Category Archives: News Section

Longaberger Binga at Windsor

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Photo Submitted Longaberger Binga at Windsor The Windsor class of 2017 will host a Longaberger Binga Fundraiser March 19 at Windsor High School. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the games starting at 6p.m. Tickets are available from junior class members, by calling Lesley Baker or Shanna House at 459-2636 or at the door. All of the baskets will be filled with goodies. Refreshments, 50/50, and raffle items will also be for sale. Pictured left to right: Bailey Fleshner, Jodie Harris, Gillian Sanders and Katie Greuel

Photo Submitted
Longaberger Binga at Windsor
The Windsor class of 2017 will host a Longaberger Binga Fundraiser March 19 at Windsor High School. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the games starting at 6p.m. Tickets are available from junior class members, by calling Lesley Baker or Shanna House at 459-2636 or at the door.
All of the baskets will be filled with goodies. Refreshments, 50/50, and raffle items will also be for sale. Pictured left to right: Bailey Fleshner, Jodie Harris, Gillian Sanders and Katie Greuel

Touch Screen Voting Comes to Moultrie

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Photo Submitted New Voting Equipment: Liberty Systems LLC partner Ken Gibson, County Clerk Georgia England and Election Deputy Jamie Helton prepared the system for operation last week.

Photo Submitted
New Voting Equipment: Liberty Systems LLC partner Ken Gibson, County Clerk Georgia England and Election Deputy Jamie Helton prepared the system for operation last week.

Storage Capacity Increased

•February 10, 2016•

Touch screen voting is coming to Moultrie County elections this spring, giving electronic or traditional as a voting option , all with updatedcentralized tabulation equipment.

County Clerk Georgia England explained election judges will learn the new system’s operations during a March 8 training session.

Ken Gibson, of Liberty Systems LLC, the vendor for the new voter tabulation system, explained the county’s equipment was 25 years old and was reaching maximum memory capacity.

The new tabulation system can hold the entire county’s tabulations on one piece of equipment.

“Plus there is the capacity for future growth,” Gibson said. Read More

Sullivan District Approves Bond Issue

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•February 10, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit #300 school board approved issuing $123,000 taxable obligation bonds while discussing funding options for $5 million in Life Health Safety Improvements.

Board president Steve Poland asked whether the general obligation bonds issuance was related to the current state budget crisis.

Supt. Brad Tuttle explained that Gov. Rauner’s  economic agenda calls for a property tax freeze which could affect every district’s funding ability in the state.

By issuing the $123,000 in bonds the school tax rate will be partially buffered in the event of a freeze.

The resolution to issue $123,000 in bonds at 2.5 percent interest passed unanimously

Tim King of King Financial Consultants noted that the 15 school districts he represents all are taking the same precautions as Sullivan toward the tax freeze.

King pointed out the $2.5 billion in 0 interest statewide loans for which Sullivan applied to finance the HVAC and roofing repair costs went to Cook and collar counties school districts. Read More

Individual Placement & Support Program Faces Funding Challenge

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Photo by Kennedy D Nolen Hollie Atchison, Employment Specialist; Penny Arthur, IPS Supervisor; Jeremy Nolen, Employment Specialist, are a part of the IPS program offered through the Moultrie County Counseling Center.

Photo by Kennedy D Nolen
Hollie Atchison, Employment Specialist; Penny Arthur, IPS Supervisor; Jeremy Nolen, Employment Specialist, are a part of the IPS program offered through the Moultrie County Counseling Center.

•February 10, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

Individual Placement & Support (IPS) is a  program offered at the Moultrie Country Counseling Center (MCCC) since December 2013.

This non-profit program, IPS, offers services in conjunction with the Division of Rehabilitation Services.

Adults who receive counseling from the Moultrie County Counseling Center are presented with the following options through the Individual Placement & Support program: a career profile, application completions, peer support, benefits counseling, supportive counseling, interviewing skills, job search skills, job development, job retention, and schooling. These needs are adjusted to fit each of the client’s needs and personal goals. Read More

Donor Matches 3 Degree Donation

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Photo courtesy WANDTV Donor Matches 3 Degree Donation Moultrie County Food Pantry received WAND/IBEW 3 Degree Challenge donation on the air February 3. Director Kristy Dawson and Nancy Kenton from the Food Pantry are pictured along with Ron Cummings from IBEW Local 146 and Chief Meteorologist JC Fultz. “I am so excited that we were able to give back to an area that I grew up in!” the Bethany native said during the presentation. He announced the $1000 3 Degree donation had been matched by an anonymous donor to give the Food Pantry an additional $2000 to help those in Moultrie County.

Photo courtesy WANDTV
Donor Matches 3 Degree Donation
Moultrie County Food Pantry received WAND/IBEW 3 Degree Challenge donation on the air February 3. Director Kristy Dawson and Nancy Kenton from the Food Pantry are pictured along with Ron Cummings from IBEW Local 146 and Chief Meteorologist JC Fultz. “I am so excited that we were able to give back to an area that I grew up in!” the Bethany native said during the presentation. He announced the $1000 3 Degree donation had been matched by an anonymous donor to give the Food Pantry an additional $2000 to help those in Moultrie County.

Moultrie County Inter-Agency Gives in Many Ways

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•February 10, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

The Moultrie County Inter-Agency is lacking almost a third of their annual budget to assist those who need it most.

Established in 1981 to help those in need, the Sullivan based agency helps in various ways.

Needs the agency meets include utility assistance for elderly and disabled, rent assistance, emergency shelter such as a hotel room if need be, food, car repair, prescriptions, pest control, and other situations deemed suitable for assistance.

Originally, the agency supplied Christmas gifts to children whose parents met the guidelines. Gift certificates in the amount of $25 to Dollar General and Pamida, prior to its closing, were given to the parents per each child.

Once the Moultrie County Inter-Agency had noticed similar Christmas spending had been covered by other organizations in the community, they began to focus on meeting other unfulfilled needs for families and individuals.

Also, the Inter-Agency is able to give those who qualify something called ‘Chamber Bucks’. This special form of currency may be used at only specific places in town, such as the city to pay bills and gas stations.  Read More

More County Flood Damage

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•February 10, 2016•

Additional flood damage on Moultrie County roads and bridges increased to $180,000 county engineer Jeff Birch told the Road and Bridge committee February 8.

That amount is added to the total county damage claim filed earlier with the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency.

“Once the water went down we discovered six bridges with erosion damage.” Birch explained that the county could  submit labor costs related to debris removal which assured the county’s qualification for disaster relief.

Committee chair Kevin McReynolds led discussion on eliminating vehicle rental from employees following the purchase of a truck for the Road and Bridge Dept.

Birch explained the department had accumulated enough funds to allow the purchase, and he had looked into the state contract bid site for vehicles. Read More

Candidate McCarter Visits Sullivan

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Photo by Mike Brothers Candidate McCarter Visits Sullivan A meet and greet for Republican State Senator Kyle McCarter from the 54th District was held at TnT Pizzeria Tuesday, January 26. The current state senator from Lebanon is a primary candidate seeking nomination for the 15th Congressional District seat held by Republican John Shimkus. Pictured above: Moultrie County Board chairman Dave McCabe, Senator McCarter and sheriff Chris Sims.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Candidate McCarter Visits Sullivan
A meet and greet for Republican State Senator Kyle McCarter from the 54th District was held at TnT Pizzeria Tuesday, January 26. The current state senator from Lebanon is a primary candidate seeking nomination for the 15th Congressional District seat held by Republican John Shimkus. Pictured above: Moultrie County Board chairman Dave McCabe, Senator McCarter and sheriff Chris Sims.

Sunday Crash

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Photo by RR Best Sunday Crash A Sunday morning traffic accident at the intersection of Jonathan Creek Road and Highway 121 sent a Sullivan man to the hospital. According to Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. Chief Deputy Gary Carroll, the department was called to the scene at 7:58 a.m. where they discovered a Subaru station wagon driven by Tyler Booker of Sullivan was attempting a left turn from 121 and struck a westbound Dodge pickup driven by Leroy Schrock of Sullivan. Booker was transported to Carle Hospital. Carroll noted that witnesses indicated the sun could have been a factor in the crash.

Photo by RR Best
Sunday Crash
A Sunday morning traffic accident at the intersection of Jonathan Creek Road and Highway 121 sent a Sullivan man to the hospital. According to Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. Chief Deputy Gary Carroll, the department was called to the scene at 7:58 a.m. where they discovered a Subaru station wagon driven by Tyler Booker of Sullivan was attempting a left turn from 121 and struck a westbound Dodge pickup driven by Leroy Schrock of Sullivan. Booker was transported to Carle Hospital. Carroll noted that witnesses indicated the sun could have been a factor in the crash.

3 Degree Guarantee Donations

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Help Food Pantry Feed People

•February 3, 2016•

WAND TV’s 3 Degree Guarantee is getting better and better for the Moultrie County Food Pantry.

Kristy Dawson, Moultrie Food Pantry director, reported a total of $950 was reached by the end of the month from the challenge for the Food Pantry.

Presentation will be made during the WAND -TV 6 p.m. newscast Wednesday, February 3 by the station and co-sponsor IBEW Local 146.

A Moultrie County challenge has also been issued to match the WAND 3 Degree Guarantee in an effort to double up on the effort to help those who need food in Moultrie County. That challenge may be responded to by calling 728-7381. Read More