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Second Annual Guns vs. Hoses scheduled for Saturday

News Progress Posted on by


•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

News Progress Posted on by


•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

News Progress Posted on by


•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

News Progress Posted on by


•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

News Progress Posted on by


•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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Sullivan siblings win gold again at Taekwondo nationals

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•July 8, 2026•

Austin and Annika Kelley, brother and sister from Sullivan, traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete in the UTA Taekwondo Nationals on Friday, June 26. They both came home National Champions in the weapons division. Annika is the UTA 2026 11-14 year old Creative Weapons National Champion and Austin is the UTA 2026 15-17 year old Traditional Weapons National Champion.  

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Lovington library July programs 

News Progress Posted on by


•July 8, 2026•

10th - Story time from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Bring the little ones in for a story and a craft. Kids craft from 3-4 p.m. We will be making a garden-themed craft. 

13th - Craft Club will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bring whatever project you are working on and join us for the fun.

14th, 21st, and 28th - Summer Reading from 10:00 to11:00 a.m.

15th - Crochet & Coffee from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your crochet, and we will provide the coffee. 

17th - Teen craft time will be from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

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LLC offering NREMT testing

News Progress Posted on by


•July 8, 2026•

Lake Land College recently received approval to offer National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) licensing examinations on campus, reducing the burden of long-distance travel for graduates of the College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Paramedic programs to earn their national licenses.

The NREMT exams are designed to evaluate the competence of EMS practitioners at a variety of levels, with content areas defined and validated by subject experts and educators working in EMS fields. The exams are recognized across all 50 states, with successful completion allowing EMTs to transfer their licenses seamlessly across state lines and access career opportunities nationwide. 

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MoDo 4-H kicks off with multi-county dog show 

News Progress Posted on by


•July 8, 2026•

The Moultrie-Douglas 4-H summer show season is officially underway. On June 13th, Moultrie-Douglas 4-H joined 4-H members from Coles County at the Coles County Fairgrounds for the Multi-County 4-H Dog Show, showcasing the hard work, dedication, and special bonds between youth and their canine companions. 

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