Category Archives: News Section

Yost Gets 75 Years for Randall Murder

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Victim Statements Show Impact on Family

•October 26, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

All the kids are afraid,” were the words of Sheri Randall’s nine year old son Donovan read by grandfather Terry Standerfer in open court prior to Michael S. Yost’s  sentencing Oct. 21.

Yost was sentenced to 75 years in prison for the death of Randall. First degree murder requires an offender to serve 100% of the sentence. He will be 117 years old when the sentence is completed.

Judge Dan L. Flannell explained Randall’s brutal 2015 murder reflected the boy’s concerns and indicated the death affected the community. Donovan’s statement was taken by Moultrie County Dove and presented as part of the Victim’s Impact testimony prior to sentencing.

Standerfer continued to read from Donovan Collins’ statement, looking directly at Michael Yost repeatedly. The letter revealed the boy feels unsafe and fearful, he cannot trust anyone and his classmates at school are afraid. Read More

Local Taekwondo School Holds Food Drive

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Photo furnished Local Taekwondo School Holds Food Drive Industrial Martial Arts’ Sullivan location held a food drive for the entire month of September. They challenged all their students to bring in food items to help support the local Moultrie County Food Pantry. Students challenged each other to see what age group, Tiny Tigers (3-8 years old), Karate-4-Kids (9-12), or Adults (12 years+), could bring in the most items. It was a race till the end, with the Tiny Tigers ending in first place followed by the K4K students and the adults bringing up the rear. Following the competition, Tiny Tigers delivered the contributions to the CEFS Office at 114 S. Harrison Street in Sullivan. While at the office they were given a tour of the food pantry and given some interesting facts on the amount of food it takes to help the community.

Photo furnished
Local Taekwondo School Holds Food Drive
Industrial Martial Arts’ Sullivan location held a food drive for the entire month of September.
They challenged all their students to bring in food items to help support the local Moultrie County Food Pantry. Students challenged each other to see what age group, Tiny Tigers (3-8 years old), Karate-4-Kids (9-12), or Adults (12 years+), could bring in the most items.
It was a race till the end, with the Tiny Tigers ending in first place followed by the K4K students and the adults bringing up the rear.
Following the competition, Tiny Tigers delivered the contributions to the CEFS Office at 114 S. Harrison Street in Sullivan. While at the office they were given a tour of the food pantry and given some interesting facts on the amount of food it takes to help the community.

ALAH School District’s 2016 Financial Audit

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“Things look good for now...”

•October 26, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The 2016 budget was presented and audited by McGuire, Yuhas and Buckley P.C. at the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting. They noted that the budget is looking better than it did a year ago.

Revenues exceeded expenditures, and none of the fund balances had deficits. Some of the recommendations that were made included trying to increase internal controls. The activity fund needs more than one signature when people are counting cash. Invoices or receipts also need to be turned in when using debit/credit cards. If there are any budgets where the district could go over, then they should be amended accordingly. Superintendent Ken Schwengel noted that current funds stood at $7,796,238.37, and all funds are in the black; although there have been no state payments received for transportation or special education funds. “Things look good now, but we have to be concerned as we move forward,” said Schwengel.

Other matters that were discussed or voted upon: Read More

75 Years in Prison

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Yost is Gone

•October 21, 2016•

Michael S. Yost was sentenced to 75 years in prison by the Hon. Judge Dan L. Flannell in Moultrie County Circuit Court Friday, Oct. 21.

He was taken to the Dept. of Corrections facility in Hillsboro from Sullivan.

Yost was found guilty of the March 2015 murder of Sheri Randall, 43.

First degree murder requires Yost to serve the full 75 years of the sentence. He will be 117 years old when his sentence is completed.

Jeremy Richey was the prosecutor for Moultrie County. Public Defender Brad Rau represented Yost.

Speeding Around Moultrie County Beacon Prompts Request for Sullivan to Lower Limit

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•October 19, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

At the Oct 10 Sullivan City Council meeting commissioner Ken Johnson suggested a lower speed limit on South Lincoln St. after receiving complaints.

Johnson explained that drivers are speeding down South Lincoln Street coming in from Eden Street. Some drivers also are not stopping.

Johnson emphasized that the Moultrie County Beacon is on the route and proposed a speed limit change for the area. From Graham Street to Harrison Street, south of the railroad tracks, drivers are moving very fast. “It is like a race-track,”  Johnson said.  Read More

13th Oktoberfest: Good Weather, Good Crowds, Good Times

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Photo furnished Young Chili Cookers Not to be outdone by the adult chili cook off participants two Sullivan students decided to compete. Above Addison Minor (front) and Taylar Mercer combined hamburger, tomato sauces and juice, salsa and a variety of seasonings in the blend that would make any first year chef proud. Mercer’s father Jerod and mother Nichole (background) assisted in the cooking set up, but the girls developed the recipe and prepared all ingredients.

Photo furnished
Young Chili Cookers
Not to be outdone by the adult chili cook off participants two Sullivan students decided to compete. Above Addison Minor (front) and Taylar Mercer combined hamburger, tomato sauces and juice, salsa and a variety of seasonings in the blend that would make any first year chef proud. Mercer’s father Jerod and mother Nichole (background) assisted in the cooking set up, but the girls developed the recipe and prepared all ingredients.

•October 19, 2016•

Sullivan’s 13th Annual Oktoberfest enjoyed good weather and appreciative crowds during the October 14 and 15 celebration on the courthouse square.

A weekend filled with activities for young and old alike went off without a hitch. Sullivan Chief of Police John Love noted, “Everyone was there to have a good time, and the well-organized events helped make the whole weekend go smoothly.”

From children and family activities during the day to Feudin Hillbillies and Brushville music in the beer tent Friday and Saturday nights, it was a weekend offering something for everyone.

Included was the annual chili cook off which enjoyed enthusiastic crowd tasting and voter participation from four in the afternoon until the 7 p.m. tally time.

This year’s judges’ choice: Racy Hot Pot; First Runner up: Moultrie County Counseling; Second Runner up: AmBucs

Best Chili Cook-off Booth prize also went to the Racy Hot Pot chili cooking team.

Artoberfest winners were first place photography: Greg Brandt--”Guitar Guy”; first place 2D: Amanda White’s oil painting on canvas, “Lucy”; first place 3D: Joanna Drost’s ceramic sculpture, “Wine Spirt: The Ground Is Warm”. Read More

State Board Tests Moultrie

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Photo by Mike Brothers Board of Elections Supervisor Kyle Thomas and County Clerk Georgia England during the State Board election equipment testing in Moultrie County last week.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Board of Elections Supervisor Kyle Thomas and County Clerk Georgia England during the State Board election equipment testing in Moultrie County last week.

•October 19, 2016•

Moultrie County’s new Unisyn election equipment was given an A+ during testing by the Illinois Board of Elections, October 13.

Three representatives of the Board of Elections chose Moultrie County for a random check and pretest of the election voting and tabulation system.

“We pretest all the equipment  for function, touch screen accuracy and calibration,” B of E evaluator Bruce Brown, said of the testing process.

Moultrie County replaced its 25 year old voting system with the new Unisyn system in the spring. Liberty Systems LLC, handles software support for Moultrie County, and Ken Gibson noted the confidence in the Unisyn system has grown and Liberty Systems has added Clark and Macon counties to service this election. Read More

District Governor Visits Sullivan Rotary

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Photo by Emily Stutzman Sullivan Rotary President Dave Cole (from right) Dist. Governor Kevin Younce and Mary Hodson, Assistant District governor at Oct. 4 meeting.

Photo by Emily Stutzman
Sullivan Rotary President Dave Cole (from right) Dist. Governor Kevin Younce and Mary Hodson, Assistant District governor at Oct. 4 meeting.

•October 19, 2016•

By Emily Stutzman
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Rotary Club met October 4 for their weekly meeting at the local TnT. Over salads and fried chicken, cobbler, and ice-cream, they chatted about local happenings and discussed their plans for the next week. Among the topics were Oktoberfest, the Zombie 5k Run (Susan Rauch laughingly assured us, “They’re not real zombies, don’t worry”), and the chili contest.

After lunch, new assistant governor Mary Hodson introduced herself saying, “My real job is to introduce Kevin Yonce, your district governor, but anyone who knows me, knows I talk a lot, so I’m going to introduce myself as well. Since I’m from Champaign-Urbana, I’m totally new to your club so I’m really eager to get to know you.”

She went on to speak about her experience as the district awards chair, a position she had held for the last 12 years at Rotary district conferences. Hodson also encouraged Sullivan Rotary members to attend district conferences, saying that it is “a good way to meet other Rotarians and share ideas”.

She explained that since Rotary is an international organization with the goals of community service, international service, and peace and friendship, it would be a good idea for the Sullivan club to become involved in an international project.  Read More

Windsor Schools’ Students of October

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Photo furnished Windsor Schools’ Students of October Noah Boyer, son of Karen Boyer and Travis and Trisha Boyer, has been selected as Windsor High School’s October Student of the Month. Boyer plans to graduate in December and attend Lake Land College in the spring. Lillian Sims, daughter of Hank and Mary Sims, is Windsor Jr. High School’s Student of the Month for October. She is an eighth grader and plays volleyball.

Photo furnished
Windsor Schools’ Students of October
Noah Boyer, son of Karen Boyer and Travis and Trisha Boyer, has been selected as Windsor High School’s October Student of the Month. Boyer plans to graduate in December and attend Lake Land College in the spring.
Lillian Sims, daughter of Hank and Mary Sims, is Windsor Jr. High School’s Student of the Month for October. She is an eighth grader and plays volleyball.