Category Archives: News Section

State Behind on Transportation and Special Education Payments

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ALAH district still in the black, for now

March 18, 2015

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond superintendent Kenny Schwengel informed the board at its regular meeting last Wednesday that the state was behind on several payments to the transportation and special education funds. The transportation fund has been prorated at 71 percent and on top of that has received just one payment of $126,000. The amount includes one regular payment and a special education payment for Arthur-Lovington and Atwood-Hammond. Payments are still being made to Atwood-Hammond since the state was previously behind on them.
The district has received only one of the four payments that were expected. In the special education fund, only $85,800 of the $246,500 have been received. According to Schwengel, there has been some speculation that only two payments will be received in both the transportation and special education funds. Read More

Lovington Pageant 2015

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Photo by Darian Hays Little Miss Lovington Pageant The 2015 Jr. Miss and Little Miss Lovington Pageant will be held March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Lovington Grade School gym. This year’s pageant has three Jr. Miss contestants and seven Little Miss contestants. The competition includes a four minute interview that will take place in the afternoon, on stage introductions, a pop question, speech, and formal wear. This year there will be a People’s Choice Award, where anyone may vote for his or her favorite contestant at the pageant. A 50/50 raffle is this year’s fundraiser, which will be sold at the pageant or by all of the contestants prior to the pageant. Pictured, in the front row, from left to right are: Abby Turnbaugh, daughter of Jennifer Franklin & Luke Turnbaugh; 2014 Little Miss Lovington Halle Wardrip, daughter of Brad & Andrea Wardrip. Back row: MaKayla Hays, daughter of Tera Newberry & Tyler Hays; Kikyo Brent, daughter of Jennifer Martin & Kevin Brent; Morgan Casteel, daughter of Brock & Erica Casteel; Saveah Gabbard, daughter of Eric & Haylee Gabbard. Not pictured is Krystina Myers, daughter of Nena & Timothy Fridge.

Photo by Darian Hays
Little Miss Lovington
The 2015 Jr. Miss and Little Miss Lovington Pageant will be held March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Lovington Grade School gym. This year’s pageant has three Jr. Miss contestants and seven Little Miss contestants. The competition includes a four minute interview that will take place in the afternoon, on stage introductions, a pop question, speech, and formal wear. This year there will be a People’s Choice Award, where anyone may vote for his or her favorite contestant at the pageant. A 50/50 raffle is this year’s fundraiser, which will be sold at the pageant or by all of the contestants prior to the pageant. Pictured, in the front row, from left to right are: Abby Turnbaugh, daughter of Jennifer Franklin & Luke Turnbaugh; 2014 Little Miss Lovington Halle Wardrip, daughter of Brad & Andrea Wardrip. Back row: MaKayla Hays, daughter of Tera Newberry & Tyler Hays; Kikyo Brent, daughter of Jennifer Martin & Kevin Brent; Morgan Casteel, daughter of Brock & Erica Casteel; Saveah Gabbard, daughter of Eric & Haylee Gabbard. Not pictured is Krystina Myers, daughter of Nena & Timothy Fridge.

Photo by Darian Hays Jr. Miss Lovington Pictured, from left to right are: Ciara Emrick, daughter of Martina Emrick & David Emrick; Kenli Nettles, daughter of Ryan Nettles & Christy Yielding; Jessica Renfro, daughter of Jessica & Jim Erixon; and the 2014 Jr. Miss Lovington Natalie Lambdin, daughter of Tom & Jennifer Lambdin.

Photo by Darian Hays
Jr. Miss Lovington
Pictured, from left to right are: Ciara Emrick, daughter of Martina Emrick & David Emrick; Kenli Nettles, daughter of Ryan Nettles & Christy Yielding; Jessica Renfro, daughter of Jessica & Jim Erixon; and the 2014 Jr. Miss Lovington Natalie Lambdin, daughter of Tom & Jennifer Lambdin.

Yost Arraigned Friday Afternoon

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Murder suspect requests public defender

March 18, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A Sullivan man accused of first degree murder was officially arraigned Friday afternoon.
With visible stitches appearing on the left side of his neck, Michael S. Yost, 40, of Sullivan, went before the Hon. Judge Dan Flannell Friday afternoon and was formally read the four counts of first-degree murder for which he has been charged.
Friday’s hearing comes after Yost was arrested just three days prior following his release from St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur Tuesday afternoon.
According to court records, Yost was found a week ago Wednesday morning inside a Graham Street apartment in Sullivan with several stab wounds to both the front of his chest and neck, which according to rescue personnel appeared to be self-inflicted. Read More

Sullivan Scholastic Bowl Regional Champs 2015

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Submitted Sullivan Scholastic Bowl Regional Champs The Sullivan scholastic bowl team earned the regional title Monday evening with an overtime win over Marshall 130-120. The team started by defeating Shelbyville 220-90, then defeated Stew-Stras 210-60 to make it to the championship. Brent Mauck led the team with eight tossups, while Grace Mauck and Ryan Baker both added six. Luke DeLong added four, and Drew Harris contributed with one.  The team now travels to Cumberland Saturday to play in the sectional tournament.  Their record is currently 36-20. Pictured, back row left to right:  Ryan Baker, Blake Stewart, Nick Kelsey, Dakota Clayton, and Drew Harris. Front row: Grace Mauck, Luke DeLong, Brent Mauck, and Trevor Elder.

Submitted
Sullivan Scholastic Bowl Regional Champs
The Sullivan scholastic bowl team earned the regional title Monday evening with an overtime win over Marshall 130-120. The team started by defeating Shelbyville 220-90, then defeated Stew-Stras 210-60 to make it to the championship. Brent Mauck led the team with eight tossups, while Grace Mauck and Ryan Baker both added six. Luke DeLong added four, and Drew Harris contributed with one.  The team now travels to Cumberland Saturday to play in the sectional tournament.  Their record is currently 36-20. Pictured, back row left to right:  Ryan Baker, Blake Stewart, Nick Kelsey, Dakota Clayton, and Drew Harris. Front row: Grace Mauck, Luke DeLong, Brent Mauck, and Trevor Elder.

Lovington Gives Go-Ahead for Income Survey

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March 11, 2015

Will show if village qualifies for grant money to help complete second phase of drainage project

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

As spring approaches with rain and melting snow, the board heard guests Kelly Lockhart and Kevin McReynolds from the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission (CCRP) speak on the potential to get phase two of the drainage project completed.

The phase two area is east of highway 121. Lockhart and McReynolds requested that they begin an income survey of the area where the work would take place to see whether 50 percent of residents are listed at the poverty level. If so, Lockhart and McReynolds would proceed with a grant application, that if awarded, would earn the village of Lovington $450,000 for the project. The village, however, would be required to put in $150,000. Read More

WHS Team Quest Places Second

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Submitted Team Quest Places Second Windsor High School’s Team Quest team recently traveled to Mt. Vernon and placed second in regionals. They advance to the finals in April, which will be held in Chester. Pictured (L to R): Katie Greuel, Uriah Jones, Kristen Morlen, and Melanie Adams.

Submitted
Team Quest Places Second
Windsor High School’s Team Quest team recently traveled to Mt. Vernon and placed second in regionals. They advance to the finals in April, which will be held in Chester. Pictured (L to R): Katie Greuel, Uriah Jones, Kristen Morlen, and Melanie Adams.

Windsor High School Student of February 2015

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Submitted Windsor High School Student of February Senior Alexandria Bridges, daughter of Jeff and Amy Bridges, has been named February Student of the Month at Windsor High School. Bridges is involved in volleyball, student council, yearbook, National Honor Society, WYSE, physics club, health occ., and is an FFA officer. Bridges plans to attend Lake Land College and then transfer to Parkland College for radiology.

Submitted
Windsor High School Student of February
Senior Alexandria Bridges, daughter of Jeff and Amy Bridges, has been named February Student of the Month at Windsor High School. Bridges is involved in volleyball, student council, yearbook, National Honor Society, WYSE, physics club, health occ., and is an FFA officer. Bridges plans to attend Lake Land College and then transfer to Parkland College for radiology.

Windsor All-Conference Scholastic Bowl 2015

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Submitted All-Conference Scholastic Bowl Uriah Jones, (left) a senior from Windsor High School and Sterling Howard, (right) a sophomore, both received a trophy for making scholastic bowl second team all conference. Uriah competed on the varsity team and Sterling on the fresh-soph team. They were among the top 10 scorers of the NTC conference for the scholastic bowl season.

Submitted
All-Conference Scholastic Bowl
Uriah Jones, (left) a senior from Windsor High School and Sterling Howard, (right) a sophomore, both received a trophy for making scholastic bowl second team all conference. Uriah competed on the varsity team and Sterling on the fresh-soph team. They were among the top 10 scorers of the NTC conference for the scholastic bowl season.

BREAKING: Police Make Arrest in Sullivan Murder Investigation

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Photo by RR Best Authorities, including a member of the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigating unit were seen entering a residence at 503 W. McGill in Sullivan Thursday afternoon. Court records show that the residence belongs to Michael S. Yost, the man who was found with stab wounds Wednesday morning in addition to Sheri Randall, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators are calling last Wednesday’s incident a homicide.

Photo by RR Best
Authorities, including a member of the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigating unit were seen entering a residence at 503 W. McGill in Sullivan Thursday afternoon. Court records show that the residence belongs to Michael S. Yost, the man who was found with stab wounds Wednesday morning in addition to Sheri Randall, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are calling last Wednesday’s incident a homicide and have since brought Yost up on preliminary first degree murder charges.

March 10, 2015• 5:02 p.m.

Michael Yost arrested Tuesday afternoon
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A Sullivan man was brought up on preliminary first degree murder charges Tuesday afternoon in connection with the death of a 43-old woman last Wednesday.
Illinois State Police announced Michael S. Yost of Sullivan as being arrested Tuesday after he was released from St. Mary’s hospital in Decatur. Yost was then incarcerated at the Moultrie County Jail.
Yost was found last Wednesday morning along with Sheri Randall in her Graham Street apartment in Sullivan. Both individuals were found unresponsive and suffering from stab wounds. While Randall was pronounced dead at the scene by Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed at 11:50 a.m. that morning, Yost was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, where he underwent surgery.
According to Reed, Randall’s preliminary cause of death is multiple stab wounds on the abdomen. Reed said Tuesday that as is normal with autopsies, a toxicology report is pending, but he doesn’t expect it to change the outcome of the findings so far. Read More

Other name released in Sullivan Homicide

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Thursday, March 5• 11:13 a.m.

Man who was injured undergoes surgery
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
An Illinois State Police spokesman told the News•Progress Thursday morning that the an individual who was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital Wednesday morning following the discovery of an apparent homicide has undergone surgery and is now being held for observation.
Lieutenant Greg Lindemulder also confirmed that the man that was transported was a Michael Yost. Read More