Photo furnished
Beacon Shines
Early in April the Moultrie County Beacon held parades to help connect during the stay at home order. Half of the Cila houses organized a parade on one day challenging the members of the other Cila houses to top their effort during the second parade. It had been a month since they had been able to see friends, with the parade letting everyone exchange waves and greetings.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Sycamore at Tabor
Mayor Richard Glazebrook and Sullivan Park Supt. Ed Moody wrestled a Sycamore tree into its new home at Tabor Park on April 20. The new tree commemorates Earth Day Wednesday, April 22 and was donated to the park from the mayor’s back yard.
•April 15, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan City Council met Monday with Mayor Richard Glazebrook, city administrator Dan Flannell and city clerk Carrie Creek attending at Elizabeth Titus Library.
Commissioners Abbey Sherwood, Mike Fowler, Peggy Hargis and Chuck Woodworth attended remotely from separate locations.
Mayor Glazebrook explained the council was complying with the Governor’s Emergency Order limiting group meetings.
The proceedings were live streamed on www.facebook.com/News Progress and available online at www.newsprogress.com
Dan Bathe, a 24 year 11 month city employee was in attendance. Bathe first worked for the city street department then at the Sullivan Gas Dept. from where he recently retired. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Easter Drive Thru
The Sullivan Fire Protection District protected young Easter Egg hunters this year by keeping a safe distance with the Easter Egg Drive-Thru. Above Volunteer Jason Fleming joined droves of first responders handing out Easter bags to waiting hunters. Some 200 drove up to the north parking lot at Wyman Park in Sullivan Sunday at 3:00 p.m. SFPD volunteers greeted the families with bags of Easter eggs for each child up to age 11. The bags were filled with a random selection of eggs plus select Easter bags contained bicycle certificates, which may be claimed by calling the Sullivan Fire Protection District.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Easter Blessings
The Sullivan IGA Meat Dept. had to pick up their game this year because one individual donated 150 hams to the CEFS Moultrie County Food Pantry just before Easter. Dept. manager Barry Golden explained this person has donated 100 hams in the past, but considering the stress the COVID-19 crisis has put on families the donor stepped up his contribution to 150 hams this year. “I had quite a time rounding up that many hams,” Golden said, explaining the generosity is amazing. Delivering the hams to the Moultrie County Food Pantry just in time for distribution before Easter dinner last week were: Mason Harner, Seth Cobb, Barry Golden and, in front Blake Eller.
•April 15, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
People who are confined or house-bound are longing for some kind of companionship and ways to calm frayed nerves during this virus epidemic.
What better way than with a fluffy kitten to cuddle or a rowdy puppy who will play fetch and take walks with you?
The Missouri Humane Society, short on dogs and cats, is offering baby goats for an adoption fee of $50.
In Moultrie County the Moultrie County PAWS was ordered to close by 5:00 pm this past Saturday. Founder and Director, Betsy Miller, said, “We were so lucky to find homes or foster homes for all our animals. We are now closed until further notice and not taking in any animals.” Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Culverts Replaced
Keeping the water off the road and running in the ditches is a principal purpose of the Sullivan Township Road District culvert replacement project. Last week Township Road Commissioner Richard Rutledge and backhoe operator Matt Elder installed three culverts during a few hours one morning on Eden Street west of Sullivan. Rutledge explained the polycoated galvanized culvert replacements are more chemically resistant extending their life beyond the original 50 year expectancy. Sullivan Township replaces 12 to 15 culverts a year in a effort to keep the water off the roads and in the ditches. During the novel coronavirus crisis Rutledge explained social distancing was not a problem for the Sullivan township crew: “There are 96 miles of township roads keeping us a safe social distance from everyone else.”
File photo
IAHC Sheep to Clothing Event Postponed
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center has decided the COVID 19 pandemic poses too great a threat to the health and well being of our volunteers, and our visitors to hold our Sheep to Quilts to Clothing event planned for June 6. We had hoped to again have our unique pancakes, liverwurst, and local maple syrup, demonstrations of many old time farm crafts, and children’s activities. We will get through this together, and when it is safe, we will plan an even better event!
IAHC is located just off Rt. 57, nine miles west of Arcola through Chesterville on Rt 133. FaceBook: Illinois Amish Heritage Center and on the web at www.illinoisamish.org for continued updates.
Photo by R.R. best
Down with the Old
The old water tower in Windsor served the community since the early 1930s. The 60,000 gallon tower was removed by Derrek Thornton of Johnstown last week. Two years ago the city of Windsor constructed a new 150,000 gallon water tower, which put the old tower out of service.
File photo by R.R. Best
Top IPA Award
Moultrie County News Progress photographer Robert R. Best was awarded First Place in the Illinois Press Association 2019 contest. Best’s first place photograph was for Class 20 Spot News Photo in Division A. The photograph of the aftermath of the explosion of the Larry Schrock home in rural Sullivan showed fire fighters and police risking life and health in search of the lone survivor of the Feb. 1, 2019 fire. Illinois Press notified Best of the award April 1 with official presentation made during the IPA Convention October 22-23, 2020.