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Gov. Pritzker, IDNR Announce $54.9 Million in Grants

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•February 7, 2024•

Nearly $55 million in state grants are being awarded for 111 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities, Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Tuesday, January 30.

For the second year in a row, the governor ensured funding was set aside for economically distressed communities, resulting in 32 underserved locations receiving $18.7 million in grants from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, program. This is the 37th year for the program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

In Moultrie County, the City of Sullivan is being awarded $576,000.  Read More

Grammar Moses: Animal Husbandry and You

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•February 7, 2024•

Last week we were talking about shooting photos for a story about a family of foxes living in a backyard. I made the point that it’s not often we’re able to use “vixen” and “raynard” in a news story.

Crickets. Nary a chuckle or a comeback.

Clearly, the female and male names for adult foxes aren’t on the tips of too many tongues, unless you are a hunter, a zoologist, a mountain lion or an eagle. Read More

A Look Back…2-7-2024

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2014

The Sixth Annual Senior Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Poetry Contest was held at Courtyard Estates. First place went to Lucille Fultz’s poem “Courtyard Baby”, second place went to Harry McCorkle’s poem “The Golf Cart” and third place went to Patti Peterson who wrote “My Pops.”

Sullivan’s newest business was Caveman Consignments, owned and operated by Jeff Feldkamp. 

The Arthur-Lovington Knights basketball team rolled Tri-County 51-33.  Read More

Take Charge of Your Diabetes Classes Being Offered

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•February 7, 2024•

Diabetes is on the rise but can be a very manageable illness. If you or someone you care for has diabetes or is pre-diabetic, why not learn how to more effectively “take charge” and live an active and fulfilling life? Take Charge of Your Diabetes is designed to teach those with diabetes tools and techniques to help them become better health managers. Read More

Local Emergency Responders Obtain Certification

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•February 7, 2024•

Twenty local first responders recently completed an Emergency Medical Responder course held in Sullivan. Fourteen members from the Sullivan Fire Protection District and six members from the Bethany Fire Protection District participated in the six week course that took over 56 hours to complete. The class met two evenings a week and every other Saturday to meet all the objectives of the program. 

Students developed skills in the assessment and treatment of childbirth, respiratory, environmental, behavioral, traumatic and many other medical emergencies that they could encounter working in the prehospital setting. Read More

Award Winning Sullivan Quilter Speaks at Arthur Public Library

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photo by Crystal Reed
Karen Edwards of Sullivan talks about quilting at Arthur Public Library on Saturday, February 3. She spoke about the quilting techniques she uses to make art quilts and showed some of her original creations and well as quilts made from others designs. She is pictured with an original quilt called My Mother’s Window of a stained glass window from her childhood home.

•February 7, 2024•

by Crystal Reed

Karen Edwards of Sullivan presented a program Saturday, February 3 at Arthur Public Library on the techniques she uses to create art quilts and some of the supplies used in the process. She was the Grand Prize winner at the 2023 Amish Country Spring Quilt Show in Arthur with a quilt titled “My Childhood Home.” Edwards learned to sew at the age of nine because she wanted to make a dress. 

She first got into quilting when she became engaged, and she sorted through fabrics and made a scrap quilt. After she retired, she decided to return to making quilts. In the beginning of the pandemic, she made masks and noted that she stopped counting after she made 500.  Read More

Head Start Program Health Services

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•February 7, 2024•

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and the C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program health services are based on the premise that a child must be healthy to be ready to learn and good oral health is essential to a child’s behavioral, speech, language, and overall growth and development. Head Start works to ensure that children receive oral health assessments, follow-up and any needed dental treatment by helping families establish a dental home, as an ongoing source of preventive and primary care. Head Start program activities promote good dental hygiene in the classroom and at home visits. If interested in the C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 program, please call/text 217-663-7822.

Rick “Yoder” Underwood Fire Benefit

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•February 7, 2024•

A Rick “Yoder” Underwood Fire Benefit will be held on Saturday, February 17 at the Publisher in downtown Bethany. Doors open at 3 pm. There is a $10 cover charge at the door which includes food and band. Dinner will be served from 3-? and will be pulled pork and beef brisket, sides and dessert. American Patriots will play from 4 to 6 pm, Cody Ryan band from 7 to 10 pm. There will also be a silent auction and 50/50. 

On January 14, Rick lost everything to a mobile home fire. Unfortunately, Rick didn’t have any insurance, he literally walked away with the clothes on his back. This benefit is in hopes of raising enough money so that Rick can have a home again. He is currently staying with his sister Emma Lou and the hope is to raise enough to move him to another trailer next to her. To donate contact Tammy Marshall 217-412-6436 or Twila Stukins 217-201-9601.

Music Bingo Night

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•February 7, 2024•

There will be a Music Bingo Night on Saturday, February 24 at 5 pm at the Sullivan VFW, 1132 IL 32 in Sullivan. Tickets are $50 and include bingo all night and taco bar. There will be big prizes and a 50/50 drawing. Reserve a table for an additional $50. All proceeds go to Lovington fireworks. For tickets contact Brittany Bates at 217-295-0031 or Shelly Martina at 217-855-4953.

Bethany Blood Drive

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•February 7, 2024•

A Bethany Community Blood Drive, sponsored by Theta Psi Sorority, will be held on Thursday, February 15 from 2 to 6 pm at the Bethany Fire Station on Rt 121 in Bethany. For an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: Bethany Fire or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)