OV Honor Band

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OV Honor Band
Eleven Okaw Valley High School Band Students participated in the EIU Honor Band Saturday, Dec. 9. They were front - Baylee Suarez, Haven Caulfield, Connor Powers, Elizabeth Herbord; back - Shelby Harding, Kyra Jackson, Caleb Hildebrandt, Ethan Macklin, Justin Oathout, Madeline Ray, TJ Williams
Okaw Valley had students placed in all three bands. Kyra Jackson, Connor Powers, and Elizabeth Herbord placed first chair. Ethan Macklin placed in the wind symphony.
To be a part of the EIU Honor Band students must apply online, and then the teacher must submit an evaluation. Fourteen OVHS students were chosen, and 11 were able to attend.

Santa Visits Lovington

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Santa Visits Lovington
Santa Claus visited at the Lovington American Legion Sunday, Dec. 10, handing out treats and listening to children’s requests for favorite gifts. It was sponsored by the Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Sparrows Wrap

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Photo by Darian Hays
Sparrows Wrap
Lovington based volunteers for Sparrows gathered at the East End Tavern in downtown Lovington Saturday morning to wrap gifts for delivery to 144 families. Above East End owner and Sparrow volunteer Annette Wood prepares a gift for wrapping.

Body Cameras Help Sullivan Police do a Better Job

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Chief Jim Waggoner holds Axon body cam.

•December 6, 2017•

Sullivan Police Chief Jim Waggoner looks at technology as a friend so it makes sense when he jumped at a free trial for officer body cameras.

“When I found out Axon had a free body cam program for one year, I applied immediately,” Chief Waggoner said. “By September they had supplied every officer with a body camera plus the department with the software to handle the audio and video storage.”

Axon, formerly the Taser company, is offering any police department that applies the chance to try out body cam technology free of charge for one year. At the end of the year the departments may purchase the complete system for an annual fee or just return the equipment with no charge.

“I like what new technology brings, and body cameras have helped us do better jobs as officers,” Waggoner said, noting footage is also a good learning tool for officers as well as keeping an accurate record of what happens during a stop. Read More

Lottery Determines Ballot Positions

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•December 6, 2017•

Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England conducted a lottery to determine candidates placement on the March primary ballot Tuesday, December 5.

The Democrats and Republicans both held a lottery in the county board meeting room at the courthouse for Treasurer ballot placement on each respective party ballot.  Read More

County Raises Illinois Bicentennial Flag at Monday Ceremony

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Joining in on America the Beautiful were: Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England, Circuit Clerk Cindy Braden, Michelle Liddiard and County Treasurer Marci Thompson during the Bicentennial Dedication.

•December 6, 2017•

Moultrie County joined the Illinois bicentennial celebration with an 11:45 a.m., Dec. 4 flag raising ceremony on the courthouse lawn with some 60 people attending along with a hearty prairie wind.

This commemorated opening ceremonies of the state’s 200th celebration of statehood (Dec. 3, 1818). Presentation of the colors by the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Honor Guard along with The Pledge of Allegiance and Star Spangled Banner were part of the ceremony.

County board chairman Dave McCabe read the proclamation of statehood, December 3, 1818 noting that the year will celebrate the history of Illinois. McCabe also noted that Moultrie County was founded Feb. 16, 1843 and will be observing 175 years during 2018. Read More

Over next year, Illinois Newspapers to Commemorate Illinois’ Bicentennial

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•December 6, 2017•

By Dennis Anderson
NP Guest Columnist

Illinois turns 200 on Dec. 3, 2018, and over the course of the next year the News Progress is helping to commemorate the event.

The Moultrie County News Progress and dozens of publications throughout Illinois will print a weekly series of articles featuring key moments, figures, industries and events that help to make Illinois unique. Some of the first articles include the Underground Railroad, coal mining, the dueling Peoria territory and top Illinois athletes through the years. Read More

Great Day for a Parade

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Photo by R.R. Best
Great Day for a Parade
The weather was kind to the Hometown Holidays Parade in Sullivan Saturday, Dec. 2. A large crowd including these two present attired parade participants enjoyed the event. The annual parade kicked off from the high school parking lot and included representatives of various community organizations as well as personal enthusiasts. Petersen Healthcare hosted the parade with Jeri Davis organizing entries.

Bethany Tree Lighting

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Photo by R.R. Best
Bethany Tree Lighting
Bethany Mayor Bill Ashley Jr. exclaimed, “Let there be light” and threw the switch lighting the village Christmas Tree. Lighting the tree was the finale of the BASO sponsored Bethany Country Christmas held from 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 3 at the Bethany Depot. A dedication by the Bethany Ministerial Alliance and carols with the Bethany Community Choir wrapped up festivities which featured a visit from Santa along with hot cocoa and cookies for the crowd.

Ugly Sweaters

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Photo by R.R. Best
Ugly Sweaters
Larry Edwards expressed his enthusiasm for having the Ugliest Sweater at the Fire and Police Christmas dinner Dec. 3. Kelly Faulkner was the Ugly Sweater Contest emcee, Rob Young (right) was second place.