Category Archives: News Section

City Council Approves Purchase of Splash Pad Equipment, Approves Quote for Ball Diamond Lights

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•August 30, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Monday, August 28. There was a variety of items on the agenda including the approval of purchase of splash pad equipment and approval of a quote for ball diamond lights.

Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said they have the splash pad equipment but needed to approve payment of it. The cost for the equipment is $133,877.60 from Imagine Nation. This was approved.

The council addressed the waiving of bidding and approval of a quote from Musco Lighting for ball diamond lights. Sherwood said she spoke with Electric Distribution Foreman Chris Parsons, and he said he was unable to get any other quotes. The quote includes a 25-year warranty. Read More

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Holds Groundbreaking

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony for their newest build on Sunday, August 27 in Sullivan. Pictured are new homeowner Rebecca Comstock (second from right) and son Clark (far left) with Habitat board president Gary Smith (second from left) and Pastor Bob Vail (far right).

•August 30, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity broke ground Sunday for their newest build in Sullivan. Rebecca Comstock, Kylee, Clark and Owen have been selected for the home. Read More

Tentative FY 2024 Budget Approved, Student Enrollment Numbers are Dropping

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•August 23, 2023•

by Ariana R. Cherry

The 2023-2024 FY Tentative Budget was approved at the school board meeting Wednesday, August 16. “We try to be as conservative as possible when we put these numbers together. It is a solid budget, and we fell into tier four this year,” Superintendent Shannon Cheek stated. The EAV dollars and enrollment are how the state decides how much funding the school district will receive and what tier it is put into. The ALAH district received an additional $890.

“Our EAV continues to grow each year, but when your enrollment is dropping, that is not such a good thing. But even with those two factors, I feel like we have built a pretty solid budget. We fell into the black this year, but the fund that we need to monitor the most is our transportation fund. Those rates continue to go up. We are projecting a deficit in that account and will have to monitor and see what happens. There is a chance that we might need to do a transfer of funds,” explained Cheek. Read More

Arthur Area Art Council to Promote Artists Through “Artist of the Month Program”

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•August 23, 2023•

by Ariana R. Cherry

At their meeting on Tuesday, August 8, members of The Arthur Area Arts Council spoke about starting an “Artists of the Month” program and creating opportunities to partner with local business owners in downtown Arthur who might be interested in displaying art. 

They will begin by putting out a “call for artists” via local news outlets and social media. Any age will be eligible for artist of the month. Their plan is to help get local artists’ names out in the community while also helping support local businesses and organizations in the area. If the council is able to find businesses who are willing to partner with them, the art from the individual who is named “artist of the month” will be showcased in that particular business which will get promotions throughout the month. Artist Don Chambers also offered the possibility of adding the business in the background of his comics that he publishes in the newspaper for added exposure as well. Read More

Moultrie County Sheriff Makes Arrest Related to Scam 

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•August 23, 2023•

On Friday, August 18, 2023, the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Lovington Police Department, arrested Kaushal S. Patel, age 30, of Oaklawn, Illinois, for the felony offense of theft by deception.

The Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a resident receiving multiple phone calls from an unknown caller. Read More

126th Windsor Harvest Picnic Held

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•August 23, 2023•

The 126th Windsor Harvest Picnic was held Thursday, August 17 to Saturday, August 19. Thursdays activities included a pork chop dinner by the Windsor Harvest Picnic, Methodist Church ice cream social and music by Family Worship Center Band and Jake Hoult and Mikayla Joy. Fridays activities included a fish dinner, a patriotic opening and music by Jerrod Niemann. On Saturday, the day started with a breakfast by Windsor FFA, A 5K run and pedal tractor pull. In the afternoon the Molly Vasquez Memorial Parade was held with the theme “A Family Tradition.” That evening there was a dinner and homemade desserts by W.H.A.T. Music that evening was Allie Keck and Exile. Instead of a carnival this year there were inflatables.

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Two Story Outhouse Festival In Gays 2023

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Two Story Outhouse Festival In Gays
The Two Story Outhouse Festival was held in Gays on Saturday, August 12. A pageant was added to this year’s event which had three participants that received crowns and sashes. The opening ceremony included the cutting of the TP by a couple that have been residents of Gays for many years. This year’s Kidz Korner included inflatables, pony rides, games and face painting. Food and craft vendors lined the road offering a variety of foods and craft vendors offered items for sale such as t-shirts, tumblers, wreaths, jewelry and other items. Live entertainment that day was provided by the band Katzmandu and The Kate Brothers. This year’s festival was in memory of Tammy Howard. This year Brayden Armstrong, 12, also published a single page newspaper called the Poop Scoop specifically for the Two Story Outhouse Festival. He wrote the newspaper to give visitors to the festival updates and information about the event.

Partners in Produce Seeking Donations to Provide Fresh Produce

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Partners In Produce, a partnership between Arthur Produce Auction Inc. and the Illinois Extension is seeking financial assistance to continue to provide fresh produce to food pantries in the Extension Unit 19 Area. The Extension Unit 19 Area serves Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby counties and beyond. The partnership started in 2019, and on auction days throughout the season, Mary Beth Massey, Susan Stollard and others attended the produce auction to receive donations of fresh produce.

According to Massey, from May-October she visits the produce auction where Amish farmers grow vegetables and bring it on Tuesdays and Fridays where people come and buy for farmers markets, grocery stores and other purposes. So far this year 57,432 pounds of produce have been purchased and distributed through the program. Produce is delivered to food pantries, Eastern Illinois Food Bank and Catholic Charities. Read More

County Board Sets Pay for Election Judges, Hears from Liberty Systems Representative

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board held a regular meeting Thursday, August 10. All board members except for Marsha Kirby were present. 

Alex Hansen of Liberty Systems, the supplier of the county’s voting equipment provider for the last 17 years, came to answer questions that county board member Scott Buxton had asked at last month’s meeting. The system they use is manufactured and developed in California. She said they are required to support voting systems for 10 years after purchase.

Hansen said the county’s current tabulators are in good condition, and they have not had any issues with them. The tabulators are stored in Moultrie County, and any work the company does on them to get ready for the election is done in county as well as maintenance, testing and audits. Read More

City Council Approves Ordinance Regarding Downtown Business District

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council met Monday, August 14. Prior to the meeting there were two public hearings regarding applying for Illinois Safe Routes to School Grant Program and the OSLAD grant which would have granted fund improvements to Wyman Park.

The council approved an ordinance regarding the downtown business district and residences in that district. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth abstained. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said the ordinance was presented to the council last September, and they took it back and broke it down so that various parties were represented. A few changes made include banks and bed and breakfasts because previously they had been denied. “One thing this does do is restrict residential living on the first floor of any buildings that are not grandfathered in,” Sherwood said. “It restricts it, but people can come to the council for a special use permit.” Read More