Photo furnished
Mo-Do Fair Ribbon Winners
Winning ribbons in the Moultrie Douglas Fair 4-H Livestock show were Blair Monroe of Bethany and Ben Bushue of Sullivan.
Mo-Do Fair Ribbon Winners
Category Archives: News Section
Independence Day Raffle Winner
Photo by Mike Brothers
Independence Day Raffle Winner
The annual Sullivan Independence Day raffle was another great success for the Chamber and Economic Development. Above interim Sullivan Chamber Executive Director Laurrie Minor presents the 2016 Independence Day raffle drawing winner Mary Ann Wiley of Sullivan with a $5148 check.
George Exhibition at Agri-Fab
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George Exhibition at Agri-Fab
Vintage tools from the George Garden Tool exhibition held at Agri-Fab July 2 drew a big crowd, including some of the past employees and their families. Evan Dickens, who was part of the original crew, is pictured with one of the many power garden tools made in Sullivan from 1946 through the mid 1960s. He and his wife Dixie inspect a vintage walk behind George sickle mower along with his daughter, her husband and grandkids.
Coles-Moultrie Enhanced 911 Approved by State
Land Line Locators Left
•July 13, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Coles-Moultrie enhanced 911 system became the first emergency dispatch consolidation approved in Illinois.
Bernie Buttram told Moultrie County Board Public Health Safety and Welfare Committee members July 6 the process could move to the next step.
“This is indeed very good news, and I’m excited about moving forward,” committee chair Arlene Aschermann said of the approval.
The Coles-Moultrie Emergency Communications approval by the Illinois State Police administered program followed a state 911 board approval in Springfield last week.
“Thanks to the help from Kelly (Lockhart) and Kevin (McReynolds) from Coles County Regional Planning the mapping process is already underway,” Buttram said.
McReynolds explained the address enhancement utilizing aerial photos last updated in 2002 was a challenge. Read More
Sullivan Fourth of July Activity Winners
•July 13, 2016•
Sullivan’s Wyman Park was buzzing with activity Monday, July 4 with turtle racing, watermelon eating contests and sack races.
Turtle race heat winners and grand champion: Race 1- Jonathon Nixon; race 2- Brea Farris; race 3- Karson Ragsdale; race 4- Payton Schum; race 5- Carson Nixon; race 6- Harper Havens; race 7- Riley Roehrs.
The grand champion turtle race winner was Payton Schum. The championship race included all heat race winners.
Watermelon Eating: (Age 0-4) first Payton Schum; second Kylie Wickline; third Koda Polley, all of Sullivan.
Ages 5-7-first Madison Highland, Monticello; second Stella Schum, Sullivan; third Emmerson Jiannoni, Sullivan.
Ages 8-10- first Maddie Probus, Sullivan; second Arty Grant, Decatur; third Emily Miller, Sullivan. Read More
Fireworks Donation
Photo furnished
Fireworks Donation
Continuing its ongoing support of community projects the Sullivan Rotary Club presented American Legion Post #68 with $1000 for the Fourth of July fireworks display. Above Rotary president Craig Anderson presents a check to Mike Keown of the Sullivan American Legion.
Open House Honors McMahon
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Open House Honors McMahon
An open house was held at Cathrine’s Gallery Gifts and More for outgoing Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development director Stepheny McMahon Friday, July 8. Pictured above with Mike Kirk, business owners, chamber directors, friends and family gathered to wish McMahon the best with her new career at First Mid Illinois Bank. Laurrie Minor is interim director.
Shooting Fireworks Packs a Bang Locally
Photo by Darian Hays
Hunter Kamm returned to Lovington with a mission. He not only designed but also shot the fireworks return for Central State Fireworks during the rescheduled event July 9.
•July 13, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
Hunter Kamm’s childhood love of fireworks turned into a full time job, designing shows for Bethany, Arthur, Sullivan and Lovington this Independence celebration season.
Kamm, who works for Central States Fireworks in Athens, is in the busiest of the fireworks season.
“I always dreamed about being able to design and shoot a display,” Kamm said, noting this year he was happy to lead the new Sullivan fireworks program.
At 19, the Lovington native is an assistant pyrotechnist, which allows him to design and set displays but not shoot. Fortunately, his father Jake is lead pyrotechnist with Hunter taking care of design and set up for the Sullivan show as well as others in the area.
Last weekend Hunter brought fireworks back to his hometown of Lovington in a big way.
Gene Clark created a series of ground fireworks displays that were the hallmark of the village fireworks for years. When Clark passed away eight years ago, Hunter began the process of restoring some of those displays and was able to bring “The Chief” back for the rescheduled July 9 Lovington fireworks show.
“He had some unique ground displays over the years, and my goal is to eventually get them restored and returned to service,” Kamm said of Clark’s memorial.
Lovington fireworks followed the spectacular show in Sullivan on July 4. Read More
Direct Primary Care Comes to Sullivan Health Care
Photo by Mike Brothers
Dr Dust changes practice at Sullivan Health Care to focus more on patient care.
Thirty Year Practice Continues with New Approach
•July 13, 2016•
When Dr. Glen Dust converts his Sullivan Health Care practice to Direct Primary Care October 1, he joins four physicians in Illinois offering concierge medicine.
Interest in the trend to replace insurance companies with a membership for primary care has grown nationwide as it helps lower health care costs.
Dr. Dust’s traditional family care practice has demanded more time dealing with insurance requirements for the past 10-15 years which does nothing toward treating patients.
“I’m spending weekends and additional time just to keep up with the growing requirements from insurance companies,” Dust explained. “I want to get back to taking care of patients.”
“In some ways Direct Primary Care is a throwback to when doctors were taking chickens and eggs for payment,” he continued, emphasizing the set fee includes everything from office surgeries to regular visits.
Savings in lab costs can reach 90 percent as just one example of services included for a plan set up with monthly payments. No co-pays, no questions from insurance companies about quality of care and no worries of sharing medical files are among the benefits offered. Read More
CodeRED Offers Mulitple Warning Services for County
•July 13, 2016•
By Emily Stutzman
For the News Progress
Living in central Illinois, weather conditions such as tornados, flash floods, and thunderstorms are abundant.
In order to maintain public safety, hazardous weather conditions are commonly broadcast on radio and television; however, most of these warnings are general, and cover sizable, generalized areas.
As Moultrie County ESDA coordinator, Jan Haegen, puts it, “That’s too general, and people don’t take heed. It’s like crying wolf.” Addressing the need to reach only the specific groups of people affected by these occurrences, ESDA employs an innovative alert service called CodeRED.
CodeRED is a nationally used warning service that not only warns citizens of weather conditions but can also be used to send out warnings about dangerous situations such chemical spills, fires, and missing person situations, to name only a few.
Haegen recalls implementing the service several years ago, calling it a “worthwhile investment.” Read More