photo by Crystal Reed
Registered Nurse Kim Garcia prepares to take blood from a patient at the Moultrie County Health Department recently. The health department recently added lab services to the list of services they offer. They have partnered with the company Labcorp to provide this service to the community.

•September 6, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Health Department recently began offering laboratory diagnostic testing services in the county. In partnership with Labcorp, Inc., MCHD can provide residents with a lower cost and easy to access solution for required labs. Moultrie County Health Department Administrator Angie Hogan said last month the department was able to serve 15 persons with lab services.

Lab service visits consist of two parts, the office visit which is provided by the health department and diagnostic testing which is provided by Labcorp. Payment to MCHD for the office is required at time of service. Charges for labs may be paid at the time of the visit or individuals can opt to have Labcorp bill their insurance. Read More

•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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•July 12, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Beacon will celebrate their 55th Anniversary with a celebration called Jeepin’ for the Moultrie County Beacon on Saturday, July 15 at Sullivan American Legion Post 68. The event will last from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will include a jeep run with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and departure at 11 a.m. The run is $10 per person. Also available will be food vendors, a bake sale, activities and crafts for the kids, 50/50 raffle and silent auction and musical performances by Shawn Dawson at 4 p.m. and Pizzazz at 6 p.m. Admission for the bands is $5. All proceeds go to Moultrie County Beacon.
Beacon Director Susan Rauch said the beginnings of the organization can be traced back to November 1966 when House Bill 708 was passed by the Illinois General Assembly which allowed tax revenue to be used for services for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health issues. A group of local business people began working to establish funding within Moultrie County, and on February 28,1968, the Moultrie County Beacon, Inc. was established. Read More

photo by Ellen Ferrera.
Shane Ramos, VP of MARK, demonstrates a locator antenna used to find rogue operators. The Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub held a Field Day event on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 at Wyman Park in Sullivan.

•June 28, 2023•
by Ellen Ferrera

On Saturday, June 24, members of the Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub (MARK) met at the Boy Scout cabin in Wyman Park to celebrate the annual Field Day with some 2.5 million ham radio operators around the world.
Since 1933, Field Day has been celebrated by amateur radio operators and clubs in the U.S. and around the world. The primary purpose of the Field Day is to practice and demonstrate emergency procedures and share information on new technologies, but each club determines their own activities.
Mike Morris, President of MARK, has been a ham operator for many years. He said, “It is an opportunity to combine a hobby with public service. We work closely with the weather bureaus to help issue warnings to remote areas or where communications have been damaged.”
The Moultrie Klub has been in existence for more than 60 years and meets the third Monday of each month at the Honey Bee restaurant in Mattoon. Dinner is at 5 p.m. with the meeting at 6 p.m. Visitors and those interested in joining the Klub are always welcomed. Read More

•June 14, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Monday, June 12.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood shared an update on the city hall project. She gave a timeline of the project and the different locations they had explored. The former city hall was demolished in February of this year.
The first bid opening came in way over budget so council members went back to the drawing board. Sherwood noted that on May 23 she received a text message from Mayor Mike Mossman asking her to stop the further development of the building project . Sherwood said she respects the council’s decision, and they should definitely discuss it.
Mossman said before they can sign off on it, they need to know what has gone on with the project prior to the current council. Commissioner Doug Shook indicated he would like a chance to look at the plans for the building before he would be prepared to make a decision. He said he was concerned about ADA access. Read More