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HS football playoffs expanding for 2026 season
•December 31, 2025•
by E. Scott England
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recently sent out a referendum ballot to the 802 member high schools. Twelve bylaw changes were on the ballot with all twelve being approved. Several proposed changes were a little controversial, with changes to the 2026 high school playoffs leading the charge.
Over 90% of the districts voted on the proposed change, with 377 voting yes, 252 voting no, and 96 choosing to abstain or not vote. The playoff expansion, set to go into effect next season, expands the number of teams per class from 32 to 48. Adding the additional sixteen teams per class raises the number of teams from 256 to 384 in the playoffs.
Read MoreSullivan City Council approves electrical increase
•December 31, 2025•
by Sharon Barricklow
The Sullivan City Council used the last meeting of 2025 to approve an electrical rate increase Commissioner Mike Kirk said had been a long time coming.
“We knew this and said this was coming last spring,” Kirk said. “We tried to put it off through the air conditioning season but now it’s time.”
Read MoreHappenings for ETML in January
•December 31, 2025•
The library will be closed on December 31st and January 1st in observance of the holidays.
Story times will be every Wednesday- January 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th at 10:00 a.m. The bounce house will be available after the story and craft times.
Every Monday at 9:00 a.m., the ETML hosts a Memory Cafe. This is a social gathering for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The Memory Café is helpful by providing information and support from others who also have loved ones who struggle with memory loss.
Homeschoolers: January 8th and 22nd. If you have a homeschooled student, check out the class at the ETML. It meets twice a month on Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. This group will explore fun, hands-on STEAM activities designed to inspire creativity and critical thinking. Join others for exciting learning and connection opportunities with fellow homeschoolers. Register online at https://forms.gle/sgWh9isvnEY6uWV36, or call the library at (217) 728-7221.
Crochet Group: Tuesdays 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This group is a great way to connect with other crafters in the community and learning new stitches and patterns. This class is for both novices and experts. If you would like to learn how to crochet, contact either Michelle or Laura in advance of the class to get started.
The knitting class will be held on the following Saturdays: January 10th and 17th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On the 10th, learn how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off. On the 17th, knit a hat with your new skills. The class held on the 17th is the makeup class for the December class that was postponed due to the weather. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required, and these classes, valued at $60.00, fill fast. Call the library at (217) 728-7221 to register for the class.
The Illinois Secretary of State’s ‘Mobile DMV’ program will not be at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library again until the program resumes in April.
Recent Obituaries: Marion Lee Haile
Marion Lee Haile, 73, of Mattoon, formerly of Bethany, passed away at 11:10 a.m. Monday, December 22, 2025 in the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home, Mattoon.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, December 26, 2025, in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, December 27, 2025 in the Gholson Funeral in Dahlgren, Illinois. Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2025, in the Gholson Funeral Home, Dahlgren, Illinois with Pastor Dustin Haile and Pastor Doug Fultz officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Lowry Hill Cemetery in Belle Rive, Illinois. Memorials are suggested to Traditions Health Hospice Care. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Marion was born July 27, 1952 in Mt. Vernon, the son of Alfred M. and Edna Orrison Haile. He had been a welder and a pipe fitter in the Decatur area. Marion was a member of the Moultrie County Bass Club. He married Diane Trotter on December 1, 1972 in Dahlgren, Illinois
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Diane (Trotter) Haile of Mattoon; daughters Amy (Doug) Fultz of Sullivan and Amanda Nave of Warrensburg; son Dustin (Sarah) Haile of Mt. Vernon; brother Gerald Haile of Belle Rive, Illinois; sisters Linda (Tom) Blanton of Bonnie, Illinois and Sheryl (DeWayne) Artis of Mt. Vernon, grandchildren Trevor (Jordan) Dukeman, Tate (Emma) Fultz, Noah Dukeman, Sophie (Blake) Pistorius, Phoebe Haile, Hattie Haile, Evan Nave and Wyatt Nave; great granddaughter Caroline Dukeman and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He spent his life mentoring others in quiet, meaningful ways - through coaching youth softball and baseball as well as in his welding trade. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, fishing, golfing and hunting. He was a devoted St. Louis Cardinals, Fighting Illini and Las Vegas Raiders fan. In his final years, his dog, Stella was a faithful companion who brought him comfort and joy.
The family is deeply grateful to the many nurses and aids that cared for him, especially Ali and Destiny, for the compassionate and attentive care they provided during the difficult final months of his illness.
Two more conference wins for Lady Redskins
•December 24, 2025•
by E. Scott England
The Sullivan Lady Redskins continued their dominance of the Lincoln Prairie conference last week. They hold the top spot with a record of 4-0 in conference play. The first game of the week was against the ALAH Lady Knights. The week wrapped up on the road against the Unity Christian Lady Lions.
Home against ALAH
ALAH came to Sullivan riding on the heels of their victory against Heritage. A smaller team with not a lot of depth on the bench, the Lady Knights struggled from the start against Sullivan and their widely rotated roster. The Lady Redskins started strong with a full pressure defense that led to many pass deflections, steals, and blocks. They held ALAH to just three points in the first quarter and seven points in the second quarter.
Read MoreLovington fire displaces family, days before Christmas
•December 24, 2025•
by DM Williamee
In what can only be described as heartbreaking, a Lovington family was displaced last week, the week before Christmas, after their home was destroyed by a fire on the afternoon of December 15th.
Local support efforts began immediately to assist them, with a call to action by the community of Lovington. A Facebook post shared that clothing items were the immediate need of the family. In addition, gifts were accepted for the family at the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event, allowing the family to have a Christmas celebration.
A “GoFundMe” page was set up as well, and can be found at https://gofund.me/608412d9a. The Page articulates the following: “Today, Sonja and Tony’s family faced a devastating loss as their home was destroyed by fire, leaving them with nothing just days before Christmas. Their heartbreak is unimaginable, and they need our support now more than ever. Sonja and Tony are wonderful parents who have always been there for others, and it’s time for us to rally around them. Every donation, no matter the size, will help them rebuild their lives and find hope in this difficult time. Please like, comment, and share this post to spread the word and show them they are not alone. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.”
Photo by R.R. Best
Letter to the Editor 12-23-2025
To the Editor,
The News Progress
I read the recent article regarding water levels, drought conditions, and strain on Sullivan’s water supply.
What was missing from that discussion was not data, but honesty.
I live in Sullivan Township. I do not receive Sullivan city water. I pay my water bill to Moultrie County Rural Water, and the water delivered to my home comes from Lake Mattoon, a surface water source known for algae blooms and recurring boil advisories that township residents are not always clearly or promptly notified about.
This matters because while township residents are being told there are concerns about water availability, quality, and even future rationing, we are simultaneously watching new residential and commercial construction move forward at a rapid pace, particularly within TIF districts.
Read MoreRemembering Who We Are……….89
Log Jams and Sandbars
•December 24, 2025•
by Janet Roney
The old man fishing from the Kaskaskia River bridge at Vandalia said, “It’ll be smooth sailing from here to the Mississippi, boys! There’s no more logjams for the rest of the river.”
This was good news to my three older brothers (teenagers at the time) and my father in the summer of 1952. They had lost track of the number of logjams they had portaged around since leaving Findlay a few days before. Every portage meant unloading their fourteen-foot wooden outboard motor boat, Ida, dragging the boat, motor, and supplies straight up steep banks, through brush, poison ivy, and cornfields on top of the bank, and lowering it all back down to the river so they could continue to the next logjam. When they were not portaging, they were often wading in the river, dragging their boat over sandbars. Their once-in-a-lifetime adventure floating down the Kaskaskia to the Mississippi had become hard work.
Read MoreA Look Back…12-23-2025
2015
Shawnee Communications (Shawnee) and MultiCorp, Inc., announced that Shawnee, a rural provider of telephone and high-speed internet and other telecommunications services in five southern Illinois counties, acquired MultiCorp, Inc., the holding company of Moultrie Independent Telephone Company (MITC) and MITC’s affiliated companies, including One-Eleven Internet Services and Moultrie Telecommunications.
When inclement weather struck, the Sullivan School District delayed school opening by two hours. In an effort to accommodate parents with morning obligations, the district opened the Sullivan Elementary School Gym at 8:00 a.m. The Sullivan High School Gym was opened with supervision for middle and high school students who need to arrive earlier than 10:00 a.m.
Read More