Investing for a State that has No Money

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•February 8, 2017• State treasurer Michael Frerichs gave visitors to the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce round table a chance to find out how he does his job in a state with no money. “As the chief investment officer for a state without money, we were able to generate $68 million in interest for Illinois last year,” Frerichs explained to community leaders gathered at Cathrine’s 5 East Feb. 3. He explained that if the state had a balanced budget, that would have grown another $30 million. “We try to help provide tools for families to help invest,” he continued, noting programs … Read More

First Round Regional Win for Sullivan Girls

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•February 8, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports Editor The Sullivan girls’ basketball team carried its momentum from Thursday’s senior-night win against Clinton into the first round of the Class 2A regional to defeat Shelbyville Feb 6. Sullivan, the host team, jumped out to a 21-2 first quarter lead and added four more for a 22-6 halftime lead. The Redskins continued the pressure in the second half for the eventual 48-15 win. Tatum Ellis scored a game-high 17 points, and Esther Miller collected 10 points, six rebounds and six steals. Haley Rose and Brooke Tuttle each dished out three assists. … Read More

Court Absence Brings Jail Sentence for Farm Manager

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•February 8, 2017• By Mike Brothers Lyle Roger Harrison’s repeated absence from sentence hearings got him jail time; although his August 2016 felony theft conviction yielded 36 months’ probation. Judge Richard Broch, who had presided over the case since December 2013, issued a warrant for Harrison’s immediate arrest placing bond at $500,000 bond for failure to appear. Harrison, 43, having recently relocated to Manitowoc, Wisc., will return to Moultrie County jail to serve 50 days of a 180 day sentence on the failure to appear charge. The sentencing hearing was conducted without Harrison’s presence. In August a Moultrie County jury … Read More

Obituaries 2-8-2017: Freeman Wildman

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Freeman Wildman Freeman Dale Wildman, 88, of Sullivan, formerly of Lovington, passed away at 8:14 p.m., February 4, 2017 in Courtyard Estates in Sullivan. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Isidore Catholic Church in Bethany with Fr. Steve Arisman celebrant. Burial and Rite of Committal will be in St. Isidore Cemetery in Bethany. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with prayer service to follow. Visitation will also be from 9-10 a.m. Thursday in Reed Funeral Home.  … Read More

Swimmers Supporting Soldiers Goal Exceeded by Blue Dolphins

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•February 8, 2017• By J.D. Graham for the Blue Dolphins When head coach Jason Drury of the Blue Dolphins set the challenge of 400 items to be collected for the Danville VA Hospital, the swimmers stepped up. Not only did they hit the goal of 400 items, they exceeded it with 767 total items being collected to donate to the hospital. It is easy to get Drury to talk about the swimmers and the hard work they put into swimming and the pride he has in the team reaching the goal and helping veterans.    … Read More

IEMA Encourages People to Prepare for Earthquakes

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•February 8, 2017• In recognition of the earthquake risk in southern Illinois from the New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies will promote earthquake preparedness throughout February. “While we don’t experience major earthquakes with the same frequency as the western U.S., some of the most powerful earthquakes to ever occur in the continental U.S. happened along the New Madrid seismic zone about 200 years ago,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “We can’t predict when the next major earthquake will occur, but we can help people learn how to … Read More

Understanding Illinois: Intense Minority Trumps Ho-hum Majority Every Time

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•February 8, 2017• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist How many children are home-schooled in Illinois, I asked a school official, to answer an inquiry made of me from a reader? “We don’t know,” she responded. “You don’t know?” I said, surprised. The school official explained that our state is one of maybe a dozen that do not require parents who educate their children at home to let the state know as much. So we don’t know who is being home-schooled or, much worse, maybe not being schooled at all. I called an education expert. He said a few years … Read More

Rotary Honors Community Servant Jim Bales

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•February 8, 2017• Sullivan Rotary Club presented its annual Vocational Service Award to Jim Bales during the January 31 meeting at TnT Pizzeria. Selection committee representative Gerry Wood pointed out that Bales inspired and mentored youth while teaching at Sullivan High School and operating Jim’s Pizza in the 1960s and 70s. “As a business teacher he taught many local business owners the basics while explaining the importance of ethics,” Wood began. He went on to point out that as a physical education teacher and coach Bales continued teaching the same values that continue to guide him. … Read More

2016 Moultrie County Tentative Multiplier Announced

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•February 8, 2017• Moultrie County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to Constance Beard, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. … Read More