A Holiday Beacon Still Shines Outside Sullivan

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers Paul Feist has decorated his home southeast of Sullivan since 1959. Above he puts the finishing touches to the display that may be seen from the city limits.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Paul Feist has decorated his home southeast of Sullivan since 1959. Above he puts the finishing touches to the display that may be seen from the city limits.

•December 21, 2016•

A beacon shines southeast of Sullivan city limits just as it has since 1959.

That’s when Paul Feist decided to decorate three Christmas trees at the corner of his property south of Mason Point.

“Those trees were 15 feet tall when I started decorating,” Feist recalled, noting those three original white pine trees are now 100 feet tall.

“This year Herb Flannell brought his 100 ft. lift truck out, and we still needed a pole to get the lights to the top,” Feist said of the three cornerstone trees that mark the entrance to the former cut yourself tree farm.

After more than 40 hours working in the cold weather, Feist threw the switch December 14 to illuminate his yard just as he has every holiday season since 1959.

At a rate of about $12 per day for electricity the display stays on until the first of the year. Read More

Hams for Christmas

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers Hams for Christmas Thanks to the generosity of one anonymous Sullivan individual 100 hams were delivered from Sullivan IGA to the Moultrie County Food Pantry Dec. 20. IGA meat dept. manager Barry Golden (right) explained this was the second year for the $1200 donation. Joining Golden delivering the hams were Matt Martin (left) and Timothy VanDeursen. Food Pantry director Kristy Dawson said the request list for the hams filled quickly, and they would all be picked up by Wednesday just in time for Christmas.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Hams for Christmas
Thanks to the generosity of one anonymous Sullivan individual 100 hams were delivered from Sullivan IGA to the Moultrie County Food Pantry Dec. 20. IGA meat dept. manager Barry Golden (right) explained this was the second year for the $1200 donation. Joining Golden delivering the hams were Matt Martin (left) and Timothy VanDeursen. Food Pantry director Kristy Dawson said the request list for the hams filled quickly, and they would all be picked up by Wednesday just in time for Christmas.

What Is the Problem Here?

News Progress Posted on by

•December 21, 2016•

By Stu D. Baker
for the News Progress

An editorial in the News Gazette has stirred up some people in Sullivan, and I can’t help but wonder why.

The piece was the paper’s opinion on public servants accepting retirement from one job while doing another.

Specifically cited was the city of Sullivan’s recent hiring of retiring judge Dan L. Flannell as city administrator.

First of all, those who follow the News Progress know this search has been going on for some time. The city has tried over the past two years to get someone to oversee the various departments while watching budgets. Read More

County Board Finalizes Supervisor Appointment

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers The Moultrie County Board reorganized after the election with the first meeting held Dec. 15. Pictured from left: Kevin McReynolds, Arlene Aschermann, Gary Smith, vice chair Ron White, Mike Barringer, County Clerk Georgia England, board chair Dave McCabe, Bill Voyles, Tim Rose and Todd Maxedon.

Photo by Mike Brothers
The Moultrie County Board reorganized after the election with the first meeting held Dec. 15. Pictured from left: Kevin McReynolds, Arlene Aschermann, Gary Smith, vice chair Ron White, Mike Barringer, County Clerk Georgia England, board chair Dave McCabe, Bill Voyles, Tim Rose and Todd Maxedon.

•December 21, 2016•

The reorganized Moultrie County Board met Dec. 15 appointing Lori Barringer supervisor of assessments.

On a motion by new personnel committee chairman Bill Voyles, Barringer was appointed to a term from December 16, 2016 to December 16, 2020 increasing her salary to $50,000.

County board member Gary Smith questioned the second salary increase since October since it was different than the originally approved motion.

Barringer, who was appointed interim supervisor of assessments Oct. 5 following Cindy Kidwell’s death, was originally slated to fulfill Kidwell’s unexpired term through Feb 28, 2017.

Board chairman Dave McCabe explained the interim appointment for 60 days would expire before the Feb 28 date, which prompted the recommended change by the personnel committee. Read More

Early Christmas for Two Sullivan Families

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity made the holidays happier for two families last week. Above from left: Abbie and Keegan O’Connell were surprised at Eastview Terrace with a congratulatory balloon bouquet from Habitat representatives president Gary Smith, Cheryl Thomas and Dee Ann Daily.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity made the holidays happier for two families last week. Above from left: Abbie and Keegan O’Connell were surprised at Eastview Terrace with a congratulatory balloon bouquet from Habitat representatives president Gary Smith, Cheryl Thomas and Dee Ann Daily.

•December 21, 2016•

Christmas came early for two Sullivan families thanks to Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity.

On December 14 members of the Habitat board surprised Abbie O’Connell with a balloon congratulatory arrangement at her Eastside Terrace workplace. She and husband Keegan were selected for the Habitat rehab project which could be ready in February.

From there Habitat’s band of Christmas elves went to the Moultrie County Courthouse. There the group hid in the back room until Paige Schoonover was brought up from the basement for the surprise announcement.

“I knew last Friday and was afraid I couldn’t keep the secret,” circuit clerk Cindy Braden said of the officewide conspiracy to keep the good news from Schoonover until the official announcement. They celebrated the occasion with sparkling apple juice.

To time this unique two house announcement for the holidays took some advanced planning on the part of the local Habitat for Humanity selection board. Read More

Sullivan Library Ushers in the Year with a New Director

News Progress Posted on by

•December 21, 2016•

By Sam L. Clemons
for the News Progress

Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library ushers in more than a new year on January 1, 2017. That’s when Director Clemens Uptmor retires and Michelle Nolen takes on those duties.

The city library has long been one of Sullivan’s best kept secrets. Although serving a small community, Elizabeth Titus gives it patrons services many larger libraries lack.

For example no other library in the area offers a 3D printer. Elizabeth Titus Library purchased one in September 2014 for public use which has been utilized for many student projects and is open for public use.

“Many of the services offered by the library were in place before I was director,” Uptmor said, explaining program expansions and creations were brought about by staff getting together responding to requests from the patrons. Read More

Okaw Valley Honors Teacher

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers Okaw Valley Honors Teacher During an awards ceremony at Okaw Valley Elementary School a special honor was given retiring teacher Debbie Weinstock. Members of Weinstock’s third grade class presented her with a quilt they made for her in class without her knowledge. Principal Doug McCausland pointed out the students had Mrs. Weistock pick material for the quilt they secretly made for her.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Okaw Valley Honors Teacher
During an awards ceremony at Okaw Valley Elementary School a special honor was given retiring teacher Debbie Weinstock. Members of Weinstock’s third grade class presented her with a quilt they made for her in class without her knowledge. Principal Doug McCausland pointed out the students had Mrs. Weistock pick material for the quilt they secretly made for her.

Scholarship for Sullivan Grad

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished Scholarship for Sullivan Grad Nick Frerichs of Sullivan has been named the recipient of the US Bank Scholarship awarded through the Kaskaskia College Foundation at Kaskaskia College in Centralia. Frerichs is a graduate of Sullivan High School and is a sophomore at KC. He is the son of Dan and Kerri Frerichs and a member of the Kaskaskia College Blue Devils Baseball Team. Pictured are Pam Prather and Brad Haege of US Bank and Nick Frerichs (center).

Photo furnished
Scholarship for Sullivan Grad
Nick Frerichs of Sullivan has been named the recipient of the US Bank Scholarship awarded through the Kaskaskia College Foundation at Kaskaskia College in Centralia. Frerichs is a graduate of Sullivan High School and is a sophomore at KC. He is the son of Dan and Kerri Frerichs and a member of the Kaskaskia College Blue Devils Baseball Team. Pictured are Pam Prather and Brad Haege of US Bank and Nick Frerichs (center).

Secret Santa Volunteers

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished Secret Santa Volunteers Secret Santa volunteers from pickup day are Gregg Foster, Lisa Sheehan, Justine Brewer, Mark Brewer, Carol Mode and Cheryl Thomas. These are just a few of the volunteers with Secret Santa. The volunteers say they are blessed to be able to give back to the communities of Moultrie County.

Photo furnished
Secret Santa Volunteers
Secret Santa volunteers from pickup day are Gregg Foster, Lisa Sheehan, Justine Brewer, Mark Brewer, Carol Mode and Cheryl Thomas. These are just a few of the volunteers with Secret Santa. The volunteers say they are blessed to be able to give back to the communities of Moultrie County.

Lovington Board Reduces Number of Liquor Licenses

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2016•

The Lovington Village Board met December 12 to discuss holiday bonuses, schedule changes and requests for an additional opening hour New Year’s Eve for Shooters Bar and the East  End Tavern.

Board members voted to amend the village liquor ordinance in November. Unanimously approved was the reduction from three liquor licenses to two.

According to the new meeting schedule the village board next meets on Monday, January 9 with meetings moved from the first Monday to the second Monday of the month.

During the November village board meeting action was taken on participation in the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management insurance program. Trustee Pam Anklam moved the village select the one installment pay option of $41,882.94 with trustee Jim McMahan seconding and board voting unanimously to approve.  Read More