SMS Community Project is a Leap of Faith

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Middle School eighth grader Sydney Williamson shows Tara Standerfer her artistic efforts as she decorates a pumpkin for SCED Oktoberfest weekend.

•November 1, 2017•

Sullivan Middle School’s first community service day began as a leap of faith for principal Nathan Ogle.

By the end of the morning Thursday, October 19 it set the bar for Proudest Principal Moment.

“I believe that one of the responsibilities we have as educators is to instill in our students a sense of ownership in their community,” Ogle said. “If our small town is going to succeed in the next century, it is because individuals take responsibility to make it so.”

Service Day at Sullivan Middle School included eighth grade students painting pumpkins to help the Chamber of Commerce decorate for Octoberfest; seventh grade students traveling to Mason Point to visit residents, do crafts and entertain; and sixth grade students spending the morning with K-first grade students on reading activities.

“Our teachers tackled the challenge with enthusiasm and came up with ideas beyond anything I had in mind,” Ogle continued, noting they coordinated all the community events to make Fall Service Day take shape. Read More

OVHS Band is First

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OVHS Band is First
OVHS Band competed at the Pinckneyville Competition on Saturday, Oct. 28. They swept all of the 1A awards by earning first place finishes in class, drum major, color guard and percussion.

Republican Treasurer Race Adds Candidate 

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Stephanie Helmuth

•November 1, 2017•

Stephanie Helmuth is seeking election as a Republican candidate for the Moultrie County Treasurer position.

“I feel I can bring new eyes to the processes,” Helmuth said, “and help find efficiencies and work towards saving the taxpayers dollars.”

She has nine years in banking after graduating college in 2008, two of those doing audit and analysis and seven of them in trust services.

She has worked at The First National Bank in Mattoon for seven years and has been the trust officer for the last four years.  Read More

Chicken Ordinance Scratched for Lack of Second

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•November 1, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The city’s animal ordinance regarding chickens was brought to light at a council meeting on October 9 when Enos Yoder asked if it was possible to have a couple of chickens at their home.

Sullivan administrator Dan Flannell had looked into the issue and reported to the council. During the discussion of the ordinance, Flannell instructed the council that they would have to be careful how they crafted it.

Details to consider include enclosures (and the visual effect they would cause), if it were necessary for families to hold permits, what would happen if animals were to escape and the restriction of the number of chickens/animals a family could have.  Read More

Moultrie County Democrats Feature Prominent Leaders

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Glenn Poshard

•November 1, 2017•

By Harry S Truman
for the News Progress

Moultrie County Democrats gathering for the election season who kick off dinner at the Sullivan American Legion are in for a treat Friday, Nov. 3.

Glenn Poshard, retired three-term 19th District U. S. Representative, is the featured speaker with former 101st District State Representative Julie Curry (1995-2003), and State Treasurer Michael Frerichs completing the program that begins at 6:45 following the 5:00 p.m. spaghetti supper.

Julie Curry

Local Democrats will be joined by 15th Congressional District candidates Anthony March, Carl Spoerer and Kevin Gaither.

Keynote speaker Poshard’s last political race was against convicted Republican governor George Ryan in 1998 where he lost to Ryan 51% to 47%. Poshard endorsed campaign finance and refused to accept money from lobbyists during the campaign where Republicans outspent him four to one.

Poshard broke the story about Ryan’s licenses for bribes as secretary of state, which eventually led to the governor’s conviction on racketeering charges. Read More

Above and Beyond the Call for a Great Habitat Supporter

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Habitat for Humanity volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan, Bob Gillespie CAV Leader from Michigan, and Lowell McGregor of Lovington replaced Pastor Paul McGghghy’s roof in the off season.

•November 1, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Habitat for Humanity volunteers are going above and beyond the call of duty replacing the roof of one of their greatest supporters.

Pastor Paul McGhghy stepped down from the pulpit at Faith Lutheran Church earlier this year due to health reasons. When Moultrie County Habitat volunteers and Habitat Care-A-Vanners learned he needed a roof at his Eastlawn home, they stepped up to help the man who had helped so many.

“This is not a Habitat official function,” Bob Gillespie, Care-A-Vanner team leader, said. “We’re just doing this for a friend who has made a huge impact on all of us and been a great supporter of Habitat for Humanity.”

Gillespie and his brother Jeff traveled from Michigan a week ago Sunday to join Moultrie County Habitat volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan and Lowell McGregor of Lovington on Pastor McGhghy’s roof replacement. Read More

Occupational Health

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Occupational Health
Okaw Valley students have taken advantage of the Lake Land College Health Occupations program this semester. Okaw Valley has four students participating, three of whom are at the  Shelbyville Manor and one at Sarah Bush. The students are all going into the medical field. Pictured (left to right): Angela Robinson, Destiny Underwood, Savannah Gibbons (Health Occupations students at Shelbyville Manor) Not pictured - Justin Oathout - Sarah Bush.

Treasurer Candidate

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•October 25, 2017•

Upon learning of the retirement of current treasurer Marci Thompson, Pam Wittkowski has announced her candidacy for Moultrie County Treasurer.

She has served as chief deputy in the county clerk’s office for the past 12 years.

Wittkowski is seeking the office as a Democrat.

Her primary duties include payroll, managing the county’s budget process, back tax redemption process and maintaining the county’s self-insured health plan. As project manager of the new accounts payable, banking, general ledger, payroll and budget financial software shared with the treasurer’s office, Wittkowski has worked with the software vendors to set up and fine tune the converted system that began implementation in May 2017. Read More

Engulfed in Flames

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Photo by RR Best
Engulfed in Flames
Fire had engulfed the front porch and two rooms of a house at the corner of Hunter and Graham streets when Sullivan firefighters arrived at 12:28 a.m. Wednesday. Fire Chief Mike Piper noted Matt and Nikki Nohren, their two kids and dog were alerted by smoke detector and were safely outside at that time. The house owned by Corey Davis received heavy fire, heat and smoke damage. Lovington and Bethany fire depts. assisted until 4:00 a.m. The Red Cross was called to assist the family.

Sullivan Chamber’s Oktoberfest Celebrates Autumn in Style

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Feudin’ Hillbillys performed under the tent Friday.

•October 25, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

You know fall has arrived in Sullivan when it’s Oktoberfest, and the air around the square is redolent with chili bubbling away in big pots and folks waitin’ ‘round for a taste.

Summer is fading, the harvests are in and time to celebrate the changing of the seasons with one, big two-day community party just loaded with fun activities for everyone to enjoy. Oktoberfest is sponsored by the Sullivan Chamber of Economic Development.

A perfect, cool Friday evening welcomed firstcomers to the vendor booths, food trucks, wine and beer tasting and fine toe-tapping music by them Gringos and the Feudin’ Hillbillys. Read More