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March 17, 2026 Election Results

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Celebrating 250 years of freedom

News Progress Posted on June 24, 2026 by webmasterJune 24, 2026


•June 24, 2026•

The Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library has some free, fun, and family-friendly events planned to help the community commemorate and celebrate America’s 250 years of freedom. On June 29th at 3:00 p.m., the ETML will be hosting an event where attendees can learn about and celebrate our nation’s colors and on July 1st at 3:00 p.m., join them in celebrating the United States’ 250th year of freedom with friends, family, and the community at the ETML 4th of July party.

To sign up, register at https://forms.gle/6TCpH8vsPntVDPmb8, or visit the ETML Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082637979457 and use the QR code on the flyer. If you have any questions, call the library at (217) 728-7221.

Posted in free news stories

Library to host TOPS

News Progress Posted on June 24, 2026 by webmasterJune 24, 2026


•June 24, 2026•

Cheryl Avitts, the Facilitator for the TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), has announced that the public is invited to attend their meetings in Sullivan, to be held at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, 2 W. Water Street, in Sullivan, in the Conference Room. TOPS generates positive awareness for weight loss by encouraging a healthy lifestyle through support, education, and accountability. TOPS will meet once a week on Tuesdays, with weigh-ins at 9:30 a.m. and a lesson from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Posted in free news stories

Sullivan 4th of July fun

News Progress Posted on June 24, 2026 by webmasterJune 24, 2026


•June 24, 2026•

The 4th of July parade in Sullivan will begin at 12:00 p.m. this year, beginning at Sullivan High School following its annual route, so don’t forget to get your chairs, blankets, and candy bags for the kids, and set up your spot early for what promises to be as entertaining as always. Food and lemonade vendors will be in the American Legion parking lot from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Park Games will begin at Wyman Park at approximately 2:00 p.m., and the turtle races, watermelon eating contest, and sack races that have become a holiday staple will begin for all to participate in and enjoy. If the weather this year is anything like last year’s, you will want to pack your sunscreen and insect repellent as well as cold beverages.

Posted in free news stories

Bethany Celebration 2026

News Progress Posted on June 24, 2026 by webmasterJune 24, 2026
Posted in News

Recent Obituaries: Greg Dirks

News Progress Posted on June 24, 2026 by webmasterJune 24, 2026

Greg A. Dirks, 65, of Sullivan, passed away 2:57 a.m. Monday, June 22, 2026 in his home.

Celebration of Life services will be 12:00 Noon Friday, June 26, 2026 at the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church with Pastor Justin Cullen officiating. Burial will be in the Zoar Cemetery, rural Mattoon. Visitation will be Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church for youth activities. Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Greg was born May 29, 1961 at Lincoln, Illinois, the son of Ronald and Dorothy Baker Dirks. He retired after 40 years as a journeyman toolmaker for Precision Tool & Die Company in Decatur.

Greg was a member of the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church and Sons of the Sullivan American Legion. Greg enjoyed playing golf, grilling out for family and friends, camping at Timberlake Campground and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Greg married Janet E. Elder on April 25, 1980 at Windsor.

Survivors include his wife Janet; daughters Chelsey (Mark Palahniuk) Dirks of Sullivan and Samantha (Eric) Dippel of Buckley, Illinois; granddaughters Gabriella Dippel and Kinsley Dippel to be born in October; mother Dorothy Dirks of Sullivan; sisters Diana Renfrow of Lovington and Debbie (Cary) Suhl of Sullivan; brother Kevin (Michelle) Dirks of Hampton, Georgia and a sister-in-law Jeannine Blythe of Atlanta.

He was preceded in death by his father Ronald, grandson Keaton, father and mother-in-law James and Shirley Elder and brother-in-law Kevin Blythe.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: Alison Fort

News Progress Posted on June 24, 2026 by webmasterJune 24, 2026

Alison S. Fort, 66, of Decatur, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 4:10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.

Celebration of Life services will be 1:00 pm. Sunday, June 28, 2026 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Memorials are suggested to Paw Print Ministries, 2555 East Federal Drive, Decatur, IL 62526. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Alison was born April 1, 1960 in San Antonio, Texas, the daughter of Doris Stine Russell. Alison had worked at the Illinois Masonic Home in Sullivan and was an associate at Hobby Lobby in Decatur. She married Russell Fort on November 23, 1985 in Sullivan.

Surviving are her husband Russell of Decatur; son Matthew Fort of Lebanon, New Hampshire; sisters Luann (Brenda Sanner) Karr of Ponder, Texas and Shelly (Steve) Mathis of Shilo, Illinois; mother-in-law Sharron Fort of Cedar Falls, Iowa; brother-in-law Lou Fort of Holland, Indiana and six nieces and nephews..

She was preceded in death by her mother.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: June Foreman

News Progress Posted on June 23, 2026 by webmasterJune 23, 2026

June Foreman, former resident of Sullivan, passed away June 20, 2026 at a care center in Luverne, Alabama. She was 96 years old. Born Francis June Bell in the cold pre-dawn of Christmas at the start of the Great Depression in 1929, she grew up on a red dirt road where water came from a well, and light from oil lamps. Her father, Johnny, ran a small farm and worked timber while her mother, Beatrice, wrangled chickens and made biscuits in a cast iron pan. As the  middle child, June worked the mule-plowed fields, picked cotton, and tended livestock as readily as her older brother James and younger brother Jerry.

She graduated from Dozier, Alabama High and went on to business school in Montgomery. There, on a blind date, she met a young military man from Chicago. After some courtship, Dale Foreman asked her to marry him as he boarded a bus back to the base. After that, they were rarely apart unless the Air Force demanded it. In the Carolinas, their first baby passed away in just days. Then in South Dakota, they had a girl, Chris. When the military took Dale to Morocco, June boarded a small military ship to cross the ocean and join him, landing in the tumult of Casablanca. She gave birth to her son, Robert, in  north Africa. Back in the U. S., Tom was born in Illinois.

June loved her family and took on all manner of challenges in their care: ice skating, hiking and camping in the Black Hills, waiting out blizzards, suffering heatwaves, and watching tornadoes on the Great Plains. She endured-and even enjoyed- endless rounds of kids sports, music lessons, plays, pageants, and magic shows (performed by her son, Tom). Religion played a large role in her life and she was eternally faithful. She organized the non-denominational Neighborhood Womens' Bible Coffees while living in Sullivan and was active in the Methodist Church, helping at church socials, Bible School, and summer camp. Time and again, she oversaw the endless logistics of moving the family from place to place as her husband Dale's military and civilian jobs dictated it. Dale's job with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources brought him to Sullivan as the first superintendant at Eagle and Wolf Creek State Parks on Lake Shelbyville.   

She and Dale retired to her homeland in southern Alabama where she spent the final fifty years of her life in a house Dale built on the farm field she once worked. There they hosted friends for Fourth of July fireworks, cared for her aging mother, and watched her grandkids grow as they heard her stories, and wonderful laugh, felt her kind touch, and witnessed her goodness which will surely ripple through their lives, too.

June is survived by her daughter Chris and husband Pete Johnston, son Robert Foreman, son Tom Foreman and wife Linda, six grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband Dale, her parents, her brothers, and her daughter-in-law Beth. Her funeral will be held on June 27, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Liberty Congregational Church on Lester Bell Road, Dozier, Alabama, which is the church that she and Dale built and led upon their retirement. Visitation will be the night before in Andalusia, Alabama at the Foreman Brown-Service Funeral Home.  

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: Nancy Elaine (Schmollinger) Weaver

News Progress Posted on June 22, 2026 by webmasterJune 22, 2026

Nancy Elaine (Schmollinger) Weaver, 89, of Sullivan passed away 11:27 p.m. Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25, 2026, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the Allenville Christian Church or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105

Nancy was born December 7, 1936, in Pocahontas, Illinois. Her parents were William and Margaret (Potts) Schmollinger. She graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1954. Nancy attended the Allenville Christian Church for many years. She was a Royal Neighbor and a member of the Lovington American Legion Auxiliary. She loved to cook and collected cookbooks and raccoon memorabilia. She married Carroll Weaver on December 11, 1965, in Sullivan.

Nancy owned and operated The Swirl Beauty Shop before moving to Sullivan. She worked in several shops, including The Index. She also worked in two nursing homes and later at the Masonic Home. Nancy was also a homemaker and farmer’s wife.

She is survived by her husband, Carroll of Sullivan, as well as son, James (Marty) of Fort Worth, Texas and daughter, Jayne (Scot) England of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Grandchildren include, Bart (Grace) Long, Colt Weaver, Jacquelyn Weaver, Alison (Tyler) Bliss. 7 Great-Grandchildren include, Julia Long, Kiona Weaver, Liliann Weaver, Mila Weaver, London Johnson, Willow Johnson, Elaina Bliss.

Nancy was proceeded in death by her parents, brother, Carroll and sisters, Joyce, Betty and Doris.

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

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: Mary N. Dotson Lane

News Progress Posted on June 22, 2026 by webmasterJune 22, 2026

Mary N. Dotson Lane, 90, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 14, 2025, at her home in Gulf Shores, Alabama, surrounded by her loving family following complications from a stroke and long-term battle with severe arthritis.

Mary was born February 17, 1936, in rural Macon County, Tennessee, the fourth of seven children to parents Curf and Artie Dotson. After moving to Sullivan, Illinois, she met Roger, a classmate at Lowe Elementary School. They grew up together and married in 1955. She worked at the First National Bank in Sullivan until 1958, when she decided to stay home and take care of her growing family. She and Roger had four children - Brad, Don, Belinda Gay, and Jon.

Mary enjoyed being outdoors, designing and tending to her beautiful azaleas and yard at Lake Martin, Alabama. Mary also enjoyed taking day trips, but mostly just being with her family. Her favorite time was every 4th of July for 25 years when her family would come together at her lake home. She will be remembered for her caring, gentle, and generous spirit, and her absolute devotion to her family. She leaves behind a wonderful family of 32.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Roger Lane of Gulf Shores; son, Brad (Valerie) Lane of Allentown, Pennsylvania, son, Don (Lavonne) Lane of Daphne, Alabama, daughter, Belinda Gay (Leonard) Kaiser of Orange Beach, Alabama, and son, Jon (Claudia) Lane of Walnut Creek, California; her

grandchildren, Andrea (Jim Shilston), Erin Kaiser, Adam (Erin) Lane, Mallory (Matt) Cahill, Ryan Lane, Rachael (Mason) Howell, Shelby Kaiser (Britian) Murphy, Emma Lane, and Valeria Collazo Gianella; and her great grandchildren, Halle Shilston, Jane Shilston, Larson Chafin, Avery Lane, Grant Lane, Noelle Cahill, Camille Cahill, Juliette Cahill and Miller Murphy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and four sisters.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Hughes Funeral Home in Daphne, Alabama.

Online expressions of condolences may be made at www.hughesfh.com.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Illinois High School Shrine Football Game

News Progress Posted on June 17, 2026 by webmasterJune 17, 2026


•June 17, 2026•

The Illinois Coaches Association and the Shriners of Illinois will present the 52nd Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game, scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at Tucci Stadium on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. Kickoff is at 11:00 a.m., with pregame festivities beginning at 10:00 a.m.

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Posted in News Briefs

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Food Myths and nutrition



News Progress


Photo courtesy Mid Illinois Senior Services

On September 1st, Certified Health Coach Larry Wetnight presented to a packed house at Mid Illinois Senior Services for their monthly ‘Dine with a Doc’ free luncheon, discussing Food Myths and nutrition. The Q&A portion was especially lively, with a great number of productive takeaways for all. 


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