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Bethany firefighter Curt Robinson to retire after 26 years

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•September 2, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

Photo by R.R. Best
From left: Assistant Chief/Paramedic Curt Robinson, Fire Chief/Paramedic Michael Jennings and Assistant Chief/Paramedic Student Markus Deel.

After 26 years of answering calls and serving in roles ranging from firefighter to fire chief, Curt Robinson is preparing for his final shift with the Bethany Fire Protection District.

Robinson, who currently serves as assistant fire chief, will be recognized during a retirement gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Bethany Fire House.

His career began as a volunteer firefighter. Robinson later earned his EMT-Basic certification and continued his education to become an EMT-Intermediate while moving through the department’s ranks as lieutenant, captain and assistant fire chief. He served as fire chief from 2008 to 2010.

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Blood Drive Sept. 19

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•September 2, 2026•

A Blood Drive in honor of Riley Machine will be held at the Sullivan American Legion on September 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org (Enter Sponsor Code SULLIVAN) .

In March 2026, Riley survived an accident that left him fighting for his life. Blood was prepared for him at every step, giving his family comfort they desperately needed, even though he never ultimately needed a transfusion. Now, his family is hosting a blood drive to pay that gift forward. Join them to honor Riley’s resilience and give hope to others. 

The Sullivan American Legion is located at 8 East Strain, Sullivan.

Allenville concert series 

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•September 2, 2026•

Allenville Christian Church will host a concert featuring Still Waters on September 12th at 6:00 p.m. at the Allenville Christian Church, located at 201 Allen Street in Allenville. Snacks and fellowship time will follow this family-friendly gospel series concert. 

Still Waters it is a mixed quartet from Lovington and Atwood consisting of Sara Rawlins, Shari Schable, Dennis Garmon and Bill Schable. The quartet comes together to reach out to people thru music to tell of the love, grace, hope and forgiveness of God

A love offering will be taken. For more information, contact Pastor Bob Vail at (217) 254-3433.

Office closed on Labor Day 

News Progress Posted on by


•September 2, 2026•

The Moultrie County News Progress will be closed on Monday, September 7th, in observance of the Labor Day holiday weekend. All advertising and news items are due by noon on the previous Thursday (September 3rd).

Recent Obituaries: Marjory Queen

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Marjory Queen

Marjory J. Queen, 87, of Bethany, passed away August 31, 2026, at her home.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 4, 2026, at Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bethany or to the Marrowbone Public Library, Bethany. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

Marjory was born on July 4, 1939, in Sidell; the daughter of Clarence V. and Rachel E. (Guthrie) Goodall. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University with her Bachelor’s degree in teaching. Marjory went on to teach in the local schools for many years. She married Paul K. Queen on June 6, 1970; he preceded her in death on January 7, 2015. Marjory was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany.

She is survived by sisters, Carol L. Wock of Urbana and Catherine K. Allen of Lebanon; nieces and nephews, Bradley Allen of Edwardsville, Becky K. Grob of Lebanon, Catherine (Uwe) Goodall-Heising of Berlin, Germany, and Andrea (Milyon) Goodall-Trulove of Portland, Oregon.

Marjory was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother, Charles W. Goodall.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Sixth annual Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Outing continues his legacy in Sullivan

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•August 26, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

Tommy Houser

Six years after the first golf outing was held in memory of Thomas M. “Tommy” Houser, his family continues using the annual event to help others in ways they believe would have mattered to him.

The sixth annual Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Outing will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Sullivan Country Club in Sullivan. The outing has reached capacity and is full for golfers, but community members are welcome to stop by during the day to visit, donate and support the event.

For Houser’s wife, Elizabeth, the purpose extends well beyond the golf course.

“I wanted to give back in ways he would want me to,” she said. “We do so much good in his name.”

Houser died Feb. 27, 2020, at age 52. His law enforcement career spanned more than 31 years, beginning with the Sullivan Police Department and continuing with the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police.

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Young entrepreneur turns hobby into hometown business

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•August 26, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

What began as a childhood hobby has grown into a small business with a growing reputation and a mission to give back.

Sarah Windhorst, an incoming freshman from Sullivan, started making jewelry when she was about 10 years old after watching someone else create handmade pieces. Curious to see if she could do it herself, she purchased a few supplies and discovered a hobby she enjoyed. Over time, that hobby naturally became Sarah’s Jewels, a business known for custom jewelry, school spirit accessories and community involvement.

“There was no defining line of turning it into a business from a hobby,” Windhorst said. “It just slowly worked its way into that category while getting bigger and bigger.”

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Remembering Who We Are…..

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More Descendants of the Revolution

•August 26, 2026•

by Janey Roney

If your family roots in America go back to the 1700s, it’s very likely you have a Revolutionary War veteran or two in your past. It’s worthwhile for you to search for them, because the stories you might find will give you a deeper appreciation of our freedom given to us by the personal sacrifices of those veterans. The volunteers at the Moultrie County History Center on South Hamilton in Sullivan can help you search.

The Revolutionary War was not some distant, forgotten event in the past to Moultrie County’s earliest settlers for many of them were children and grandchildren of veterans. It may be the reason their families moved west over the mountains after the war, for many veterans were finally paid for their war service with bounty land in the newly acquired frontier. Their next generations just kept moving west until some of them found our beautiful Moultrie County.

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Sullivan Trap Team offers more than competition

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•August 26, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

Members of the Sullivan High School Trap Team.

As the Sullivan Trap Team prepares to enter its third year this fall, Head Coach Rob Kidd hopes more local families will learn about an opportunity that offers young people much more than a chance to shoot targets.

“The team’s been great,” Kidd said. “We have kids from all different kinds of places. But they come together, and they get along together, and they’ve made new friends that they might not have made just through school.”

The program grew from an interest in creating more competitive shooting opportunities for area youth.

Kidd became involved in coaching through his son, Kolten, while Assistant Coach Dave Purvis had a grandson interested in the sport. What began with youth shooting through 4-H eventually led to conversations about forming a high school team.

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