75 Years in Prison

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Yost is Gone •October 21, 2016• Michael S. Yost was sentenced to 75 years in prison by the Hon. Judge Dan L. Flannell in Moultrie County Circuit Court Friday, Oct. 21. He was taken to the Dept. of Corrections facility in Hillsboro from Sullivan. Yost was found guilty of the March 2015 murder of Sheri Randall, 43. First degree murder requires Yost to serve the full 75 years of the sentence. He will be 117 years old when his sentence is completed. Jeremy Richey was the prosecutor for Moultrie County. Public Defender Brad Rau represented Yost. … Read More

Athletic Booster Programs Benefit from SBL Sports Physicals

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•October 19, 2016• Sarah Bush Lincoln donated $9,440 to area athletic booster clubs from sports physicals performed over the summer. SBL medical providers and staff members donated their time to benefit the athletic booster programs at area schools by providing numerous sports and school physicals at reduced costs to athletes and students in their seven-county service area. Medical providers who volunteered their time included Robert Biggs, MD, and Terra Cottrill, APN, of SBL Arcola Clinic and Tammy Munch, PA-C, and Jackie Clayton, DNP, of SBL Sullivan Clinic. The sports physicals were $20 each, and all the proceeds were donated back … Read More

A Musical Afternoon with Robert Schumann at the Martin’s Benefit for County Agencies

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•October 19, 2016• The public is invited to gather at the home of Philip and Nina Martin Saturday, Nov. 5 for a musical afternoon featuring the piano and vocal music of German composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856). The program will include eight short piano pieces published together as Fantasiestucke, performed by Philip Martin, and the song cycle Liederkreis, based on the poetry of Heinrich Heine, performed by Eastern Illinois University vocal instructor Dr. Nicholas Provenzale.  … Read More

Speeding Around Moultrie County Beacon Prompts Request for Sullivan to Lower Limit

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•October 19, 2016• By Ariana Cherry for the News Progress At the Oct 10 Sullivan City Council meeting commissioner Ken Johnson suggested a lower speed limit on South Lincoln St. after receiving complaints. Johnson explained that drivers are speeding down South Lincoln Street coming in from Eden Street. Some drivers also are not stopping. Johnson emphasized that the Moultrie County Beacon is on the route and proposed a speed limit change for the area. From Graham Street to Harrison Street, south of the railroad tracks, drivers are moving very fast. “It is like a race-track,”  Johnson said.  … Read More

13th Oktoberfest: Good Weather, Good Crowds, Good Times

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•October 19, 2016• Sullivan’s 13th Annual Oktoberfest enjoyed good weather and appreciative crowds during the October 14 and 15 celebration on the courthouse square. A weekend filled with activities for young and old alike went off without a hitch. Sullivan Chief of Police John Love noted, “Everyone was there to have a good time, and the well-organized events helped make the whole weekend go smoothly.” From children and family activities during the day to Feudin Hillbillies and Brushville music in the beer tent Friday and Saturday nights, it was a weekend offering something for everyone. Included was the annual chili … Read More

A Musical Afternoon with Robert Schumann at the Martin’s Benefit for County Agencies

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•October 19, 2016• The public is invited to gather at the home of Philip and Nina Martin Saturday, Nov. 5 for a musical afternoon featuring the piano and vocal music of German composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856). The program will include eight short piano pieces published together as Fantasiestucke, performed by Philip Martin, and the song cycle Liederkreis, based on the poetry of Heinrich Heine, performed by Eastern Illinois University vocal instructor Dr. Nicholas Provenzale.  … Read More

Moultrie County Newspaper History Presented to Sullivan Women’s Club

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•October 19, 2016• The Sullivan Civic Women’s Club met Monday, October 10 in the Moultrie County Senior Center. The guest speaker was Sonya Best who gave a talk on the history of the News Progress. She reported that Bob and Marion Best were looking for a small town to start a newspaper. They were reading about The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan and decided Sullivan was an up and coming place to work and raise a family. In 1961 they purchased the Moultrie County News from Lester and Louise Lippencott, and the company now prints several other news … Read More

George Days Recalled for Historical Society

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•October 19, 2016• The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will hold their monthly general meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 in the Heritage Center in Sullivan. The topic for the meeting will be the history, manufacturing and preservation of George Garden Tractors made in Sullivan from 1946 through 1966. Gary Davis of Herrick will be the speaker for the evening and is the owner and collector of many George Garden tractors in various stages of restoration. This program should be of interest to all of the local gardeners and lawn care folks. Following the program there will be … Read More