•July 2, 2025•
The area of public lands designated as Dam West High Water Boat Ramp, commonly referred to as “Community Cove”, recently acquired a new kayak launch and pollinator plots through various partnerships and grants. The “Community Cove” area includes the Dam West High Water Boat Ramp as well as public lands directly encompassing the boat ramp. This area extends West to Forest Park, South to the 9th Street and Dam Road intersections, and East to the Dam West Recreation Area.
Read MoreFirst case of West Nile virus in Illinois confirmed; act now to reduce risk
•July 2, 2025•
by Angela Hogan
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed Illinois’ first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2025. An individual from Southern Illinois was hospitalized due to complications of the infection. This case underscores the importance of avoiding mosquito bites. WNV can pose elevated health risks for individuals with weakened immune systems and those over 65. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), WNV has already been confirmed in 19 counties, including Clinton and Christian in Central Illinois. The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) urges area residents to prevent mosquito bites and reduce their risk of West Nile virus (WNV).
Read MoreHidden Worlds
•July 2, 2025•
by Janet Roney
I used to know every hill and ravine in our family’s timber pasture along the Kaskaskia River southeast of Sullivan. At least, that’s what I thought. My frequent hikes of exploration usually began by going under the railroad bridge in the east pasture. There, the Angus cattle herd had worn down the creek banks into a mud flat pockmarked with water-filled cattle hoof prints.
One spring day, as I was picking my way across the muddy morass on slippery flat stepping stones, I heard the noise of rippling water. A rivulet was gurgling beneath some large red haw bushes along the railroad embankment to my right.
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•July 2, 2025•
4th - Closed in observance of Independence Day.
7th & 21st - Needle Night from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. If you would like to learn to crochet, knit, needlepoint, or even how to sew, we have people who can help teach you. If you already know how and just want to hang out, come join us.
8th - Summer Reading from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Macon County Conservation District will be here to present an Astronomy Program.
11th - Story time from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Kids craft from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
14th - Adult Craft Club from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bring whatever project you are working on and join us for the fun.
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•July 2, 2025•
Closed on July 4th
Story times: Every Wednesday, July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 10:00 am. The bounce house will be available after the story and craft.
Every Monday at 9:00 a.m., ETML hosts a Memory Café: This is a social gathering for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Helpful information and support is available from others who also have loved ones who struggle with memory loss.
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•June 25, 2025•
Last Friday, on June 20th, the State of Illinois’ “Mobile DMV” drew in a crowd at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, meeting the needs of locals with everything from driver’s license renewals to road tests. Nearly every chair was filled, but the mobile DMV team met every challenge with humor and grace. The overall atmosphere was one of humor, and there’s something to be learned from listening to neighbors catching up. Overheard by a patron, “I am so glad I don’t have to go all the way to Mattoon for this. That takes up half of my day!”
Read MoreNew Perspectives
•June 25, 2025•
by Janet Roney
Travel leads to new perspectives, they say. It causes travelers to drop their prejudices and see the world around them with a new perspective. Our family hike along the old Charleston Road in the summer of 1982 did that for us, but not in ways I had expected. Our hike did not transform our children into eager students of local history, as I had hoped.
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•June 25, 2025•
by R. Eden Martin
Rick Atkinson is one of America’s most highly acclaimed historians. Known for both his scholarly rigor and his narrative skill, in the field of military history, he surely has no contemporary equal. He is perhaps best known for his widely-praised liberation trilogy — his three books which tell the story of the Allied invasions and campaigns in Europe during World War II: North Africa, Italy, and Normandy.
Atkinson is now well into his next trilogy, which tells the story of America’s battles for independence from Great Britain, as well as the related political and military struggles in Europe involving France and Spain. The first of these volumes, published in 2019, The British Are Coming, received high praise for weaving the large picture of events and strategy with the day-to-day lives of soldiers and civilians caught up in the conflict. The second volume, entitled The Fate of the Day, was published two months ago and has already received equally enthusiastic praise from reviewers. The New York Times called it “great history … compulsively readable … There is no better writer of narrative history than the Pulitzer Prize-winning Atkinson.” This new volume covers the middle of the war, 1777–1780, from Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston.
Read More2015
The Sullivan Bakery returned! Two hours after opening its doors, they were sold out. The bakery was owned and operated by the Risley family - JoBeth Risley, her daughter Danielle Risley LaBarbera, husband Jerry Risley, and daughter Drew Zbinden.
Sullivan High School baseball team held their awards banquet, recognizing the following individuals: Nick Frerichs-offensive award and first team all-Central Illinois Conference; Matt Sparrow-Redskin award and second team all-CIC; Drew Harris- most improved; Zach Hrvol- pitching award and second team all-CIC; Dylan Hart- offensive award and first team all-CIC; and Jacob Piper- defensive award and all-CIC honorable mention; Levi Nadler-Redskin award and all-CIC honorable mention.
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•June 18, 2025•
