Category Archives: News Section

Red Apple Donates

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Photo by Mike Brothers Red Apple Donates With the Moultrie County Food Pantry needing food donations, the Red Apple Family Restaurant in Sullivan is collecting canned and other non-perishable food items Thursday and Friday, Aug 25-26. Customers who donate items to the Food Pantry collection box in the restaurant will receive a free (nonalcoholic) beverage with their meal. Red Apple coordinator for food pantry donations Stephanie Hays explained the Moultrie County Food Pantry helps a lot of people in the community, and the restaurant is happy to support such a worthy service.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Red Apple Donates
With the Moultrie County Food Pantry needing food donations, the Red Apple Family Restaurant in Sullivan is collecting canned and other non-perishable food items Thursday and Friday, Aug 25-26. Customers who donate items to the Food Pantry collection box in the restaurant will receive a free (nonalcoholic) beverage with their meal. Red Apple coordinator for food pantry donations Stephanie Hays explained the Moultrie County Food Pantry helps a lot of people in the community, and the restaurant is happy to support such a worthy service.

Hole in One at Eagle Creek

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Photo furnished Hole in One at Eagle Creek Bob Montgomery of Sullivan became the latest Hole in One club member at Eagle Creek Golf Course. On August 9, Montgomery hit a Nike golf ball with his nine iron for a 125 yard drive to the cup.

Photo furnished
Hole in One at Eagle Creek
Bob Montgomery of Sullivan became the latest Hole in One club member at Eagle Creek Golf Course. On August 9, Montgomery hit a Nike golf ball with his nine iron for a 125 yard drive to the cup.

Bethany Patient Stages Toy Drive to Give Back

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Photo by Bernie Sanders Seth Webner of Bethany isn’t letting juvenile rheumatoid arthritis slow him from collecting toys for other patients at Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis. He is collecting more toys from the public at the Sullivan Church of God on Aug. 20.

Photo by Bernie Sanders
Seth Webner of Bethany isn’t letting juvenile rheumatoid arthritis slow him from collecting toys for other patients at Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis. He is collecting more toys from the public at the Sullivan Church of God on Aug. 20.

To Shriners Hospital Kids Like Him

•August 17, 2016•

Seth Webner has suffered with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for the past three years, and the treatment he has received at Shriner’s Hospital has inspired him to give something back.

Children from all over the country are treated free of charge at Shriners hospitals, and the Bethany seventh grader wanted to show his appreciation for the care he continues to receive.

“When I went through my first surgery at the old hospital, there was this lady who entertained me and gave me a toy,” Webner said, explaining the gesture did a lot to make him feel better about the treatments he was having to go through.

After his last visit in July, he told his mother Brooke he wanted to have a toy drive for Shriners Hospital, and so it began. Read More

County Goes to the Air for Next E-911 Phase

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Last Photos Taken 2003

•August 17, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Moutlrie County’s move toward an enhanced 911 system will require updated aerial photos of the county.

Public safety chair Arlene Aschermann requested the county proceed with a proposal for Orthophotography for E-911 and Assessment use.

The photos were used primarily for tax assessment purposes in the past. Kevin McReynolds of public safety explained the existing black and white photos of the county were taken in 2003, and more detailed photos are required to complete the E-911 property location section.

McReynolds explained the new larger oblique photos would give a more three dimensional quality for more accurate property location in addition to serving the county’s various GIS needs.

He noted the original aerial shoot for the county cost $119,000 with grant funding assistance. The board approved proceeding on the proposal. Read More

Flowering Corn?

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Stu D. Baker photo Flowering Corn? Head north of Sullivan about 4.5 miles on Market St. to witness a rare horticultural phenomena or a hoax. Along the east side of the road there is a white post with a small American flag to mark the spot where three stalks of corn have strayed from the field. Those stalks each are adorned with different colored flowers. Carroll Weaver has farmed the ground with his brother for most of his life. He said he has seen of lot of history growing up on the family farm, and this particular version of flowering corn stalks growing stray in the roadside ditch is something passersby will have to view in order to make a reality judgement for themselves.

Stu D. Baker photo
Flowering Corn?
Head north of Sullivan about 4.5 miles on Market St. to witness a rare horticultural phenomena or a hoax. Along the east side of the road there is a white post with a small American flag to mark the spot where three stalks of corn have strayed from the field. Those stalks each are adorned with different colored flowers. Carroll Weaver has farmed the ground with his brother for most of his life. He said he has seen of lot of history growing up on the family farm, and this particular version of flowering corn stalks growing stray in the roadside ditch is something passersby will have to view in order to make a reality judgement for themselves.

Local Korean War Vet Makes Honor Flight

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•August 17, 2016•

By Emily Stutzman
For the News Progress

In 1950, tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States were defining the era we know as the Cold War.

Although no direct fighting occurred between the two countries, the distrust and animosity began showing itself in the proxy wars, as they were called, that broke out in several small Asian countries.

The Korean War was the first of these. It led to the creation of North and South Korea as two separate countries, split at the 38th parallel. After an armistice on July 27, 1953, the unrest remained.

Local resident and veteran of the Korean War, Dane Henderson, had a first-hand experience with those events during his days in the United States Navy.

Henderson was drafted as a 21 year-old who had just graduated Eastern Illinois University.

He spent his time patrolling the coast of Korea in a destroyer whose mission was to intercept any messages that would provide any insight into “what they were talking about”, with “they” being the North Korean military.  Read More

Early Pay Off

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Photo furnished Early Pay Off The Moultrie County Board was able to make the final $64,583.33 payment on the county jail last week. Budget chairman Ron White noted the county was able to retire the $1 million loan 11 years early due to extra income generated through housing federal prisoners early on. Five county banks participated in the local debt certificate, accounting for the local share of financing for the jail. A $4 million grant helped finance the majority of the jail. Above Moultrie County budget chair Ron White (left) and Moultrie County Board chairman Dave McCabe (right) present First Mid Illinois Bank president Larry Stenger with the final payoff for the local loan.

Photo furnished
Early Pay Off
The Moultrie County Board was able to make the final $64,583.33 payment on the county jail last week. Budget chairman Ron White noted the county was able to retire the $1 million loan 11 years early due to extra income generated through housing federal prisoners early on. Five county banks participated in the local debt certificate, accounting for the local share of financing for the jail. A $4 million grant helped finance the majority of the jail. Above Moultrie County budget chair Ron White (left) and Moultrie County Board chairman Dave McCabe (right) present First Mid Illinois Bank president Larry Stenger with the final payoff for the local loan.

Piano Playing Summer Ends at Titus Manor

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Photo furnished Pictured above playing the piano is Reagan Crouse.

Photo furnished
Pictured above playing the piano is Reagan Crouse.

•August 17, 2016•

By Kennedy Nolen
For the News Progress

Teen pianist, Reagan Crouse, shared his talent at the Titus Manor Friday afternoon on August 12.

Crouse, 13, has been playing the piano for six years now, which means he started at the ripe age of seven.

His interest in the piano began around age two, and his mom began to take notice. Since he had taken a liking to his plastic piano as a young child, his mom knew she had to let him begin lessons.

He began lessons with Jay Durham of Effingham, and continued in Sullivan with teacher Nina Marshall.  Read More

United States Map Painter Visits SES

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Bella_USA

Photo by Mike Brothers SES playground got a free map of the United States thanks to some team work from left photo: Elementary teacher Nichole Hendry (left) and student Bella Brownlee (right). After receiving Bella’s letter “Mr. A” traveled from Benton to paint a USA map for Sullivan students.

Retired Educator Donates Fun

•August 17, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

After spending 26 years on playgrounds, you would think Gene Alexander would look for another place to play.

Instead this 81 year old retired teacher and principal of Benton visited the Sullivan Elementary School playground August 9, leaving a generous gift.

For the past 26 years Alexander “Mr. A” has been painting maps of the United States on playgrounds and in parking lots all over the state.

As school was closing last year Nichole Hendry and her fifth grade class began searching for a way to get a map of the United States placed on the playground at SES.

“One of the classes painted a map on the old playground that had faded away,” Hendry said, noting they were looking at making it a class project.

Patterns for such a project plus materials were costly. Hendry said she shared the idea with elementary school administrative assistant Ann Sanner.

Sanner ran across a story in Outdoor Illinois about Alexander’s mission to place maps of the United States on school playgrounds free of charge and passed it along to Hendry.
Student Bella Brownlee was given the assignment of contacting “Mr. A” and requesting one of his maps for Sullivan Elementary School. Read More

A Shear Madness Partnership for Little Theatre and Food Pantry

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•August 17, 2016•

Stu D. Baker
For the News Progress

With school beginning and the Moultrie County Food Pantry’s supplies exhausted the Little Theatre on the Square is offering a unique chance to see a show and give to the food pantry.

For the third week of Shear Madness Aug 23-28 anyone who brings in canned or non-perishable goods for the food pantry will receive a $17.50 ticket discount.

“We are extremely happy to be able to give back to the community,” Little Theatre executive director John Stephens said of the cooperative arrangement to help rebuild stock in the Food Pantry.

Stephens noted that patrons may bring in as many as 10 items and that would help the Food Pantry tremendously. Read More