Category Archives: News

Council hears cat complaints 

News Progress Posted on by


•September 17, 2025•

by Sharon Barricklow

The Sullivan City Council had almost an hour of public comment at their Monday, September 8 meeting, most of it discussing the problem of stray and feral cats in the city. Members of Moultrie County PAWS were asking the city to do a better job of capturing stray and feral cats and relocating them to area farms and also to Macon County Animal Control. Advocates said the cats are not properly acclimated to their new homes and often run away or are killed by predators. “It’s not their fault,” said one person about the stray cats.

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Grandparents Day celebration

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Photo by DM Williamee

sundaes and smiles

This past Sunday, Heritage Woods held a Grandparents Day celebration, with friends and family of residents coming to celebrate with their loved ones. The sundaes bar was a hit, but even more was the quality time that families spent together catching up, taking photos, and generously dishing out the hugs and kisses. 

Moultrie County Animal Control in need of donations

News Progress Posted on by


•September 10, 2025•

With the recent influx of dogs at the Moultrie County Animal Control facility, they are going through supplies faster than ever. Currently, they are in need of the following: MARS Pedigree Adult Roasted Chicken Flavor dog food, and Max & Neo leashes and collars. Their current inventory is very low, and the food is flying off their shelves quickly. Every donation helps them continue to provide the best care possible for these dogs until they find their forever homes. 

Donations can be made directly via this link: https://www.maxandneo.com/collections/buy-a-donation-box-for-a-rescue, or can also be left in their drop box in front of their facility if no one is around.

Maker’s Market 2025: food, fun and friendship

News Progress Posted on by


•September 10, 2025•

Photos by DM Williamee

Submitted

This past Saturday in Sullivan, Building 1225 welcomed the community to its annual Makers Market, drawing about 55 local vendors and a lively crowd of shoppers for a day of creativity, connection, and fun. Building 1225 is owned and operated by the Vineyard Church in Sullivan, whose mission is for everyone in the community - and those who visit - to experience the love of God, be transformed by Jesus, and extend the miraculous. Events like the Makers Market embody that vision.

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Cruise Night: autos, music, and fun for all

News Progress Posted on by


•September 3, 2025•

by DM Williamee

The turnout for Saturday the 30th’s “Cruise Night on the Square” held in Sullivan found autos of all makes and models - new and old, of all colors and styles (classic to modern): original, restored, boosted, lifted, and otherwise modified for both personal tastes, brand aesthetics, and speed.

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Sullivan approves subdivision TIF 

News Progress Posted on by


•September 3, 2025•

by Sharon Barricklow

The Sullivan City Council approved a Tax Increment Financing agreement with a development company for a new subdivision. Central Properties and Investments, LLC will develop the Willow Brooke estates as part of the agreement. The plan goes along with the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Committee 2020 goal of 100 new homes in a ten year period. 

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Palindromes: genome sequences to wordplay. Who knew?

News Progress Posted on by


•September 3, 2025•

by DM Williamee

A palindrome is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward.” Many are entertaining, and palindrome phrases are notoriously hard to create on one’s own. From Wikipedia, “The word ‘palindrome’ was introduced by English poet and writer Henry Peacham in 1638. The concept of a palindrome can be dated to the 3rd century BCE, although no examples survive. The earliest known examples are the 1st-century CE Latin acrostic word square, the Sator Square (which contains both word and sentence palindromes), and the 4th-century Greek Byzantine sentence palindrome, “nipson anomemata me monan opsin. (which in English is “Wash the sins, not only the face”). Palindromes are also found in music (the table canon and crab canon) and biological structures (most genomes include palindromic gene sequences).” The humble palindrome knows how to get around and travels in some cultivated circles as well. 

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Caregivers: Searching for Guidance and Support

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MCHD offers Powerful Tools for Caregivers to support individuals


•September 3, 2025•

by Angela Hogan

The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) is pleased to sponsor a Powerful Tools for Caregivers curriculum at the Jonathan Creek Christian Church near Sullivan, IL. The six-week course will be offered from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday beginning September 24th through October 29th. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an evidence-based program that focuses on the special needs of caregivers for persons living with dementia. During the six-week curriculum, caregivers learn new ways to identify and address the physical, mental, and emotional stresses of caregiving. 

Who are the Caregivers?: Caregivers help individuals meet their daily needs. These needs may include assistance with household tasks, managing financial and personal affairs, or completing personal care needs such as bathing, meal preparation, and transportation. 

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BASO car show draws crowds

News Progress Posted on by


•August 27, 2025•

Photos by DM Williamee

On Saturday the 23rd, crowds gathered in the community of Bethany to enter and admire cars, trucks, and motorcycles of all years, makes, and models entered in the BASO car show. With a beautiful and balmy afternoon, it was the perfect day for a car show, as many in attendance commented. Entrants came from near and far for the opportunity to show their appreciation for the automobile and their craftsmanship in both restoration and showing. Both young and young at heart appreciated the wide array of beautiful autos being showcased. Awards are as follows:

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Illinois public schools’ mental health screening: more questions than answers

News Progress Posted on by


•August 27, 2025•

Op-Ed by DM Williamee

A new Illinois law (SB1560) will mandate that all students in 3rd through 12th grade have annual mental health screenings beginning the 2027-2028 school year. (105 ILCS 5/2-3.203)

The Illinois State Board of Education has until September 1st, 2026, to develop its guidelines, such as how these screenings will be conducted, how any follow-ups/referrals will be implemented, and how they plan to protect students’ privacy as well, as the information gathered will be done so digitally. Parents can opt out of the screenings, but the process for doing so, as well as any consequences for opting out, if they exist, are still unclear. As many already know, educators are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse, and while it is widely accepted that more resources are needed for mental health services for all ages, is implementing a program like this (with the word “mandatory”) in our schools 1) necessary, 2) wise, and 3) an overreach of the State? How will this mandatory screening impact mandatory reporting?

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