Aikman Files Permit Application for Zoo

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Public hearing Friday at 9 a.m. •June 3, 2015• by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Following the county board amending the zoning ordinance to allow for special use permits for zoos this past April, one such application has been filed. Aikman Wildlife, LLC. filed their application May 15 requesting a special use permit for a zoo for a tract of property located one mile west of The Great Pumpkin Patch, southwest of Arthur. The driving force behind the project, James Aikman of Arthur, has proposed a park that would initially span 45 acres and include both a drive-through area where patrons may … Read More

2015 Mo-Do Legion Baseball Set-up for Power Pitching

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Still, Hrvol part of five-man pitching rotation June 3, 2015 By Matt Kracht NP Sports Reporter This year’s Moultrie Douglas Legion baseball team has a set of arms any coach would envy. The squad will feature five starting pitchers all throwing more than 80 miles per hour including two local products in Devon Still and Zach Hrvol. Altogether Moultrie County has four possible starters on this year’s senior ball team with the other two being Sullivan’s Dylan Hart and Alec Ballinger. The junior team also has a local flavor featuring three Sullivan products in Brett Tuttle, Zach Sowers and Tommy … Read More

Sullivan City-wide Clean-up June 20, Recycled Tech July 18

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June 3, 2015 The Sullivan city-wide clean up day has been scheduled for June 20, and the city is asking that residents do not put out items such as tires, car parts, liquids such as paint thinners, oils or fuels. Other prohibited items include concrete, bricks, dirt, burnt materials and fluorescent light bulbs as well as any electronics. A full list may be viewed on the city of Sullivan’s website (http://www.sullivanil.us/), and an ad will be placed in the newspaper. To dispose of appliances, a sticker must be purchased at the city building. Call 728-4383 for details. Items should be … Read More

Farmers’ Markets Arrive in June

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June 3, 2015 by Kim Riedel N•P Columnist June is going to be great! I am thinking about going back out to some of the farmers markets as I did a handful of years ago when I had my worm farm, though this year I will be taking my plants that I have grown and some of my produce. Well, maybe I’ll even take some of my red worms as long as the days don’t get scorchingly hot enough to bake the worms like what happened last time. Farmers markets are good for a community and a great place to … Read More

Timberwolves Bag Sectional Championship

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School history-making continues June 3, 2015 By Matt Kracht NP Sports Reporter Okaw Valley baseball is in elite territory after defeating Blue Ridge 5-2 Monday, advancing to the team’s first ever super sectional. Peyton Hagerman took a no hitter into the fourth inning and struck out 10 batters in the victory. Hagerman had what you would call an effectively wild day. The senior right hander did his best bulldog impression on the mound, working quickly and keeping the Knights’ hitters uncomfortable at the plate. Okaw Valley head coach Andrew Hagerman said it was a gutsy performance. “Peyton pitched that game … Read More

OV Baseball Makes History with Trip to Sectional Championship

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Staple T-Wolf defense and pitching keep hold of 1-0 win May 27, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com In football, senior Joe Jeffers was known as “Jumping Joe” for his often aerial grabs as a tight-end. In baseball, he might as well be called “Jackrabbit Joe,” especially after his helmet flew off as he careened past second base Wednesday following his shot to deep right field for a triple. The next at-bat, Peyton Hagerman, sent Jeffers home on an RBI groundout, which would be the one and only run of the game as Okaw Valley defeated Oakwood 1-0 to advance to … Read More

Mt. Zion Man Found Dead Near Coalshaft

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No foul play suspected May 27, 2015 by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Local law enforcement found a man dead just before midnight Friday near the Coalshaft Bridge. According to Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed, Bradley Stoneburg, 38, of Mt. Zion was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. Saturday after Moultrie County deputies located the man in a wooded area on the east side of the bridge and south side of Lake Shelbyville. Reed added that the Mt. Zion man had been missing since Wednesday after he left his residence to go fishing. After he didn’t return Thursday morning, at some point, his … Read More

Obituaries 5-27-2015: Matthew Simpson

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Matthew Simpson Funeral services for Matthew D. Simpson, 55, of Allenville were held at 11 a.m. Friday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in French Cemetery in Allenville. He passed away at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday May 20, 2015 in his home in Allenville. … Read More

Illinois Crop Report Looking Good So Far

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May 27, 2015 By Tyler Harvey Mo-Do Farm Bureau Manager It is that time again for the planters to be rolling and the crops to be emerging. We have been very fortunate in the last few weeks to have optimal planting weather. As of Sunday, May 24, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) had Illinois at 97 percent corn planted compared to a five year average of 93 percent planted by this date. Soybeans, meanwhile, came in at 69 percent planted compared to the five year average of 57 planted by this date. Corn and soybeans are also above the … Read More