•December 16, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council approved a motion to hire a firm to look into developing a plan for Eastview drainage problems during their meeting Monday night. According to Mayor Richard Glazebrook, they are seeking someone to advise the council with what avenue should be taken. He said that at this point it’s going to be March, April or May before anything can be done. Glazebrook noted that they are looking into field drainage.
The council approved an ordinance for levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2020 and ending April 30, 2021. The amount of the levy is $774,422. Read More
The Little Theatre On The Square Creates Virtual Show
•December 9, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
2020 has been a rough year for the Little Theatre on the Square. The theatre shut down on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However they want to bring some holiday cheer to those in the community with a virtual show.
The Little Theatre on the Square Virtual Christmas Card is a virtual show that will be available for online purchase after Dec 9 and includes the talents of over 65 people from previous productions at the theatre and Future Stars program. Read More
Food Pantry Receives New Storage Shed
•December 9, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Food Pantry received a gift the day before Thanksgiving, a brand new 6x8 storage shed that is secure. The previous shed that the food pantry had was small and there was no place to put anything but they now have tripled their storage area. The shed was given to the organization by Zak Horn.
The donation couldn’t have come at a better time according to Michelle Hooks, CEFS Outreach Coordinator for the Moultrie County said. “We just added two new offices so we didn’t have as much room to store items for the food pantry,” she said. Read More
Santa Arrives
Photo by Crystal Reed
Santa Arrives
Santa travels to the Bethany Village Hall to greet and talk to local children in an antique fire truck.
Oath of Office
Photo submitted
Oath of Office
On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, Circuit Judge Jeremy Richey administered the oath of office to Moultrie County officials elected in the November election. The ceremony was held in Courtroom B on the third floor of the courthouse. Christa Helmuth was sworn in as Circuit Clerk, Lynn Reed as Coroner, and Tracy Weaver as State’s Attorney. Larry Baker, John Fayhee, Elizabeth Houser and Neil Bryan were sworn in as county board members. County board members in Moultrie County are elected on a county-wide basis. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the new county board met for a reorganizational meeting. David McCabe was re-elected as chairman and Larry Baker was elected as vice-chair.
Nevill Promoted
Photo furnished
Nevill Promoted
Ethan Neville of Sullivan was promoted to the rank of corporal Dec. 5 during a promotion ceremony at Combat Training Center-Yavoriv in Lviv, Ukraine.
Neville is an 89B Ammunitions Supply Specialist assigned to Task Force Illini, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Christmas Wishes
Photo by Crystal Reed
Christmas Wishes
Santa talks to Kamryn Gill of Bethany about what she would like for Christmas.
Lovington Grade School Students Receive Free Shoes
Photo by R.R. Best
Lovington Grade School fifth grade teacher Mrs. Seal gives a new pair of shoes to student Gabriel Devenbaugh last week. All 160 students at the school received a brand new pair of shoes through the efforts of several faith based organizations and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 68 in Sullivan.
•December 2, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Last Tuesday, students at Lovington Grade School received an early Thanksgiving surprise, a brand new pair of shoes. All 160 students at the school received a new pair of shoes.
The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 68 of Sullivan purchased shoes for preschool students and several faith based charitable organization purchased the rest of the shoes for the students. According to Lovington Grade School secretary Jennifer Voegel, this is not the first time students have been gifted. She said that last year a major corporation donated socks and school supplies to every student at the school.
“This is a blessing that I’ve been asking for a long time,” Voegel said. Read More
Local Business Owners Create Thanksgiving Food Baskets
Photo by Crystal Reed
Lisa Ozier, Michelle Young, Rob Young and Phil Ozier hold a few of the Thanksgiving baskets that they put together for 11 local families.
•December 2, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
For the last few years there has been a group of Sullivan business owners who have created Thanksgiving baskets for families that may not be able to afford the traditional holiday feast. On a recent weekend Phil and Lisa Ozier and Rob and Michelle Young gathered in a garage to fill the baskets with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal. Read More
Tentative Tax Levy Approved by ALAH School Board
Truth and Taxation Hearing in December
•December 2, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
I am pretty fired up about where we go from here,” noted Superintendent Shannon Cheek at the ALAH School Board meeting held November 18. Cheek was referring to a positive story shared by ALAH Principal Stephanie Seegmiller when she reported on recent accomplishments regarding SAT’s.
“For ten weeks - at five days a week, we were working with juniors last school year. They were three and a half weeks away from taking the SAT’s, and then our schools shut down because of COVID. Then in August, they had to take the test in order to graduate. When we reopened, we put together a review class and had some seniors who joined them after school and after hours to take it. We were five points from making the state average. It is our students and their commitments, but it is these guys (teachers and staff) who made it happen,” reported Seegmiller. “They are flexible, dedicated, smart, and they know their business,” she added. On November 19, they celebrated their seniors and all of their hard work which they hoped would inspire the juniors. Seegmiller named several members of the staff and teachers who were responsible for helping with the SAT’s. Included are Darcy Singer, Trisha Sluder, Guy Bates, Sarah Bailey, April Hart, Mark Smith, Kayla Huckleby and Kendall Huffman. Read More