James L. Myers, 87, of Dundee Florida, passed away at 9:11 a.m. Friday June 6, 2025 in Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven, Florida.
Read MoreObituaries 6-18-2025: James Myers
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Sullivan CUSD #300 personnel report
•June 18, 2025•
At the June 9th Sullivan School Board meeting, the below Personnel Report was presented.
Transfer: Micah Wiley, Social Worker, effective 7/1/25; New hires: Jake Haegen, JV Volleyball Coach, effective 6/9/25; Neil Floor, SES teacher, effective 7/1/25; Notice of retirement: Lori Kirk, Special Education teacher, end of 2027-2028 school year.
A Look Back…6-18-2025
2015
Sullivan Kiwanis Club President presented Cindi Reed the club’s gavel by Jim Dooley as part of the charter ceremony.
Hilari Elzy of Sullivan performed a mentorship at Mustang Public Schools, Mustang, Okla., June 6 – July 18, through a fellowship she received at Eureka College.
Winners of the tug-of-war competition between the Sullivan Fire Department and the Jackson Family of Dealerships team, who won, were Alexis Nattee, Alicia Pettyjohn, Dustin Stutzman, Josh Roe, and William Flexser. Other award winners included Best Grub Award-Solid Rock Chapel, Best Tent Award-Miller’s Heavenly Angel (”Wipe Out” cancer decorations complete with toilet paper), and Scott State Bank-Youth Involvement Award.
Read MoreWater vessel Safety Exams; Ensuring watercraft safety is critical
•June 18, 2025•
Submitted
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be performing Vessel Safety Checks at Lake Shelbyville Dam West over the 4th of July weekend. Vessel exams are currently scheduled from July 2nd through July 6th. An individual can also request specific times or days.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary checks all boats, personal watercraft (PWC), kayaks, canoes, and standing boards for federal, state, and local safety requirements. The examination is a voluntary examination, and boaters can refuse it at any time. In addition to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary doing the free, voluntary examinations, the U.S. Power Squadron (Americas Boating Club), a 501C3 organization, is authorized to do them as well. Both organizations actively teach boating safety courses along with the State Boating Law Administrator, in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Boats, personal watercraft (PWC), kayaks, canoes, and stand-up boards that pass the examination get a sticker reflecting that they have passed the examination.
Read MoreLovington ‘Junefest’; something for everyone
Photo by DM Williamee
On Saturday, the 14th, Lovington held its annual ‘Junefest’ Celebration. Beginning the day’s festivities were the annual Volunteer Firemen Pancake Breakfast and the Car Show, which featured a variety of autos ranging from classic muscle cars to newer models. Later in the day at Thomas Conn Community Park, live music, activities for the kids, and vendors were on hand with a wide variety of goods; the park was filled with the sounds of a country carnival. The weather also cooperated, bringing sunshine for all in attendance to enjoy. More photos are on pages 11 & 12.
Red, White, and Boom
Arthur’s Freedom Celebration
•June 18, 2025•
The Arthur Rotary Club, along with the whole community of Arthur, will roll out the red, white, and blue carpet as they welcome thousands of visitors on Saturday, June 28th, for the annual Freedom Celebration downtown and in Jurgens Park (the Moultrie-Douglas County fairgrounds).
The celebration has two parts, with a parade downtown and the Arthur Rotary fireworks in the park south of the high school.
Two special 6-horse hitches will once again be featured in this year’s parade. The first team is Tim Berry of Villa Grove, and the second is Duane Herschberger from Missouri. They will trot through the parade route just before the parade, stepping off at 2:00 pm, and then will make another pass towards the end of the parade at a walk. Both hitches are sponsored by Tri-County Welding of Arthur.
Read MoreVBS at Smyser Christian Church
•June 18, 2025•
Smyser Christian Church will conduct their Vacation Bible School (VBS) June 29th through July 2nd, from 6:00 to 8:20 p.m., at 1521 Whitley Point Road in Gays.
Come to make new friends, perform experiments, play games, enjoy snacks, go on surprise adventures and enjoy music.
For more information, call (217) 752-6896.
Free weekly music, dancing in Arthur
•June 18, 2025•
Every Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. at Penn Station, located at 122 E Progress Street in Arthur, free live music and dancing (including line dancing) are available for the public to come out and enjoy. This alcohol, drug, and smoke-free event is family-friendly. The air-conditioned venue also serves a variety of food items, such as brats and dogs, and beverages, as well as homemade pie. The performers take music requests when they can. This is a weekly free event, with donations accepted. For more information, call (314) 200-5272.
Dementia Friends training
•June 18, 2025•
The Moultrie County Health Department, in conjunction with The Haven of Care & Dementia Friendly Moultrie County, will be holding a “Dementia Friends” training session for caregivers of persons living with Dementia and interested community members on June 25th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This training will take place at the Otto Center, 2058 N CR 1800 E in Arthur. Training will help participants learn the symptoms of dementia and how to best communicate with a person living with dementia, as well as support their caregiver(s). Refreshments will be served, and there is no charge for this event.
Obituaries: Alice ‘Kathy’ Mitchell
Alice K. ‘Kathy’ Mitchell, 78, of Sullivan, passed away at 3:04 a.m. Friday June 13, 2025 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday June 17, 2025 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Don Lusk officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to St Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Kathy was born August 3,1946 in Sullivan, the daughter of Helen McDonald. She had operated a beauty shop in Sullivan for many years and later was an IT Manager for First Ag Consulting in Roswell, Georgia. Her greatest joy was raising her family. Kathy was a member of the Sullivan Southern Baptist Church and had formerly been a member of the Sullivan Baptist Church. She married Arnold Dean Mitchell on January 6, 1967 in Sullivan and he preceded her in death on May 22, 2021.
Surviving are her sons Brandon Parrish (Lynn) Mitchell of Cumming, Georgia, Jason Heath (Shawna) Mitchell of Great Falls, Montana and Erik Dean (Tara) Mitchell of Forsyth; special brother Michael Watt of New Lenox; special sister Virginia Risley of Sullivan; grandchildren Kyle, Erik, Regan, Lynsey, Ally, Peyton, Maci, Hayden and Hallie.
She was preceded in death by her parents and special sisters Carolyn Shackles and Sharon Dinger.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Erika Piper and her special staff at Heritage Woods for their unconditional love and care of their mother.