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Category Archives: free news stories

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Rick King to perform in Allenville

News Progress Posted on March 4, 2026 by webmasterMarch 4, 2026


•March 4, 2026•

Allenville Christian Church will host a concert featuring Rick Alan King from Carmi, Illinois, on March 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the Allenville Christian Church, located at 201 Allen Street in Allenville. Snacks and fellowship time will follow the concert. A free Will offering will be taken.

From his earliest childhood memories, Rick Alan King was in church singing harmony with his mother and looking at the faces in the audience, seeing tears streaming down someone’s face, a smile, a bowed head, or a hand raised in praise. These images speak strongly into his young life. He knew right then, in his heart, that singing Gospel Music, ministering to lives through this powerful medium, was how he was to dedicate his life. He had received a calling and a destiny.

As a teenager, Rick started singing professionally and has shared the stage and performed with many leading artists in Gospel Music. In the 1990s, after many years of performing with other vocal groups, Rick Alan King chose to embark on a solo career. Those many years have allowed him to share a variety of songs, moods, humor, and worship. His purpose is not strictly to entertain, but to entertain for a purpose and to extend the feeling he carries in his calling.

Posted in free news stories

MoCo monthly quarter madness

News Progress Posted on March 4, 2026 by webmasterMarch 4, 2026


•March 4, 2026•

Moultrie County Monthly Quarter Madness will hold its March Quarter Auction on Wednesday, March 11th. The event will be held at the Sullivan American Legion. This month’s organization is the Tri-County Shrine Club. This group is composed of Shriners and Masons located in Douglas, Moultrie, and Piatt counties.  Shriners is a fraternity grounded in fun, fellowship, and the Masons in principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. They support Shriners Children’s, a renowned healthcare system dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children worldwide. Patients with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lips and palates receive care regardless of the families’ ability to pay or insurance status.

At the March Quarter Madness, vendors could include Plunder, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Avon, jBloom Jewelry, Tastefully Simple, Color Street, plus different craft and food vendors with tumblers, t-shirts, crafts, earrings, signs, garden stakes, décor, sourdough baked goods, 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 p.m., and the Quarter Auction begins at 6:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend. A bake sale to also benefit Tri County Shriners will have goodies for purchase. Highway Heartburn food truck will be in the parking lot with food available for purchase. Drink purchases can be made through the Legion as well. For more information, visit the “Mo Co Monthly Quarter Madness” Facebook page.

Posted in free news stories

MC History Center writing group

News Progress Posted on March 4, 2026 by webmasterMarch 4, 2026


•March 4, 2026•

The Moultrie County History Center writing group, led by Jeannie Barnes, meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 10:30 to noon in the History Center library. The center is located at 1303 S. Hamilton Street in Sullivan. 

This group is free and open to all. You can join in any or all sessions. It’s never too late to get started. For more information, call (217) 728-4085, or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MCHGS

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Watch election results for the Primary

News Progress Posted on February 25, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 25, 2026


•February 25, 2026•

www.libertysystemsllc.com

www.newsprogress.com

Election Information

www.elections.il.gov 

www.moultriecountyil.gov 

(Elections tab)

Are you registered?

To Verify your registration, call the County Clerk’s office at 217-728-4389 or, check online at one of the following:

www.elections.il.gov 

www.moultriecountyil.gov 

Election tab - Voter Information - Am I registered to Vote?”

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Sullivan CUSD ‘25/’26 Amended calendar

News Progress Posted on February 25, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 25, 2026


•February 25, 2026•

Friday, February 27th: Early dismissal. SES, 2:20 p.m., SMS/SHS 2:30 p.m.

Friday, March 13th: No student attendance. School improvement day.

Monday, March 16th-Friday, March 20th: Spring Break.

Friday, April 3rd: Emergency day, no school unless additional snow days are used.

Monday, April 6th: Emergency day, no school unless additional snow days are used.

Friday, May 15th: Emergency day, no school unless additional snow days are used.

Thursday, May 21st: Last day of student attendance. Early dismissal. SES, 2:20 p.m., SMS/SHS 2:30 p.m.

Posted in free news stories

American Legion blood drive

News Progress Posted on February 25, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 25, 2026


•February 25, 2026•

The American Red Cross will be having a blood drive on Tuesday, March 10th, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Sullivan American Legion, located at 8 East Strain Street in Sullivan. For an appointment, call 1 (800) RED CROSS- 1(800) 733-2767, or visit RedCrossBlood.org. Up to 15 minutes can be saved when you donate blood by using Rapid Pass. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass for more information. Give in March for a $15 gift card by email, and successful donations get A1C testing. Go to rcblood.org/March.

Posted in free news stories

Findlay FPD annual ‘Soup Supper

News Progress Posted on February 18, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2026


•February 18, 2026•

On Saturday, February 21st, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., the Findlay Fire Protection District (FFPD) will be holding its annual ‘Soup Supper’ at the Findlay Firehouse, 301 E South 2nd Street in Findlay. This is a free-will donation meal/event open to the community and general public. All proceeds from this event will be used for the FFPD’s annual high school scholarship program, as well as costs for future events hosted by the department. 

The menu will be a variety of soups, hot dogs, peanut butter sandwiches, drinks, and desserts. This is AYCE.  The majority of the delicious items on the menu will be prepared by the always-appreciated and gracious volunteers of the department. There will also be a silent auction with numerous and varied items to bid on.

For additional information, contact Tina Martz via email at findlayems@gmail.com or call (217) 259-9267.

Posted in free news stories

“Bo” Wood area temporarily closed

News Progress Posted on February 18, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2026


•February 18, 2026•

The Bo Wood Recreation Area will be closed from February 17th through February 20th. This closure includes the entire area, including the entrance road, dog park, and boat ramp. Access will not be permitted for either vehicle or pedestrian traffic during this time. The temporary closure is necessary to allow maintenance teams to safely complete required maintenance work within the park. The Corps of Engineers recognizes the inconvenience these closures may cause and appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as this work is completed. For additional information, contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at (217) 774-3951.

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ACOE: volunteers needed 

News Progress Posted on February 18, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2026


•February 18, 2026•

Lake Shelbyville U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is looking to fill a few more volunteer positions for the 2026 season. They are seeking hard-working, dependable, and positive people to join their volunteer program. The current vacancies are as follows: Visitor Center host, Visitor Center garden, Lithia Springs campground cleaner, and Opossum Creek Campground host.

The position dates are Lithia Springs campground-April 16th-October 27th; Opossum Creek Campground -May 14th-September 8th; Forest Bo Woods-April 16th-October 25th; and Visitor’s Center-May through September. 

For more information, contact the volunteer coordinator at lakeshelbyville@usace.army.mil or call (217) 774-3951, extension 7047. To apply, go to volunteer.gov.

Posted in free news stories

Habitat application deadline

News Progress Posted on February 11, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 11, 2026


•February 11, 2026•

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for their 2026 house build.

Applications can be picked up at the MCHFH Office located at 8 South Washington Street, Suite 102 in Sullivan, or during operating hours at the Habitat ReStore located at 401 South Hamilton Street also in Sullivan, during operating hours. 

Applicants must be in need of safe, affordable housing, have the ability to pay an affordable monthly mortgage payment, and be willing to partner with Habitat, providing “sweat equity” hours during the building of the home. The application deadline is March 15th, 2026. For more information, call (217) 728-7386.

Habitat for Humanity is a movement of people in your local area and around the world, working together to build more prosperous and vibrant communities by making sure everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. Together, we build homes, communities, and hope.

Posted in free news stories

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Dawkins NEHS submission wows 



News Progress


Mae Dawkins, a Sullivan High School senior and member of the National English Honor Society, was recently informed that she is a national winner of the NEHS Intellectual Freedom Challenge, a prestigious competition that encourages NEHS members to craft compelling arguments defending texts that have faced challenges and bans. Her essay scored among some of the best submissions in the nation by university professors. May was awarded a certificate and a $150 dollar prize.


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