•February 17, 2016• SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, March 17 at the Senior Center in Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212. … Read More
•February 17, 2016• By Jerry L. Ginther New Progress Columnist Many years ago during the late 70s and early 80s, I took some pleasure in the business of farming. Having enjoyed the erg classes in Sullivan and belonging to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) during my high school years, I later engaged in the occupation on a small scale, relatively speaking. I say relatively because when comparing 100 acres to today’s farming operations, it would be considered less than peanuts. However, it wasn’t my “bread and butter” job but mostly an expensive hobby. My father and brothers all farmed … Read More
Deadline for request is now Feb. 26 •February 17, 2016• The state of Illinois this week requested and received an extension for submitting a request to the federal government for a major disaster declaration related to severe storms and flooding in late December and early January. The original deadline for such submission was Feb. 12. The state now has until Feb. 26 to request federal assistance. “In some parts of the state, floodwaters only recently subsided to the point where we were able to accurately document the damages,” said James K. Joseph, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). … Read More
Ballots available online •February 17, 2016• By Mike Brothers Specimen ballots for the March 15, 2016 General Primary Election are published as a special insert with the Wednesday, February 17 edition of the News Progress. Included are both the Republican and Democratic specimen ballots along with one property sale proposition affecting the voters of Arthur. This is the first year for the Unisyn Optical Scan and Touch Screen tabulating equipment. There will be a public test of the new system at 10 a.m. March 7 in the Elections Counting Center Room on the first floor of the Moultrie County Courthouse. … Read More
•February 17, 2016• By Derek Pope for the News Progress Bethany city council members have shown a renewed interest in renovating the village’s downtown buildings following a proposal by the four co-owners of Bethany’s newest business—The Publisher. The new establishment, currently Bethany’s only operating bar, took the place of the beleaguered Hired Hand Winery and Saloon after opening up shop in the now closed business’s buildings and purchasing the liquor license originally granted to the previous owners. Although it is a fresh start for the bar’s proprietors, Ron Martin, Mike Sweeney, Pam Barker, and Heidi Bruns, they will still have … Read More
Storage Capacity Increased •February 10, 2016• Touch screen voting is coming to Moultrie County elections this spring, giving electronic or traditional as a voting option , all with updatedcentralized tabulation equipment. County Clerk Georgia England explained election judges will learn the new system’s operations during a March 8 training session. Ken Gibson, of Liberty Systems LLC, the vendor for the new voter tabulation system, explained the county’s equipment was 25 years old and was reaching maximum memory capacity. The new tabulation system can hold the entire county’s tabulations on one piece of equipment. “Plus there is the capacity for future … Read More
•February 10, 2016• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family-to-Family Program will be held 6:30-9 p.m. each Tuesday, February 16-May 3 at Centenary United Methodist Church, 203 E. Grove Ave. in Effingham. Call 217-690-6583, NAMI Effingham, to reserve a spot. The same 12-week Family-to-Family program is offered at the Salvation Army, 1300 Richmond Ave. in Mattoon 6:30-9 p.m. each Wednesday, February 24-May 11. Call 217-273-9934, NAMI Mattoon. … Read More
•February 10, 2016• By Mike Brothers Sullivan Community Unit #300 school board approved issuing $123,000 taxable obligation bonds while discussing funding options for $5 million in Life Health Safety Improvements. Board president Steve Poland asked whether the general obligation bonds issuance was related to the current state budget crisis. Supt. Brad Tuttle explained that Gov. Rauner’s economic agenda calls for a property tax freeze which could affect every district’s funding ability in the state. By issuing the $123,000 in bonds the school tax rate will be partially buffered in the event of a freeze. The resolution to issue $123,000 in … Read More