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Concert in Allenville

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•October 7, 2026•

Allenville Christian Church, 201 Allen street Allenville, will host a concert by the Mulkins on October 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Delivering toe-tappin’, soul-liftin’ Bluegrass Gospel music, The Mulkins Family from Pawnee, Illinois is spreading hope, joy, and a whole lot of family charm. With banjos, fiddles, and a 45-ft RV full of kids, this energetic crew of twelve (yep—twelve!) travels the country sharing the Good News of Jesus at churches, festivals, and anywhere the Lord opens a door.

Lovington first-grader takes the stage at Moultrie-Douglas County talent show

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by Jamie Crosier

Six-year-old Paisleigh had never performed on a stage before. Her singing experience had taken place at home and in the car, with encouragement from her mom and practice using a microphone at home.

On July 28, she took that singing to the talent show at the Moultrie-Douglas County fairgrounds in Arthur and came home a winner.

Paisleigh, a first-grader at Lovington Grade School, performed “If You Have To” by Ella Langley. She said she was “excited and a little bit nervous” when it was time to perform.

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Habitat breaks ground on new Sullivan home

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•October 7, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

Pictured are Richard Conques, Shelia Anderson and family, Gary Smith and Sandy Sanders.

An open building site in Sullivan became the starting point for a new home Aug. 30 as Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity gathered with Sheila Anderson and her family for a groundbreaking ceremony.

Board members, local supporters and traveling Habitat volunteers joined the Anderson family to mark the beginning of the project. Anderson and her children are this year’s selected Habitat family.

Gerald Wood prepared an account of the groundbreaking for Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity, providing details from the ceremony and the volunteers involved. The ceremony included prayer and Scripture led by the Rev. Justin Cullen of Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan. Cullen prayed for the volunteers who would give their time and skills to the project and for the family who will eventually call the house home.

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Remembering Who We Are……

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Kilroy Was Here

•October 7, 2026•

by Janet Roney

My family had an Angus herd, but my brothers and I knew nothing about sheep until our neighbor gave us an orphaned lamb to raise one spring when we were kids. That dear little lamb inspired my brothers to get three more grown sheep for 4-H projects. We named the lamb Kilroy after the name in the graffiti phrase, “Kilroy Was Here” scrawled on boxcars and overpasses everywhere during World War II both here and anywhere the GIs served in Europe and Asia. Who was Kilroy? No one seemed to know.   

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MCHGS presents “E.B. Tuttle: Chaplain to the Rebel Soldiers at Camp Douglas, Chicago, IL”

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•October 7, 2026•

Did you know that there was a prisoner of war camp in Illinois during the Civil War? One that was said to be the deadliest in the nation? It was called Camp Douglas and was located on the southeast side of Chicago. Reverend E.B. Tuttle was the camp chaplain and wrote about his time there as well as at forts out west during the Indian wars after the Civil War ended.

Join the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society on Thursday, October 15th at 7:00 p.m. as Jeannie Barnes, MCHGS President and Tuttle descendant, shares the story about Camp Douglas and Reverend E.B. Tuttle. The Moultrie County History Center is located at 1303 South Hamilton, Sullivan. 

This program is free and open to the public. Call (217) 728-4085 for more information.

A Look Back…10-7-2026

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1966

Miss Pamela Jeffers reigned as Little Miss Peanut during the Kiwanis Peanut Day, and as the Queen, she rode in the Kiwanis float with two runners-up during the homecoming parade. Pamela is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Jeffers. First and second runners-up were Miss Maria Burtcheard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Burtcheard, and Miss Diane Wood, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Wood.

Robert H. Pierce, manager of Help Finance Corp., was named competition director for the Sullivan Punt, Pass and Kick competition.

Two Sullivan High School youths, Charles White and Ralph Oliver, were awarded letters of commendation honoring their high performance on the 1966 National Merits Scholarship Qualifying Test.

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Protect yourself during respiratory virus season

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Immunizations lower your risk of severe respiratory illness

•October 7, 2026•

by Angela Hogan

Respiratory illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause serious health problems. Complications from these illnesses are especially hazardous for infants, older adults, pregnant individuals, and people with chronic health conditions and compromised immune systems.

Recommended immunizations against these viruses can lower your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and other complications. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released new vaccine guidance to help Illinois residents protect themselves and their families during the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season.

Let’s review the vaccines most likely to help protect you and your loved ones from viruses expected to circulate this fall season.

Flu Vaccination Recommended for Almost Everyone

IDPH recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older.

Flu viruses change over time, and protection from a previous vaccination gradually decreases. Receiving the current seasonal vaccine helps prepare the immune system to fight the flu viruses expected to circulate this season.

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