Carolyn McFarland
Carolyn I. McFarland, 88, of Sullivan, passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.
Read MoreObituaries 8-5-2026: Carolyn McFarland
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Obituaries 8-5-2026: Milton Harshman
Milton Harshman
Milton M. Harshman, 89 of Sullivan, Illinois passed away in his home on Sunday, July 26, 2026. He was surrounded by his loving family and supported by the prayers of his many friends.
Read MoreA Look Back…8-5-2026
2016
Father John Sohm spent years bicycling around town while serving the families at St. Columcille Parrish in Sullivan for over 20 years. This week, Father Sohm took on a new role at St. Columcille as Pastor Emeritus.
Sullivan IGA held a 4 Day Meat Sale featuring 80% ground beef for $2.49 lb and boneless half pork loins for $1.79 lb.
Logan Corrie of Windsor won the Grand Champion in Kids Forms at the KTA Mid Illinois Taekwondo Invitational.
Read MoreMCHGS hosts round barn tour
•August 5, 2026•
Submitted by Larry Oathout, MCHGS Genealogist
and Tonya Frevert, MCHGS Publicity Chair
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society recently held its July meeting at one of Moultrie County’s eye-catching landmarks: the round red barn on the southeast side of Bethany. Situated not far from Illinois Route 121, the barn is a 10-year labor of love by Bethany native George Bone.
Read MoreCruisin’ for St. Jude brings Bethany and Sullivan groups together
•August 5, 2026•
Team Mattoon runners stepped off for their journey to Peoria last Friday morning. Team Mattoon has raised over $2 million dollars for St. Jude’s. Several members of the team come from Moultrie County.
by Jamie Crosier
The Bethany Celebration and Sullivan Dash and Bash are joining forces for the first Cruisin’ for St. Jude Jeep and Bike Run Saturday, Aug. 22, beginning at The Publisher in Bethany.
Registration will open at 10:00 a.m., with the run departing at noon. The registration fee is $10 per person. Participants may preregister through the link posted on the event’s Facebook page or register at The Publisher the morning of the event.
Although the event is being promoted as a Jeep and bike run, all makes and models of vehicles are welcome.
Read MoreTake charge of your diabetes
•August 5, 2026•
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. Classes will be offered Wednesday mornings August 12 through September 16 from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Classes will be held at the Shelby County Senior Center at 325 E. North 9th St. in Shelbyville.
The six weekly sessions are highly interactive and are taught by certified trainers Kara Brown of Community Care Systems and Cheri Burcham from University of Illinois Extension. Subjects covered include healthy eating, counting carbs, stress management, exercise and physical activity, monitoring blood sugar, medication management, working effectively with medical providers and much more. There will be no cost for the workshop, but registration is required by August 10 by calling the senior center at 217-774-2251 or the University of Illinois Extension office at 217-543-3755.
The American Diabetes Association identifies this program as meeting the Diabetes Support Initiative criteria for support programming. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs & employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please contact the Extension office at 217-543-3755.
Notice to Moultrie voters
•August 5, 2026•
Moultrie County Clerk & Recorder, Linda S. Qualls, is notifying all voters of Moultrie County of the postcard mailing from the County Clerk’s office in August 2026. This required mailing is to inform voters of their voting options, which includes being added to a permanent vote by mail list for future elections. Illinois law (10 ILCS 5/19-2.5), requires all Election Authorities to notify all registered voters of the permanent vote by mail option not more than 90 days or less than 45 days before a General Election informing the voter, “You may apply to permanently be placed on a vote by mail list using the attached application.”
Qualls wants all voters to know the permanent vote by mail list is simply an option and the notice is only being mailed because it is required by law. Our elections vendor, Liberty Systems, will mail these postcards on or around August 7, 2026.
This law was passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2021 as an unfunded mandate and leaves Election Authorities no option but to comply with the law, leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill. Those voters signing up for Permanent Vote by Mail will be removed from future mailings. Voters also have the option to opt out of future postcard mailings.
All correctly registered Moultrie County voters will continue to have the option to vote early, vote by mail, or vote at their polling place on Election Day, November 3, 2026.
Anyone with questions should contact the County Clerk’s office at 217-728-4389.
Linda S. Qualls, Moultrie County Clerk
2026 Findlay Walleye Festival
Recent Obituaries: Kevin Mark Yates
Kevin Mark Yates, 71, of Sullivan passed away 6:25 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, at his home.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 7, 2026, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Kevin was born April 3, 1955, in Peoria; the son of James W. and Ruth M. (Sampson) Yates. He worked in the labs of Mars/Kal Kan as a chemist helping to research and create new products. Kevin was an avid motorcycle enthusiast and enjoyed antique cars. He was a fan of Western movies and the music of Seals & Crofts. Kevin was a big history buff and took part in Civil War and World War II reenactments. Most of all he loved spending time with his family and took great joy in his nieces and nephews.
Kevin is survived by his sister, Marsha (David) Webb of Macon; sister-in-law, Patricia Yates of Washington, IL; nieces and nephews, Ryan (Karyn) Yates of Washington, IL, Adam Yates of Eureka, Donhavan (Amy) Webb of Niantic, Tyler (Austin) Webb of Decatur, Miranda (Brent) Cox of Trophy Club, TX, and Derek (Alexis) Conger of Washington, IL. He is also survived by several great-nieces, great-nephews. 1 great-great-niece and 1 great-great-nephew.
Kevin was proceeded in death by his parents, 1 brother, Michael K. Yates and his faithful fur baby, Andy.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Obituaries: Carolyn McFarland
Carolyn I. McFarland, 88, of Sullivan, passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Fred Hauck officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens, Mattoon. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Carolyn was born July 12, 1938, in Creve Coeur, Illinois, the daughter of Eugene M. and Virdie Swisher Gorrell. She was the secretary for the Sullivan Little Theater on the Square and the Moultrie County Counseling Center. Carolyn was a member of the Sullivan First Church of God and enjoyed the Monday evening Monicals Ladies Group. She married Vernon F. ‘Mac’ McFarland on September 28, 1957, in Newton and he preceded her in death on October 24, 2002.
Surviving is her sons Jeffrey (Julia) McFarland of Maryville and Rick (Janet) McFarland of Sullivan; daughter Michele McFarland of Sullivan; sister-in-laws Marna Gorrell of Morton and Lois Gorrell of Peoria; 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Vernon F., son Vernon, three brothers and two sisters.