Arthur Cheese Festival Celebrates 50th Year

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•September 6, 2023•

The Arthur Cheese Festival was held on Saturday, September 2-Monday, September 4. This year the festival celebrated it’s 50th year. On Saturday the event featured a car show, buggy and pony rides, the International Cheese Curling Championships, Ceremonial Cutting of the Cheese, The Big Cheese Parade, Cheese Eating Nationals, Founders Day Dinner and music. On Sunday, the day started with a community worship service with other events throughout the day including cheese carving, kiddie tractor pull, an ice cream social, music, corn hole tournament. On Monday, the last day of the festival, there was the Rat Race 5K and 10K runs, cheese curd spitting contest and sub sandwich giveaway. Throughout the weekend each day there was free cheese given away at the cheese tent. More photos are on page 8.

Moultrie County Woman Arrested for Possession of Illegal Substances, DUI and Child Endangerment 

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•September 6, 2023•

On Saturday, September 2, 2023, the Bethany Police Department arrested Danielle M. Payton, age 33, of Sullivan, Illinois, for the offenses of Possession of Controlled Substances, DUI, and Child Endangerment.

Police were called to Dollar General located in Bethany, Illinois around 5:00 p.m. in response to reports of a woman passed out in the driver’s seat of an automobile in the parking lot. The windows were up on the vehicle and the key was found in the ignition. Read More

MCHD Now Offering Lab Services

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photo by Crystal Reed
Registered Nurse Kim Garcia prepares to take blood from a patient at the Moultrie County Health Department recently. The health department recently added lab services to the list of services they offer. They have partnered with the company Labcorp to provide this service to the community.

•September 6, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Health Department recently began offering laboratory diagnostic testing services in the county. In partnership with Labcorp, Inc., MCHD can provide residents with a lower cost and easy to access solution for required labs. Moultrie County Health Department Administrator Angie Hogan said last month the department was able to serve 15 persons with lab services.

Lab service visits consist of two parts, the office visit which is provided by the health department and diagnostic testing which is provided by Labcorp. Payment to MCHD for the office is required at time of service. Charges for labs may be paid at the time of the visit or individuals can opt to have Labcorp bill their insurance. Read More

Arthur Celebrates Sesquicentennial with Founders’ Day Dinner

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photo by Crystal Reed
Sesquicentennial Essay Winner
A contest was held in Arthur earlier this year where students were asked to write essays in regards to Arthur’s Sesquicentennial. The overall winner of that contest Adyson Hopkins whose essay was titled “150 Years of Arthur” was given the honor of reading her essay during the Founders’ Day Dinner.

•September 6, 2023•

The Village of Arthur celebrated 150 years with a Founders’ Day dinner at Penn Station Saturday, September 2. The dinner celebrated Arthur being established on September 2, 1873.

The program began with a presentation from Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose, who presented a message from the Illinois Senate. That was followed by reading a letter of welcome from Richard J. Durbin. The National Anthem was sung by members of the ALAH High School Choir directed by Stephen McClarey. Read More

Coffee On The Co-Op

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photo by Crystal Reed
Coffee On The Co-Op
Coles Moultrie Electric Co-Op wrapped up their Coffee on the Co-Op program on Wednesday, August 30 at Sweet Vail in Sullivan. The organization kicked off the program in April and included stops in Mattoon, Charleston, Casey, Neoga and Sullivan. The program gave members the opportunity to chat about the co-op, ask questions, meet fellow members while enjoying free coffee. Pictured above (from left to right) is member Mel Schmidt, CEO Amy Borntrager and Communications Coordinator Carla Bradbury.

Lovington Swears in New Village President

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Lovington Swears in New Village President
The Village of Lovington swore in Dennis Garmon (right) as their new village president to fill out the remainder of Roger Walker’s (left) term on Monday, August 28. Walker moved out of town recently so he is no longer able to serve as village president.

Marsha Webb Visits Sullivan

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Marsha Webb Visits Sullivan
Marsha Webb, candidate for Illinois State Representative in the 107th District, visited the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Tuesday, August 22 to speak to members of the Moultrie County Republicans. Her platform includes supporting the 2nd amendment, Void the FOID, restore parental rights, school choice, protecting farmers land rights and term limits for elected officials.

City Council Approves Purchase of Splash Pad Equipment, Approves Quote for Ball Diamond Lights

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•August 30, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Monday, August 28. There was a variety of items on the agenda including the approval of purchase of splash pad equipment and approval of a quote for ball diamond lights.

Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said they have the splash pad equipment but needed to approve payment of it. The cost for the equipment is $133,877.60 from Imagine Nation. This was approved.

The council addressed the waiving of bidding and approval of a quote from Musco Lighting for ball diamond lights. Sherwood said she spoke with Electric Distribution Foreman Chris Parsons, and he said he was unable to get any other quotes. The quote includes a 25-year warranty. Read More

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Holds Groundbreaking

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony for their newest build on Sunday, August 27 in Sullivan. Pictured are new homeowner Rebecca Comstock (second from right) and son Clark (far left) with Habitat board president Gary Smith (second from left) and Pastor Bob Vail (far right).

•August 30, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity broke ground Sunday for their newest build in Sullivan. Rebecca Comstock, Kylee, Clark and Owen have been selected for the home. Read More

Tentative FY 2024 Budget Approved, Student Enrollment Numbers are Dropping

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•August 23, 2023•

by Ariana R. Cherry

The 2023-2024 FY Tentative Budget was approved at the school board meeting Wednesday, August 16. “We try to be as conservative as possible when we put these numbers together. It is a solid budget, and we fell into tier four this year,” Superintendent Shannon Cheek stated. The EAV dollars and enrollment are how the state decides how much funding the school district will receive and what tier it is put into. The ALAH district received an additional $890.

“Our EAV continues to grow each year, but when your enrollment is dropping, that is not such a good thing. But even with those two factors, I feel like we have built a pretty solid budget. We fell into the black this year, but the fund that we need to monitor the most is our transportation fund. Those rates continue to go up. We are projecting a deficit in that account and will have to monitor and see what happens. There is a chance that we might need to do a transfer of funds,” explained Cheek. Read More