Through Their Eyes
SHS Students receive Holocaust writing awards

•May 21, 2025•
Five Sullivan High School students recently received awards as a part of the annual Through Their Eyes: A Holocaust Art and Writing Contest sponsored by the Holocaust Education Center of the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation.
Senior Madison Flexser tied for Best in Show for all art entries and took first place in the high school junior and senior painting and drawing division with her piece entitled “The Silent Tears from History.” Flexser’s Creator’s Statement explained her piece: “My piece is inspired by the story of Dorotka Goldstein born February 1st, 1932, in Warsaw Poland. She was saved by a German as her and her sister were sent to the gas chambers because they thought she had beautiful eyes. Her sister waved goodbye to her, so she wouldn’t go after her. Dorotka is obviously a very strong woman who survived the Holocaust.”
Read MoreSSD CUSD #300 Board meeting
End of year scramble while looking to the bright future
•May 21, 2025•
by DM Williamee
Per the minutes and reports of the Sullivan School District’s May 12th school board meeting, it has been an industrious and joyous ending to another successful year for the Sullivan School District. The amount of hard work and excellence put in by teachers, students, families, volunteers, organizations, and staff, as exemplified by the programs and achievements highlighted, reflects a community that cares and puts students first. After the caps are tossed, prom nights end, and children race towards summer, the work begins again for the next year, the new and progressing students, and the infrastructure that holds it all together.
Read MoreCassie Yoder and Cass Concepts win top honors
2024 Decatur Regional Chamber Awards

•May 21, 2025•
The 2024 Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce Awards, held Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Country Club of Decatur, was a night to celebrate the individuals, businesses, and organizations that fuel progress and purpose in the region. Among the evening’s most celebrated honorees was Cassie J. Yoder, founder and owner of Cass Concepts: Marketing, Media and Events, who was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year. Her agency, celebrating its 20th year, was also named Small Business of the Year.
“To even be finalists alongside legacy businesses like Brinkoetter Realtors and Staley Credit Union was an honor,” said Yoder. “These organizations have served our community for decades, and it means so much to be recognized in such an inspiring company.”
Read MoreSES Preschool carnival a hit

Methodist Church Easter eggs nearing completion

Made-to-order delights a community tradition
•April 9, 2025•
Sullivan First United Methodist Church’s group of 30 volunteers are still hard at work completing their yearly Easter Egg orders. This year, over a thousand eggs will be crafted for those who placed their advance orders and who will be called as soon as they are ready for pick up.
Read More“One Book, One Sullivan” holds community book discussion

Local youth lead book discussions and showcase program’s value
•April 2, 2025•
by DM Williamee
On Monday, March 24th, One Book, One Sullivan met at Sullivan’s First United Methodist Church for their reading of the book, “The Lost Year” by author Katherine Marsh. The event was very well attended, with nearly one hundred participants and an atmosphere alternating between lively and serious.
Rikki Ray and Rebecca Powell greeted the community while also moving from table to table as the discussions took place. Ms. Ray shared, “I loved the conversations between the adults and the students about listening to your grandparents’ stories and learning about your family history. One table was discussing what people learned from the book. Ann Wheeler talked to the kids about not wasting food, as she firmly believes in eating what is on your plate and not throwing food out. When we think about people starving around the world, this thought becomes very important.” Ms. Ray continued, “Some of the adults debated whether or not they liked the character Matthew in the story. We learned earlier that day in the live-stream reading with the author that Mat-thew was not even in Katherine Marsh’s original writing of the book, which she began in 2019. Then Covid happened. At that point she added in the character, Matthew, to help kids connect the story to their real-life experiences. For me, the relationship that blooms between Matthew and (his?) Grandma is so touching. I feel the unpacking of Grandma’s belongings is a metaphor for unpacking Grandma’s life story. I overheard Dr. Walk telling kids that doing the right thing…even when it is hard, was a theme he took away.”
Read MoreNew Redskin school record in 110m hurdles
•April 2, 2025•
The Sullivan mens track team dominated the six team meet they hosted last Wednesday night, finishing 48.5 points ahead of second place Villa Grove. Redskin Mason Booker was a standout as he reset his own school record in the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.89. The following Redskin athletes earned points.
Mason Booker: 2nd 110m Hurdles, 2nd 100m
Colt Wilson: 6th 100m
Deaiden Arnold: 1st 200m, 3rd Long Jump
Rhett Lehman: 2nd 400m
Read MoreSchool records fall at St. Teresa Invitational
The SHS boys track team finished in 5th place out of 26 teams at the St. Teresa Invitational last Friday night. The big highlight was Johnny Iacobazzi setting a new school record in the 1600m with a time of 4:21.28. His time beat the previous record of 4:23.1 set in 1986 by Derik Eaton. Another highlight was Mason Booker resetting his own school records in the 110m Hurdles with a time of 14.76 and in the 300m Hurdles with a time of 39.98.
Read MoreSix earn trip to state for Lady Redskins
•May 21, 2025•
SHS Girls Track had a fantastic night on the track last Thursday (May 15) at the 17 team Tuscola Sectional. The Lady Redskins finished 4th as a team with 61 points and are sending six individuals in four events onto the Class 1A State Finals in Charleston next Thursday at EIU.
Read MoreObituaries 5-21-2025: Sabrina McCaughan

Sabrina McCaughan
Sabrina Johnson McCaughan, age 64, of Humboldt, passed away unexpectedly into the arms of Jesus on May 9, 2025 at her residence. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” II Corinthians 5:8
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