•February 13, 2019•
Michael S. Yost was sentenced to 75 years for the 2015 murder of Sheri Randall in 2016; at 11:00 a.m. March 7 that case returns to Moultrie County.
On Jan. 8 an Illinois Appellate Court decision determined cause for a Krankel hearing before the honorable judge Hugh Finson on that date in Moultrie County Circuit Court.
Ineffective assistance of counsel claims are fought in a Krankel hearing. 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
Drone photo by R.R. Best
•January 30, 2019•
It’s been a long time coming and in a short time gone.
The abandoned former location of Jackson Chevrolet that has marred the Jackson Street view for the past few years is gone.
Overland Corp Missouri is developing the $1.4 property for Dollar General Stores. City administrator Dan Flannell explained plans submitted to the city for permit applications reveal the new Dollar General Plus store is approximately 2000 sq. ft. larger than traditional stores and includes meat and produce.
According to Dollar General completion of the 106 N. Main St store is expected in fall 2019. 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
•January 16, 2019•
The Okaw Valley CUSD #302 Board of Education approved a resolution to put the question to voters on the April 2 ballot to issue $6.5 million in school building bonds.
If approved by voters on April 2, the bonds will fund the construction of a new gymnasium to attach to the current gym at the high school, a new entryway into the front of the middle school and new playground equipment at the elementary school.
The current OVHS gymnasium was built in 1937 and no longer fits the school’s needs. The new project will provide significantly more gym space for practices, games and physical education classes. 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
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
•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.
•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
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