Yost Murder Trial Continues in County

News Progress Posted on by

*Update: Yost has been found guilty •September 14, 2016• by Mike Brothers and Soyna Best For the News Progress The murder trial of Michael S. Yost, 43, for the cutting death of Sheri Randall in March 2015 continued Sept. 13 in the Moultrie County Courthouse with Judge Dan L. Flannell presiding. Appearing with his court appointed attorney Brad Rau, Yost sat quietly listening to testimony from Illinois State Police CSI Stephen Hulen. Hulen recounted his investigation of Randall’s Graham Street apartment crime scene. Referring to a series of crime scene photographs, Hulen told prosecutor Jeremy Richey and the court that … Read More

Understanding Illinois: “Nuclear options” for Political Reform in Illinois

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist In the wake of the recent embarrassingly political, 4-3 partisan decision by the Illinois Supreme Court Democratic majority to reject a proposed voter initiative to reduce legislative district gerrymandering, savvy political observer Rich Miller has suggested the “nuclear option” of a voter initiative that would simply abolish the Illinois House altogether! The idea is not so outlandish as one might think at first blush. First, such a voter initiative would be constitutional, that is, it would meet the state high court’s wrong-headed requirement that initiatives be both “structural and procedural.” Second, … Read More

Certification Class For Foodservice Managers

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• There will be another foodservice sanitation manager’s certification course offered 8 a.m.-5 p.m. September 19 at ILEAS Training Center, (former Champaign Co Nursing Home), 1701 E Main St. in Urbana. An exam will immediately follow.  Class is also available online. New two-hour food handler class offered at svilleco.com There are charges for the courses. To register, contact Sue Summerville, 217-684-2435. … Read More

Thinking About Health: Obesity Rates Fall in a Few States but Are Still Far Higher Than in 1990

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• By Trudy Lieberman Rural Health News Service Is the message that the nation is getting too fat beginning to sink in? The answer is “yes but,” says the Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit, non-partisan group that aims to protect the health of communities and make disease prevention a national priority. And a study of healthcare quality and quantity across the nation suggests some reasons why things are not improving uniformly. Obesity is a disease, and for the last 13 years the Trust and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have monitored obesity rates in the country, focusing … Read More

Shelbyville Stomps Sullivan on Schwengel Tribute Night

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• Kirk Whitaker NP Sports Reporter Friday night Shelbyville honored 2013 graduate and former quarterback Tucker Schwengel, even painting a 15-yard line for the game in his memory. Sophomore quarterback Turner Pullen put on his own impersonation of the former Shelbyville signal-caller. Pullen torched the Redskins all night long–with the climax being his 85 yard touchdown scamper in the third where he started behind a wall of Rams in the middle of the field before bouncing out to his own sideline to go untouched, out-running Sullivan’s Luke Bowman– with 168 yards passing and three scores through the air … Read More

Sullivan Alumni Celebrate 47

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• Sullivan group meets here to celebrate 47 years of Sullivan alumni friendships. Many past attendees and graduates of Sullivan schools from all over the country will gather in Sullivan Oct. 8 to celebrate the 47th annual alumni dinner and the friendships that developed by attending and graduating from Sullivan schools. Designed to work together with Sullivan homecoming activities, the dinner and celebration will be held at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Sullivan VFW. Sponsored by the Sullivan Alumni Association, the association’s president Jeani Taylor said “the group’s constant goal is to nurture and grow friendships and memories … Read More

Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Assists Veterans Impacted by ITT Technical Institute Closing

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA)-Veterans Education and Training Section (State Approving Agency) took immediate action to assist Illinois Veterans impacted in their educational endeavors due to the closing of the ITT Technical Institute. “Our number one priority is the welfare of our Illinois Heroes and their families. When we received word of the closing of ITT Technical Institute, we contacted all veterans enrolled in that school to assist them to continue their education,” said Erica Jeffries, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. … Read More

Supervisor of Assessments Was The Ultimate Public Servant

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• Cindy Kidwell passed away in her sleep Sunday. She was 67 years old and just announced her retirement after serving 15 years as Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessments. Services are at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan at 7 p.m. Friday. In a departing email sent out last week Kidwell noted that after 15 years of service “my body feels like it has been like a hundred so I want to get out while I can hopefully do all the things on my list before my legs give out.” It was a list left incomplete. For those past … Read More

Lake Shelbyville Recreation Area Closing Dates

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2016• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined the season closing dates of campgrounds and beaches at Lake Shelbyville. – Opossum Creek Campground closed for the season Tuesday, September 6. – Lone Point Campground closed for the season Tuesday, September 6 except for campsites 86 through 95, which will close Thursday, December 1. – Coon Creek Campground closes for the season Monday, October 10 and Lithia Springs Campground Sunday, October 30. … Read More