Photo by Mike Brothers
Board of Elections Supervisor Kyle Thomas and County Clerk Georgia England during the State Board election equipment testing in Moultrie County last week.

•October 19, 2016•

Moultrie County’s new Unisyn election equipment was given an A+ during testing by the Illinois Board of Elections, October 13.

Three representatives of the Board of Elections chose Moultrie County for a random check and pretest of the election voting and tabulation system.

“We pretest all the equipment  for function, touch screen accuracy and calibration,” B of E evaluator Bruce Brown, said of the testing process.

Moultrie County replaced its 25 year old voting system with the new Unisyn system in the spring. Liberty Systems LLC, handles software support for Moultrie County, and Ken Gibson noted the confidence in the Unisyn system has grown and Liberty Systems has added Clark and Macon counties to service this election. Read More

Photo by Kennedy Nolen
Mid-Illinois Senior Services Director Kathi Shackles

•October 5, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

The board of members at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services and Community Center chose Kathi Shackles to be the new director, after 12 years of employment at the center.

“I was excited and honored to be chosen,” Shackles said.

The senior center offers advocacy for seniors, Medicare/Medicaid counseling, legal aid, transportation, and is also a site for Peace Meals hosted by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.

About 10 to 15 people come in for Peace Meals each day, Shackles said.

Usually if the schools are closed in the winter for snow days, the senior center is too. This means the Peace Meal is cancelled as well, and TNT Pizzeria has hosted the meals in the past on days where the center is not open.

Shackles is available to answer insurance questions, find clients new insurance companies and will even file official complaints if need be. Help is also offered to those needing guidance navigating the Medicare/Medicaid websites.

As director, Shackles must now deal with the fiscal and financial side of the organization. She said she has a bigger responsibility, but loves the challenge. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Convicted of murder Michael Yost is escorted from Moultrie County Courthouse Sept. 15 by Sheriff Chris Sims (right) Chief Deputy Gary Carroll (left) and Deputy Gary Eller (second from left). Yost remains in Moultrie County Jail until his sentencing October 21.

•September 21, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Michael Yost was found guilty of first degree murder in the cutting death of Sheri Randall in March 2015.

Chief Circuit Judge Dan L. Flannell announced the guilty verdict at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, ending the bench trail that began Monday, Sept. 12.

Judge Flannell emphasized that the state’s case established that Yost was guilty of all four counts filed, acknowledging the crime was cruel and heinous as State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey emphasized in his closing.

Yost faces a 20 years to natural life sentence with Judge Flannell scheduling a pre-sentence investigation report for 9 a.m. October 21. Yost was returned to the Moultrie County Jail to await sentencing.

Public Defender Brad Rau offered two witnesses on Yost’s behalf following the close of the state’s case on Thursday morning.

Yost, 43, recounted the events leading up to the death of Sheri Randall on March 4 while the court allowed endocrinologist Dr. Gregory Clark to observe the testimony.

Rau began by pointing out that Yost had Type II diabetes and asked his activities beginning on March 2, 2015. Read More

*Update: Yost has been found guilty

•September 14, 2016•

by Mike Brothers and Soyna Best
For the News Progress

The murder trial of Michael S. Yost, 43, for the cutting death of Sheri Randall in March 2015 continued Sept. 13 in the Moultrie County Courthouse with Judge Dan L. Flannell presiding.

Appearing with his court appointed attorney Brad Rau, Yost sat quietly listening to testimony from Illinois State Police CSI Stephen Hulen.

Hulen recounted his investigation of Randall’s Graham Street apartment crime scene. Referring to a series of crime scene photographs, Hulen told prosecutor Jeremy Richey and the court that entry was gained by a concrete block thrown through a window.

He went on to describe blood from the kitchen where knives were removed from drawers, then on to the bedroom where Randall was found dead as Yost lay semiconscious with his arm over her. Read More

Photo courtesy OVHS
Corps of Engineers and Okaw Valley School District recently began a vocational cooperative program on 40 acres of Corps property in Shelby and Moultrie counties. Pictured above are Okaw Valley students, administration and the Corps of Engineers during the agreement’s official signing at the Lake Shelbyville headquarters.

•August 31, 2016•

By Derek Pope
For the News Progress

Shortly after the 2016-2017 school year commenced, Okaw Valley’s administration announced a milestone addition to their schools’ growing vocational education programs—a focal point for the district over the last few years.

In a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Okaw Valley was granted an in-kind lease on 40 acres of land around Lake Shelbyville for educational purposes. The plots, which span both Moultrie and Shelby counties, are intended to provide students with numerous opportunities for field studies in agriculture, engineering, and science. The first of its kind collaboration was officially approved with a signing held at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center on August 29.

Col. Anthony Mitchell, commander of the USACE St. Louis District, who was on hand for the signing, said of the program, “What you see here is a community effort. What you hear amongst these people is a shared vision. That breeds innovative thought, and innovative thought leads to creative ideas and critical thinking” . Read More