News – Page 318 – News Progress

General Primary Election Initiates New Voting System for County

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

Ballots available online

•February 17, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Specimen ballots for the March 15, 2016 General Primary Election are published as a special insert with the Wednesday, February 17 edition of the News Progress.

Included are both the Republican and Democratic specimen ballots along with one property sale proposition affecting the voters of Arthur.

This is the first year for the Unisyn Optical Scan and Touch Screen tabulating equipment. There will be a public test of the new system at 10 a.m. March 7 in the Elections Counting Center Room on the first floor of the Moultrie County Courthouse.

The grace period for registration and voting is February 17-March 15. With two forms of identification a voter may register, change name, or change an address at the county clerk’s office.

Voters wishing to vote by mail may obtain an application from the Moultrie County Clerk’s website http://www/moultriecountyil.com Read More

Bethany Bar Changes Hands, Owners Seek to Revisit TIF

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

•February 17, 2016•

By Derek Pope
for the News Progress

Bethany city council members have shown a renewed interest in renovating the village’s downtown buildings following a proposal by the four co-owners of Bethany’s newest business—The Publisher.

The new establishment, currently Bethany’s only operating bar, took the place of the beleaguered Hired Hand Winery and Saloon after opening up shop in the now closed business’s buildings and purchasing the liquor license originally granted to the previous owners.

Although it is a fresh start for the bar’s proprietors, Ron Martin, Mike Sweeney, Pam Barker, and Heidi Bruns, they will still have to face some of the same obstacles that the Hired Hand encountered when alcohol sales became legal in Bethany nearly four years ago.

Not the least of these challenges will be repairing the image of open alcohol serving businesses in the village, chiefly in the eyes of Bethany’s board of trustees.

Last May Bethany’s city council members soured to the idea of subsidizing tavern style businesses after a dispute with the Hired Hand’s owners led to the revocation of a $48,000 TIF (Township Investment Funding) loan to renovate the heating and cooling system of the downtown buildings that housed the business. The deal ended up costing Muzzy’s Hometown Heating and Cooling, a locally owned HVAC business originally contracted to do the work, a sizable injection of business. At the time, village officials expressed their dismay that the downtown buildings would not receive necessary repairs and that the botched deal would have various other ripple effects beyond that. Read More

Longaberger Binga at Windsor

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

Photo Submitted
Longaberger Binga at Windsor
The Windsor class of 2017 will host a Longaberger Binga Fundraiser March 19 at Windsor High School. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the games starting at 6p.m. Tickets are available from junior class members, by calling Lesley Baker or Shanna House at 459-2636 or at the door.
All of the baskets will be filled with goodies. Refreshments, 50/50, and raffle items will also be for sale. Pictured left to right: Bailey Fleshner, Jodie Harris, Gillian Sanders and Katie Greuel

Touch Screen Voting Comes to Moultrie

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

Photo Submitted
New Voting Equipment: Liberty Systems LLC partner Ken Gibson, County Clerk Georgia England and Election Deputy Jamie Helton prepared the system for operation last week.

Storage Capacity Increased

•February 10, 2016•

Touch screen voting is coming to Moultrie County elections this spring, giving electronic or traditional as a voting option , all with updatedcentralized tabulation equipment.

County Clerk Georgia England explained election judges will learn the new system’s operations during a March 8 training session.

Ken Gibson, of Liberty Systems LLC, the vendor for the new voter tabulation system, explained the county’s equipment was 25 years old and was reaching maximum memory capacity.

The new tabulation system can hold the entire county’s tabulations on one piece of equipment.

“Plus there is the capacity for future growth,” Gibson said. Read More

Sullivan District Approves Bond Issue

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

•February 10, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Community Unit #300 school board approved issuing $123,000 taxable obligation bonds while discussing funding options for $5 million in Life Health Safety Improvements.

Board president Steve Poland asked whether the general obligation bonds issuance was related to the current state budget crisis.

Supt. Brad Tuttle explained that Gov. Rauner’s economic agenda calls for a property tax freeze which could affect every district’s funding ability in the state.

By issuing the $123,000 in bonds the school tax rate will be partially buffered in the event of a freeze.

The resolution to issue $123,000 in bonds at 2.5 percent interest passed unanimously

Tim King of King Financial Consultants noted that the 15 school districts he represents all are taking the same precautions as Sullivan toward the tax freeze.

King pointed out the $2.5 billion in 0 interest statewide loans for which Sullivan applied to finance the HVAC and roofing repair costs went to Cook and collar counties school districts. Read More

Individual Placement & Support Program Faces Funding Challenge

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

Photo by Kennedy D Nolen
Hollie Atchison, Employment Specialist; Penny Arthur, IPS Supervisor; Jeremy Nolen, Employment Specialist, are a part of the IPS program offered through the Moultrie County Counseling Center.

•February 10, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

Individual Placement & Support (IPS) is a program offered at the Moultrie Country Counseling Center (MCCC) since December 2013.

This non-profit program, IPS, offers services in conjunction with the Division of Rehabilitation Services.

Adults who receive counseling from the Moultrie County Counseling Center are presented with the following options through the Individual Placement & Support program: a career profile, application completions, peer support, benefits counseling, supportive counseling, interviewing skills, job search skills, job development, job retention, and schooling. These needs are adjusted to fit each of the client’s needs and personal goals. Read More

Donor Matches 3 Degree Donation

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

Photo courtesy WANDTV
Donor Matches 3 Degree Donation
Moultrie County Food Pantry received WAND/IBEW 3 Degree Challenge donation on the air February 3. Director Kristy Dawson and Nancy Kenton from the Food Pantry are pictured along with Ron Cummings from IBEW Local 146 and Chief Meteorologist JC Fultz. “I am so excited that we were able to give back to an area that I grew up in!” the Bethany native said during the presentation. He announced the $1000 3 Degree donation had been matched by an anonymous donor to give the Food Pantry an additional $2000 to help those in Moultrie County.

Moultrie County Inter-Agency Gives in Many Ways

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

•February 10, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

The Moultrie County Inter-Agency is lacking almost a third of their annual budget to assist those who need it most.

Established in 1981 to help those in need, the Sullivan based agency helps in various ways.

Needs the agency meets include utility assistance for elderly and disabled, rent assistance, emergency shelter such as a hotel room if need be, food, car repair, prescriptions, pest control, and other situations deemed suitable for assistance.

Originally, the agency supplied Christmas gifts to children whose parents met the guidelines. Gift certificates in the amount of $25 to Dollar General and Pamida, prior to its closing, were given to the parents per each child.

Once the Moultrie County Inter-Agency had noticed similar Christmas spending had been covered by other organizations in the community, they began to focus on meeting other unfulfilled needs for families and individuals.

Also, the Inter-Agency is able to give those who qualify something called ‘Chamber Bucks’. This special form of currency may be used at only specific places in town, such as the city to pay bills and gas stations. Read More

More County Flood Damage

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

•February 10, 2016•

Additional flood damage on Moultrie County roads and bridges increased to $180,000 county engineer Jeff Birch told the Road and Bridge committee February 8.

That amount is added to the total county damage claim filed earlier with the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency.

“Once the water went down we discovered six bridges with erosion damage.” Birch explained that the county could submit labor costs related to debris removal which assured the county’s qualification for disaster relief.

Committee chair Kevin McReynolds led discussion on eliminating vehicle rental from employees following the purchase of a truck for the Road and Bridge Dept.

Birch explained the department had accumulated enough funds to allow the purchase, and he had looked into the state contract bid site for vehicles. Read More

Candidate McCarter Visits Sullivan

Posted on February 3, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 3, 2016

Photo by Mike Brothers
Candidate McCarter Visits Sullivan
A meet and greet for Republican State Senator Kyle McCarter from the 54th District was held at TnT Pizzeria Tuesday, January 26. The current state senator from Lebanon is a primary candidate seeking nomination for the 15th Congressional District seat held by Republican John Shimkus. Pictured above: Moultrie County Board chairman Dave McCabe, Senator McCarter and sheriff Chris Sims.