Author Archives:

HICF gives grant to the Life Center of Sullivan

News Progress Posted on by

Submitted

Just before Christmas, one of Santa’s elves stopped by the Life Center of Sullivan to deliver a $1,500 food insecurity grant from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation. Pictured is Reverend Grant Wade, on behalf of the HICF, presenting the grant to Debra Dolan of LCS.
This grant was designated specifically for the Life Center food pantry, which continues to serve families in Moultrie County with consistency, compassion, and care. Dedicated volunteers and leaders ensure shelves are stocked, and neighbors are fed, not just during the holidays, but all year long. HICF has partnered with the Life Center before, and will continue to be inspired by the quiet, faithful way they meet real needs in Moultrie County.
To those seeking a way to support their work, the Life Center currently has a new forklift on its Christmas list to help with daily operations. That wish list can be found on the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation website for anyone who would like to help make that need a reality: heartofillinois.org/community-wish-list.

Music bingo fundraiser

News Progress Posted on by


•January 7, 2026•

The Empower Academy Competition Team, parents, and the 5678 Booster Club will be hosting a music bingo fundraiser on Saturday, January 10, at Willow Ridge Winery. With help from the Prairie Fire DJ Service, the event will start at 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from participating dance team parents. The event is 18 years of age and over only. Tables for 8 can be purchased for $200, or individual seats for $30. For more information, contact Ginger Voegel at (217) 549-3877 or email sdsboosterclub@gmail.com.

Sampling of Illinois laws in effect as of Jan. 1st

News Progress Posted on by


•January 7, 2026•

Beginning January 1st, 2026, new laws take effect in Illinois, with many focusing on issues such as privacy, immigration, and education. Illinois also gains an official state bean, and of course, there are a few that impact roadways and youth employment. A Senate Bill also addresses aid in dying. Below are a few of the highlights.

House Bill 3773, introduced by lawmakers in 2023, regulates employer use of artificial intelligence. An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, this bill makes it a civil rights violation for employers to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on race, gender, age, or disability in hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, or other employment terms.

House Bill 1615 permits the U.S. flag to be displayed on the grounds of a courthouse. Previously, the law was that the nation’s flag could only be displayed on top of a courthouse.

House Bill 4439 has designated the soybean as the official state bean.

Read More

Remembering Who We Are………91

News Progress Posted on by

Thirteen Generations Plus Five Hundred
•January 7, 2026•

by Janet Roney

Generation after generation of people have found everything needed for life here in central Illinois. The first historic people were the French who  passed through Moultrie over three hundred years ago. At twenty-five years per generation, that’s at least thirteen generations ago.

My Uncle Cliff used the same Jonathan Creek fishing holes as those who built the ceremonial mound in the corner of his cow pasture. The shell casings left from our son-in-law Craig’s deer hunt mingle with arrowheads waiting to be found  along the eroded banks of the Kaskaskia. Our Uncle Vern and Aunt Ruth gathered poke shoots, sour dock greens, and sassafras roots for their spring “physic” on Grandpa Roney’s hillside just like ancient people did before them. The corn that now covers Moultrie’s prairies descends from the same type of corn raised thousands of years ago along the West Okaw in Cornbread Bottom. That’s where avid arrowhead hunter Randy found an artifact certified to be 13,000 years old. That’s five hundred generations ago!

Read More

Moultrie County ‘Year in Review’continued

News Progress Posted on by


•January 7, 2026•

March

Continued from 12.31.25 Issue

The City of Sullivan Fire Department provided free smoke detectors and installed them for local homeowners in their fire district. They also provided free smoke detectors to renters if the landlord contacted the fire department on behalf of the tenant.

The United Women in Faith were taking orders for their homemade chocolate Easter eggs. Decorated peanut butter and vanilla eggs were available for purchase for family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.

Read More

Is it too late to get your flu and COVID vaccines?

News Progress Posted on by


•January 7, 2026•

by Angela Hogan

Moultrie County Health Dept. Administrator

This winter has brought a noticeable rise in respiratory illnesses. Flu and COVID‑19 are circulating widely across Illinois and much of the country. There is still meaningful value in getting vaccinated now. Updated vaccines remain one of the most effective tools for reducing the risk of severe illness. Late-season vaccinations can still help protect you, your family, and our Moultrie County communities.

Choosing to get vaccinated now is a practical step to safeguard your health and support the well‑being of your loved ones and your community. Getting vaccinated now still matters because the flu doesn’t follow a set schedule. Many people get their flu shot in early fall, but that isn’t a deadline. Flu season routinely stretches well into winter and sometimes early spring. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who haven’t been vaccinated can still benefit from getting a flu shot later in the season.

Read More

Learning to love yourself

News Progress Posted on by


•January 7, 2026•

On February 20th at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services Center in Sullivan from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Moultrie County ROSC Council is partnering with Dove, with celebrity speaker Shawn Woods, on the topic, ‘Learning to Love Yourself.’ Shawn will be sharing his personal experience with learning to love himself through the process of recovery. He has made appearances in a number of well-known full-featured films and television shows. He has appeared in ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and full-length feature films such as ‘Charlie’s Angels’. This will be a family-friendly event, featuring activities for children to create their own Valentine’s Day cards for themselves, and a great way for the community to come together for positive self-help. For more information, contact Josh Forbes at joshf@hourhouserecovery.org

The Hour House ROSC Council serves Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Shelby, & Moultrie counties. Recovery Coaching Network at GSU (govst.edu).

MoCo Quarter Madness 

News Progress Posted on by


•January 7, 2026•

Moultrie County Monthly Quarter Madness will hold its first 2026 Quarter Auction on Wednesday, January 14th. The event will be held at the Sullivan American Legion. Sullivan Legion Riders is the organization of the month. They are not a motorcycle club. Instead, they are a group of like-minded people who love riding motorcycles and are an extension of the American Legion. Their mission and values are keeping with the American Legion values, to serve their fellow veterans and their community. All of their fundraising efforts are donated back to help in any way they can.

At the January Quarter Madness, vendors could include: Burdick Farm Stand, jBloom Jewelry, Scentsy, Tastefully Simple, Holley’s Hobbies, Color Street, Pampered Chef, Plunder Jewelry, and Avon plus different craft and food vendors with tumblers, t-shirts, wreaths, earrings, wind spinners, potholders, signs, garden stakes, décor, freeze dried candies, meat bundles, and more. Come shop with the vendors and stay for the Quarter Auction. Bring your quarters for charity items and extra bidding. All-In-Paddle will be $20. Doors open at 6:00, and the Quarter Auction begins at 6:30. All ages are welcome to attend. GRIFFINS’ Catering will have food for sale in the kitchen. There will also be a Bake Sale. Drink purchases can be made through the Legion as well. For more information, visit the “Mo Co Monthly Quarter Madness” Facebook page.

Bethany Chili cook-off

News Progress Posted on by


•January 7, 2026•

On Saturday, January 17th, at the Bethany American Legion Post No. 507, located at 112 IL-121, Bethany Celebration will be hosting a chili cook-off, which will be open to the public. The evening promises to be a fun-filled one, with bold flavors and friendly competition.

The categories for the chilis are traditional, spicy, and unique. The entry fee is $10 per chili category entry. Judging will be done by a panel of three judges between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Awards will be presented at 7:45 p.m. Doors open to the public at 7:00 p.m., and chili options are a $3 fee to sample or $5 for a bowl.

Attendees are invited to stay post competition to enjoy entertainment by Larry Daniels/LD Entertainment. 

Pre-registration is preferred. Contact Cassandra Lambdin at (217) 259-9953 with any questions or to sign up to compete. Sign-up may also be done in person at the American Legion.