents of elementary school students spend $45 per student for required school supplies with the amount growing to $70-$80 per middle and high school student.  Read More