Photo by Crystal Reed
Civic Center Open House
The Sullivan Civic Center held an open house on September 11. The event included vendor booths, games and activities. Pictured above is a safety demonstration that the Moultrie County Dive Rescue team did during the event.
Photo by Ellen Ferrara
The Mason Point pumpkin patch that was a project of Grant Roehrs, a grounds maintenance staff member at Mason Point.
•September 8, 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer
Mason Point has its first pumpkin patch thanks to Grant Roehrs who is one of the grounds maintenance staff. The pumpkin patch is just one of many projects Grant has undertaken to make the grounds more attractive. Watching the drama unfold in the pumpkin patch has been a welcome diversion for the residents who have been mostly confined for over a year due to Covid. Read More
Photo provided
Volleyball
Redskin Alaina Moore made the Mattoon all-tourney team.
•September 8, 2021•
Harvest to Home returns to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on October 8 and 9. Hours for the event are from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8 and from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9. Harvest to Home returns to expanded activities and demonstrations, including glass blowing, at the Center.
The purpose of the show is to teach attendees how crops were grown and harvested during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Amish continue using many of these methods in their farming operations today. The show continues to expand, and the 2021 show promises to be the biggest show yet. Read More
•September 8, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Board Legislative Committee met Friday, September 3, and voted to recommend changes to the cannabis business establishments ordinance to the board. According to county board chairman Dave McCabe, they were required by state ordinance to pass an ordinance relative to allowing or prohibiting cannabis businesses by December 2019.
Will Bates, who owns Central Roofing and Central Storage Solutions in Sullivan, began pursuing craft grower and dispensary licenses about seven months ago. He said their main goal is to do the craft grow only in Moultrie County and not the dispensary. According to Bates, “The state requires us to set up programs where we donate up to a certain percentage to substance abuse centers, veterans support and schools. A well-run facility can generate a lot of money for the community.” Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
New homeowner Tammy Martin and Rev. Bob Vail break ground on the new Habitat home while Gary Smith, President of Moultrie County Habitat Board of Directors looks on.
•September 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity broke ground on their 31st build Sunday. Tammy Martin and her sons Trey and Timothy were selected for this home. Tammy is a single mother and native of Sullivan.
She has worked in the local high school cafeteria for seven years. Trey and Timothy are autistic. The boys enjoy watching Disney movies and spending time with their grandpa Ron Martin. Tammy has rented homes for many years, and home ownership appeared to be an unrealistic dream. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Jeremy David Williams had a book signing at Windsor Storm Memorial Public Library recently. His first book “The Price of Survival” is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Williams is pictured with his high school english teacher Nancy Fontaine.
•September 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Jeremy David Williams, a Windsor native and 2004 Windsor High School graduate, recently released his first book. He wrote the book his senior year of high school, he picked it up again in college to edit it and then a few years ago picked it up again to have it professionally edited.
The book is a sci-fi adventure titled “The Price of Survival” and is book four in the Trials of Triangulum series. Williams said that in the book its a battle between good vs. good and the evil deeds that good people sometimes have to do. The story also has gripping characters. Read More
•September 1, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
Senator Chapin Rose made an appearance at the most recent ALAH School Board meeting and spoke about his plan for pursuing a class action lawsuit regarding Governor Pritzker’s latest mask mandates for all schools in Illinois.
“The mask isn’t an issue, Rose said, “I am a lawyer, but I am not allowed to give legal advice,” he noted. Rose related that he has buckets of schools who have decided not to comply with the recent mask mandate, have been threatened that their funding will be taken away and will not be able to be a recognized school, etc. “They have been coerced into a position of compliance,” he said. “What is fundamentally an unAmerican action is threatening restraint for a vote that is never going to happen anyway. I don’t care what anyone’s view is about masks or not masks - you can’t threaten an official’s license to force them to take action or refrain from taking action,” Rose added. He went on to share his idea for taking action against the mandate.
“It makes no sense for a school district to go at it alone. The idea is that everybody gets in a room and puts money in a pot to go forward in the name of local control - this is not about masks or no masks. School boards have the right to say what they want. No, JB,” he said. Rose explained that there would be a meeting for school districts who are interested in moving forward against the governor. They would share the cost of the lawsuit by pooling their money. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Survivors beginning their lap at the Coles-Moultrie County Relay for Life last Saturday at Peterson Park in Mattoon.
•August 25 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer
The Relay for Life is one of the Cancer Society’s major fundraisers, but Covid has prevented the relay from being held for the past two years. With limited funds to restart their program, the Moultrie and Coles county relays have combined resources and created the Coles-Moultrie County Relay for Life.
Their first fundraiser was held Saturday, August 21, at Mattoon in Peterson Park. The theme was “Saddle Up-Let’s Ride” so a lot of ladies wore blinged-out jeans and cowboy boots while children were treated to horse and pony rides.
Kathy Beals, event leader, noted that attendance was far less than expected due to the high temperature and humidity. She said “Normally, we try to have at least one member of each team on the track at all times, but some teams don’t have anyone walking the laps. It is just too hot.” Read More
•August 25 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The City Council tabled the Bruder Tank TARP Project during Monday night’s meeting. The business is planning to expand their Sullivan operations by adding an additional facility at 1201 S. Hamilton Street. The project was to be paid for using a $225,000 state legislative grant and $12,045.82 from TIF fund.
City Administrator Dan Flannell reminded the council there had been a strategic planning meeting designating the grant for the city building; however, Mayor Richard Glazebrook noted that they wanted the money to go into infrastructures such as roads. He said he talked with Chapin Rose’s office, and he indicated it could be put on this road.
Flannell said, “Are they aware that it’s not infrastructure? It’s not infrastructure if it’s built on private property.” He went on to say that Bernius does not own that tract and that Phyllis Harshman owns that ground. “All Mr. Bernius has is an easement across that,” Flannell said. He continued to say that it would be going on private property, and all Mr. Bernius has is an easement to access that. The land is private property, not a public street.
Glazebrook tabled this item to the next meeting. Read More