Category Archives: News Section

Arthur Area Art Council to Promote Artists Through “Artist of the Month Program”

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•August 23, 2023•

by Ariana R. Cherry

At their meeting on Tuesday, August 8, members of The Arthur Area Arts Council spoke about starting an “Artists of the Month” program and creating opportunities to partner with local business owners in downtown Arthur who might be interested in displaying art. 

They will begin by putting out a “call for artists” via local news outlets and social media. Any age will be eligible for artist of the month. Their plan is to help get local artists’ names out in the community while also helping support local businesses and organizations in the area. If the council is able to find businesses who are willing to partner with them, the art from the individual who is named “artist of the month” will be showcased in that particular business which will get promotions throughout the month. Artist Don Chambers also offered the possibility of adding the business in the background of his comics that he publishes in the newspaper for added exposure as well. Read More

Moultrie County Sheriff Makes Arrest Related to Scam 

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•August 23, 2023•

On Friday, August 18, 2023, the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Lovington Police Department, arrested Kaushal S. Patel, age 30, of Oaklawn, Illinois, for the felony offense of theft by deception.

The Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a resident receiving multiple phone calls from an unknown caller. Read More

126th Windsor Harvest Picnic Held

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•August 23, 2023•

The 126th Windsor Harvest Picnic was held Thursday, August 17 to Saturday, August 19. Thursdays activities included a pork chop dinner by the Windsor Harvest Picnic, Methodist Church ice cream social and music by Family Worship Center Band and Jake Hoult and Mikayla Joy. Fridays activities included a fish dinner, a patriotic opening and music by Jerrod Niemann. On Saturday, the day started with a breakfast by Windsor FFA, A 5K run and pedal tractor pull. In the afternoon the Molly Vasquez Memorial Parade was held with the theme “A Family Tradition.” That evening there was a dinner and homemade desserts by W.H.A.T. Music that evening was Allie Keck and Exile. Instead of a carnival this year there were inflatables.

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Two Story Outhouse Festival In Gays 2023

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Two Story Outhouse Festival In Gays
The Two Story Outhouse Festival was held in Gays on Saturday, August 12. A pageant was added to this year’s event which had three participants that received crowns and sashes. The opening ceremony included the cutting of the TP by a couple that have been residents of Gays for many years. This year’s Kidz Korner included inflatables, pony rides, games and face painting. Food and craft vendors lined the road offering a variety of foods and craft vendors offered items for sale such as t-shirts, tumblers, wreaths, jewelry and other items. Live entertainment that day was provided by the band Katzmandu and The Kate Brothers. This year’s festival was in memory of Tammy Howard. This year Brayden Armstrong, 12, also published a single page newspaper called the Poop Scoop specifically for the Two Story Outhouse Festival. He wrote the newspaper to give visitors to the festival updates and information about the event.

Partners in Produce Seeking Donations to Provide Fresh Produce

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Partners In Produce, a partnership between Arthur Produce Auction Inc. and the Illinois Extension is seeking financial assistance to continue to provide fresh produce to food pantries in the Extension Unit 19 Area. The Extension Unit 19 Area serves Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby counties and beyond. The partnership started in 2019, and on auction days throughout the season, Mary Beth Massey, Susan Stollard and others attended the produce auction to receive donations of fresh produce.

According to Massey, from May-October she visits the produce auction where Amish farmers grow vegetables and bring it on Tuesdays and Fridays where people come and buy for farmers markets, grocery stores and other purposes. So far this year 57,432 pounds of produce have been purchased and distributed through the program. Produce is delivered to food pantries, Eastern Illinois Food Bank and Catholic Charities. Read More

County Board Sets Pay for Election Judges, Hears from Liberty Systems Representative

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board held a regular meeting Thursday, August 10. All board members except for Marsha Kirby were present. 

Alex Hansen of Liberty Systems, the supplier of the county’s voting equipment provider for the last 17 years, came to answer questions that county board member Scott Buxton had asked at last month’s meeting. The system they use is manufactured and developed in California. She said they are required to support voting systems for 10 years after purchase.

Hansen said the county’s current tabulators are in good condition, and they have not had any issues with them. The tabulators are stored in Moultrie County, and any work the company does on them to get ready for the election is done in county as well as maintenance, testing and audits. Read More

City Council Approves Ordinance Regarding Downtown Business District

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council met Monday, August 14. Prior to the meeting there were two public hearings regarding applying for Illinois Safe Routes to School Grant Program and the OSLAD grant which would have granted fund improvements to Wyman Park.

The council approved an ordinance regarding the downtown business district and residences in that district. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth abstained. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said the ordinance was presented to the council last September, and they took it back and broke it down so that various parties were represented. A few changes made include banks and bed and breakfasts because previously they had been denied. “One thing this does do is restrict residential living on the first floor of any buildings that are not grandfathered in,” Sherwood said. “It restricts it, but people can come to the council for a special use permit.” Read More

Summer Reading Carnival

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photo by Crystal Reed
Summer Reading Carnival
Marrowbone Public Library held a summer reading carnival for children who had read 30 books during the library’s summer reading program on Saturday, July 8.

City Council has First Reading for Appropriations

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•July 12, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Monday, July 10. Commissioner Doug Shook attended the meeting via phone.
Nancy Barker inquired about the possibility of a new restaurant going in by State Farm, and Mayor Mossman said he didn’t know anything about it.
Under the consent agenda passed by the council was the approval of minutes of the regular meeting held on June 26 and the special meeting held on June 30, approval of claims, approval of a project authorization with Milano and Grunloh for the design and construction engineering on the sanitary sewer extension to the lumber company, approval of banking resolution 23-R, approval of pay estimate #1 for $267,707.48 to Beniach Construction for the Industrial Way project, approval of pay estimated #8 for $33,250.00 to Grunloh Construction, Inc. for the Water Treatment Plant project and approval of pay estimate #12 for $483,754.58 to Grunloh Building for the Water Treatment Plant project.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood thanked Theresa Poland for painting the dugouts. She noted that the splash pad equipment has been delivered, and it is hoped construction will start this fall and be finished in the spring. Read More