Treasurer Candidate

News Progress Posted on by

•October 25, 2017•

Michelle Liddiard is seeking election to the office of the Moultrie County Treasurer.

Current treasurer, Democrat Marci Thompson, has chosen not to seek another term in office.

Liddiard is currently the Chief Deputy Treasurer and has been in that position for the past three years.

She is seeking the office as a Republican candidate.

Liddiard has been a Democrat since returning to Moultrie County in 1992 when she signed Democrat Griz England’s petition for county clerk and has served the party as an election judge, most recently in the 2016 general election. Read More

Marshmallows Roasting on an Open Fire

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Photo furnished
Marshmallows Roasting on an Open Fire
Okaw Valley High School students participated in the annual ECO meet Thursday at Camp Camfield and at the end of the meet enjoyed roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire. Team members left to right are Trey Yarnell, Quinn Brooks, Natalie Jeffers, and Sarah Weber.

OVHS Band Excels

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Photo furnished
OVHS Band Excels
The OVHS Marching Timberwolves had a great Saturday at the Effingham band competition. They were awarded first place in General Effects, second in class, right behind Sangamon Valley who has much larger numbers and tied for second in visual with Sangamon Valley. They were third in music and percussion. They travel to the University of Illinois Saturday, Oct 21 for another competition.

 

Pancake and Sausage Breakfast

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Photo by R.R. Best
Pancake and Sausage Breakfast
Hundreds of hungry people were able to get up early Saturday morning following the first night of Oktoberfest in Sullivan and enjoy breakfast at the firehouse. Above Josh Qualls and Heide Burgess serve up sausage links to go along with Sullivan Fire Department’s pancakes during the seventh annual event held at the Harrison Street fire station.

ILMEA Audition for OV Junior

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ILMEA Audition for OV Junior
Bella Benning, Okaw Valley junior,  auditioned for ILMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) District 5 choir, which is a step toward ILMEA All-state. This is the third year in a row that Benning has been selected. Students are given five musical selections and are required to prepare all five but will be judged on only two pieces. The first All-State selection is announced, but students do not know until the day of auditions what the second selection will be. ILMEA uses a blind audition format with judges only knowing students by an ID number rather than name and school. Benning also had to perform tonal skills consisting of two scales and three triads. She will perform with the District 5 choir November 18 at Eastern Illinois University.

Bus Crash Prompts Prison Term

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•October 18, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

A crash that sent a busload of Teutopolis students skating down Rte 32 in February resulted in a two year prison sentence for Scarlett A. McKinzie in Moultrie County Circuit Court Tuesday.

McKinzie, 37, appeared before Judge Hugh Finson Tuesday afternoon for sentencing following her Sept. 12 guilty plea to a Class 4 felony aggravated driving under the influence charge.

Charges stemmed from a Feb. 10 crash at the intersection of Rte 32 and CR 800 (Findlay Road) when the van McKinzie was driving hit the side of the bus traveling north. The bus containing the Teutopolis basketball team, cheerleaders and coaches went out of control on Rte 32 and flipped on its side. Read More

Moultrie County Board Establishes Tourism Fund

News Progress Posted on by

•October 18, 2017•

The Moultrie County Board renewed its commitment to attracting visitors to the area by establishing a $50,000 tourism fund at the October 12 meeting.

“The expanded support puts tourism to the forefront,” chairman Dave McCabe said, explaining the county is working in cooperation with the Lake Shelbyville Corp to promote the area.

Laurrie Minor, director of Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, reported that the office is in the process of collecting tourism information from area visitor locations ranging from the Pumpkin Patch to The Little Theatre on the Square to the lake in an effort to improve tourism partnerships for the region.

“As part of our expanded effort the Corp and Economic Development will have a booth at the Rosemont, Ill. Outdoor and Boat Show in February,” Minor said of the cooperative effort planned for next year.  Read More

New Waste Water/Treatment Plant Sewer Operator Is One Employment Opportunity In Sullivan

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•October 18, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The city of Sullivan is in search of a new waste water/treatment plant sewer operator. The purpose of this new position is to prepare for future retirement which could be eight to 10 years down the road.

Planning ahead for such an event could allow someone to step right in and keep the city from hiring outside contractors to do the the work that is needed.

“The waste water/treatment plant sewer operator position is a very technical position, math intensive and requires lab work,” explained city administrator Dan Flannell.  Read More

Shelter on the Square Generates City Council Discussion

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Family Asks for Chicken Variance

•October 18, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Discussion regarding the possible “shelter/pavilion” on 1 E. Jefferson continued at the last Sullivan City Council meeting.

The $6-8,000 donation for the proposed structure will finance a “bare bones” facility, leaving the city to pay for other additional details of the structure.

Some of the additional details of the structure include whether to anchor it or allow it to be moved.

Discussion among the council focused on the “appearance” of the structure and whether it would be a just a “pole-barn” or created with some type of timber to blend in to the existing structures on the square.  Read More

County Board OKs Planning Zoning/ESDA Reorganization

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•October 18, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

A reorganization plan for the ESDA/Planning office was approved by the Moultrie County Board October 12 with the new half time ESDA coordinator making twice the salary of other counties.

Before voting against the plan, board member Mike Barringer said his research including 15 counties surrounding Moultrie revealed the $30,657 annual half time salary is double what other counties pay.

Coles County ESDA is paid $12,000 annually and Shelby County $18,000.

“This is nothing personal, but I feel we should be looking after the taxpayers of Moultrie County,” Barringer explained.

Jan Haegen proposed the reorganization of ESDA/Planning and Zoning to allow him to serve as half-time ESDA coordinator.  Read More