Okaw Middle Schoolers Help Toys for Tots

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•December 20, 2017• By Mike Brothers Moultrie County Toys for Tots got a boost before Christmas thanks to one Okaw Valley Middle School student. Seventh grade student Abbey Luckenbill has been involved with the Toys for Tots program collecting toys since she was in third grade. This year she put together an effort that led to collection of more than 100 toys. Abbey’s efforts were rewarded with the receipt of the first individual Outstanding Achievement Award presented on behalf of Moultrie-Piatt County Toys for Tots. On Friday, Dec. 15 OVMS counselor Paula Coffer helped Luckenbill and classmates Avery Bruns and … Read More

Obituaries 12-20-17: Pauline Bly

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Pauline Bly Janet Pauline Bly, 74, of Bethany passed away Thursday, December 14, 2017 in Springdale, Ark. Funeral Services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 20 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Burial was in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. Pauline was born January 7, 1943 in Bethany, a daughter of William Edward and Dorothy Jean Jackson Ward. She married Thomas G. Bly September 22, 1963, and he preceded her in death June 16, 2005. She attended the Free United Methodist Church in Bethany, and while she was in Springdale she attended the First United Methodist Church.  … Read More

Obituaries 12-20-17: Emery Barnes

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Emery Barnes Emery Barnes, Jr., 94, of Mattoon, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 4:20 p.m. Sunday, December 17, 2017 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 21 in Southern Baptist Church in Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services in the church. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. … Read More

Remember When? 12-20-17

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25 Years Ago This Week More than 400 children from low income families in Moultrie County benefited from the New Life Tabernacle Church of Sullivan’s Christmas Toy Drive. Tracy and Rodney Hatten along with church volunteers collect new and used toys from drop boxes around the county. Each toy is then sanitized and spruced up before becoming a gift. The group distributed 1500 toys during their first year of operation. Terry Henderson of Bethany won the residential lighting contest. As winner Henderson receives 100 percent of his electric bill paid for the month of December. Jim McLaughlin was second place and … Read More

County Board Settles Lawsuit 

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•December 20, 2017• The Moultrie County Board agreed to settle a pending lawsuit during the Dec. 14 meeting . Former circuit clerk employee Paula J. Neathery filed the suit in U.S. District Court in June 2017 naming Cynthia J. Braden, Moultrie County Circuit Clerk as defendant. In documents released by State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey, Neathery, represented by Nina R. Gougis, filed the suit and requested a jury trial to determine whether her January 6, 2016 termination was legal. Neathery was an office deputy with health issues that prompted 12 weeks Family Medical Leave. According to the Moultrie County Employee Handbook … Read More

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

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•December 20, 2017• It’s been 120 years since Virginia O’Hanlon sought the truth about Santa from the New York Sun. In over a century, the lives of children — and their parents— have increased in complexity by a factor of ten. Man landed on the moon, communism rose and fell, countries changed names and borders, Elvis begat Jagger, who in turn led to “gangsta rap”. The kidnap and murder of children, which made world headlines for the Lindbergh family, now touches the lives of hundreds of families annually. Children begin learning at ages two and three about “stranger danger,” AIDS … Read More

Rams Put Away the Knights

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•December 20, 2017• The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team dropped a nonconference game 69-51 against Shelbyville Friday. “We started very well getting great shots, and defensively, we were very active and did a great job competing on the boards and for loose balls,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. The Rams took a 30-21 halftime lead, but it was a 25-14 third quarter run that put the game away. “Our downfall was turnovers,” Schuring said. “The second half they dictated the game at both ends of the floor.” … Read More

ALAH Girls Knock Off St. Anthony Saturday

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•December 20, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team split a pair of games this past week. The Knights lost to Central A&M last Thursday but knocked off St. Anthony Saturday. “Our team was like Jekyll and Hyde between the two games we played last week,” said ALAH coach Mac Condill. Against St. Anthony, ALAH took advantage of a 14-6 second quarter run to take a 26-17 halftime lead. The Bulldogs cut the lead to eight heading into the fourth, but the Knights pulled away for the 48-36 win. … Read More