Category Archives: Top Stories

Okaw Valley Schools Expand Toward the Future

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Timberwolves are watching from everywhere at the new Okaw Valley school district’s athletic complex. Contractor Joe Leanard gets ready to place one of the backstop Timberwolves at the new artificial turf baseball diamond.

•January 2, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

Okaw Valley High School’s building program is ambitious with a major agriculture dept. expansion plus the addition of outdoor athletic facilities.
Principal Matt Shoaff pointed out the Okaw Valley school district is progressive by taking instruction beyond the testing focus to the practical. “We have already been contacted by Lake Land College exploring the use of the new agriculture lab and learning center,” Shoaff said, noting the school anticipates having the that facility in operation by January.
“This is about the next generation of kids coming up,” Shoaff continued. “We are providing them with facilities that no other district offers.” Read More

Candidates File for Mayor and Commissioner Posts in the April 2, 2019 Election

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•December 26, 2018•

Sullivan’s City Council candidates’ list was finalized with three people seeking the Mayor’s office.
A drawing held December 21 determined ballot placement for canddiates in the April 2, 2019 election.
Filing for Mayor: Incumbent Ann Y. Short, Richard R. Glazebrook, and William “Bill” Burger,
Accounts and Finance commissioner: Abbey Sherwood challenging incumbent Mike Mossman.
Public Health & Safety commissioner: Chuck Woodworth is challenging incumbent Grant Wade.
Public Property commissioner: incumbent Michael E. Kirk., and challengers Michael C. Fowler and Austin Hunter.
Streets & Public Improvements commissioner seat is open with Jerry Risley not seeking reelection.
Candidates are Peggy J. Hargis, Edna M. Bailey, and Nancy Barker.
The petition filing period was December 10-17 for placement on the ballot of the Consolidated Election April 2, 2019.

County Board Protects Courthouse Computers

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•December 19, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County took steps to prevent future computer hacking with approval of Malwarebytes Protection for $4,317.84.
Technology committee chair Neil Bryan moved the two year subscription with a cost of $79.96 for each of the county’s 54 units be approved. Dave McCabe, Kevin McReynolds, Bryan, Mike Barringer, Arlene Aschermann, Todd Maxedon, Bill Voyles, Tim Rose and Tyler Graven all voted for the motion.
Geographic Information System (GIS) committee chairman McReynolds moved that the price for the county’s aerial photographic mapping information to groups who intend to resale the information commercially be negotiated based on each individual instance. The motion passed unanimously. Read More

C.E.F.S. Interagency: Where the Rewards are Priceless

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
CEFS Moultrie County Outreach is always ready to lend a helping hand. From left: volunteer Shirley Park, Outreach Coordinator Mariah White-Landrus and Rebecca Freese, Housing Counselor at CEFS.

•December 12, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Christmas for most of us is a time of food, presents, celebrating and all manner of excesses.
For some in Moultrie County it is a time when want and hunger are most keenly felt especially those who live at or below the poverty level. Fortunately, the C.E.F.S. Outreach office provides food, housing, jobs and other forms of emergency assistance for those in need
In 1964 President Johnson vowed to continue Kennedy’s War on Poverty and signed into law the Equal Opportunity Act which created the nationwide Community Action Network which was modeled, in part, on Saul Alinksy’s “Back of the Yard” program in Chicago.
There are over 1,000 Community Action Agencies in the U.S. C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corp. is one such agency and was incorporated in 1965 to include Clay, Effingham, Fayette and Shelby (CEFS) counties. It was expanded in 1967 to include Moultrie, Montgomery and Christian counties with seven outreach offices in seven counties. Read More

Community Christmas Tree Joins Downtown Holiday Celebration

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Photo by Mike Brothers
The Sullivan Community Christmas Tree was placed on the Moultrie County courthouse lawn Dec. 4. Those attending were above from left: Rob Young, Breanna Barrix; from Buxton’s Garden Farm: Abby and Caynan Sherwood and Steve Buxton; SCED Executive Director Laurrie Minor and Josie Orris.

•December 5, 2018•

Sullivan High School student Breanna Barrix thought a community Christmas tree lighting would be a nice touch for the season but didn’t know how to get it done.
At 9:14 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 Buxton’s Garden Farm delivered the community Christmas tree to the southeast corner of the courthouse.
“When she called me, I almost fell over,” Breanna’s cousin Rob Young said of any teenager caring about the community, so he got on board immediately.
“I have been watching Christmas specials, and community tree lightings bring people together in the spirit of the season,” Barrix explained.
Young began to make the Christmas tree a reality by going to Buxton’s Garden Farm. Buxton’s donated a tree to the cause, which is where Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development came in.
“We have wanted to have a Christmas tree on the square for the past several years, and when Breanna came up with the idea, we knew the time was right,” SCED Executive Director Laurrie Minor said, noting they appreciate permission to place the tree on the courthouse lawn.
The official Christmas tree lighting ceremony is 6:00 p.m. Friday, December 14 during Sullivan’s Old Fashioned Christmas Downtown Celebration. Bruder Tank made the tree stand; with The Thrift Boutique and Habitat ReStore donating lights for the community tree. SCED Director Minor encouraged the community to contribute decorations. Read More

Hydro-Gear Employees Collect Big for Food Pantry

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Hydro-Gear employees pitched in donating 7084 food items plus $6,696.38 in matched funds to the Moultrie County Food Pantry as the result of a companywide two-week fund raising effort. Helping unload seven pallets of food onto the food pantry shelves Monday were Hydro-Gear volunteers (from left) Chad Woollen, Larry Conlin, Larry Rose, Andy White, Krystal Rose, Trudy Patterson, Jim Buck, Troy Yokley and Christopher Zerrusen. Accepting the giant check on behalf of the food pantry was Moultrie Outreach Director Mariah White-Landrus who expressed her appreciation of Hydro-Gear’s employees’ generosity. Donations filled the food pantry shelves at a time when the need is greatest.

•November 28, 2018•

A volunteer team of Hydro-Gear employees filled the Moultrie County Food Pantry in Sullivan Monday, Nov. 26, unloading seven pallets of food items.
Hydro-Gear in Sullivan recently hosted a food drive to support the local food pantry.
“What started as a hope to change a few families’ Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays ended with a response that no one would have seen coming,” said Krystal Rose of Hydro-Gear.
The Moultrie County Food Pantry provides meals to more than 400 families in the county.
“We really appreciated the effort of the employees of Hydro-Gear to help the Food Pantry help those who need it most,” CEFS Moultrie County Outreach Coordinator Mariah White-Landrus said.
The Hydro-Gear family rallied together and hosted an internal competition, leaving one big winner…the patrons of the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
“I have helped in food pantry drives in the past that didn’t get nearly this response,” Hydro-Gear volunteer Chad Woollen of Shelbyville said. “To collect 7000 food items is an amazing effort by Hydro-Gear employees over just two weeks.” Read More

County Board Gives, Then Takes Away

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•November 21, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board took away $500 earmarked for the CEFS Interagency and gave $50,000 to the Sullivan Chamber Economic Development for tourism promotion at the regular meeting Nov. 15.
In reaction to the County Board’s removal of its annual support for the Interagency group which directly helps Moultrie County people in need, County Clerk Georgia England announced courthouse employees would immediately start collecting food and donations to help make up the $500 taken away from the Food Pantry and other groups helped through the Interagency.
“The Interagency helps people with the greatest needs and the least ability to pay; we will collect donations to make up the $500 gap,” England said.
County Board chairman Dave McCabe noted State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver reviewed the Interagency request and said it was “probably not appropriate to make that donation” prior to moving to rescind the previously approved motion. The board voted unanimously to rescind the $500 contribution. Read More

Flesor’s Candy Kitchen Sale Sweetens Food Pantry

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Flesor’s Candy Kitchen is set up at Cathrine’s Gallery in Sullivan Nov. 17. Devon and son Paul will help visitors select from the variety of holiday treats with 20 percent of sales on Saturday helping the Moultrie County Food Pantry. A sweet deal all around.

•November 14, 2018•

By Jimi Candy
for the News Progress

Saturday, November 17 is a sweet time in Sullivan.
The annual Flesor’s Candy Kitchen candy sale for the Moultrie County Food Pantry will be held at Cathrine’s Gallery from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Sullivan.
With 20 percent of all sales donated to the food pantry, Devon Flesor Story and son Paul, a fourth generation candy maker, will be on hand providing delicious hand dipped chocolates, original gift designs including a variety of the Flesor signature candies and the traditional chocolate turkeys just in time for Thanksgiving.
Devon noted visitors to the candy sale Nov. 17 may still make special orders for Christmas gifts.
With Flesor’s prices remaining the same, the value of the custom made gifts increases. “If a customer wants to make a custom order, we can do that,” Devon said of the flexibility of the candy kitchen in Tuscola.
In addition to the favored candy tins and assorted treats, Devon is introducing a larger gift basket just in time for the Sullivan sale this year.
Innovative packaging is part of the creative side of the team of Devon and sister Anne Flesor Beck’s resurrection of their grandfather Gus’s Candy Kitchen. Read More

Republicans Sweep Moultrie County Offices

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Family affair Chris and Jenny Ripple brought the family to witness voting at Marrowbone precinct polls in the Bethany Fire Protection Dist.

•November 7, 2018•

Moultrie County Republicans swept the Nov. 6 General Election taking circuit clerk, treasurer and all county board seats.
Competing for a two year circuit clerk term, former employee Christa Helmuth received 3,299 votes over Democrat Beth Pruitt who received 1,813.
Pruitt, a court reporter since 1992, was appointed circuit clerk in May replacing Democrat Cindy Braden.

County election official Dee Elder checks in Sullivan precinct 2 ballots from election judge Lori Harbaugh.

Republican Stephanie Helmuth, a bank officer from The First National Bank of Mattoon, is the new county treasurer receiving 3,220 votes over Diane Waggoner.
Waggoner, also a banker, is a lifelong Moultrie County resident born in Bethany. Read More

Moultrie County Relay for Life Receives National Honor

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•October 31, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County Relay for Life won the American Cancer Society Pacesetter Award for exceeding the 2018 fund raising goal of $50,000 for the first time in the history of the Relay.
The American Cancer Society North Central Region representatives will present the award to the Moultrie County Relay for Life during an awards banquet Saturday, November 3 at the Vineyard Church in Sullivan. Dinner is at 5 p.m. with awards presented at 6 p.m.
Moultrie County Relay for Life Chairman Adam McReynolds noted that not only did the county Relay for Life team achieve the goal for the first time but exceeded it by $9,000 covering Relay for Life expenses as well as donating to the local needs. Read More