Category Archives: News Section

Casey’s Suffers Hit and Run

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Photo by Keith Stewart The southwest corner of the Casey’s store front remains damaged after a hit and run incident occurred on December 28. The damage went beyond just the outside facade to include the kitchen and an office inside as well.

Photo by Keith Stewart
The southwest corner of the Casey’s store front remains damaged after a hit and run incident occurred on December 28. The damage went beyond just the outside facade to include the kitchen and an office inside as well.

Incident leaves kitchen and exterior badly damaged

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The Casey’s General Store in Sullivan was the victim of a hit and run December 28, which in turn left the business badly damaged on both the interior and exterior.

Jermel D Barlow, 24, of Decatur was arrested by Sullivan police at 10:35 p.m. shortly after the incident.

According to the crash report, for reasons yet to be determined, Barlow allegedly accelerated, jumping the curb before then colliding with the south side storefront of Casey’s. Barlow then backed out and fled the scene but was stopped a few blocks away by police.

According to Casey’s general manager Samantha Drake, not only did the incident damage the exterior of the building, but it also damaged the kitchen, an office, and a freezer. As a result, the kitchen was closed both the day of the incident and another day for repairs to be made, each causing an inability to make food including pizza. Read More

Gillis Resigns from Streets and Alleys

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by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

Streets and alleys department worker Chris Gillis submitted his resignation by letter at the Lovington Village Board meeting Monday night. The resignation was to take effect on January 10. Gillis has been with the village of Lovington for eight years. The position is now open, with applicants needing a class B CDL, ability to operate heavy equipment and mechanical knowledge of equipment. A committee was formed to select a new employee, and applications will be accepted until noon January 17.  Read More

White Out In Moultrie

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A hawk sits in the middle of Harrison Street in Sullivan feeding on a cold meal Sunday morning.

Photo by Keith Stewart
A hawk sits in the middle of Harrison Street in Sullivan feeding on a cold meal Sunday morning.

First the snow, then the cold

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

“It’s for the birds.”

Likely, much of the midwest was saying just this when over the weekend and into Monday a 1-2 punch of winter weather stretched its way across the nation’s middle, dumping upwards of 30 inches according to preliminary snowfall reports Monday.

Here in Moultrie County official totals didn’t exceed eight inches.

The snow started later than at first expected, early Sunday morning, and continued for most of the day. That evening, wind gusts up to 35 mph caused drifts, some reported as tall as six feet, that in turn severely hampered travel and even ushered in the closing of dozens of IL roadways, including a portion of IL 121, 32, and IL 128 here in the county. As such, emergency crews had to wait for assistance from snow plows before being able to make treks into rural areas. Read More

Local Businesses Also Impacted by Winter Storm

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by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

While it’s true that the recent spell of winter weather brought havoc in the form of diminished visibility, poor road conditions, and life threatening temperatures, the craziness began well before the weather arrived.

Area grocery stores quickly ran out of bread, milk, eggs, and other basic foods.

“The grocer’s best friend is the W on the screen, but we just don’t ever want what comes with it,” said Sullivan IGA manager Pat Stinson. “We had a huge, record sales day Saturday, which then led to a record week…it was the best we’d ever done.” Read More

Okaw Valley Schools Pass Levy for 2014

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Nearly $300,000 in new money requested

By Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

At the regular monthly meeting, one of the primary issues on the agenda for the Okaw Valley Board of Education was to bring to a vote the proposed Tax Levy for 2014, with an increase of 9.05% over last year.

Because the request exceeded a threshold increase of five percent over last year’s request, the board was required by law to hold a public truth in taxation hearing to inform the community and allow any concerned taxpayers to ask questions and to voice their opinions.

However, no concerned citizens were present.  Read More

With Impending Winter Weather, Public Urged to Stay Indoors

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Additional snow, severe temps, and wind gusts to start Saturday

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3–The National Weather Service issued winter storm advisories for most of central Illinois Friday, including Moultrie County, which is expected to see upwards of 10 inches of snow this weekend. That, in addition to the already three or more inches the county received Wednesday evening, will combine with plummeting temperatures to create what local law enforcement is describing as a dangerous situation.

“Basically, you should stay in doors unless it’s absolutely necessary to travel,” warned Moultrie County sheriff Jeff Thomas. “It’s just very unsafe to be out in weather like that. If you can avoid it all costs, stay home.”

Thomas also says that with the impending weather comes often times sudden road closures.

“With that wind and the snow along with what we already have, snow will be blowing and drifting so there will likely be some closed roads, but you may not know until you’re out there,” explained Thomas. “If have to venture out, bring warm clothing blankets, some food, bottle water.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation does post major road closures, available at http://www.dot.state.il.us/road/roadClosures.htm, but there may be a delay between the actual closure and its posting.

Read More

Hydro-Gear Donates

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Hydro-Gear Donates Submitted More than 3500 lbs of food were distributed to the food pantry recently after employees at Hydro-Gear were incentivized to donate nonperishable food and toiletries during the Dare To Care campaign. Employees accumulated points on products they donated. In return Hydro-Gear donated $2,000 to the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Employees also donated a total of $545 and will receive a pancake meal for their effort.

Hydro-Gear Donates
Submitted
More than 3500 lbs of food were distributed to the food pantry recently after employees at Hydro-Gear were incentivized to donate nonperishable food and toiletries during the Dare To Care campaign. Employees accumulated points on products they donated. In return Hydro-Gear donated $2,000 to the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Employees also donated a total of $545 and will receive a pancake meal for their effort.

Hundreds of New Laws on the Books in 2014

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Laws from wasting deer meat to hand-held cellphone use

Photo by Keith Stewart Arthur-Lovington High School senior Brittany Rader dials a phone number prior to buckling up and driving. With the new ban on hand-held usage of cellphones beginning this year, drivers will either have to resort to headset devices or voice-controlled applications if they want to continue to use their electronic device.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Arthur-Lovington High School senior Brittany Rader dials a phone number prior to buckling up and driving. With the new ban on hand-held usage of cellphones beginning this year, drivers will either have to resort to headset devices or voice-controlled applications if they want to continue to use their electronic device.

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogess.com

Its formal name is House Bill 1247 (HB1247), but to many drivers, it’s their next ticket.

Back in May of 2013, both houses approved the total ban on the hand-held usage of “electronic communication devices”–which to you and me means, largely, cellphones. Though the law also excludes hand-held personal digital assistants and portable/mobile computers, most of the attention is on cellphone usage, which now, must be hands free. The only way around the new law is to either not use your cellphone while driving or to do so with it out of your hands and with the help of bluetooth or other wireless headsets or voice controlled apps, such as Apple’s Siri. Read More

Second Place High-Point Winners

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Submitted by Don Rousser Second Place High-Point Winners The Sullivan Blue Dolphins traveled to Bourbonnais, Ill. for the Bradley Bourbonnais Swim Club Pentathlon on November 10. This was a one day five event competition. The attached picture was the second place high point winners; Front row: Deanna Clark, Back row: Brynna Sentel, Anna Wooters , Charlie Goss and not pictured: Michaela Donnel.

Submitted by Don Rousser
Second Place High-Point Winners
The Sullivan Blue Dolphins traveled to Bourbonnais, Ill. for the Bradley Bourbonnais Swim Club Pentathlon on November 10. This was a one day five event competition. The attached picture was the second place high point winners; Front row: Deanna Clark, Back row: Brynna Sentel, Anna Wooters , Charlie Goss and not pictured: Michaela Donnel.