News Progress

Photo by Mike Brothers
“Flowers of the Forest” a traditional Scottish Highland bagpipes song, is played for first responders who passed away on 9/11/2011 by Oakland piper Paul Hinson at the Patriots Day observation held at Sullivan schools Monday, Sept. 11.

•September 20, 2017•

Monday, September 11 was Patriots Day and the 16th anniversary of the Twin Towers terrorist attack. A day that changed America forever.

Sixteen years later a generation of students who weren’t as yet born at that time wrestle with understanding what 9/11/2011 was all about.

Rebecca Lawson’s Mirror Images class at Sullivan High School has established a Patriot’s Day observance tradition that keeps the memory of that day alive.

For the past several years Mirror Image students have put together combined high school and middle school assemblies honoring local first responders and the memory of the 2997 people who died that day.  Read More

Petersen’s Appeal Approved

•September 20, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Settling a tax dispute with the owners of Mason Point will cost some Moultrie County taxing bodies.

Supervisor of Assessments Lori Barringer explained the settlement for tax years 2013-2018 for the Petersen Health Care VIII LLC facility was based on a negotiated $5 million fair market value for the property with a new assessed value of $1,666,500.

Mason Point taxes for 2015 should be $153,303.30 including interest. With the reduced tax bill going back to tax years 2011 and 2012 Petersen will get tax refunds from Sullivan Schools, East Nelson Twp., Lake Land College, Sullivan Fire Dist., Moultrie County and East Nelson-Whitley MTA 2. Read More

Photo furnished

•September 20, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

In 1864 the Moultrie County Board purchased 200 acres from Eli York to establish what would be variously called the Almshouse, the Poor Farm, the York Farm or the Poor House. In 1865 William F. Crouch was hired as the first superintendent.

In those days pauperism was considered a moral failing that could be erased through order and hard work. The poor, sick, insane and orphans were sent to these places when they had no other means or anyone to care for them.   Read More

•September 20, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

John Schwartz, a 1968 graduate of Bethany High School, recently retired from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Director Credibility Assessment Division Office of Internal Affairs, U. S. Customs and Border Protection, and he will be the guest speaker at the Alumni Association’s banquet Saturday, October 7.

Several changes have been made to this year’s celebration. A live band will perform for the first time, courtesy of Bill Rowe, and the venue this year will be the Bethany Grade School gym. Also, for the first time, the 2017 and 2018 Okaw Valley seniors have been invited to attend. The classes of 1967 and 1992 will be honored. Read More