Category Archives: News Section

Area Memorial Day Services Scheduled

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•May 25, 2016•

The Lovington American Legion family will host a Memorial Day service at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 28 in Tom Conn Park.

Sullivan American Legion Post #68 Honor Guard begins Memorial weekend observations following church service at Jonathan Creek Christian Church Sunday, May 29. The Honor guard will march the congregation across the road to the cemetery where prayer, a 21 gun salute and taps will be played.

Groups wishing to march in the Memorial Day parade are encouraged to gather at the Moultrie County Courthouse by 7:45 a.m. Monday, May 30. Read More

A Day at the Wax Museum

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Photo by Mike Brothers Babe Ruth is ready to hit as Jake Stewart.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Babe Ruth is ready to hit as Jake Stewart. Click the photo for the photo page.

•May 25, 2016•

The fourth grade wax museum at Sullivan Elementary School displayed a mix of pop culture and history Wednesday, May 11.

Students in the three fourth grade classes of Kurt Friese, Drew Campbell and Kay Lehman spent the past two months learning about characters from history and pop culture.

Inside the elementary school gymnasium on Wednesday those students became the characters they were studying.

“Students were given a month to select their character,” said Kay Lehman, noting they had to make the case for their character having an influence on history before approval was given.

Social studies help provide many of the characters. “Those choosing pop culture characters had to show how they impacted America,” Lehman explained.

This is the third year for the wax museum, and students added an iPod dimension to their character displays. Read More

Moultrie County Final Multiplier Announced

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•May 25, 2016•

Moultrie County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to Constance Beard, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.

Under a law passed in 1975, property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures but with farmland assessed at one-third of its agriculture economic value. Farmland is not subject to the state equalization factor. Read More

Neighborhood Clean Up Begins Mission

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Photo furnished Picking Up Litter Eiley Poe, 8, Bella Harden, 9 and Drake Poe, 11, all of Sullivan.

Photo furnished
Picking Up Litter Eiley Poe, 8, Bella Harden, 9 and Drake Poe, 11, all of Sullivan.

•May 25, 2016•

Megan and Jerrod Harden’s three children, Eiley Poe, 8, Bella Harden, 9 and Drake Poe, 11, all of Sullivan, felt it was up to them to clean their neighborhood after taking a walk one day.

They noticed a great amount of litter lining the rolling greens and road to South Shores subdivision.

The neighborhood clean up crew collected 10 bags of litter wading through the ticks and mud to get the job done.

“We are beyond proud of their efforts and found this to be something other kids in the community should be aware of...see... and do as well!”  Megan said of her children’s efforts. Read More

Yost Trial Date Set

News Progress Posted on by

•May 25, 2016•

The Michael Yost jury trial begins at 9 a.m. August 1 in the Moultrie County Courthouse.

Yost, 42, is charged with the March 5, 2015 death of Sheri Randall, 34, of Sullivan and was not present for the status hearing May 24.

Public defender Brad Rau, State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey and special prosecutor Ed Parkinson appeared before Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell set August 1 as the first day for jury selection and discussed a letter from Yost, complaining of jail conditions.

Directing state’s attorney Richey and Yost’s attorney Rau to discuss the complaint with sheriff Chris Sims, Judge Flannell pointed out this was the second complaint made by the Moultrie County inmate. Read More

New Water and Sewer Rates Ahead for Lovington Residents

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•May 25, 2016•

Lovington water and sewer rates are increasing in an effort to cover production and provide improvements to the system.

Village board members unanimously approved the ordinance with new rates during the April meeting.

The water rate increases by 50 cents for the first 1000 gallons with no cost change for additional 1000 gallons. Sewer rates increase to $4.50 first 1000 gallons with a 50 cent charge for each additional 1000 gallons. A $5 reserve fund for both water and sewer was added with no SSM change.

Lovington Park and Recreation week is Monday, June 6 through Friday, June 10 and received $700 from the village. Jennifer Peck appeared before the board explaining the program was starting from scratch so everything from supplies to totes for storage are needed. The room next to the clerk /treasurer’s office at the village hall is being cleared for park recreation storage space. Peck related that approximately 40 Lovington children are planning to participate in the weeklong event. Lunches will be provided by Fun in the Sun every day but Friday which is a Little Caesar’s Pizza party. Read More

American Legion Post 68 Presents Flag

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Photo furnished American Legion Post 68 Presents Flag Fifth graders at Sullivan Elementary school are in charge of raising and lowering the flag daily. When they noticed the flag was tattered and worn, Cheyenne Fleshner, a fifth grade student in Nichole Hendry’s class, wrote to the Sullivan American Legion and asked whether they would donate a new one. Less than a week later, Bob Sims of the Sullivan Legion, came to school and offered the flag to Cheyenne and thanked her for her letter. He then addressed the class and informed them of the Legion’s purpose to serve the community. He added that if they knew of anyone in need of new flags or other services the Legion offers, to write a letter with the request. Pictured are Hendry’s fifth grade class and Sims.

Photo furnished
American Legion Post 68 Presents Flag
Fifth graders at Sullivan Elementary school are in charge of raising and lowering the flag daily. When they noticed the flag was tattered and worn, Cheyenne Fleshner, a fifth grade student in Nichole Hendry’s class, wrote to the Sullivan American Legion and asked whether they would donate a new one. Less than a week later, Bob Sims of the Sullivan Legion, came to school and offered the flag to Cheyenne and thanked her for her letter. He then addressed the class and informed them of the Legion’s purpose to serve the community. He added that if they knew of anyone in need of new flags or other services the Legion offers, to write a letter with the request. Pictured are Hendry’s fifth grade class and Sims.

ALAH Prom Court

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Photos courtesy Mark Jones Tin Type ALAH Prom Court ALAH Prom Court left to right: Cade Day, Makayla Brown, Braxton Eckart, Sydnie Hanscel, Kayla Hodge, Zach Hingson, Hannah Leal, and Ricky Wright. 

Photo courtesy Mark Jones Tin Type
ALAH Prom Court
ALAH Prom Court left to right: Cade Day, Makayla Brown, Braxton Eckart, Sydnie Hanscel, Kayla Hodge, Zach Hingson, Hannah Leal, and Ricky Wright.

Arthur Christian School Breaks Ground

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Photo furnished Arthur Christian School Breaks Ground The new facility for Arthur Christian School will be more than double the size of the current space. The new facility will serve around 250 students as opposed to the current space with a max capacity of approximately 90. The future school home will also accommodate athletic events. Ground Breaking photo: left-right - Vern Kuhns (school board member and general contractor overseeing project), Valerie Kuhns (student council member), Dave Witbeck (school board member), Landon Gingerich (student council president), Jeremy Rhoades (school board member), Abby Mast (student council member), Greg Mast (ACS principal), Chad Yoder (school board president).

Photo furnished
Arthur Christian School Breaks Ground
The new facility for Arthur Christian School will be more than double the size of the current space. The new facility will serve around 250 students as opposed to the current space with a max capacity of approximately 90. The future school home will also accommodate athletic events. Ground Breaking photo: left-right - Vern Kuhns (school board member and general contractor overseeing project), Valerie Kuhns (student council member), Dave Witbeck (school board member), Landon Gingerich (student council president), Jeremy Rhoades (school board member), Abby Mast (student council member), Greg Mast (ACS principal), Chad Yoder (school board president).