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Council hears cat complaints 

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•September 17, 2025•

by Sharon Barricklow

The Sullivan City Council had almost an hour of public comment at their Monday, September 8 meeting, most of it discussing the problem of stray and feral cats in the city. Members of Moultrie County PAWS were asking the city to do a better job of capturing stray and feral cats and relocating them to area farms and also to Macon County Animal Control. Advocates said the cats are not properly acclimated to their new homes and often run away or are killed by predators. “It’s not their fault,” said one person about the stray cats.

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Remembering who we are……..76 

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Lovington’s ‘Blackhorse Tavern’ 


•September 17, 2025•

by Janet Roney

 When Tom Lincoln and his family passed through Moultrie County in the spring of 1830 on their way to their new home in Macon County, they followed the Charleston Road north to the Springfield Road, where they turned west towards Decatur. The few families living in the northern part of the county near the Springfield Road were scattered through the timbered area along the West Okaw River and its small tributaries. The rest of the northern part of the county was full of prairie grass and swamps, which the pioneers thought were too unhealthy to live in.  

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Obituaries 9-17-2025: Timothy “Pinky” Floyd

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Timothy Keith “Pinky” Floyd

Timothy Keith “Pinky” Floyd, 71, of Sullivan passed away 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at his home, with his family by his side.

Funeral services were held Sunday, September 14, 2025, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan, with Military Rites by the Sullivan American Legion Post #68. Memorials may be made to Moultrie County PAWs: 10 Leisure Acres, Sullivan, IL 61951 or to the Allenville Christian Church.

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A Look Back…9-17-2025:

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2015

Paul Hinson played the “Flowers of the Forest” on Scottish highland bagpipes for the Patriot Day assembly in Sullivan on September 11th. For Hinson, who lived in Oakland, his interest in the bagpipes started when he heard his first one played in St. Louis. “That was 37 years ago,” Hinson said, noting he started buying records and then gained enough skills to start playing.

Fifty years of Sullivan Blue Dolphins swimmers have trained at the Civic Center, and on September 18th, an open house commemorated the occasion. Everyone was invited to the Sullivan Civic Center to help the Blue Dolphins celebrate their Golden Anniversary.

The Monday night scramble results for Timberlake Golf Course: September 7th: First place with five under par and winning playoff hole: Brent Effner, Josh Thouvenin, Kevin Elder, and Gage Elder. Second place with five under par: Shane Russell, Tim Coy, Adam Dillard, and Clint Marshall.

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Community United: launch of the ‘Impact Giving Circle’

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•September 17, 2025•

Photo by DM Williamee L-R: Andrea Gerhard, Chasity Casey, Susie Inman, Grant Wade, Linda Huber, Kaitlyn Farrar, Natalie Beck.

Submitted by Rev. Grant Wade

A new effort to strengthen local nonprofits took root last week, on September 9th, as residents gathered under a tent in downtown Sullivan for the launch of the Impact Giving Circle. The initiative, sponsored through the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, is designed to pool community resources and direct them toward organizations serving Moultrie County.

The event celebrated its beginning by awarding two inaugural grants totaling $5,000 to local groups. More than the funding itself, however, attendees remarked on the spirit of unity that marked the gathering. One participant reflected, “This feels like a chance to remember what community is supposed to be, not arguing about what divides us, but working together on what matters most.”

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Honor Flight

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Photo courtesy Land of Lincoln Honor Flight Mike Daily, as well as nearly 100 veterans and their guardians, attended the 75th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, held in Washington, D.C., on September 9th. Those in red represent Vietnam War era Veterans, and those in Yellow represent Korean War Veterans. Said Mike of the event, “It was a great honor and privilege to fly out to Washington, D.C. with the other Veterans. It was a tremendous bonding experience for my grandson Colby Taylor and me. When they told me I would need a guardian for this event, Colby was my first choice.”

“National Life Chain” event

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•September 17, 2025•

On Sunday, October 5th, from 2-3 p.m., Sullivan participants will join in the event,” National Life Chain”. Signs for you to choose from to hold while you stand and pray will be available at the corner of Hamilton & Jackson St., starting at 1:45 pm. 

Locals are invited to join in this “Life Chain” that is being formed across the United States and Canada in a peaceful and prayerful public stand to put an end to abortion and save the lives of the unborn, and take a stand for all innocent unborn babies. Testimonies have been given of women seeing these signs and have changed their minds about having an abortion, and babies’ lives have been saved from this fate. There are over 3,000 babies aborted every day in the United States.  Will you please help in this effort to stop this tragedy?

This event will happen regardless of light rain or shine.  You may bring a lawn chair if you are unable to stand. Please return the signs to the table when done.