•September 28, 2016•
First day of Early Voting and Vote by Mail for the November 8 General Election begins Thursday, September 29 in the county clerk’s office.
Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England would like to remind voters that Illinois no longer requires an excuse to vote early or by mail.
If a person has already decided how they wish to vote, now would be a good time to avoid the possible long lines on election day. Read More
Photo furnished
SHS Homecoming Attendants
Sullivan homecoming will take place the week of October 3-7. The parade will begin at 4 p.m. Oct. 7 with the homecoming game against Central A&M kicking off at 7 p.m. The 2016 queen and king will be announced at the dance Saturday with coronation starting at 8 p.m.
Homecoming attendants for Sullivan High School are freshmen Meena Corkill and Myles Gregory, sophomores Madison Atchison and Cullen Dyer and juniors Katie McClure and Jacob White.
Photo by Emily Stutzman
Beekeepers Tom Vance and John Durbin smoke bees to lure them into hives where the workers make some of the sweetest local honey in the country.
•September 28, 2016•
By Emily Stutzman
for the News Progress
Honey at the grocery store is identified by the classic bear-shaped containers. Some may even buy locally grown honey at farmer’s markets or orchards. However, there are an increasing number of people who have started raising their own bees. Local farmer, John Durbin is one of those. Durbin has lived in the Sullivan area for many years and is one of the founders of the Arthur Beekeepers Club, which meets on the first Monday of every month at the Arthur United Methodist Church at 6:30 P.M.
“The intention,” he explained, “is to give people information that’ll help them keep their bees healthy.”
The Arthur Beekeepers Club has been meeting informally over the summer, with their first formal gathering on September 5. Durbin, who has lived in Sullivan for many years but only started keeping bees in 2013 is one of the officers. He invited me to attend the meeting and offered to let me try some actual beekeeping as well.
The first step of the beekeeping process was to fire up the smoker, which was fueled by cedar chips, and don some white beekeeping suits and gloves. We then headed out to the row of white bee hives a safe distance from the Durbins’ house. Read More
Photo furnished
Miss US International Has Sullivan Connection
Editors note: Leinbach is the daughter of Carla Stokes who grew up in Sullivan and “honorary granddaughter” of Ron and Sharon White of Sullivan.
Kaitryanna Leinbach of Charlotte, N.C. has been crowned Miss US International a title she won at the national competition in Orlando, Fla. June 23.
Leinbach will live in Tokyo, Japan for a month representing the United States during a national press tour and then will compete in the international pageant in Toyko October 27.
She is a freshman at Louisiana State University and member of the LSU cheer team. Her parents are Laurence and Carla Stokes Leinbach of Charlotte.
Photo by RR Best
Hullabaloo on the Square
The sixth annual New Life Church sponsored event on the Sullivan square Sept. 18 provided family entertainment for hundreds of visitors. Many even braved the climbing wall (pictured) as well as inflatables, laser tag, street art, cotton candy and much more.
•September 21, 2016•
Habitat for Humanity in Moultrie County is an operation that is respected all over the country.
That’s what the Moultrie County Board discovered when National Habitat Care-A-Vanner Robert Gillespie and his wife Betty,visited their regular meeting September 15.
Gillespie and Habitat volunteers living in campers and motor homes travel the country building some 300 homes all over the United States each year.
“This is our seventh house in Moultrie County, and as soon as the date for this build was posted volunteers filled the sign up list,” Gillespie said.
He pointed out a few things that make Moultrie County desirable for the retired habitat volunteers who have come to town to build a house in six weeks.
One big factor is Pastor Paul McGhghy, Gillespie said, explaining the Faith Lutheran Church offers the Care-A-Vanners a premium campground experience during the six week build. Read More
Photo Courtesy Jeni Yantis
Okaw Valley Homecoming Court
Front - 2016 OV dance co-chair Hannah Landreth, crown bearer prince Parker Wise, 2016 king Skyler Birch, 2016 queen Kristy Burford, crown bearer princess Amelia Wise and 2015 queen Gretchen Macklin. Middle - senior candidates Brendon Lane, Jasmine Baumbarger, Brianna Creviston, Evan Blakey, Madison Uhlrich and Ty Nichols. Back - freshmen attendants Chloe Rhyerd and Ethan Bartimus, junior attendants Paige Robinson and Trey Yarnell and sophomore attendants Riley Kesterson and Case Crawford.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Convicted of murder Michael Yost is escorted from Moultrie County Courthouse Sept. 15 by Sheriff Chris Sims (right) Chief Deputy Gary Carroll (left) and Deputy Gary Eller (second from left). Yost remains in Moultrie County Jail until his sentencing October 21.
•September 21, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Michael Yost was found guilty of first degree murder in the cutting death of Sheri Randall in March 2015.
Chief Circuit Judge Dan L. Flannell announced the guilty verdict at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, ending the bench trail that began Monday, Sept. 12.
Judge Flannell emphasized that the state’s case established that Yost was guilty of all four counts filed, acknowledging the crime was cruel and heinous as State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey emphasized in his closing.
Yost faces a 20 years to natural life sentence with Judge Flannell scheduling a pre-sentence investigation report for 9 a.m. October 21. Yost was returned to the Moultrie County Jail to await sentencing.
Public Defender Brad Rau offered two witnesses on Yost’s behalf following the close of the state’s case on Thursday morning.
Yost, 43, recounted the events leading up to the death of Sheri Randall on March 4 while the court allowed endocrinologist Dr. Gregory Clark to observe the testimony.
Rau began by pointing out that Yost had Type II diabetes and asked his activities beginning on March 2, 2015. Read More
Photo courtesy Patrick Tueth
Mustangs Return
Featured in Bethany’s homecoming parade and other festivities this past weekend was the graduating class of 1976. According to those in attendance, no one has changed a bit in the 40 years since they roamed the halls of Bethany High School.The sports teams were known as the Mustangs in those days. Pictured are Kim Abbott, Bill Reeter, Patrick Tueth, John Hill, Sheila (Standerfer) Smith, Doug Moore, Cheryl Robinson, Susan (Iler) Schwartz, Donna (Martin) Fowler, Jane (Harshman) Inman, Tammy (Miller) Stinson and Pam (Richardson) Stetler.
•September 21, 2016•
by Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress
In August, the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board reviewed a tentative budget for 2017 in August. The estimated beginning balance for July 1, 2016 was $1,675,641 and the end balance for June 2017 is estimated at $1,995, 394. After being on display to the public for 30 days, the board had a budget hearing September 14 at their regular scheduled meeting. The budget for the 2017 school year was unanimously passed.
Other matters that were discussed or voted upon:
- Changes were made in the history courses regarding the new state civics requirement that will effect this year’s sophomores. The constitution has been removed from the US I curriculum and added to the civics curriculum which this year’s sophomores will take their senior year.
Also, the “Rights and Responsibilities of an 18 year old in the state of Illinois” will be removed from the US II curriculum and added to civics.
Homecoming king and queen candidates and attendants were recognized. Read More