Hydro-Gear Employees Collect Big for Food Pantry

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Hydro-Gear employees pitched in donating 7084 food items plus $6,696.38 in matched funds to the Moultrie County Food Pantry as the result of a companywide two-week fund raising effort. Helping unload seven pallets of food onto the food pantry shelves Monday were Hydro-Gear volunteers (from left) Chad Woollen, Larry Conlin, Larry Rose, Andy White, Krystal Rose, Trudy Patterson, Jim Buck, Troy Yokley and Christopher Zerrusen. Accepting the giant check on behalf of the food pantry was Moultrie Outreach Director Mariah White-Landrus who expressed her appreciation of Hydro-Gear’s employees’ generosity. Donations filled the food pantry shelves at a time when the need is greatest.

•November 28, 2018•

A volunteer team of Hydro-Gear employees filled the Moultrie County Food Pantry in Sullivan Monday, Nov. 26, unloading seven pallets of food items.
Hydro-Gear in Sullivan recently hosted a food drive to support the local food pantry.
“What started as a hope to change a few families’ Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays ended with a response that no one would have seen coming,” said Krystal Rose of Hydro-Gear.
The Moultrie County Food Pantry provides meals to more than 400 families in the county.
“We really appreciated the effort of the employees of Hydro-Gear to help the Food Pantry help those who need it most,” CEFS Moultrie County Outreach Coordinator Mariah White-Landrus said.
The Hydro-Gear family rallied together and hosted an internal competition, leaving one big winner…the patrons of the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
“I have helped in food pantry drives in the past that didn’t get nearly this response,” Hydro-Gear volunteer Chad Woollen of Shelbyville said. “To collect 7000 food items is an amazing effort by Hydro-Gear employees over just two weeks.” Read More

Candy Sells for Food Bank

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Candy Sells for Food Bank
The crowds were waiting at 9 a.m. Saturday for the Flesor’s candy sale at Cathrine’s in downtown Sullivan. It was the best sale yet with 20% of all sales Saturday supporting the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Ava Harshman of Sullivan found this white chocolate Santa to satisfy her chocolate cravings on Saturday.

Lovington School Celebrates Bicentennial

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•November 21, 2018•

Lovington Elementary School celebrated Illinois Bicentennial recently by taking a trip back in time when Native Americans danced their stories.
Junior high social studies teacher Chris Davis and first grade teacher Vickie Newberry started working on the day long observance of the state’s 200th birthday in August, and on Friday, Nov. 9 it all came together.
Students learned of the early Native American culture, about the animals of Illinois from the Douglas Hart Nature Center of Mattoon, fur trading in pioneer life, bow making and topped off with a visit from Abraham Lincoln.
In the morning program Kaskaskia River Dancers Brandon Helm and Matt Clayton dressed in full Cherokee regalia explained that Native Americans told their stories through dance. Read More

SPD Increases Holiday Patrols

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•November 21, 2018•

The Sullivan Police Department and law enforcement throughout Illinois will be working around the clock through Thanksgiving and the remainder of the year to make certain travelers are buckled up and driving sober, Chief of Police Jim Waggoner announced Sullivan Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and nearly 200 local police and sheriff’s departments to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Drivers and passengers can expect a ticket from Sullivan Police Department if they are spotted without a seat belt or with an unbuckled child in their vehicle. Additionally, motorists are being warned that driving after drinking or using drugs or other impairing substances will not be tolerated. Stepped-up patrols including seat belt enforcement zones and roadside safety checks will be seen throughout Sullivan and the state. Read More

Senior Center Honors Veterans At Luncheon

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Veterans recognized at Senior Center observance.

•November 21, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Senior Center ceiling was a sea of swag in patriotic colors of red, white and blue with the tables in matching tablecloths and place mats to welcome veterans to a complimentary lunch on Nov. 13. Each veteran and guest received a treat box filled with cookies and candies as well as a ticket for the drawing for a patriotic quilt.
Pre-luncheon entertainment was provided by Ellen Ferrera who performed piano arrangements of the theme songs for each of the armed forces including “The Navy Hymn” and “America the Beautiful”.
The luncheon was sponsored by Peace Meal and Reva Martin, Supervisor of the Peace Meal at the Senior Center, welcomed the veterans and their spouses. She remarked that, “we are so honored to be able to thank our veterans with this special meal and share this day with them.” Read More

Veterans: Thank You For Your Service!

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•November 21, 2018•

Sullivan Schools observed Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12 with the high school program organized by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English class seniors.
Following the school assembly lunch was provided by students, members of the Baking Brigade of Sullivan, and staff members for the 40 veteran guests who attended.
“I appreciated the cooperation and support of the Sullivan High School staff, especially Mr. Wilson and Mr. Schaefers,” Lawson began. “Without the help of my co-corkers  this program could not happen.”
“I am proud of my students. Many of them stepped out of their comfort zones to organize and hold the assemblies we do, and that is not easy,” she continued.
“They also made gifts for the veterans, designed t-shirts, made food, drew up layout plans, organized and ran the program, etc..”
“This is a learning experience for them and an opportunity for them to serve our community,” Lawson concluded. Read More

County Board Gives, Then Takes Away

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•November 21, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board took away $500 earmarked for the CEFS Interagency and gave $50,000 to the Sullivan Chamber Economic Development for tourism promotion at the regular meeting Nov. 15.
In reaction to the County Board’s removal of its annual support for the Interagency group which directly helps Moultrie County people in need, County Clerk Georgia England announced courthouse employees would immediately start collecting food and donations to help make up the $500 taken away from the Food Pantry and other groups helped through the Interagency.
“The Interagency helps people with the greatest needs and the least ability to pay; we will collect donations to make up the $500 gap,” England said.
County Board chairman Dave McCabe noted State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver reviewed the Interagency request and said it was “probably not appropriate to make that donation” prior to moving to rescind the previously approved motion. The board voted unanimously to rescind the $500 contribution. Read More

Masonic Lodge Presents Community Builders Award Makes Community Donations

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Laurrie Minor received Community Builders Award.

•November 14, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Laurrie Minor, Executive Director of the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, was honored with the Community Builders Award by Sullivan George A. Sentel Masonic Lodge #764.
She received a plaque in recognition of her work with the Chamber at the Past Masters dinner and awards ceremony held Friday, Nov. 9 at the Masonic Lodge.
Worshipful Master, Ron Chenoweth, welcomed the members and guests and offered an opening prayer.
“Our golf outing and other fundraisers were very successful this year.” He reported “We provide three scholarships to high school students in Windsor, Sullivan and Okaw Valley each year. Excess funds are then given to community organizations.” Read More

County Dive Team is Underwater on Funding

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Dive team members Jesse Scribner, Rob Martz and Amanda Farley make do with outdated equipment.

•November 14, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Members of the Moultrie County Public Health and Safety committee learned how underfunded the County Dive Team is and will make recommendations for the county board to help.
Moultrie County Dive Team coordinator Clay Brush appeared before the committee recently to explain changes in public safety diving standards and how it affects the ten-member dive rescue team.
With a budget of $5,000 per year the team isn’t able to cover the cost to equip a diver with full dry suits and face masks as required under new standards. The cost is about $7,800 to fully equip and certify one diver.
A separate department of county Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, Brush pointed out the dive team has two of the dry suits, which have a life expectancy of five years, that were purchased in the early 1990s with three others purchased around the turn of the century. Read More