Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Survivors beginning their lap at the Coles-Moultrie County Relay for Life last Saturday at Peterson Park in Mattoon.

•August 25 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

The Relay for Life is one of the Cancer Society’s major fundraisers, but Covid has prevented the relay from being held for the past two years. With limited funds to restart their program, the Moultrie and Coles county relays have combined resources and created the Coles-Moultrie County Relay for Life.
Their first fundraiser was held Saturday, August 21, at Mattoon in Peterson Park. The theme was “Saddle Up-Let’s Ride” so a lot of ladies wore blinged-out jeans and cowboy boots while children were treated to horse and pony rides.
Kathy Beals, event leader, noted that attendance was far less than expected due to the high temperature and humidity. She said “Normally, we try to have at least one member of each team on the track at all times, but some teams don’t have anyone walking the laps. It is just too hot.” Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrara
The former Villagettes, now Reunion, rehearse for their August 20 benefit for the Bethany American Legion.

•August 11, 2021•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Do you miss that great, ol’ time rock and roll music? Then pull up a lawn chair at the Bethany American Legion on Friday, August 20 from 6-8 p.m. and rock out with the former Villagettes to the great songs of the 60’s and 70’s.
The event is a fundraiser for the American Legion with pork burgers or a hot dog, chips and a cookie for $5.00. Beverages are also available, and all proceeds from the food sales go directly to the Bethany American Legion.
If you grew up in Bethany around 1967, you probably remember the Villagettes – an all-girl band of high school friends who played almost every weekend in Bethany, Sullivan, Lovington, Illiopolis, Decatur and other small towns in the area from 1967-1969 for sock hops and special events.
It all started when Dee Buker was the only girl in an all-male band. On one rare occasion the band got paid, and the guys divvied up the money but gave none to Dee. When she complained to her father, he said, “Why don’t you start your own band?”
She rounded up her best buds – Peggy Reeder (sax), Candy Monroe (bass), Cindy Sanner (drums), and one other friend to form an all-girl band. They called themselves the Villagettes because they came from a small village and to emphasize that they were a unique all-girl band. Read More

•July 28, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Last week, Sullivan and Okaw Valley School districts sent letters to families regarding their back-to-school plans for 2021-2022. Superintendent Ted Walk announced in his letter that Sullivan Schools will operate in a very similar manner as 2019, with the primary exception that masks will be required only when on school buses. The letter continues to state that buildings and school buses will have enhanced cleaning schedules and that good hand hygiene will be encouraged at all grade levels.
Parents should keep their children home from school if they are sick or exhibiting COVID-19 related symptoms. Also, three feet of physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent feasible. The letter says that field trips will resume and that visitors will be allowed at the building principal’s discretion. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Owners of All American Storm Team, Selina and Jay Clark, with their truck that lists some of the services they offer.

•July 14, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A new local business that is veteran owned has a goal to help homeowners in their time of need. Jay and Selina Clark, both Army veterans, have founded All American Storm Team. Their business makes sure insurance policy holders are protected should a disaster happen such as a tornado, flood, wildfire, house fire or hurricane or even something as simple as a roof leak.
They both used to work in the insurance industry and one day decided that they needed to do some other kind of work. They both have insurance and construction backgrounds. “All we wanted to do is help people,” Selina said. “It doesn’t matter which arena.” Read More

•June 30, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board election committee met last Wednesday to address revisions to the proposal for Sullivan Township election precinct adjustments. According to County Clerk Georgia England, this transpired because they have a couple of precincts that number over 800. “The first proposal we had last month was readjusting the precincts to level out the number of voters and to eliminate one precinct to reduce the cost to the county,” she said. “More machines will be needed, and this way we wouldn’t have purchased more machines, and it would be evenly distributed giving us 100 more voters growth over the next 10-15 years.”
England continued to say that after the county board meeting in June, they returned the proposal to Bruce Harris and had him do up another few examples, readjusting so the precincts would be down to 600. She indicated that they do not want to add cost to the county. England said, knowing the growths in the precincts, it shouldn’t increase that much in the next 10,15, 20 years. In the new proposed map, the majority of the precincts at their highest are around 590. Read More