•December 14, 2016•

Moultrie County Building and Grounds committee was updated on some communication needs and interior building restoration.

Rick Matthews reported that the judge’s office was continuing to finance restoration of the courthouse columns to the natural original oak finish, and that project should be completed before Judge Flannell retires in January.

Matthews reported phone service issues had plagued the courthouse, and he had been looking into possible upgrades that could include voice activated internet, utilizing fiber optics for the phone service.  Read More

Photo furnished
Turtle Island was the scene of prayer by Water Protectors at Standing Rock on Thanksgiving Day.

•December 7, 2016•

By Mike Brothers
for the News Progress

Access on the Dakota Access Pipeline’s Missouri River crossing was denied by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, but the battle to protect water is not over.

The Cannon Ball River encampment by the Standing Rock Sioux Water Protectors began in April with a few dozen Native Americans and grew into a 4500 person city at the northern entrance of the Sioux reservation by Thanksgiving.

What also grew were the actions against the 4500 peacefully encamped by hired pipeline security militia and local law enforcement.

Dawn Champiny watched the activities at Standing Rock’s encampment from her Venice, Fla. home until deciding to travel to North Dakota with daughter Ryan during the week of Thanksgiving. Read More