Moultrie County Board Spreads Seasonal Cheer

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•December 16, 2015• Meeting Opens with Prayer By Mike Brothers The Moultrie County board  approved employee appreciation bonuses at the December meeting. Budget and finance committee chair Ron White moved that full time employees receive a net $200 bonus with part-time employees receiving proportional amounts. Board chairman Dave McCabe explained that the bonuses were excluded from the Health Dept., elected officials and those covered under collective bargaining contracts. The board approved the $8165 total in bonuses unanimously. Opening the meeting with a prayer for the first time was Father John Sohm of St. Columcille Catholic Church in Sullivan. Prayer was … Read More

First Baptist Celebrates

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•December 16, 2015• A Christmas Eve service at the First Baptist Church located at 215 E. Harrison in Sullivan is Thursday, December 24. A musical prelude begins at 6 p.m. followed by service from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Christmas Eve program includes responsive readings, Christmas hymns, the pastor’s message, and lighting of the Christmas candles. … Read More

ALAH Knights Fall to Cumberland Pirates

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•December 16, 2015• Cumberland’s Pirates scored 54 to Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s Knights 22 during a home game December 11. In the first quarter the Knights scored six points to Cumberland’s 11. In the second quarter the Pirates dominated, scoring 17 points to zero for ALAH, putting the halftime score at 28-6. The Knights scored 11 to the Pirates 19 in the third quarter. ALAH scored five points to Cumberland’s seven points in the final quarter. A field goal shooting percentage of 24 compared to Cumberland’s 56 percent  shooting from the field was a hinderance to the Knight team. … Read More

Jingle Bell Jive

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 A Musical Journey •December 16, 2015• By Dan Hagen For the News Progress The Little Theatre adds a fresh treat to traditional holiday fare in the person of Decatur’s Julie McClarey, an undefeated National Ragtime Piano Playing Award winner three years running. A large video screen above the stage catches McClarey’s almost hypnotic fingers flashing on the keyboards as she plays Celebration of Joy and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and, in the second act of the show, The Bell Carol and Oh, Holy Night. She enlivens her performance by crowd-pleasing virtuoso stunts such as playing with her hands behind … Read More

Lady Knights Over Lady Redskins in Sullivan

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•December 16, 2015• Sullivan’s Lady Redskins were hampered by turnovers in their 53-36 home loss to the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Lady Knights Dec. 7. “Once again we had too many turnovers,” coach Sheri McCain said. “You can’t win if you turn the ball over consistently.” In first quarter action the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond team outscored the Lady Redskins 17-12. The Lady Knights had an 18-12 run in the second quarter heading in to the half ahead 35-24. A cold third quarter for Arthur led to a 10-6 effort for Sullivan. Arthur scored 12 to Sullivan’s four in the fourth quarter to win the game. … Read More

Keep Dreaming of a White Christmas

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•December 16, 2015• Who will have a white Christmas in Illinois this year? Historically, northern Illinoisans are most like to see snow fly on Christmas Day, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois. A “white Christmas” is defined as having at least one inch of snow on the ground on December 25. It should come as no surprise that the highest odds are in northern Illinois. In general, the odds are about 40-60 percent in the northern third of Illinois, 20-40 percent in central Illinois, and 0-20 percent in southern Illinois. There can … Read More