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Cruisin’ for St. Jude brings Bethany and Sullivan groups together
•August 5, 2026•
Team Mattoon runners stepped off for their journey to Peoria last Friday morning. Team Mattoon has raised over $2 million dollars for St. Jude’s. Several members of the team come from Moultrie County.
by Jamie Crosier
The Bethany Celebration and Sullivan Dash and Bash are joining forces for the first Cruisin’ for St. Jude Jeep and Bike Run Saturday, Aug. 22, beginning at The Publisher in Bethany.
Registration will open at 10:00 a.m., with the run departing at noon. The registration fee is $10 per person. Participants may preregister through the link posted on the event’s Facebook page or register at The Publisher the morning of the event.
Although the event is being promoted as a Jeep and bike run, all makes and models of vehicles are welcome.
Read MoreBack-to-school prayer walk planned in Sullivan
•August 5, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
Just days before students return to the classroom, the Sullivan Area Ministerial Association is inviting the community to gather for a Back-to-School Prayer Walk on Monday, Aug. 10.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the concession stand area at Victory Field at Sullivan High School in Sullivan. Organizers have planned a brief welcome, two worship songs and instructions before community members are sent out to walk the school grounds.
Read MoreFinal festival to celebrate six years of Gays’ Two Story Outhouse Festival
•August 5, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
The Two Story Outhouse Festival will celebrate its final year on Saturday, Aug. 8, with fireworks, live music and a full day of activities as organizers bring to a close a community tradition that has grown over the past six years.
According to a statement shared by the festival committee, the event began with a small group of volunteers who wanted to celebrate the history and uniqueness of the Village of Gays and its famous Two Story Outhouse. Starting with no funding, the festival grew through the support of volunteers, sponsors, donors and attendees.
Read More“Together, We Give Back to School”
Photo Submitted
“Together, We Give Back to School”
Sullivan Elementary School recently received 60 backpacks filled with school supplies through Amazon’s “Together, We Give Back to School” campaign. End of the Line Tackle & Bait, an Amazon delivery partner, nominated Sullivan Elementary for the program, and the school’s submission was selected to receive the donation. Pictured (left to right) are Cameron Martin, Taylor Lilly, James Martin, Marla Martin and Angela McRill following the July 27 delivery.
Girls grow more than flowers through family project
•July 29, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
What started as a walk to a backyard flower garden has blossomed into a summer project that is teaching two young Sullivan sisters lessons about hard work, patience and financial responsibility.
Bretton and Hattie Crouse’s daughters, Josephine, 5, and Dorothy, 3, spend part of their summer helping care for a patch of colorful zinnias before arranging bouquets that are sold to the community. Every dollar earned goes into investment accounts for the girls, giving them an early introduction to saving for the future.
The idea for the flower stand grew from a simple family tradition.
Read MoreStudents shine in Holocaust Education Center contest
•July 8, 2026•
Three Sullivan students recently brought home Best in Show and first place honors for the creative pieces they submitted to The Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation’s Holocaust Education Center’s Through Their Eyes: A Holocaust Arts and Writing Contest while two other students had pieces that placed in their age divisions.
Junior Claire Kursell won Best in Show for the Painting and Drawing category and first place in the 11th and 12th grade division for “Pills.” Kursell’s art work depicted a bottle of pills held by Holocaust survivor Ruth Fenton.
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Iacobazzi state runner up after photo finish
•June 3, 2026•
by E. Scott England
Johnny Iacobazzi has had an amazing running career at Sullivan High School. The speedy senior has found his way to the podium in both solo events and relays at the state track meet. School records have been toppled. But this year he was chasing the 1600m state title.
Read MoreSullivan Blue Dolphins earn seventh at meet
•July 29, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
The Sullivan Blue Dolphins traveled to Bloomington, Illinois, during the weekend of July 18 to compete in the Summer Regionals, finishing seventh out of 14 teams with 1,048.5 points.
The team brought 15 swimmers who competed in 86 individual events. Of those swims, 72 resulted in top-10 finishes, including five regional champions.
Four Sullivan Blue Dolphins qualified for the State Championships: Emily Crosier, Mack Pogue, Jace Van Uytven and Emme Kirkley.
The four state qualifiers will represent Sullivan at the State Championships, while the team’s performance at regionals capped a successful meet in Bloomington.
Thrasher inks letter of intent
On July 20, Sullivan High School graduate Aeralyn Thrasher signed her letter of intent to continue her volleyball career at Southeastern Illinois College. Thrasher plans to study nursing with the goal of working in labor and delivery. Her favorite quote is, “I never lose. Either I win or learn.” One of her favorite memories from her time at Sullivan High School was senior night, when she and a teammate received customized shirts with their nicknames, “Toots” and “Sher Bear.”
Pictured (L-R): Jerica Thrasher, Aeralyn Thrasher and Jake Thrasher.
Obituaries 8-5-2026: Carolyn McFarland
Carolyn McFarland
Carolyn I. McFarland, 88, of Sullivan, passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.
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