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Remembering Who We Are……….

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Some More about Col. Moultrie and Sullivan’s Island
•July 15, 2026•

by Janey Roney

Moultrie County residents should note that in this 250th anniversary of our country we have some significant connections to the Revolutionary War. The most obvious one is our name, Moultrie, that honors Colonel, later General, William F. Moultrie of South Carolina who led the successful defense of Fort Sullivan at the entrance to Charleston Harbor from British land and sea forces on June 28, 1776. That is two weeks and 250 years ago as I write this.

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A Look Back…7-15-2026

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2016

When Dr Glen Dust converted his Sullivan Health Care practice to direct primary care, he joined four physicians in Illinois offering concierge medicine. Interest in the trend to replace insurance companies with a membership for primary care grew nationwide as it helped lower health care costs.

Hunter Kamm’s childhood love of fireworks turned into a full-time job designing shows for Bethany, Arthur, Sullivan, and Lovington during the Independence Day celebration season. Kamm, who works for Central States Fireworks in Athens, was in the busiest of the fireworks season.

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Serve your community as an election judge

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•July 15, 2026•

Want to make a real difference in your community? Become an Election Judge and help ensure fair, accurate, and secure elections. Election Judges are essential to the voting process. You’ll assist voters, help operate polling places, and work alongside fellow community members to uphold the integrity of Moultrie County elections.

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Moultrie‑Douglas 4‑H Fair

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•July 15, 2026•

The Moultrie‑Douglas 4‑H program invites the public to attend a full week of exciting 4‑H Fair events celebrating the achievements, talents, and hard work of local youth. Community members of all ages are encouraged to come out, enjoy the activities, and support 4‑H members throughout the week.

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Second Annual Guns vs. Hoses scheduled for Saturday

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•July 15, 2026•

by E. Scott England

It’s fun. It’s competitive. It’s for a good cause. The Second Annual Moultrie County First Responder softball game is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 18 starting at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at Crowder Park in Bethany. 

Organized by Moultrie County Deputies Alec Ballinger, Bryce Farris, Jesse Scribner; Sullivan Fire Captain Kenny Graven; and Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings, this fundraiser is for school supplies for local schools. “We split the money raised between Sullivan, Bethany, and Lovington elementary schools,” said Deputy Farris. 

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Sullivan 4th of July park game winners

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•July 15, 2026•

Stanly Guin Memorial Turtle Race winner: Mason Miller of Sullivan.

Watermelon Eating Contest winners: 

0-4: 1st Wrenleigh Cannon of Sullivan, 2nd Nora Daum of Decatur, 3rd A’Doin Brown of St. Louis, MO.

5-7: 1st Stella Vanarsdale of Decatur, 2nd Emmett Moon of Sullivan, 3rd Aibai Brown of Sullivan.

8-10: 1st Shelby Green, 2nd Bea Lentz, 3rd (tie) Cash Pitts and Alayja Hogan all of Sullivan.

11-14: 1st Beatrix White of Decatur, 2nd (tie) Chloe Briscoe and Peyton Schum both of Sullivan, 3rd (tie) Mason Miller and Maddox Roney both of Sullivan.

15-17:1st Chloe Cobb of Sullivan.

18 & Over: 1st Brice Cannon, 2nd (tie)  Megan Hurt and Caleb Irvin, 3rd Joleen Matheson all of Sullivan.

Sack Race winners (all of Sullivan): 

0-4 1st Maeve Shasteen, 2nd Tye Frost, 3rd Wrenleigh Cannon.

5-7: 1st Ellie Lawrence, 2nd Brittlyn Wilson, 3rd Anthony Frost.

8-10: 1st Alayja Hogan, 2nd Owen Russell, 3rd Brock Frost.

11-14:1st Payton Schum, 2nd Bentley Meadows, 3rd Sadie Meadows.

15-17:1st Whitney Novota, 2nd Stella Schum.

18 & Over: 1st Chaz Wilson, 2nd Emily Miller, 3rd Aimee Shasteen.

SIU celebrates graduates

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•July 15, 2026•

Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville held commencement ceremonies in May with local students among degree recipients. Graduates include: Broronica Layon of Windsor, BS Mortuary Science and Funeral Service, Cameron Hughes of Gays, BS Agricultural Systems and Education, Grace Moeller of Findlay, AAS Radiological Sciences, and Alyssa Thompson of Sullivan, BSN Nursing.

Genealogy workshop series

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•July 15, 2026•

The next genealogy workshop at the Moultrie County History Center will be at 6 :00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21 at 1303 South Hamilton, Sullivan. This month’s free class will focus on searching online genealogy databases and websites, such as Ancestry, Family Search, Newspapers.com, Fold3 and Find-A-Grave. Bringing a laptop/tablet is highly recommended, though not required. Call (217) 728-4085 or email mocohgs@gmail.com for more information.

Recent Obituaries: Wilma Hughes

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Wilma Nylene Hughes of Sullivan, passed away on Thursday, July 9,
2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2026,
at McMullin-Young Funeral Home In Sullivan. Visitation will be held an
hour prior to the services. Memorials may be made to The Sullivan
Singers. McMullin-Young Funeral Home In Sullivan is in care of the
arrangements.

Nylene was born on March 25, 1938, the daughter of Raymond K. and Opal
(Wilcoxon) Kuhns. She married Ezra P. Richardson on December 25, 1958
in Sullivan until his passing. She later married Glen Hughes on July
22, 1989 until his passing. Nylene was a member of the First Baptist
Church in Sullivan. Nylene was a kind lady who some would call a saint
after raising her five boys. She was a big volunteer in the community
at several places such as The New Life Tabernacle, The American
Legion, and the Senior Center. Nylene enjoyed sewing and crocheting.
She even made the boys clothes as they were growing up like the
three-piece suit she made for one of the boys or the matching outfits
for their dads’ musical performances. She had a very fruitful garden
and enjoyed canning what she grew. Nylene always enjoyed doing puzzles
especially when one of the boys would join in to help. Some of her
favorite things to do were watching and supporting The Sullivan
Singers or attending country music performances with her two good
friends Betty and Shirley. Nylene loved and adored her children and
grandchildren and will be missed immensely.

Nylene is survived by her five sons, David (Donna) Richardson of
Chattanooga, TN, Kevin Richardson of Sullivan, Curt (Carla) Richardson
of Findlay, Eric (Bana Rudd) Richardson of Sullivan, and Aaron (Skye)
Richardson of Sullivan. Ten grandchildren and eight great
grandchildren.

Nylene was proceeded in death by her parents, both husbands, and her
only sibling an older brother.

Students shine in Holocaust Education Center contest

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•July 8, 2026•

Three Sullivan students recently brought home Best in Show and first place honors for the creative pieces they submitted to The Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation’s Holocaust Education Center’s Through Their Eyes: A Holocaust Arts and Writing Contest while two other students had pieces that placed in their age divisions.

Claire Kursell

Junior Claire Kursell won Best in Show for the Painting and Drawing category and first place in the 11th and 12th grade division for “Pills.” Kursell’s art work depicted a bottle of pills held by Holocaust survivor Ruth Fenton.

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