County Salary Improvement Plan Proposed to Board

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•September 14, 2016• A plan to improve courthouse employee starting salaries was presented to the Moultrie County Board personnel committee September 6. Committee chair Roger Glazebrook greeted representatives from the courthouse clerical staff as well as attending office holders to the afternoon session. Courthouse staff spokesperson Krista Helmuth presented committee members with information on comparative  salaries in surrounding counties, revealing Moultrie County’s starting clerical salary of $18,000 is lower than all. “The circuit clerk’s office recently lost two longtime employees to the city of Sullivan,” Helmuth said, noting a pattern of new employees training for various tasks in a county office … Read More

Sullivan Schools Honor Patriots Day

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•September 14, 2016• The Sullivan High School Career English class Patriots Day assembly honored area first responders and military Sept. 8 in the high school gymnasium. Before a gathering of students, first responders, military personnel and guests Rebecca Lawson’s class guided the school assembly through the events with presentation of the American flag by the National Guard, special musical arrangements and recollections of what Sept. 11, 2001 means today. For SHS science teacher Nathan Becker, a sophomore at Sullivan High School in 2001, it was a day he can never forget. “Like you students,” Becker began telling the assembled crowd, … Read More

Stockholders Approval for Merger of First Mid-Illinois Bancshares and First Clover Leaf Financial Corp.

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•September 14, 2016• First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMBH) (“First Mid” or the “Company”) and First Clover Leaf Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: FCLF) (“First Clover Leaf”) announced that on August 31 each company’s stockholders voted in favor of the merger between the two companies. Approximately 99.2% of the votes cast by each of the First Mid stockholders and the First Clover Leaf stockholders voted in favor of their respective merger proposal. … Read More

Raiders Conquer Timberwolves at LSA Tourney

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•September 14, 2016• Kirk Whitaker NP Sports It was a tough week for the Okaw Valley Lady Timberwolves volleyball team. Tuesday started off with a non-conference loss to Central A&M, 25-13, 25-10, with several unforced errors in both sets, in which head coach Jay Potter said, “Our hitters didn’t really get started, and against a good team like A&M that has to happen. I thought we would compete a little better, but our leaders didn’t perform as expected, and that was the key.” … Read More

Oktoberfest 2016 Back Bigger & Better Than Ever

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•September 14, 2016• The 13th Annual Oktoberfest is back bigger and better than ever. This year’s festival will be held 6-11 p.m. Friday October 14 and noon-11 p.m. Saturday, October 15. Bring the entire family out for some fall festival fun. Friday night festivities include arts, crafts and food vendors. The Sullivan Area Arts Council (SAARTS) will host Artoberfest at Cathrine’s Gallery Gifts & More. A highlight to the festival this year, the Oktoberfest wine tasting at 5 West is open 6-9 p.m. The Oktoberfest beer tent will be open Friday night from 6-11 p.m. Ryan Ideus & the Feudin … Read More

SHS Band Continuing the Culture of Excellence

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•September 14, 2016• By Emily Stutzman for the News Progress You’ve probably seen them Friday nights under the lights of the football field or on Sullivan High School’s stage at basketball games. An integral part of Sullivan High School, the band program and its many members have delivered countless flawless performances over the years. Directed by Brock Feece and choreographed by Mark Moss, the Sullivan band has been a part of Sullivan High School’s music program. Feece, a graduate of Millikin University, took the band director’s position in 2015. Speaking about the Sullivan community: “I love what a supportive community … Read More

Remember When? 9-14-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens 25 Years Ago This Week Lloyd Maurer of Sullivan shot his third hole-in-one Monday afternoon at Sullivan Country Club. Maurer was using an eight-iron on the 150-yard fourth hole when he and fellow golfers, Bill Roley, Dutch Horton and Gil Crawford, watched it drop in the hole. C. Alan Horn shot a hole-in-one Sept. 12 at Spring Creek Golf Course in Ladd. Horn was participating in a golf outing sponsored by the Great American Insurance Co. and playing with Dutch Ericsson, the CEO of the company when he sank the ball on the 132-yard seven hole with … Read More

Obituaries 9-14-2016: Kenneth Pryor

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Kenneth Pryor Kenneth Pryor, 76, of Lovington, passed away at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, September 10, 2016 in Palm Terrace Nursing Home in Mattoon. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 16 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Visitation will be held one hour before the services at the funeral home in Lovington. Burial will be in the Keller Cemetery in Lovington. … Read More

Obituaries 9-14-2016: Cindy Kidwell

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Cindy Kidwell Cindy Kidwell, 67, of Sullivan passed away at 12:29 p.m. Sunday, September 11, 2016 in her residence. Celebration of Life services will be at 7 p.m. Friday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday.  … Read More