Photo furnished
Sparrows Winners
Winners of the Sparrows sponsored bike ride in Lovington were: 1-3 year old boy- Blaine Hill, girl- Dixie Davis; 4-6 year old boy- Owen Crum, girl- Paityn Strauf; 7-9 year old boy- Ross Young, girl- Kaylee McDaniel; 10-12 year old boy- Mason Kreher, girl- Lanie Wiley.
•March 23, 2016•
On the front page of the Wednesday, March 16 issue there was an error in the Yost Fit to Be Tried article. In that story public defender Brad Rau was incorrectly referred to as David Rau. My apology for the error.
•March 16, 2016•
Sullivan Varsity Scholastic Bowl team won Regionals Monday, March 8 in Maroa-Forsyth.
The first match against Oakwood ended 320-110. Grace Mauck had five tossups, Ross Metzger three, Luke Delong three, and Ryan Baker two.
The second match of the night was against Argenta-Oreana. Sullivan was victorious winning 280-210. Leading were Ryan Baker and Grace Mauck with four, Ross Metzger two, and Luke Delong two. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Golden Eggs
For 27 years volunteers from the First United Methodist Church in Sullivan diligently turn out peanut butter and vanilla eggs, preparing some 400 Easter baskets for delivery to lucky sweet lovers throughout Moultrie County. There are about 40 volunteers working shifts to complete orders before Easter. Above Karen Dwyer prepares another batch of peanut butter fudge with Lucy Hilliard (center) shuttling ingredients to mixer Fern Patton in the background.
Photos furnished
Windsor Students for February
Mehria Khan has been named Windsor High School’s February Student of the Month. Mehria currently a junior and is the daughter of Naik Muhammad and Noria Saadat, her host parents are Brian and Phyllis Brunner. She is a foreign exchange student from Pakistan.
While here she is involved in Student Council, Scholastic Bowl, Spanish Club, Art Club, FFA, Physics Club, Pep Club, Band, and Softball. Upon her return to Pakistan she will study Pre-Med.
Hannah Morlen has been named Windsor Junior High School’s February Student of the Month. Hannah is the daughter of Robert and Misty Reed. She is currently in 8th grade and is involved in Cheerleading, Volleyball, Track, Scholastic Bowl, Class Secretary, Eco Team, and Team Quest. She plans to one day be a Veterinarian.
Pictured L to R: Mehria Khan and Hannah Morlen
Congressman John Shimkus visited TnT Pizzeria in Sullivan last week. Above, he and Republican County Chairman Dave McCabe discussed issues among the local lunch crowd.
•March 16, 2016•
The Moultrie County Board updated sheriff’s fees and learned of changes with Central Illinois Public Transit at the Thursday, March 10 meeting.
Coles County Regional Planning and Development commission conducted a study of the Sherfiff’s Department fee schedule which revealed some fees needed to be increased to cover actual costs.
That study showed the $85,561.79 in fees now generated could increase to $96,466.29 in annual fee revenue for the county.
Sheriff’s fee cost analysis revealed: eviction fee is currently $101.01 with an actual cost of $147.55 for a $46.54 difference; 321 warrants were served last year for a $46.00 fee with the actual cost $96.19 for a $50.19 difference; 643 civil processes were served at a $46 fee which cost $94.36; taking bond was a $10 fee with a $24.20 cost.
Budget committee chair Ron White moved the resolution adopting the new sheriff’s fee schedule be adopted. In addition the court security fee was increased from $25 to $35 following approval of Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell. Motions received unanimous approval. Read More
•March 16, 2016•
Michael S. Yost’s lack of memory from the night Sheri Randall was killed wasn’t enough to keep the Honorable Judge Dan L. Flannell from determining he was fit for trial during a March 15 hearing.
Yost, 41, is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the death of Randall at her Graham St. apartment in Sullivan March 4, 2015.
Dr. Lawrence Jeckel, forensic psychiatrist of Champaign, agreed Yost could have no memory of the night during testimony at the Moultrie County Courthouse. “He is fit to stand trial,” Dr. Jeckel told Public Defender David Rau.
“Is he suffering from amnesia from that event?” Rau asked Dr. Jeckel, who replied that he believed Yost had no memory of the day in question.
Rau told the court that Yost’s lack of memory hinders his ability for defense.
He then had Dr. Jeckel refer to the medical report from the night of the crime to illustrate a metabolic disturbance could have caused Yost’s blank out.
Referring to the medical report Dr. Jeckel noted Yost had diabetes, and the combination with alcohol and a variety of opiates found in the defendant’s blood stream combined with a drop in blood sugar could cause such a disturbance. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Crowd meeter- Governor Bruce Rauner (right) greeted Moultrie County Lincoln Day guests following his remarks Saturday at Terry Warren’s farm. Above Rudy Huber from CF&H in Sullivan has a few words with the governor while wife Linda snaps a cell shot as a momento.
•March 16, 2016•
Governor Bruce Rauner told 200 Moultrie County Republicans he was committed to improve funding for the state’s schools, but provided little hope to recently laid off Eastern Illinois University employees on Saturday, March 12.
The governor spoke to a full house of party faithful at the 2016 Lincoln Day Dinner held at the Terry Warren farm south of Sullivan.
“Illinois schools receive the lowest state support for education in the nation,” Gov. Rauner said, pointing out he proposes increased state funding, and he would push to put schools in downstate first.
For those who lost jobs at EIU last week because of the budget impasse the governor said he had offered to meet with the president of EIU and house speaker Michael Madigan to discuss the matter.
He emphasized his commitment to redistrict reform and term limits which brought applause from the crowd. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan schools’ security Gary Eller and Kim Swinford of the Moultrie County Health Dept. review first responder checklist while Sullivan police chief John Love and Moultrie County chief deputy Gary Carroll go over rapid response procedures during active shooter training March 9.
•March 16, 2016•
By Mike Brothers
A man walked into the Sullivan schools’ office March 9 asking to deliver flowers to his wife, a teacher.
That set off an active shooter exercise involving 18 first responders and 118 teachers and administrators on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon.
Jan Haegen, Moultrie County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency director, explained the active shooter exercise was held in cooperation with Sullivan schools to get an idea how emergency plans might play out if a shooter tried to enter the local school.
“All departments work together,” Haegen said of the combined training operation for the schools and county emergency services. “Anytime training is needed, everyone contributes, keeping us all up to speed.”
With headquarters set up at the American Legion across the street from the schools, state, county and city police were dispatched according to the ESDA approved plan. Moultrie County ESDA board prepared the county’s emergency response plan over six months, which was approved by Illinois Emergency Services. Read More