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

Photo by Bernie Sanders
Seth Webner of Bethany isn’t letting juvenile rheumatoid arthritis slow him from collecting toys for other patients at Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis. He is collecting more toys from the public at the Sullivan Church of God on Aug. 20.

To Shriners Hospital Kids Like Him

•August 17, 2016•

Seth Webner has suffered with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for the past three years, and the treatment he has received at Shriner’s Hospital has inspired him to give something back.

Children from all over the country are treated free of charge at Shriners hospitals, and the Bethany seventh grader wanted to show his appreciation for the care he continues to receive.

“When I went through my first surgery at the old hospital, there was this lady who entertained me and gave me a toy,” Webner said, explaining the gesture did a lot to make him feel better about the treatments he was having to go through.

After his last visit in July, he told his mother Brooke he wanted to have a toy drive for Shriners Hospital, and so it began. Read More

•August 17, 2016•

Stu D. Baker
For the News Progress

With school beginning and the Moultrie County Food Pantry’s supplies exhausted the Little Theatre on the Square is offering a unique chance to see a show and give to the food pantry.

For the third week of Shear Madness Aug 23-28 anyone who brings in canned or non-perishable goods for the food pantry will receive a $17.50 ticket discount.

“We are extremely happy to be able to give back to the community,” Little Theatre executive director John Stephens said of the cooperative arrangement to help rebuild stock in the Food Pantry.

Stephens noted that patrons may bring in as many as 10 items and that would help the Food Pantry tremendously. Read More