•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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•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.
Read MoreMCHD 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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•August 27, 2025•
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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•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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by DM Williamee
Since 2019, Misty Parrish, with her friendly companion Zo, has dressed in numerous kid-friendly costumes (with the T-Rex being a crowd favorite) and shared smiles, waves, and comments of good cheer and encouragement with students on their way to SES on their morning trek to school. Parrish, a former preschool teacher of 12 years, bought the costumes while she was teaching to greet students each day.
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Photo Submitted
‘Christmas for the Kids’
Sparrows Unlimited, of Lovington, held its popular (31st annual now) “Christmas for the Kids” fundraiser last Saturday. Supporters filed in throughout the day to bid on silent auction items, listen to live music by Cash Hale, with Sons of the American Legion providing the ‘pork chop on a stick’ concessions. Many came out for the event and, forgoing the auction portion, donated to the cause with cash donations and enjoyed the socialization, music, and food. Pictured are members representing the Keystone Chapter of the Widows Sons, who presented a check to Sparrows president, Pam Anklam.
•August 20, 2025•
DM Williamee
This year’s 128th (a most impressive number) Windsor Harvest Picnic drew crowds to the small community, despite ongoing record-high temperatures. Beginning on August 14th, the 3-day fete included events such as dinners, ice-cream socials, live musical performances from the Kentucky Headhunters and tribute band Fleetwood Gold, auctions, a 5k run, pedal tractor pulls, Bessie Bingo (sponsored by Windsor’s FFA chapter), inflatables (brought by 25/8 Extreme), ‘Little Miss Harvest’ picnic, and of course, a parade.
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•August 20, 2025•
by Sharon Barricklow
Residents of Sullivan will have a new way to receive community notifications and report problems, including non-working streetlights and water main breaks, with a new community “app” the council approved Monday night.
City Treasurer Kassie Waggoner brought the proposal to sign a contract with textMyGov.com to provide services to the city for three years for $5,000, with a $2,500 setup cost. Waggoner learned of the program at a meeting of Illinois Municipal League treasurers earlier this year. Considering the problems facing area communities after the recent Lake Mattoon algae bloom, Waggoner said the app, which allows up to 50,000 text messages each year, could allow the city to reach a majority of citizens very quickly in a similar emergency, and also provide an outlet for them to report issues to the city.
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•August 20, 2025•
by DM Williamee
The City of Sullivan Animal Code requires that not only dogs, but cats as well, must be kept under the control of the owner and not be let to roam free, unsupervised, or unrestrained. Due to the growing number of feral cats in Sullivan and the growing number of complaints because of them, live traps, which are humane, have been deployed to capture feral cats, which are then released to farmers who are more than happy to rehome them on their property.
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