•March 8, 2019•

An aged and heavier Michael Yost sat alone at the defense table in Moultrie County court Thursday, March 7 as the Honorable Judge Hugh Finson appointed Walter Lookofsy to defend him.
He will return to Moultrie County Court at 3:00 p.m.Tuesday, April 2 after consulting with his new attorney.
The Illinois Appellate Court directed the Krankel hearing in Moultrie County to determine if Yost, 45, was ineffectively represented by counsel during his Sept. 2016 trial.
Judge Finson asked States Attorney Tracy Weaver about the Krankel filing in Moultrie County Court which she noted was made in 2016.
At that point a shackled Yost approached the bench, providing Judge Finson with his original Sept. 2016 Krankel filing.
In that filing, upheld by the Appellate Court on Jan 18, Yost maintained that public defender Brad Rau should not have represented him since he had previously represented murder victim Sheri Randall in a court proceeding.
Yost went on to request private counsel be appointed since his filing was based on incompetent representation by the court appointed public defender.
After Judge Finson dismissed Moultrie Co. Public Defender Marvin Hanson because had been involved in a previous case with Yost, Walter B. Lookofsy was appointed Yost’s new attorney with a 3:00 p.m. April 2 court date set to continue the Krankel hearing.
Those attending the proceedings were Randall’s family, friends and DOVE Domestic Violence counselors.
Yost was sentenced to 75 years by Circuit Judge Dan Flannell with the Illinois Dept. of Corrections in Oct. 2016 for the murder of 43 year old Sheri Randall of Sullivan.

Photo by R.R. Best
Firefighters from Sullivan, Bethany, Lovington, Windsor and Shelbyville removed chemicals from the shuttered Eagle Creek Resort over the weekend as local departments prepare to burn the mold infested resort in three different training sessions over the next two months.

•February 20, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

Eagle Creek Resort could be little more than a memory following an IDNR decision to allow area fire departments to burn the structure and haul it away.
Over the weekend Sullivan Fire Protection District fire fighters traveled to the resort for preliminary inspection of conditions and removal of chemicals and some equipment prior to the training exercise that includes: Bethany, Lovington and Windsor, Shebyvlle and Arthur firefighters.
“Following an earlier assessment of the Eagle Creek resort facilities, IDNR worked with local officials to determine the best path forward for the community,” Ed Cross IDNR Dir. of Communications, said in a release.
“That plan includes the demolition of the resort buildings and seeking out development proposals for a modern resort in the area. IDNR is also partnering with the Illinois Fire Service Institute and local officials to allow firefighter training on the resort complex and to ensure the site is cleared for redevelopment.” Read More

Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Firefighters were joined by area police searching debris for victims of the Feb 1 home explosion and fire in rural Sullivan.

•February 6, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

A rural Sullivan home explosion Friday evening claimed the life of 20-year-old Jared Schrock and left a 16-year-old girl in a Springfield burn center.
Sullivan Fire Chief Mike Piper said the 9:53 p.m. call to 1416 CR 1700N reported an explosion and two missing people.
When firefighters arrived, debris was scattered some 200 feet from the burning family residence.
“We located the girl under debris outside the structure within about five minutes,” Piper said, noting she had severe trauma and has been transferred to Springfield Memorial Hospital for burn treatment.
Jared Schrock was found in the crawl space of the destroyed home directly below his second story bedroom. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Destiny Roe and Becky Batman view Eden Martin’s “Fragments of the History of Sullivan” which is on sale to benefit Sullivan Education Foundation.

•January 23, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Eden Martin recently published a new book, “Fragments of the History of Sullivan”.
Martin has donated 100 copies of his book to the Sullivan Community Education Foundation, and all proceeds from the sales will go to the Foundation. Copies are $35 and may be purchased in the high school office during regular business hours.
The following is an email interview with Martin:
Ellen: You have written several books on the history of Sullivan and maintain an informative local history website, edenmartin.com. What motivated you to research and write these histories?
Eden: I first became interested in my family’s history, and that inevitably led to a broader interest in the history of the communities where they lived. My Martin family came to Illinois before it was a state and moved to the Sullivan area before Moultrie was a county. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Jim Sides (right) stopped by the Traditional Sullivan Bakery to pick up some donuts for his wife, Sue, last week. Owners Dorrie Donnals and Steve Jankowski explain to Sides he will need to arrive earlier during Grand Opening Friday, Jan. 11 because the glazed donuts and maple squares are usually the first to go.

•January 9, 2019•

By Doz Baker
for the News Progress

The aroma of freshly baked goods wafted onto the Sullivan square again.
The Traditional Sullivan Bakery Grand Opening is 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 11, and those wanting maple squares should arrive early.
“The maple squares and glazed donuts were gone by 7:30 this morning,” new owner Dorrie Donnals said after the pre-opening Jan 4.
Donnals and partner Steve Jankowski have acquired the 112 E Harrison St. bakery from Jo Beth and Jerry Risley and plan to continue serving the same bakery delights offered before.
“The Risleys have been wonderful support throughout the process,” Jankowski emphasized, noting their encouragement along with support from the community has helped.
“We haven’t changed anything on the menu,” Donnals emphasized, noting that two trays of the bakery’s signature maple squares were gone in an hour along with the fresh glazed donuts.
Although it has taken a few months to accomplish the reopening, Jankowski and Donnals had a desire to keep the bakery going as soon as the Riselys announced it was closing in 2018. Read More