Two Ejected in Wreck Off Van Gundy Curve Saturday

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Photo by RR Best Moultrie County Deputy Sheriff Aaron Thomas calls in the license plate of a 2002 Mazda van after it flipped three times after exiting route 32 between Sullivan and Lovington Saturday evening. Two occupants were ejected from the vehicle. Both were life flighted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Photo by RR Best
Moultrie County Deputy Sheriff Aaron Thomas calls in the license plate of a 2002 Mazda van after it flipped three times after exiting route 32 between Sullivan and Lovington Saturday evening. Two occupants were ejected from the vehicle. Both were life flighted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Alcohol involved as car flips three times, almost 700 feet

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Two South Carolina women were ejected from their vehicle after failing to reduce speed and negotiate a curve on Route 32 between Sullivan and Lovington Saturday night.

Stephanie Anglin, 31, of Liberty, S.C. and Ashley Garren, 22, of Pickens, S.C. were heading northbound Saturday at around 7 p.m when their 2002 Mazda van lost control near what is better known locally as the Van Gundy curve. A call came in at 7:04 p.m. with first responders on scene at 7:09. Read More

Lion’s Club Donation

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Photo by Keith Stewart Lion’s Club Donation Last month the Sullivan Lion’s Club donated $500 to the American Legion Post 68 Color/Honor Guard, who in turn was able to purchase several parkas and bomber jackets so that members could be adequately dressed when conducting ceremonies, including military rites. Pictured left to right are: Lynn Elder of the Lion’s Club, Mike Keown and Mike Grose (both of the color guard), Lynn Reed, president of the Sullivan Lion’s Club, and Bob Sims (also color guard).

Photo by Keith Stewart
Lion’s Club Donation
Last month the Sullivan Lion’s Club donated $500 to the American Legion Post 68 Color/Honor Guard, who in turn was able to purchase several parkas and bomber jackets so that members could be adequately dressed when conducting ceremonies, including military rites. Pictured left to right are: Lynn Elder of the Lion’s Club, Mike Keown and Mike Grose (both of the color guard), Lynn Reed, president of the Sullivan Lion’s Club, and Bob Sims (also color guard).

Finding Orianna

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Photo by Keith Stewart Moultrie County Historical Society family researcher Kaye Webb sorts through files at the heritage center in Sullivan.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Moultrie County Historical Society family researcher Kaye Webb sorts through files at the heritage center in Sullivan.

One man’s genealogical search to find long-lost great-aunt brings surprise discovery

by Jake Dilley
Reporting in Sullivan

Peter Strandberg was in search of his great aunt, Orianna. He had never met her, but now he was in search of her. He had a birth certificate and knew that she had passed away in Sullivan. But that was about it.

Unable to locate an obituary for her, the Scottsdale, Ariz. resident reached out to the newspaper in Sullivan and contacted managing editor Keith Stewart, asking if they could locate Orianna’s record in their archives. To Strandberg’s misfortune, none could be found. But all was not lost yet. He was then directed to Kaye Webb, a local family researcher in Sullivan, who would end up helping Strandberg unearth the ultimate genealogical discovery. Read More

Area Post Office Hours to Change Beginning May 17

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Lovington averts closure with community input

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Local post offices will soon be undergoing changes, a trend that is not just confined to this area, but happening all across the country.

“Nationwide, larger offices will now take care of smaller offices,” said Ann Stock, the current OIC (officer in charge) at Sullivan Post Office.

But contrary to what some may think, post offices aren’t making changes because of budget cuts. “Instead of closing, post offices are being re-evaluated for customer usage. This way they can still have a presence in rural America,” explained Valerie Welch, the spokesperson for Gateway District of Post Offices. Read More

Eleventh Annual Spores N’ More Mushroom Festival April 18, 19

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The 11th annual Spores N’ More Mushroom Festival will be held at Lake Shelbyville Friday and Saturday April 18 and April 19. 

The mushroom festival boasts a variety of activities sponsored by Heartland RC&D, Shelby County Office of Tourism, and area communities surrounding Lake Shelbyville including Findlay, Shelbyville, Sullivan, and Windsor. All activities are open to the public. Read More

Garage Fire Damages Home Sunday in Sullivan

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Photo by RR Best Sullivan firefighter David Welsh inspects the aftermath of a garage fire Sunday afternoon at 532. S. Sixth St. in Sullivan.

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan firefighter David Welsh inspects the aftermath of a garage fire Sunday afternoon at 532. S. Sixth St. in Sullivan.

Severe smoke damage to residence, garage a total loss

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The garage and parts of a home belonging to Gerald and Mary Nolen of Sullivan were severely damaged Sunday afternoon after an ember from a nearby burn barrel ignited a fire, according to Sullivan Fire Chief Mike Piper.

A call was received at 12:34 p.m., and the department’s time of arrival was 12:36 p.m. Piper says the scene was cleared at 2:28 p.m. and that the fire was extinguished around 1:10 p.m.

“The garage is a total loss, and they had a car in there, too, that was a total loss,” explained Piper. The home was damaged on the east end, including parts of a kitchen and dining area. Read More

Braden Welcomed to the Capitol

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Submitted Speaking on behalf of legislation that benefited local governments, Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Cynthia Braden was at the Illinois State Capitol on March 22.Circuit Clerk Braden was greeted by State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) as she and other central Illinois clerks finished their testimony as part of a visit by the Illinois Circuit Clerk’s Association.

Submitted
Speaking on behalf of legislation that benefited local governments, Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Cynthia Braden was at the Illinois State Capitol on March 22.Circuit Clerk Braden was greeted by State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) as she and other central Illinois clerks finished their testimony as part of a visit by the Illinois Circuit Clerk’s Association.

Rose backs Richey’s Changes to Criminal Law

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Moultrie County State’s Attorney initiatives pass Illinois Senate 

Two initiatives of the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office are halfway through the legislative process, thanks to the sponsorship of State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet).

Senate Bills 3435 and 3547 will toughen penalties on those who assault children and also unsafe drivers. Read More

Feb. Unemployment Shows Moultrie as Lowest in Central Ill.

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MoCoFeb14UnemploymentMost still see overall increase from Dec.

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Moultrie County ranked the lowest among nine east central Illinois counties in unemployment for February.

Coming in at 7.5 percent, Moultrie is, in fact, tied for the fourth lowest rate of unemployment in the state with Washington county also at 7.5.

However, the county’s rate was an uptick from each of the two prior months, a trend nearly all other neighboring counties also saw. Read More