Category Archives: News Section

New Director for Sullivan’s Mid-Illinois Senior Services

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Photo by Kennedy Nolen Mid-Illinois Senior Services Director Kathi Shackles

Photo by Kennedy Nolen
Mid-Illinois Senior Services Director Kathi Shackles

•October 5, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

The board of members at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services and Community Center chose Kathi Shackles to be the new director, after 12 years of employment at the center.

“I was excited and honored to be chosen,” Shackles said.

The senior center offers advocacy for seniors, Medicare/Medicaid counseling, legal aid, transportation, and is also a site for Peace Meals hosted by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.

About 10 to 15 people come in for Peace Meals each day, Shackles said.

Usually if the schools are closed in the winter for snow days, the senior center is too. This means the Peace Meal is cancelled as well, and TNT Pizzeria has hosted the meals in the past on days where the center is not open.

Shackles is available to answer insurance questions, find clients new insurance companies and will even file official complaints if need be. Help is also offered to those needing guidance navigating the Medicare/Medicaid websites.

As director, Shackles must now deal with the fiscal and financial side of the organization. She said she has a bigger responsibility, but loves the challenge. Read More

Sunshine Savings for First Solar Home in Sullivan

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Photo by Mike Brothers Owner Mike Fowler, foreground, checks solar panel for connection while Sullivan utility lineman Kim Miller makes sure the connection to the city power grid is safe.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Owner Mike Fowler, foreground, checks solar panel for connection while Sullivan utility lineman Kim Miller makes sure the connection to the city power grid is safe.

Dual System Pays Back

•October 5, 2016•

By Redi Kilowatt
for the News Progress

Mike and Donna Fowler live in the first home in Sullivan operated on dual solar power and conventional electrical service.

The city of Sullivan installed the dual operation service meter Sept. 30, and the solar panels were activated moments later for a system that Mike can monitor from his smart phone.

It was a journey with an unlikely beginning.

“My wife and I needed to remodel our kitchen, so we went to a home show in Springfield for ideas,” Mike began.

A retired member of the IBEW, Fowler admitted he was always interested in solar farms and solar electricity.

While shopping for kitchens with Donna, Mike met a guy with a solar systems booth set up at the home show. Read More

Grace Period Registration and Voting Offered

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•October 5, 2016•

The last day to register to vote has passed; however, it’s not too late to vote in this election by taking advantage of Grace Period Registration and Voting in the county clerk’s office.

This method of registration is available only in the county clerk’s office, 10 S. Main in Sullivan, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and runs from October 12 through election day. If a person registers to vote or changes an address during grace period and wants to vote in the upcoming election, he/she must vote at the time of registration. Read More

Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Serves DuPage County

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Photo Courtesy DuPage County Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Serves DuPage County DuPage County Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas hosted Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Cynthia Braden to serve as Circuit Clerk for the day. The two made a friendly bet over who would win baseball’s National League Central Division: Kachiroubas’ Cubs, or Braden’s beloved Cardinals. The loser agreed to visit the winner’s county and do their job for a day. To make sure Braden remembered who won the bet, Kachiroubas encouraged his employees to wear Cubs shirts to work today, and put Cubs flags around the office.

Photo Courtesy DuPage County
Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Serves DuPage County
DuPage County Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas hosted Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Cynthia Braden to serve as Circuit Clerk for the day. The two made a friendly bet over who would win baseball’s National League Central Division: Kachiroubas’ Cubs, or Braden’s beloved Cardinals. The loser agreed to visit the winner’s county and do their job for a day. To make sure Braden remembered who won the bet, Kachiroubas encouraged his employees to wear Cubs shirts to work today, and put Cubs flags around the office.

UMC Kids Spread Cheer to Food Pantry

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Photo courtesy Heather Clements UMC Kids Spread Cheer to Food Pantry Pictured are children from the Sullivan First United Methodist Church with jars of peanut butter and jelly that were collected over this last month for the local food pantry. From left to right: Adalee Foster, Vance Young, Leo Lane, Livie Lane, Henry Kuhns, Scarlett Perrott and Judd Sanner. Church members and children were challenged to fill several large boxes to supply the food needs for the month of September for the food pantry. The children were also in a contest to collect a total of 300 pounds of peanut butter and jelly (150 lb. of peanut butter for boys, 150 lb. jelly for girls). The kids surpassed their goal by collecting 164 lb. of peanut butter and 213 lb. of jelly in hopes of “Spreading the Word” to the community of Sullivan and helping those in the community.

Photo courtesy Heather Clements
UMC Kids Spread Cheer to Food Pantry
Pictured are children from the Sullivan First United Methodist Church with jars of peanut butter and jelly that were collected over this last month for the local food pantry. From left to right: Adalee Foster, Vance Young, Leo Lane, Livie Lane, Henry Kuhns, Scarlett Perrott and Judd Sanner. Church members and children were challenged to fill several large boxes to supply the food needs for the month of September for the food pantry. The children were also in a contest to collect a total of 300 pounds of peanut butter and jelly (150 lb. of peanut butter for boys, 150 lb. jelly for girls). The kids surpassed their goal by collecting 164 lb. of peanut butter and 213 lb. of jelly in hopes of “Spreading the Word” to the community of Sullivan and helping those in the community.

City Sets Clean-Up Days with Advanced Disposal

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Patterson Drainage Approved

•October 5, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Ed Woker from Advanced Disposal was present at last week’s city council meeting, and city clean-up days were scheduled and discussed.

The collection dates will be split between two Saturdays in order to cover the entire city.

Advanced Disposal will be in town the mornings of October 22 and 29. Residents who live on the north side of Harrison Street will have their items collected on Saturday, October 22.

Those who reside on the south side of Harrison Street will be collected Saturday, October 29. Items must be on the curb by 7 a.m. on the designated day. Read More

Hearing Waived In Abuse Case

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•September 28, 2016•

Jacob T. Pool, 23, of Sullivan waived preliminary hearing on two felony counts in circuit court Sept. 26.

Judge Dan L Flannell set a date for jury trial to begin at 9 a.m. February 6, 2017.

Pool has been in Moultrie County Jail since August 25 charged with unlawful possession of weapons, a Class 3 felony, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. Read More

WHS Seniors Host Binga Fundraiser

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Photo furnished WHS Seniors Host Binga Fundraiser The Windsor class of 2017 will host a Longaberger Binga Fundraiser October 22 at the high school. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the games start at 6 p.m. Tickets are available from any senior class member or by calling Lesley Baker at 459-2636. Tickets will also be sold at the door. A variety of baskets filled with goodies will be available as well as refreshments, 50/50, and raffle items. Pictured top left to right: Bailey Fleshner and Anthony Curry. Bottom feft to right: Jodie Harris and Gillian Sanders.

Photo furnished
WHS Seniors Host Binga Fundraiser
The Windsor class of 2017 will host a Longaberger Binga Fundraiser October 22 at the high school. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the games start at 6 p.m.
Tickets are available from any senior class member or by calling Lesley Baker at 459-2636. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
A variety of baskets filled with goodies will be available as well as refreshments, 50/50, and raffle items.
Pictured top left to right: Bailey Fleshner and Anthony Curry. Bottom feft to right: Jodie Harris and Gillian Sanders.

SHS Celebrating a Week of Homecoming

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SHS Senior queen candidates are Savana Brewer, Maddie Keller, Grace Mauck and Allyson Will. King candidates are Maxwell Todd, Charlie Goss, Tommy Schibur and Devin Warren (not pictured).

SHS Senior queen candidates are Savana Brewer, Maddie Keller, Grace Mauck and Allyson Will. King candidates are Maxwell Todd, Charlie Goss, Tommy Schibur and Devin Warren (not pictured).

•September 28, 2016•

by Amy Cravatta
for Sullivan High School

Sullivan High School’s Homecoming events begin Monday, October 3 with float building 6-9 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 6 for all high school students.

Pep rally activities will begin at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 with the parade Friday. Parade line-up  begins at 3 p.m. in the high school’s back parking lot and steps off at 4 p.m. Kick off for the football game against Central A & M is 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 8 is the homecoming dance in the high school gym. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the coronation 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The dance then continues from until 10 p.m.

Historical Amish Homes Moved to New Location

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Photo furnished Illinois District 10 Trooper explains safety issues to Mennonite school children observing the move of the first Amish home in the state to the future Amish Heritage Center location last week.

Photo furnished
Illinois District 10 Trooper explains safety issues to Mennonite school children observing the move of the first Amish home in the state to the future Amish Heritage Center location last week.

Heritage Center & Amish Museum

•September 28, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

A piece of Amish culture literally made history last week.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Arthur, two original Amish homes built in 1865-1866, were moved from storage to their new location.

They represent the beginning of a new Heritage Center and Amish Museum located less than a mile west of Chesterville and three miles east of Arthur.

The oldest home (Yoder House) was built by Moses Yoder, great-great-grandfather of Ervin Yoder. He was part of three families who were the first Amish to arrive in Arthur.

Daniel Schrock, great-great-grandfather of Wilmer Otto, was the architect of the second Amish home and came to the Arthur area around 1882.

This significant point in time not only caught local attention (a small group of Mennonite school children were let out early to be spectators)– but social media and other news outlets across the country.  Read More