•June 1, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
At the May meeting of the Moultrie County Board, the board appointed a new Planning and Zoning Director. Prior to this appointment the assessor’s office had taken on the responsibilities of planning and zoning. Kristi Hart is the new director of planning and zoning. Read More
•May 25, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Ash Grove Christian Church in Windsor will celebrate their 190th anniversary with a worship celebration and potluck dinner Sunday, June 5. According to a book on the church compiled in celebration of the 150th anniversary, John Storm, Sr. was the founder of the congregation.
He was born in Kentucky in 1793 and came to Illinois with his family in 1830 at the age of 37. The family settled on the W.W. Beck farm about two miles east of the Ash Grove Church, now the Don Dole farm. Two years after arriving in Illinois, he led in the organization of the church in Cochran’s Grove with 18 members. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Co valedictorian Savannah Hagerman speaks during the Okaw Valley High School commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14.
•May 18, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Okaw Valley school district held graduation ceremonies for the class of 2022 on Saturday, May 14, in the high school gymnasium. This year’s co-valedictorians are Evelyn Ashley and Savannah Hagerman and salutatorian is Amelia Landreth. The class motto is “In ourselves our future lies.”
Superintendent Kent Stauder presented Hall of Fame inductees during the ceremony. For the Volunteer Hall of Fame, inductees were Soo Harris and David Benning. Shawn Creviston was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Read More
•May 11, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council approved rate changes for gas, water and sewer during Monday’s meeting. An item for changes to electric rates was also on the agenda but will be discussed at the next meeting.
The motion for rate changes to gas rate was a proposed increase of 4%. Mayor Richard Glazebrook said in discussion that if they had to go on the market and buy, it would cost more and added that they have not raised rates in 10 or 11 years.
Glazebrook advised that the rate change will help with inflation that is going on and will affect the gas department. “You can defer and defer and defer, but in the long run you will end up paying for it one way or another,” he said. Read More
Photo courtesy of Kent Harris
This undated photo shows the Moultrie County Courthouse dome from years ago.
•May 4, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
It is visually apparent that work is being done on the roof of the Moultrie County Courthouse. The project is expected to be finished by the end of July and will take care of leaks in the roof. The cost for the project is $239,000.
According to records that Maintenance Dept. head Rick Matthews was able to access, the construction of the courthouse began in 1904, and a ceremony celebrating its completion was held November 12, 1906. He continued to say that the courthouse was initially funded by a $25,000 tax levy in 1904, 1905 and 1906. Matthews said that he will be donating the old clock motor and wood clock hands from the courthouse clock to the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society.
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•April 27, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council approved employee raises during Monday’s meeting. A motion was made by Commissioner Abbey Sherwood to approve a 75-cent raise for full time, non-union employees. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth spoke on the fact that water plant employees have been under union negotiations since 2020 and have not received raises for the past three years. He said that he wanted to give those raises to those employees. The total amount for the five employees is $13,018.82 which they have not received. “I think we should move forward with this,” Woodworth said. A vote was taken to amend the initial proposed motion, and a motion was proposed to include the water plant employees. Both were passed. Read More
•April 20, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Board approved amendments to an amendment regarding the zoning ordinance concerning wind energy in the county. Marsha Kirby proposed an amendment regarding wind turbines to take the setback from 1.5 miles to 2 miles of the corporate limits and the setback between turbines from 1,500 feet to 3,000 feet.
After this was approved, Kirby added that she wanted the turbines from 1.5 to 2 miles and 1,500 feet to 3,000 from schools. Todd Maxedon proposed another amendment for zero tolerance for noise. This passed as well. A final vote on the ordinance will be taken at the Thursday, May 12, board meeting after the April 25 public hearing to be held at Sullivan High School.
Approved was a motion to fund all eight repeaters out of the county’s reserve fund for approximately $302,500 and for ARPA funds to be used to purchase the radios needed to get all departments on board in the county for approximately $233,810. There are repeaters that will reach out to fire departments in all towns as well as law enforcement. This will benefit all agencies in the county. Read More
•April 13, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan Community Education Foundation held a Staff Appreciation Banquet Thursday, April 7, at Building 1225. During that event, mini and major grants were presented, and staff and retirees were recognized for years of service. Grant Wade, chair of SCEF, presented the grants as well as announced donations that were integral to funding those grants this year.
Wade said last year the foundation received one of its largest donations in the amount of $86,000 from Lloyd and Helen Maurer. A memorial in honor of Gary Emel given by the Emel family made an extra $10,000 in grants possible. This year there were seven mini and eight major grants awarded.
Mini grants this year totaled approximately $4,764.00 while major grants totaled $25,504.45. Mini grants in the amount of $450.00 were awarded to Erin Van Deursen and Nichole Watkins for hands-on learning activities for kindergarten students; Courtney Leach/ Leslie Guyot for a portable public address system for SES staff and students in the amount of $499.00; John Bertetto for 10 licenses for cadaver dissection program for SHS students in Anatomy/Physiology courses in the amount of $510.00; Valerie Kalagian/Lauren Fultz/Rikki Ray for 13 document cameras/microphones for elementary school students in the amount of $742.50; Sarah Camp for a sensory table and materials for early childhood students in the amount of $755.00; Kelsey Elliott for flexible seating for fifth grade students in the amount of $839.00 and Sheri McCain for 21 keyboards for third grade students in the amount of $965.79. Read More
•April 6, 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer
The third and final session of the Sullivan School Facility Forums was held March 28 in the middle school gym with about 40 people in attendance. This meeting focused on a referendum and 1% facility tax.
School Superintendent Ted Walk opened the session by telling the group, “Replacing the high school is the biggest project we will do in our lifetime.” He continued by stating that a new high school would cost about $27 million dollars. He said, “It costs ten million just to maintain every year, and that will only increase as the building continues to age and requires more repairs so, either way, there is a cost to a building that is over 100 years old. Read More
•March 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, March 28, and Mayor Richard Glazebrook began the meeting by recognizing Julie Shasteen who worked for the city for many years, saying she worked hard and enjoyed her job. She recently passed away.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood made a motion to approve the architectural agreement with Utz and Associates regarding the city building. According to Treasurer Sarah Golden, the design fees will be 10% of the total project. The initial cost of construction is estimated to be $1,800,000. The final fee will be calculated on completion of construction. Read More