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March 17, 2026 Election Results

Category Archives: News Briefs

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Remembering Who We Are………………72

News Progress Posted on August 20, 2025 by webmasterAugust 20, 2025

The Lincoln Way (continued)


•August 20, 2025•

by Janet Roney

I am sure you know that Abraham Lincoln was a frequent visitor to Moultrie County when he was a young man and while he was practicing law on the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Local history nuts like me spend time researching when he was here, and where he ate and slept. So, hang in there with me.

One of the first places where he ate and slept was three miles south of Lovington near the Joshua Selby log cabin on March 13th, 1830. Joshua Selby and his father-in-law, Jacob Pea, had settled there in 1830 and were among the township’s earliest settlers. (Joshua’s 80 acres was on the east side of Route 32, and Jacob Pea’s was on the west side, just south of County Road 1850 North.) 

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SFFC: supporting children and parents in their communities

News Progress Posted on August 20, 2025 by webmasterAugust 20, 2025


•August 20, 2025•

Submitted

Safe Families for Children hosts vulnerable children and creates extended family-like support for desperate, low-income families through a community of devoted volunteers motivated by compassion to keep children safe and ultimately together with their families. 

Parents voluntarily place their children with safe, loving, and screened host families where they are cared for, while additional volunteers help parents to restore stability in their lives. SFFC strives to meet three objectives. First, to prevent child abuse by providing safe, temporary homes for children from families in crisis. Secondly, to support and stabilize families in crisis by providing mentoring and referrals to appropriate resources. Third, to deflect children from entering the child welfare system by keeping healthy families intact and reunifying children with their parents.

Safe Families for Children believes children shouldn’t have to be harmed before they are helped and aims to prevent abuse by addressing the root issues of parents. This innovative approach prevents many more full-blown problems and helps create healthier families and, in turn, healthier communities. Safe Families engages a network of volunteers who serve as host families (who open their homes to children from families in crisis), family friends (who provide emotional support to families until they are able to get back on their feet), and resource friends (who provide goods or services to help families through their crisis). The biological parent is empowered by retaining custody of the child and averting the complexities of the court system.

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A Look Back…8-20-2025

News Progress Posted on August 20, 2025 by webmasterAugust 20, 2025

2015

Moultrie County is sprucing up the courthouse. On Thursday, August 20th, the Moultrie County Board proceeded with the restoration of the exterior of the courthouse with a unanimous vote, based on the recommendations of Building and Grounds committee Co-chair, Gary Smith.

Running a tight ship is a challenge for the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department, and recent uncertainties in state funding are putting more pressure on the limited staff. “With eight Deputies covering the County 24/7, we are already running pretty close,” Sheriff Chris Simms said, noting that similar and surrounding Counties operate with up to forty percent more staff.

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MCH&GS “Artifact Roadshow”

News Progress Posted on August 13, 2025 by webmasterAugust 13, 2025


•August 13, 2025•

by Tonya Frevert and Randy Fair

On August 9th, the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society hosted the “2nd Native American Artifacts Roadshow” at 1303 S. Hamilton Street in Sullivan. The community was invited to bring Native American artifacts to the History Center for assessment and evaluation by Randy Fair of Sullivan and Tommy Bryden of Springfield, two longtime collectors and consultants with over 70 years combined experience. 

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SBL “Hospice Binga” set for September 9th

News Progress Posted on August 13, 2025 by webmasterAugust 13, 2025


•August 13, 2025•

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation will host its 18th annual SBL Hospice Binga on Tuesday, September 9th, at the Mattoon Eagles Club, 1917 Oak Avenue. Net proceeds support an endowment for SBL Willow Breeze Hospice House.

Contributions to Hospice Binga directly impact people throughout East Central and Southern Illinois by helping those with limited resources pay for their stay at Willow Breeze. “Willow Breeze has already impacted many families in the region,” SBL Special Events Officer Kim Lockart said. “Proceeds from Hospice Binga will support the endowment and ensure that we can continue to help families who need assistance.”

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SHS seniors express themselves in parking space design 

News Progress Posted on August 13, 2025 by webmasterAugust 13, 2025


Last Wednesday afternoon, SHS seniors showcased their creativity and flair as they painted their parking spaces at the school. Some tented over their spaces to beat the heat, used stencils, and even recruited friends and family to help, but what was most obvious to all was how much thought had gone into planning the designs and text. 

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Lake Land College ‘Welcome Week’

News Progress Posted on August 13, 2025 by webmasterAugust 13, 2025


•August 13, 2025•

 Lake Land College will celebrate the start of the new school year by hosting Welcome Week, a week-long event designed to help new and returning students prepare for a successful year. Welcome Week will begin the week before classes start, offering students a chance to settle in at the College, meet staff and faculty, make new friends, and familiarize themselves with campus. Welcome Week activities include a range of fun and helpful opportunities, such as campus tours, information sessions, resource stations, photobooths, a scavenger hunt game, planner decorating, and more.

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Sullivan AMBUCS receives donated fan 

News Progress Posted on August 13, 2025 by webmasterAugust 13, 2025


A work fan for AMBUCS workers was donated by Chuck Norris in appreciation for a ramp built. 

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‘Makers Market’ returns

News Progress Posted on August 13, 2025 by webmasterAugust 13, 2025


•August 13, 2025•

Submitted

The ‘Makers Market’ at Building 1225 will be back on Saturday, September 6th, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., offering a vibrant day of shopping, sipping, and community connection at 1225 S. Hamilton Street.

Now an annual tradition, the ‘Makers Market’ brings together more than 50 local vendors, all offering handmade or homegrown goods just in time for the fall season. Visitors can browse a curated selection of items, including boutique jewelry, home décor, cozy candles, garden goods, farmhouse signs, fresh-baked treats, and much more.

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Sullivan-based Logistics Unit returns after Africa/Europe deployment

News Progress Posted on August 13, 2025 by webmasterAugust 13, 2025


•August 13, 2025•

U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, Illinois National Guard Staff Sgt. Summer Sparacino hugs her 2-year-old daughter, Francesca, as Sparacino returns from deployment.

The Illinois Army National Guard’s 634th Brigade Support Battalion Forward Logistics Element returned home on Saturday, Aug. 2, after supporting U.S. Special Operations Command Africa for approximately six months. 

The unit of a little more than a dozen Soldiers was divided into two teams during the deployment, with the majority, led by Maj. Donald Tucker of Mattoon, based in Africa, and the rest, led by 1st Sgt. Colton Love, stationed in Germany. Both teams traveled frequently, providing logistics wherever needed to support U.S. military operations on the African continent. 

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Moultrie-Douglas Contestants



News Progress


New royalty to be crowned
The Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Pageant will be held Monday, July 27th at 6:00 p.m. for Little Miss Fair Queen and 7:00 p.m. for Miss and Junior Miss Fair Queen located at the south track on the Mo-Do Fairgrounds. Vying for the title of Miss Moultrie Douglas Fair Queen are: Abigail Meyer of Tuscola, Addee Mulligan of Arcola, Sarah Rogers of Atwood, Ava Whitson of Tuscola, Addisyn Wilson of Villa Grove, Emma Spillman of Tuscola, Aymara Leal of Arcola and Katilyn Kirby of Sullivan.

Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas contestants
Vying for the title of Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas are: Harper Hale of Arthur, Brooklyn Bates of Sullivan, Sofie Reifsteck of Tuscola, Sophia Wilson of Arcola, Miley Rennels of Tuscola, Ava Warren of Sullivan, Tatum Faust of Pesotum, Maggie Meyer of Tuscola and Audrey Warren of Sullivan, pictured 2025 Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas Quinn Chapman of Villa Grove.
Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas contestants
Vying for the title of Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas are: Everleigh Allen of Tuscola, Emelia Shelmadine of Tuscola, Arabella Butterick of Arthur, Josslyn Leigh Brown of Sullivan, Athalia Juliet Sanchez of Arcola, Myla Ro Oye of Arthur, Sophie Elliott of Sullivan, Rosie Smith of Villa Grove, Tinley Eads of Arthur, Alayna Guadiana of Arcola and Alexandria Brackemyre of Lovington, pictured with 2025 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Joslynn Steffens of Tuscola.


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