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A Look Back…3-5-2025

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2015

After the first dream about owning his own wildlife park, James Aikman, an Arthur resident, woke up and told his wife Kelsey. “On the night of October 21, 2013, I had a dream of my wife and I basically owning and running this wildlife drive-through park, so that next morning I told my wife about it, and she looked at me like I was crazy,” recalled Aikman to a full room during an economic luncheon at TnT Pizzeria February 19. “Our first son was going to be born in less than a month. She said, ‘We’ve got that coming up; this is not the time to be talking about this at all.’”

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Illinois Extension shares the basics of estate planning

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•March 5, 2025•

There is comfort in knowing that your last wishes are taken care of. Have you ever felt overwhelmed when you heard the words, “estate planning”? 

An “Estate Planning 101: Know the Basics” webinar will be held Wednesday, March 19th at 9:00 a.m. at the Moultrie-Douglas Extension office at 304 E. Progress in Arthur. This workshop is a previously recorded webinar that will be provided free of charge, but advance registration is required. To register, call Illinois Extension at 217-543-3755, or email your name, postal address, and phone number to cburcham@illinois.edu. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please call by March 12th.   During this program, we hope participants become less fearful of estate planning, learn some basic concepts and terms related to estate planning, and gather some resources to aid in getting your affairs in order. 

Trivia night at the museum

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•March 5, 2025•

The Moultrie County Historical Center, 1303 S. Hamilton St., Sullivan, will host Trivia Night at the Museum on Saturday, March 29. A meal will be served at 5 p.m. with trivia beginning at 6.

To reserve your teams spot, register before March 22. Registration fee is $20 per person and teams can be made up of up to six people. Checks made payable to Moultrie County History Center may be mailed to P.O. Box 588, Sullivan, IL 61951 or dropped off at the History Center between 10-3 Tuesday-Friday or 10-2 on Saturday.

Contact Donna Arendell (217) 521-9718 or mycroft46@gmail.com with any questions.

IDNR seeking campground hosts for 2025 camping season

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•March 5, 2025•

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking campground hosts for the 2025 camping season for state parks, recreation areas, and historic sites throughout Illinois.

Campground hosting is the perfect position for anyone who enjoys camping and helping other people. Hosts are often the first face to greet state park visitors. They check on arrivals and departures, write camping permits, acquaint campers with park facilities and regulations, answer questions about local and statewide attractions, help visitors plan outings, and more.

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PA training announcement

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•March 5, 2025•

Soyland Access to Independent Living (SAIL) will hold Personal Assistant Training at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Thursday, March 20,2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. 

Personal Assistants are employed by disabled individuals to perform household and personal care tasks at home and are paid by the State of Illinois through the Department of Rehabilitation (DORS) program. 

A reservation is required attend. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Emily Dobson at 217-876-8888 or 800-358-8080 or send an email to edobson@decatursail.com. 

Local fire results in half-million-dollar loss

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Photo by R.R. Best On March 1st at 5:35 p.m., the Sullivan Fire Department was dispatched to a machine shed fire located near County Road 1200 East, between County Roads 1600N and 1500N. Upon arrival, the 600 square foot machine shed containing hay, straw, and farming equipment was found to be fully-engulfed. The fire departments of Bethany, Lovington, Arthur, and Windsor were called to assist. Defensive operations were deployed to contain any potential spread to the fire due the large amount of hay and straw, winds, and dry surrounding growth. No casualties were reported. The property is owned by Dennis Helmuth, with Aaron Bontrager the tenant. The Sullivan Police Department as well as the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department closed the roadways until the scene was cleared and released by SFD at 9:07 p.m. Captain Tyler Wright of the Sullivan Fire Department reminds the public to, “Refrain from burning brush and weeds during high winds and call 911.”

Music bingo

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•March 5, 2025•

On March 14th the Sullivan American Legion will be hosting music bingo for the Lady Patriots, as well as have a silent auction, raffle and 50/50. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., music bingo will be from 6-9 p.m., and tickets are $25.00. 

Reserve your tickets online at: https://yinyurl.com/3kz9sded.

Free live music

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•March 5, 2025•

On March 8th at 6:00 p.m., Allenville Christian Church will be hosting Jeff Boston from Tennessee, who will be performing live at their 201 Allen Street location. Free refreshments will be provided after as well as a free-will love offering. 

Hydrant flushing in Sullivan

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•March 5, 2025•

The Sullivan Water Department began flushing fire hydrants on Monday, March 3rd. The work will last for approximately one month.

 If your tap water comes out discolored, let it run for a couple of minutes and the discoloration should go away

 For questions, please leave a message at the City Building at 728-4383.

Recent Obituaries: Jodi Phelps

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Jodi K. Phelps

Jodi K. Phelps, 55, of Sullivan, passed away at 4:43 p.m. Wednesday February 26, 2025 surrounded by her family.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday March 3, 2025 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Doug Fultz officiating. Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to The Christmas Crew- The Giving Place. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Jodi was born January 25, 1970 in Decatur, the daughter of Ray and Paula Holmes Loy. She had worked at the Sullivan IGA and the Sullivan and Windsor Post Office. She was a member of the Solid Rock Chapel in Sullivan. Jodi enjoyed celebrating Christmas all year long, Disney World, cooking, her family and especially her grandchildren. She married Travis Phelps on November 11, 1995 in Sullivan.
Surviving are her husband Travis of Sullivan: daughters Cheyenne (Brett) Ellis of Bethany and Beretta (Sam) Black of Sullivan; son Winchester (Makyla) Phelps of Florida; father Ray Loy of Sullivan; sister Hope Shaffer of Sullivan and grandchildren Abel Ellis, Slade Ellis, Octavia Ellis, Jayla Black, Kinsley Black and Zane Black.
She was preceded in death by her mother Paula and son Ruger.