Category Archives: News Section

Sullivan Schools Approve Budget, Welcome New Member

News Progress Posted on by

•September 21, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan District 300 school board welcomed new member Ann Wheeler and approved the 2016-2017 budget at the Sept. 12 meeting.

Supt. Brad Tuttle noted during the budget hearing that the educational fund is in better shape than previous years.

The budget indicates education starts the fiscal year with a $3,340,592 balance. Anticipated revenue from local, state and federal sources totals $7,477,292 with an estimated $7,346,258 in expenses for a $131,034 balance.

On the negative item balances Tuttle explained the transition to new HVAC systems in the schools should significantly decrease operations and maintenance expenses over time.

Operations and maintenance beginning balance is $891,722. Local funding sources generate $805,899 with expenses including $30,000 contingency, are $929,005, leaving $123,106 in the red. Read More

Yost Found Guilty of Randall Murder

News Progress Posted on by
image•September 15, 2016•
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 states case established that Yost was guilty of all four counts filed, acknowledging the crime was cruel and heinous as States 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 states case on Thursday morning.
Michael 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 Yost had Type II diabetes and ask his activities beginning on March 2, 2015.

Sullivan Schools Honor Patriots Day

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers Patriots Day reflections were depicted in a video watched by the assembly at Sullivan High School. Above Sullivan Mayor Ann Short, Sheriff Chris Sims, Chief of Sullivan Police John Love and guest speaker Nathan Becker watched somber memories from 9-11-01.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Patriots Day reflections were depicted in a video watched by the assembly at Sullivan High School. Above Sullivan Mayor Ann Short, Sheriff Chris Sims, Chief of Sullivan Police John Love and guest speaker Nathan Becker watched somber memories from 9-11-01.

•September 14, 2016•

The Sullivan High School Career English class Patriots Day assembly honored area first responders and military Sept. 8 in the high school gymnasium.

Before a gathering of students, first responders, military personnel and guests Rebecca Lawson’s class guided the school assembly through the events with presentation of the American flag by the National Guard, special musical arrangements and recollections of what Sept. 11, 2001 means today.

For SHS science teacher Nathan Becker, a sophomore at Sullivan High School in 2001, it was a day he can never forget.

“Like you students,” Becker began telling the assembled crowd, he was sitting in the commons with friends before school. “On the television in the corner we could see the fire from the first World Trade Center strike.”

Shortly before the bell for class, Becker said they watched the second tower get hit, and the silence over everyone in the halls indicated something was very wrong. Read More

County Salary Improvement Plan Proposed to Board

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016•

A plan to improve courthouse employee starting salaries was presented to the Moultrie County Board personnel committee September 6.

Committee chair Roger Glazebrook greeted representatives from the courthouse clerical staff as well as attending office holders to the afternoon session.

Courthouse staff spokesperson Krista Helmuth presented committee members with information on comparative  salaries in surrounding counties, revealing Moultrie County’s starting clerical salary of $18,000 is lower than all.

“The circuit clerk’s office recently lost two longtime employees to the city of Sullivan,” Helmuth said, noting a pattern of new employees training for various tasks in a county office only to leave after receiving a better offer outside is putting a strain on existing employees and service.

Cindy Braden noted the last opening she posted had four applicants. “When faced with turnover issues with corrections in the past, the county improved starting salaries in an effort to keep employees,” Braden said of county board practice in a similar situation. Read More

Yost Murder Trial Continues in County

News Progress Posted on by

*Update: Yost has been found guilty

•September 14, 2016•

by Mike Brothers and Soyna Best
For the News Progress

The murder trial of Michael S. Yost, 43, for the cutting death of Sheri Randall in March 2015 continued Sept. 13 in the Moultrie County Courthouse with Judge Dan L. Flannell presiding.

Appearing with his court appointed attorney Brad Rau, Yost sat quietly listening to testimony from Illinois State Police CSI Stephen Hulen.

Hulen recounted his investigation of Randall’s Graham Street apartment crime scene. Referring to a series of crime scene photographs, Hulen told prosecutor Jeremy Richey and the court that entry was gained by a concrete block thrown through a window.

He went on to describe blood from the kitchen where knives were removed from drawers, then on to the bedroom where Randall was found dead as Yost lay semiconscious with his arm over her. Read More

Two of the Oldest Banks in Moultrie County to form a New Bank

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016•

Ray Duncan, Chairman of the board of First National Bank of Sullivan and chairman and CEO  of Hardware State Bank of Lovington, announced last week that the two banks will merge to form a new state bank named First Community Bank of Moultrie County.

Hardware  State Bank has been serving the county since 1885, and the First National has been in business since 1905.

Both banks provide a wide array of banking services meeting the needs of their communities.

First National Bank Sullivan received a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating of “Outstanding” on its March 2, 2015 examination. For the last 15 years, Hardware State Bank has maintained a 5-Star Superior rating from Bauer Financial. Read More

ALAH Homecoming

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers ALAH Homecoming Homecoming King and Queen candidates prepare for coronation in Arthur Saturday night. They are: front to back: Shandon Herschberger and Gracie Plank, Nick Stoltey and Mycaela Miller, Jacob Larimore and Kimberly Davis, Justin Laughlin and Megan Cornwell. Coronation is 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 in the high school gymnasium.

Photo by Mike Brothers
ALAH Homecoming
Homecoming King and Queen candidates prepare for coronation in Arthur Saturday night. They are: front to back: Shandon Herschberger and Gracie Plank, Nick Stoltey and Mycaela Miller, Jacob Larimore and Kimberly Davis, Justin Laughlin and Megan Cornwell. Coronation is 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 in the high school gymnasium.

Supervisor of Assessments Was The Ultimate Public Servant

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016•

Cindy Kidwell passed away in her sleep Sunday. She was 67 years old and just announced her retirement after serving 15 years as Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessments.

Services are at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan at 7 p.m. Friday.

In a departing email sent out last week Kidwell noted that after 15 years of service “my body feels like it has been like a hundred so I want to get out while I can hopefully do all the things on my list before my legs give out.”

It was a list left incomplete.

For those past 15 years Cindy soothed taxpayers upset about property taxes while meticulously taking care of the myriad of legal requirements for the chief county assessment office. Last year was a quadrennial tax assessment year when all properties are evaluated.  Read More

First Color Run Fundraiser Planned for Titus Manor

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Titus Manor located at 513 N. Worth St. has been a part of Sullivan for a little over 150 years. In its quiet part of town, Titus Manor was built by Joseph B. Titus who came to Sullivan in 1862 with his family.

The Titus Manor is hosting its first ever Color Run Saturday, September 24 in Wyman Park. (Rain date is October 1). Sign-in begins at 8 a.m., and the walk/run starts at 9 a.m. Registration deadline is Sept. 23.

This year Titus Manor decided to try something different- a Color Run. “Because of the popularity of Color Runs, we decided to try one in hopes we could raise enough funds that we could just have one event this year, along with our fall bazaar, instead of having several smaller fund-raisers throughout the year,” said Lisa Smothers, office manager. There have been several businesses who have come together to support the Color Run. “The response from the community has been amazing, and we could’ve never pulled it off without them,” stated Smothers. Read More

LHS Alumni Honor Three Graduates

News Progress Posted on by

•September 7, 2016•

The Lovington High School Alumni Association will honor three Lovington graduates at its banquet September 10 at Yoder’s Country Kitchen in Arthur.

Dan Bolsen, Class of 2009, will receive the Outstanding Athletic Hall of Fame award.

Bolsen made the LOVC All Conference and All Area teams in basketball and football his sophomore, junior and senior years at LHS. He made the AP All State team in basketball and the Illinois Press Association’s All State Journalism team his senior year. Bolsen also played basketball and then football at Eureka College, where he received his bachelor’s degree. He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois. Read More