Cadell “Pete” Abbott
Cadell Junior “Pete” Abbott, 92, of Bruce, Illinois, passed away at 6:55 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
Memorial services will be held 11a.m. Saturday, October 3, 2026 at First Christian Church of Sullivan. Burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers; memorials may be made to conquerchiari.org or to the family. McMullin-Young is in care of the arrangements.
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Co-owner Leon Bechtel checked a new sign being installed at the Sullivan Eisner Agency store which had recently opened. The new building on Main Street, had floor space for more than 1,000 additional products. Co-owner with Bechtel was Stuart Jones.
The Moultrie County Mental Health Assn. had met and elected a permanent Board of Directors and officers for the coming year. Elected president of the group was Bill Heise of Lovington. The Rev. Alec Langford of Lovington was named vice president, Mrs. John English of Sullivan, secretary and the Rev. Robert Springer, treasurer.
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•September 30, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
Adults looking to improve their balance and maintain their independence will have an opportunity to take part in a series of Matter of Balance classes at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan this October.
The classes will meet from noon to 2 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday throughout October. The eight-session program is designed to reduce concerns about falling while helping participants increase their activity levels.
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•September 30, 2026•
Moultrie County’s CASA program is growing, and Heartland CASA is looking for more community members willing to step up for children who need an advocate.
On August 12, Heartland CASA celebrated an important milestone with the swearing-in of Moultrie County’s first class of CASA advocates. At the Moultrie County Courthouse, Judge Jeremy Richey welcomed Christine Grohler, Rita Florey, Ann Sanner, Mitzi Hartman, Melissa Krieger, Kayla Tipsword, Becky Comstock, MaryAnn Hecht, and Linda Featherling, as they took their oaths and officially became Heartland CASA advocates.
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•September 30, 2026•
The spirit of “more than a meal” will be at the heart of the next Dine with a Doc® in Sullivan as Senior Education Ministries, Inc. welcomes Barbra Wylie, Director of the Peace Meal Senior Nutrition Program at Sarah Bush Lincoln, for a special program focused on senior nutrition, healthy aging and the important role food and fellowship play in our overall well-being.
Senior Education Ministries, Inc., in partnership with the Sullivan community, invites area seniors, veterans, caregivers and community members to Dine with a Doc® on Tuesday, October 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Moultrie County Senior Center/MidIllinois Senior Services, Inc., 113 E. Jefferson Street, Sullivan, Illinois. And this month, the meal could not be more fitting.
Peace Meal will plan, sponsor and provide the complimentary lunch for guests while Wylie shares the story and purpose behind the program she has devoted much of her career to serving.
Peace Meal and Dine with a Doc® share much the same heart and purpose: nutrition matters, but so does having someone to sit down and share that meal with. Both programs recognize that good health is about more than food alone - it is also about fellowship, connection, dignity and knowing that someone cares.
•September 30, 2026•
It’s that time of year again - we are asking for readers to submit their favorite recipe for our annual “Family Favorites” cookbook publication. Whether it’s an old family favorite passed down through generations, a recipe you created yourself when being creative, or something new that you love, we are interested in what tickles your palate and brings you joy to put on the table. The “Family Favorites” cookbook will be published late November or early December. Please submit your recipes to rtipsword@newsprogress. com.
•September 30, 2026•
The 19th District of the American Legion, Department of Illinois, will hold a regular meeting on October 11 at Post #507, Bethany. The Sons of the American Legion will meet at 10:00 a.m. The Legion meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m. Representatives from each Post and Squadron in the 19th District are urged to attend. A meal will be provided.
•September 30, 2026•
5,6,7,8 Booster Club is holding a Drive-Thru Dinner with Griffins Catering on Monday, October 19. The meal includes: Pulled Pork BBQ with Bun, Mac & Cheese, Green Beans & Loaded Brownie. Pick-up at the Empower Academy located south of Sullivan right off of Route 32 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Tickets are pre-sale only and deadline to purchase is October 5. To purchase, contact an Empower Academy Dancer/Tumbler or Competition Team Member or Ginger Voegel at 217-549-3877.
Kenneth Robert “Kenny” Minnis, 54, of Bethany, went to be with Christ at 6:33p.m Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at his home.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00a.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan. Visitation will be held one hour before services. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
Kenny was born on February 13,1972, in Portsmouth, VA; the son of Robert P. and Stella (Callahan) Minnis. He was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church. Kenny had one of the most beautiful voices and music was a big part of his life. He was a phenomenal artist and it was his passion. Kenny painted pictures to keep and for his family. He was a very loving man and showed that by giving his nieces and nephews cute little nicknames like Gummy Bear and King Loofy. Kenny will be missed dearly.
Kenny is survived by sons, Keeley Eikenberry and Robert L. Minnis; Parents Bob and Stella Minnis of Bethany; Brother Nicholas (Jamie) Minnis; Several nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his Maternal grandparents Mary and Bob Callahan, Paternal grandparents Helen and Ken Minnis. Brother Christopher Minnis.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
•September 23, 2026•
by Joshua Reinhart
For many adults who began college but did not complete a degree, leaving school was less about academics than it was about everything else happening in life at the time. A new national survey offers a reminder that stepping away from college does not have to mean closing the door permanently.
Study.com’s 2026 Finish Your Degree: New Survey on College Stopouts found that 80% of adults surveyed who left college without earning a degree attributed their decision to full-time work, cost, or family responsibilities. Academic challenges accounted for just 2% of respondents’ reasons for stopping out. So for adults who have thought about returning, the message is simple: It may be worth starting the conversation.
“Finishing a degree is not simply about receiving a diploma,” said EIU Interdisciplinary Studies Program coordinator Kimberly Redfern. “For many returning students, it is about expanding professional possibilities, gaining confidence, accomplishing a long-held personal goal or creating new options for the future.”
Study.com’s survey found that 55% of adults who returned to college said the desire for higher pay was a reason for reenrolling, while 41% cited a personal sense of unfinished business. Another 26% said encouragement from family influenced their decision to return.
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