News Progress

•October 23, 2019•

The First Christian Church of Sullivan will hold their 2019 Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9:00 to 1:30 pm. Lunch will be available from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Raffle tickets for a “Sullivan Redskins” quilt are on sale now. The 65” square quilt was designed and pieced by Sharon White, an FCC member, with shirts donated by church members & friends. Tickets are available at First Community Bank (see Kim Smith), at Cathrine’s Gallery, or see Judy Sumner. You can also purchase raffle tickets at the church office, where the quilt is on display, and all day at the Holiday Market until it ends at 1:30 pm. Read More

•October 16, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

During the Moultrie County Board discussion on salary and bonus recommendations Oct. 10 prior to the vote on a tentative budget, the county’s pay policy was tested.
Treasurer Stephanie Helmuth requested a $1000 bonus for first deputy Michelle Liddiard. Helmuth is the newly elected Republican treasurer and explained Liddiard was instrumental in the transition.
Circuit Clerk Christa Helmuth explained that the circuit clerk’s office, county clerk’s office and supervisor of assessments were all called on to donate staff to the Treasurer’s office.
Retired Democrat treasurer Marci Thompson had agreed to help with the office transition and the board had budgeted for that, but the new treasurer elected to use her a limited amount, saving the line item in her budget.
The circuit clerk explained it was not fair for the other offices to donate services in order to allow the treasurer to give bonuses.
Supervisor of assessments Lori Barringer reminded the board that her request for bonuses for office staff during her transition was turned down by the board, demonstrating inconsistency in the policy. Read More

•October 16, 2019•

The intersection of Rte. 32 and CR800 (Findlay Blacktop) was the scene of a recent fatal traffic accident and a meeting involving the Illinois Dept. of Transportation, state lawmakers and local leaders is set.
Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims told the county board solutions for the intersection will be discussed by Dept. of Transportation, along with state and local lawmakers along with law enforcement officials during Oct. 28 and 29th sessions at the MCSO. Read More

Photo furnished
Ag in the Classroom
With Ag in the Classroom back for a new season, September’s lesson was on apples. Stephanie Naylor visited Sullivan and Okaw Valley Elementary schools. The Kindergarten and First graders tasted three popular types of apples and filled out a worksheet picking their favorite and completing a craft. The second, third and fourth graders learned several apple facts and completed an experiment creating an apple volcano. Naylor will meet with students one time a month to discuss a variety of Agriculture related topics.

•October 16, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Stephanie Naylor has, for several years, been the Moultrie County instructor for the Ag in the Classroom program.
In that capacity she visits every K-3 class in Moultrie County once a month for 20 minutes and, in a year, teaches over 6,000 students about the wonders of agriculture through a variety of interactive programs. But such agricultural experiences were not always available.
Throughout much of our history, agriculture and education have been closely related. Old school books are full of agricultural reference because farming was part of nearly every child’s life prior to 1920.
From 1920-1950 farm populations shrank, agricultural emphasis decreased in books and agricultural education became more of an occupational specialty or a trade school course. Ag classes had virtually disappeared from most curriculums.
In 1981 the U. S. Department of Agriculture invited educators and representatives of agricultural organizations to discuss agricultural literacy and to form a task force to help bring agriculture back into the classroom. That same year the national program – Ag in the Classroom – was established and, as result, each state now addresses agricultural education in ways best suited to its own needs. Read More