Photo by Mike Brothers
Moultrie Douglas Extension educator Cheri Burcham introduces Judy Brown to the first of the Memory Game story cards. Brown had a lion card, and she went to the zoo. Nina Glazebrook had to remember Brown’s story while adding her own story to the list as they traveled around the table at Mid-Illinois Senior Center in Sullivan last week.

•July 6, 2016•

By Emily Stutzman
For the New Progress

University of Illinois Extension is about helping people help themselves.” This is how Cheri Burcham, Family Life Educator with the University of Illinois Extension, describes her job in a nutshell.

Burcham has worked with Extension since 1998 and says that the chance to reach people of all ages, empowering them and assisting them in attaining a better quality of life, is what makes her career so worthwhile.

Burcham covers the five counties of Coles, Douglas, Moultrie, Cumberland, and Shelby and is one of the six Family Life Educators in the state of Illinois.

As a Family Life Educator, she is able to offer programs based on research from the world-renowned Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois. She remarks that, “My job as an educator is to take the research from the University of Illinois and bring it to the public in a way that they can use in their everyday lives.”

One aspect of her job is using that research to work with parents and childcare providers. For instance, Burcham teaches workshops and programs for groups of people concerning healthy communication within families, helping them build healthy relationships and become stronger together. Although working in group settings and with presentations is more typical, Burcham affirms that she also aids individuals who come to her with specific questions.  Read More

•June 29, 2016•

It is a tradition to take a look at the annual corn crop in the area and judge whether it is knee high in July.

Corn has grown especially well lately with the combination of rain and heat.

Some may say it is at the point where you can hear the stalks as they grow.

This year’s corn is far past knee high in July, as RR Best’s drone photograph of the Graven family illustrates. From the drone: Aubrey, Kennedy, Chelsea and Kenny stand in sky high corn.

“Driving between Tuscola and Sullivan and looking at various crops, the 2016 crop is off to a great start,” Moultrie Douglas Farm Bureau Manager Tyler Harvey said of the crop so far this June.

“It is amazing to see the growth and size of some of the cornfields for being in June,” he continued.

However, looking at the long range forecast, upper 80’s and 90’s is slated to stick around.

With this,some measurable rainfall is needed every few days to keep the crop growth at the level it is.

Harvey noted in a recent report that with the warm temperatures, wind, and sun, it does not take long for the moisture to be pulled out of the ground.

Photo by RR Best

•June 22, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School District has recently experienced some changes in both its staff and board of education.

After a closed session meeting at the last ALAH school board meeting, a motion was made to approve the resignation of ALAH principal, Buck Condill. Presently, the position has not yet been filled.

ALAH school board president Steffanie Seegmiller stepped down June 1, which left vice-president Jake Kamm to fill her shoes. Seegmiller served on the board for seven and a half years. “I leave the board in good hands as they are dedicated to continuing to make our schools great,” she said.

A special board meeting was held June 20 to consider appointment for the vacancies.

Other matters that were discussed or voted upon:

• As of June 8, funds were in the black at $3,621,901.73. After paying the district’s bills, it left the balance at 2.7 million dollars.

• Two general state aid payments may arrive in June. The district will possibly receive some sales tax money from Douglas County soon. Read More

•June 22, 2016•

Michael S. Yost, 43, waived his right to a jury trial in Moultrie County Circuit Court  June 21.

Public Defender Brad Rau presented the waiver to Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell with State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey explaining the trial could take up to four days without juror selection.

Before setting the 9 a.m. September 12 court date, Judge Flannell read the four counts of murder with which Yost has been charged. The most serious of the first degree murder charges could carry a 20 years to natural life sentence and up to a $25,000 fine.

Flannell explained that the trial by the court would mean the decision on Yost’s innocence or guilt would rest exclusively with the judge.

Once agreed on the new court date Judge Flannell then addressed Yost’s correspondence concerning jail accommodations. Read More

•June 15, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Unit #300 school board’s decision to remove Troy Rogers as head baseball coach was witnessed by a crowd of supporters June 13.

Held in the Sullivan Elementary School gymnasium due to ongoing construction, the meeting opened with board president Steve Poland allowing visitors to speak.

Austin Raboin, who played baseball when the Sullivan Redskins earned a Regional title under Rogers, recalled the hard work he put into baseball that paid off later.

Raboin, a law student who graduated in 2011, pointed out the coach required conditioning and following the rules.

“Even when our time was over, Coach Rogers found us places where we could continue playing after school.” Read More