•May 13, 2020•
Due to the high chance of inclement weather and to reduce confusion, graduates will now receive their diplomas in the school before the car parade. Attached is a document that has time slots on it for when each graduate should be at the school with their guests. Each graduate is allowed to bring up to 7 guests with them. You will park in the back parking lot and enter the school through the science wing at your scheduled time. From there, you will enter the gym. The guests will go onto the gym floor and the student will walk onto the stage. When their name is read, the graduate will walk up to receive their diploma and turn their tassel (we encourage guests to cheer). There will be a professional photographer present for the receiving of the diploma, and it will be videoed as well. The graduate will walk down the stairs on the other side of the stage, where they will meet their guests and exit the gym out the opposite side. From there, you will head to the commons. We will have a camera set up to take a picture of the graduate and the guests in front of the mural in the commons, then you will exit through the commons doors and go home.
Students will return at 2 to get lined up for the car parade in the back parking lot (their parking spot will remain the same as the packet, but you will no longer need the tickets or the information on staging areas). Guests no longer need to go to staging areas, but instead can go to a spot of their choosing along the parade route (but the back parking lot needs to be reserved for graduates only, so it will be blocked off).
Upon completion of the parade route, students will park back in their spots until Mr. Walk finishes reading the names on the radio, at which point they can get out and throw their caps in the air if they so choose (but we recommend being somewhat cautious in case we can still have a formal ceremony). Graduates will have the remainder of the day with family (and maybe some fireworks in the evening).
I will continue to send information as I redo documents and have questions arise. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.
Thank you,
Mr. Daniel Allen
Principal
Sullivan High School
County Board Holds Virtual Meeting
•May 8, 2020•
The Moultrie County Board is holding a virtual meeting Thursday, May 14.
Please join our virtual meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/550084949
You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
- One-touch: tel:+14086503123,,550084949#
Access Code: 550-084-949
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/550084949
The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918: What Have We Learned?
Questions Still Remain
•May 6, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
In a recent conversation a friend related the story of her German grandfather and the flu pandemic of 1918. His family sacrificed everything they had to send their 19-year-old son to America so he wouldn’t be conscripted into the Kaiser’s WWI army.
Her grandfather came full of promise and hope but died three years later at the age of 22 – one of the estimated 20-50 million victims, including 675,000 Americans, in one of the deadliest epidemics in human history. It infected 500 million people. It killed l00 million people or 5% of the world’s population in just over a year.
Over 100 years later researchers and scientists are still seeking answers to many questions such as where did the virus originate, why were the healthiest young people ages 20-45 the largest number of fatalities and how was it spread so quickly?
First of all, “Spanish Flu” was a misnomer. During WWI Spain was a neutral country and its newspapers were free to report on the epidemic’s effects in Spain. Read More
Okaw Valley Baseball: Dealing With the Season that Didn’t Happen
Photo by Jason Brown
Andrew Hagerman screams words of encouragement to his players during the super-sectional game against Ottawa Marquette in Bloomington’s Jack Horenberger Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan in May 2018. Timberwolves were two outs away from advancing to the Final Four for the second time.
•May 6, 2020•
By Jason Brown
News Progress Sports
When Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker implemented a stay-at-home order on March 21, Andrew Hagerman did not have to make many career adjustments.
Hagerman, who is Regional Sales Manager at Hagerman & Company, sells software in the tech industry and typically works from home during the high school baseball season.
“In reality, our entire company can function remotely at 100%,” he said. “So we are blessed with that fact. Nothing has changed from a standpoint of how I can do my job, and how busy I’ve been.”
What has changed for Hagerman this spring has been baseball. Or the absence of baseball.
Hagerman, who is coach of the Okaw Valley baseball team, misses the competition and day-to-day preparations.
“I miss seeing all of the players each day, working through the season and always focusing on how to get better,” he said. Read More
Moultrie County Relay for Life Donut Day Helps Raise Funds
Photo furnished
At the SBL Clinic in Sullivan IL: Beth Cook and Brook Seaman receive donuts from Heather Dendy, Relay for Life Event Leadership Team. Thanks to the Vineyard Church, Sullivan Campus for purchasing donuts from the Traditional Sullivan Bakery.
•May 6, 2020•
The Relay for Life of Moultrie County will be having a DONUT DAY on May 26th. to raise money for the continued care of cancer patients, their housing during treatment, and cancer research.
Relay for Life Moultrie County Event lead Adam McReynolds explained that Cancer patients need your support more than ever. As COVID-19 spreads, cancer patients are more vulnerable than ever.
“We need your help to support them during this unprecedented crisis,” McReynolds said.
“While we may not be able to gather survivors and supporters together for public events to raise money, we can still do online fundraisers.”
Search in your internet browser for Relay for Life Moultrie County or on Facebook to follow our online information. Read More
Lightning Strikes Bell Tower
Photo by R.R. Best
Lightning Strikes Bell Tower
Lightning struck the First Baptist Church bell tower April 28 blowing bricks as far as the post office out the back and into the neighbors lawn across the street in front.
Sullivan Fire Department was called to the Harrison Street church at 8:57 p.m. last Wednesday.
Fire Chief Mike Piper reported the lightning strike had caused some structural damage to the bell tower as well as electrical damage when the strike continued to the roof flashing, the gutter system and on to the ground.
No fire damage was discovered and Sullivan firefighters returned to the station at 9:59 p.m.
Pastor Mark Bjornbak explained the lightning strike destroyed the church sound system and computers with damage assessments on going.
“We appreciate our alert neighbors who called the fire department and we are thankful no one was injured,” Rev. Bjronbak said.
He explained the building damage was limited to the bell tower and the remaining building is safe.
The First Baptist Church is observing social distancing and regular services have been suspended since the stay at home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food Pantry Donation
Photo by Mike Brothers
Food Pantry Donation
Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England (right) was honored to present Norma Piper, a volunteer at the CEFS Moultrie County Food Pantry with a $500 check given by the county clerk’s recording vendor. Fidlar Technologies owners Ernie Riggen and Dave Steil stated they understand the responsibilities of the Recorder’s offices and the necessity to keep functioning during the challenges presented during the Coronavirus crisis. “In these trying times, we believe it’s important to give back and support the communities who are so vital to our customers. In the end, your communities are also part of our communities. We encourage you to promote and share with them everything that your office has accomplished.” Filar owners stated as they offered $500 to the charity of the Recorder’s choice.
News Release: Moultrie County Health Department Announces More Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
•May 6, 2020•
The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) announces their sixth and seventh confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19). The patients are a male and a female in their 70s who are hospitalized. Public health officials are contacting and verifying all close contacts. To date, 116 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 107 tests were negative for coronavirus, and two are still pending.
As the spread of this virus continues, the MCHD cautions all individuals to consider themselves at risk for exposure. “As stay at home restrictions begin to relax within our communities and state-to-state, it is important to remember that hand washing, keeping a physical distance of six feet from others, avoiding large crowds, wearing a mask in public and isolating yourself from others while you are ill are still the best ways to protect yourself, your family and to help stop the spread of this virus,” said Angela Hogan, Administrator for the Moultrie County Health Department. Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include fever, fatigue, a dry cough, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of smell or taste. Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or a bluish color in the lips or face. If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival. For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.
Contact: Glenda Plunkett
Public Health Services Coordinator
Glenda@moultriehealth.org
Empty Fields
Dronography by R.R. Best
Empty Fields
Victory Field in Sullivan is empty. In an effort to honor the Sullivan High School Class of 2020 the lights were turned on the football field and over the ball diamonds Friday, April 23. Schools have been closed since March and commencement exercises enter unknown territory this year.
Moultrie County Manufacturers Take Steps for Safer Work Places During Health Crisis
•April 29, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Mid State Tank of Sullivan is one of three manufacturers in Moultrie County essential to the agriculture industry.
The pressure to keep production going and employees safe has been a challenge for the makers of stainless steel and aluminum tanks.
That challenge was met with early prevention measures, paying close attention to the customer’s needs which has resulted in Mid State continuing to operate on a regular schedule.
General manager Kevin Conlin explained there is no standard for how to deal with Covid-19 virus threat, but measures taken in the beginning have helped keep Mid State’s employees healthy and working.
In the process of preparing the company’s three month forecast Mid State was evaluating customer needs as well as supplier schedules when the stay at home order was issued. Read More