Category Archives: News Section

County Awards ARPA Funds to Three Organizations

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•September 21, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Three more organizations were awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds during the Thursday, September 15, Moultrie County Board meeting. The board approved a motion to award $80,000 to Moultrie County Animal Control, an additional $280,000 to the Moultrie County Beacon and $75,000 to the United Methodist Church. The animal control will use the money to add on to the current facility to house cats.
The Moultrie County Beacon’s amount is due to loss of revenue during COVID. The United Methodist Church funds will be used toward repairs on the historical part of the church. They have several organizations that use their facilities, and they are unable to use some of their space because repairs are needed.
The board approved a motion to remove Georgia England from the county credit card and permission for the County Clerk’s office to obtain a new credit card using Rita Florey’s name. A motion was also approved to transfer the County Clerk’s credit card account from Rita Florey to the newly elected County Clerk effective December 1, 2022. A motion was approved to remove Jeff Birch from the county credit card and add Kyle Steele. Read More

The Sandwich that Changed Steve Jenne’s Life

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Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Steve Jenne (far left) and Scot England (far right) talk to those who attended the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society presentation on Thursday, September 15. Jenne talked about his book “The Sandwich That Changed My Life!” that he wrote with Scot England.

•September 21, 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer

On September 22, 1960, then Vice President Richard Nixon came to Sullivan to address a crowd at a Buffalo Barbeque Festival. He took one bite from his barbeque sandwich and then left to greet the crowd. In that instant, 14-year-old Steve Jenne grabbed the sandwich and the plate, raced home on his bicycle, had his mother put the sandwich in a plastic baggie, then into a Musselman Applesauce jar, and then into the freezer. Little did he know the sandwich adventures that would follow in the next 60 years.
On Thursday, September 15, 2022 some 30 people gathered at the Moultrie County Historical Society building to hear Jenne recount his story of the famous sandwich and promote his book with publisher Scot England, “The Sandwich That Changed My Life”. Fourteen of the attendees had been at Wyman Park on that famous day in 1960. Read More

Blood Drive in Honor of River Helmuth

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Photo courtesy of Stephanie Helmuth
Blood Drive in Honor of River Helmuth
On Saturday, September 10, a Red Cross Blood Drive was held at the Sullivan American Legion in honor of River Helmuth. During the drive Mike McDaniel (left) donated his 13th gallon of blood. He is pictured with River (center) and her mother Stephanie (right). During Saturday’s drive 76 units of blood were collected.

Sullivan City Council Approves Resolution of Funding Support for ITEP Grant Project

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•September 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Monday’s City Council meeting began with a public meeting for federally funded Phase 4 Streetscape Improvements. Later in the meeting, a resolution of funding support for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Cycle was passed. Lee Beckman of Milano and Grunloh said the goal of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) is to allocate resources to well-planned projects that provide and support alternate modes of transportation through preservation of visual and cultural resources and improve the quality of life for members of the communities. Read More

Habitat Care-A-Vanners Travel to Build Homes

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Habitat for Humanity care-a-vanners recently visited Lovington Grade to visit with students and talk about volunteering and building homes. Standing (left to right): Marla Graham (Principal), Joelyn Kempf, Bill Kempf (Milan, Illinois), Jennifer Franklin (Homeowner), Gary Smith (Lovington), Ramona Conques (Woodworth, LA), Joe DeLosa, Debbie DeLosa (Celebration, FL), Gene Mueller (Bethany), Judy Fox, Tom Fox (Davenport, IA). Kneeling (left to right): Bob Gillespie (Stevensville, MI) Richard Conques (Woodworth, LA), Chuck Ostrander (Battle Creek, MI)

•September 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently, construction began on the latest home for Habitat for Humanity in Lovington. A large portion of the labor used to build these homes year after year are care-a-vanners. Care-a-vanners are people who, in some cases, travel all over the country to build homes for the organization. The group that is working on the newest home recently visited Lovington Grade School, ate lunch and answered questions from students about volunteering and building houses. Read More

Cruise Night on the Square

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•September 7, 2022•
The Sullivan Street Machine Association held Cruise Night on the Square in Sullivan on Saturday, September 3. There was live music and dash plaques for the first 100 registered. There was also a power wheels demo derby for ages 3 to 9. More photos are on page 10.

Moultrie County Dive Team Receives Donation

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Dive Team Receives Donation
Members of the Moultrie County Dive Team met with the Harbor Light Yacht Club at the North End Bar and Grill in Sullivan on Friday, September 2 for a check presentation. The Harbor Light Yacht Club donated $4,500 to the dive team. According to Steve Taylor, who was the commodore of the yacht club, the group disbanded right before COVID. When the club was still active they raised money to make donations to various causes. Over the years the money raised just sat in the bank until the decision was made to donate the money to the Moultrie County Dive Team. Joash Tiarks, Commander of the Dive Team said the donation would be going towards purchasing a new boat for rescues. From left to right: Roger Farley, Amanda Farley, Joash Tiarks, Gina Koenig, former treasurer of the Harbor Light Yacht Club; Steve Taylor, former commander of the Harbor Light Yacht Club.

Bethany Man Finishes Rookie Racing Season

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•September 7, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Eric Boomer of Bethany, known at the race track as E21, recently finished his rookie season of street stock car racing with a race at Jacksonville Speedway. His ranking before Friday’s race was fifth place in the Midwest Big Ten Street Stock standings, tenth place in points at Macon Speedway, eighth in points at Lincoln Speedway and 23rd in national points in DIRTcar Series. Before he started racing this year, he spent five-seven years racing go carts at Piatt County Speedway. Read More

Illinois Amish Heritage Center Announces Herschberger-Miller Barn Raising Event for October

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•September 7, 2022•
The Herschberger-Miller barn, that was originally constructed three miles west of Arthur, Illinois in 1879, was dismantled by Firmitas, formerly Trillium Dell Timber Works, in spring of 2022. The intricate process raised massive media coverage in the region because the barn was not only being removed from its original site, but, the 143-year structure was tagged, labeled, dismantled piece by piece, and will be relocated, refurbished, and rebuilt at its new home, Illinois Amish Heritage Center (IAHC), located between Arcola and Arthur, on Illinois Route 133.
On Friday, September 23rd at 4 p.m., the IAHC will be hosting a public groundbreaking for site prep of this historical barn. The unique event will feature a horse drawn slip scraper for breaking the ground which was very common during the era of the original barn usage. Read More

Blood Drive in Honor of River Helmuth on September 10

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•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A blood drive in honor of River Helmuth will be held on Saturday, September 10 from 8 am to 2 pm at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. River is the daughter of Tony and Stephanie Helmuth of Sullivan. River was born in December 2015 and shortly after diagnosed with Down Syndrome and a heart condition that would require surgery. Read More