Category Archives: Top Stories

Miller Amish German Schoolhouse Moved to Illinois Amish Heritage Center

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Photo by R.R. Best
The Miller Amish German Schoolhouse being moved by a team of horses to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center last Friday morning. The schoolhouse was moved using a tractor for part of the route and then was switched over to being pulled by a team of Belgian horses.

•April 14, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Route 133 between Lovington and Arthur was buzzing with activity last Friday morning as the historical Miller Amish German schoolhouse was moved to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. The schoolhouse was moved using a tractor for part of the route and at one point was switched over to being pulled by a team of Belgian horses. The 100-year-old schoolhouse was built around 1920 and was located two miles west of Arthur on Illinois Route 133. The school was moved in 2011 to the Miller farm two miles further west where it was preserved in its original historical condition by Karen Miller whose father and grandfather taught in the school. The Miller school served as a German school where Amish youth, after graduating from the eighth grade, went during the winter months to learn the German language. Read More

Resident Shares Personal Battle with COVID-19

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•April 7, 2021•
by Elizabeth Houser
Guest Writer

On Saturday, March 6, I was unknowingly exposed to Covid at an event out of town, with close friends. No one appeared that they weren’t feeling well. By Tuesday, March 9,I just was not myself, not sick, but tired. By Wednesday, March 10 I had cold/allergy symptoms & some stomach issues, enough to take cold medicine to get thru the day. On Thursday, March 11th I felt bad enough that I stayed home from work, and slept all day. By Friday, I thought I was a little better and took cold medicine and went to work. I was out most of the day, by myself, taking pictures of homes I was insuring. On Friday I found out that someone I was with on the prior Saturday tested positive. Had I known of any possible exposure, I would have been home that week. I had planned to be around family the next day, Saturday, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, so I decided to get tested at Carle in Mattoon Friday afternoon. I quarantined at home to be safe and waited for my results. By Saturday morning I had a Covid positive text on my phone. Read More

City Council Awards Bid For Corey Avenue Project

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•March 24, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Sullivan City Council awarded a bid of $96,320.41 for the Corey Avenue Enhancement project during Monday’s meeting to Esker and Walker Construction of Teutopolis. The council also approved the preliminary plat for the subdivision of Hagerman Street Addition.
During a Planning Commission meeting held on March 11, Joe Keller of Keller Warehouse LLC explained there would be six lots that would adjoin Hagerman Street. The commission recommended that the preliminary plat be approved by the council.
Bill Burger addressed the council in regard to electric bills. He said there are three misconceptions he wanted to address, namely, the homeowner is responsible for the high utilities, Sullivan utility bills are compatible with surrounding communities and the issue of add-ons when comparing Ameren utility bills to Sullivan. Read More

Bethany Fire Chief Now At Firehouse Full Time

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings was recently made a full time chief/paramedic with the Bethany Fire Department. This allows the fire department to offer paramedic level services during business hours.

•March 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently the decision was made to make Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings a full time chief/paramedic. This decision allows the fire department to offer paramedic level services during business hours.
“We saw a deficiency of coverage during the day and decided to make the position full time due to our aging community,” Jennings said. He continued to say that the department is on pace to have 300 calls this year, and they have already received 60.
According to Jennings, the national average for response to EMS calls is seven minutes. He reported they have had response numbers between one and three minutes. “We haven’t dropped a call in over 200 calls,” and added that as a department they have worked hard to get where they are with their money invested in training and equipment. “Taxpayers pay taxes to have an ambulance available, and they deserve to have one arrive quickly,” Jennings said. Read More

Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Presents Awards

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Photo by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development 2020 Citizen of the Year award was given to Margi Gaither and the Sullivan Stitchers by Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Executive Director Laurrie Minor.

•March 10, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development has awarded its 2020 Citizen of the Year award to Margi Gaither and the Sullivan Stitchers.
Gaither saw a need for mask distribution after watching a news program about the pandemic and had an idea. Though she does not sew herself, she knew she could organize, and that’s what she did. She organized a group of 20 individuals in the community to create cloth masks, which were approved by Decatur Memorial Hospital, for those who needed them during the pandemic.
She found sewing machines for those who didn’t have them but had the skills to sew and put out a call for materials and even set up a safe distribution system to get the masks to those who needed them. The Sullivan Stitchers under her leadership gave away more than 8,000 masks to local hospitals, staff and students of local schools and citizens in this community. Read More

Dicks Pharmacy Opens At New Location

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Cindi Reed, owner of Dicks Pharmacy, inside the new location of the pharmacy at 122 S. Walnut in Arthur. The pharmacy recently reopened after four months of being closed due to structural issues.

•March 3, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Dicks Pharmacy in Arthur has reopened after being closed for four months due to structural issues beyond their control. Last October, the ceiling caved in at their old location.
According to owner Cindi Reed, the pharmacy had been at that site for 100 years and had not been renovated since 1965. She said that after the ceiling collapsed, they chose to stay closed and relocate.
“It was the best option for what we wanted to do for the future,” Reed said. When it came to picking a new location, she chose a place to meet the needs of a modern pharmacy or health hub which includes a consultation room/private immunization office. Read More

Arthur Resident, Susan Bursa, Has Donated Eight Gallons of Blood

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•February 24, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

The human body holds up to 1.2 to 1.5 gallons (or 10 units/pints) of blood. A person can begin giving blood at 16 years of age (with parental consent), must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. You may donate once every 56 days. According to redcrossblood.org, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood as it is important for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. One donation can save up to three lives. Read More

Demolition on Titus Home Expected to Take 3-4 Weeks Depending on Weather

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•February 17, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The demolition process began last week at the site of the Titus home. According to Sullivan City Administrator Dan Flannell, the demolition is expected to be completed within three-four weeks.
The brick and concrete from the structure will be removed to the city of Sullivan’s storage lot where it will be ground up and repurposed. The property will not be for sale and will stay in the inventory of the city long term.
Flannell said that the demolition crew is avoiding the disturbance of trees and plantings on the property, and a small metal garage will remain in place as storage for the park system.
According to a biography written by R. Eden Martin, the Titus home was built by Winnifred Titus’s father, J.B. Titus, in 1895, replacing an earlier and small four-room structure on the same site. The new house was a home for J.B., his wife Louise, Winnie (22 in 1895) and Louise’s aged mother Wilhelmina. After Winnie returned from Europe in 1910, she lived with her parents in that home where she offered piano lessons to her students. Read More

C.E.F.S. Moultrie County Outreach Office Welcomes New Outreach Coordinator

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Photo by Crystal Reed.
Allison Garrett, the new Outreach Coordinator at C.E.F.S. Moultrie County Outreach Office stocks the shelves in the food pantry last week.

•February 10, 20201•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The C.E.F.S. Moultrie County Outreach Office has added a new outreach coordinator to their staff. Allison Garrett works closely with the housing counselor, rent assistance, energy assistance and food pantry.
She holds a bachelor in human services and community leadership from Eastern Illinois University. Garrett is originally from the Kankakee area but currently resides in Charleston. Prior to working at C.E.F.S. she worked at the YMCA in Mattoon. Read More

2021 Windsor High School Homecoming Court

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2021 Windsor High School Homecoming Court
Friday, January 22nd Windsor High School held a Covid style Homecoming coronation. Pictured is this years’ homecoming court.
Left to right: Freshmen Attendants Talon Bridges and Claire Sims, Sophomore Attendants Dylan Curry and Abby Carey, Junior Attendants Jack Welsh and Maddy Pfeiffer, 2021 Homecoming Queen Marylee Orman, 2021 Homecoming King Morgan Greuel, King and Queen Candidates Toby Kemper and Jessica Rauch and Jacob McQueen and Trinity Shupe.