Category Archives: News

Sullivan-Okaw Valley Football Team Helps With Move

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Pamela Browning had a moving team to help her move out of her three story home in Sullivan on Sunday. She noted that she had nobody to help her initially but that members of the SOV football team volunteered to help her out. Browning said that her group of helpers were an answer to prayers for help.

•September 27, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Pamela Browning moved out of her house in Sullivan on Sunday, September 24 so that she can live closer to her daughter who lives in Southern Illinois. Something that weighed on her mind though was how was she going to get everything moved out of her three story house all on her own. Browning said that she prayed for someone to help and she not only had help she had a whole team, a football team that is.

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Sullivan Elementary School New Addition Includes 16 Additional Rooms

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•September 20, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Sullivan Elementary School hosted a grandparents’ event, book sale and open house to showcase the new addition to the community Thursday, September 14, . According to Sullivan Elementary School Principal Leslie Guyot, until the new high school is built, the school will be housing students from Pre-K to sixth grade. When the new high school is completed, the sixth-grade students will be moved to the middle school, and the elementary school will permanently become PreK through fifth grade. Read More

County Board Hears how Local Fire Departments Utilized ARPA Funds

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•September 20, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board held a regular meeting on Thursday, September 14. Board member Scott Buxton attended the meeting via phone. During the guest speaker portion of the meeting, the board was able to hear from representatives of Sullivan Fire, Lovington Fire and Bethany Fire Departments and Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity in regards to how the organizations utilized their ARPA funds. 

Sullivan Assistant Fire Chief Chris Wright reported they received a ARPA grant in 2022. He noted they were operating a 2008 Ford ambulance that was experiencing many mechanical problems to the point where it would not run. They had another ambulance that was out of commission due to striking a deer. 

The department made a request for $245,000 to purchase a new ambulance to replace the 2008 one. Several options were explored including mounting the box on a new chassis. They found a demo ambulance at a reduced cost of $208,000.  Read More

Illinois Amish Heritage Center to host program on quilting techniques

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•September 13, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center will host Sharon K. Jack of Country Home Quilting and More on Saturday, September 30, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on their campus. Cost is $10 which includes admission to the campus and the program. Jack will be doing a techniques demonstration on the evolution of quilting techniques from how her grandmother made quilts and how she makes quilts. She will have samples of the different tools used as well as display boards. Read More

City Council Approves Ordinance Amending Electric Rates

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•September 13, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a meeting Monday, September 11, and voted to approve an ordinance amending electric rates. Commissioner Doug Shook was absent due to being on vacation. Commissioner Mike Kirk said the last council hired a company to do a study, and they broke down the fixed rates including meter reading, meter replacement, billing, customer service, etc.

The total of that was $9.00 currently, but the fees come to $17.37. He said that over the years they are going to get that number. Starting October 1, this will change from $9.00 to $11.80 on residential.

“Every class of rates is charged differently,” he said. Kirk noted the average of all of the six different classes is a 3.5% increase. The ordinance was approved. Read More

Arthur Cheese Festival Celebrates 50th Year

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•September 6, 2023•

The Arthur Cheese Festival was held on Saturday, September 2-Monday, September 4. This year the festival celebrated it’s 50th year. On Saturday the event featured a car show, buggy and pony rides, the International Cheese Curling Championships, Ceremonial Cutting of the Cheese, The Big Cheese Parade, Cheese Eating Nationals, Founders Day Dinner and music. On Sunday, the day started with a community worship service with other events throughout the day including cheese carving, kiddie tractor pull, an ice cream social, music, corn hole tournament. On Monday, the last day of the festival, there was the Rat Race 5K and 10K runs, cheese curd spitting contest and sub sandwich giveaway. Throughout the weekend each day there was free cheese given away at the cheese tent. More photos are on page 8.

Moultrie County Woman Arrested for Possession of Illegal Substances, DUI and Child Endangerment 

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•September 6, 2023•

On Saturday, September 2, 2023, the Bethany Police Department arrested Danielle M. Payton, age 33, of Sullivan, Illinois, for the offenses of Possession of Controlled Substances, DUI, and Child Endangerment.

Police were called to Dollar General located in Bethany, Illinois around 5:00 p.m. in response to reports of a woman passed out in the driver’s seat of an automobile in the parking lot. The windows were up on the vehicle and the key was found in the ignition. Read More

Arthur Celebrates Sesquicentennial with Founders’ Day Dinner

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photo by Crystal Reed
Sesquicentennial Essay Winner
A contest was held in Arthur earlier this year where students were asked to write essays in regards to Arthur’s Sesquicentennial. The overall winner of that contest Adyson Hopkins whose essay was titled “150 Years of Arthur” was given the honor of reading her essay during the Founders’ Day Dinner.

•September 6, 2023•

The Village of Arthur celebrated 150 years with a Founders’ Day dinner at Penn Station Saturday, September 2. The dinner celebrated Arthur being established on September 2, 1873.

The program began with a presentation from Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose, who presented a message from the Illinois Senate. That was followed by reading a letter of welcome from Richard J. Durbin. The National Anthem was sung by members of the ALAH High School Choir directed by Stephen McClarey. Read More

Marsha Webb Visits Sullivan

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Marsha Webb Visits Sullivan
Marsha Webb, candidate for Illinois State Representative in the 107th District, visited the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Tuesday, August 22 to speak to members of the Moultrie County Republicans. Her platform includes supporting the 2nd amendment, Void the FOID, restore parental rights, school choice, protecting farmers land rights and term limits for elected officials.

City Council Approves Purchase of Splash Pad Equipment, Approves Quote for Ball Diamond Lights

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•August 30, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Monday, August 28. There was a variety of items on the agenda including the approval of purchase of splash pad equipment and approval of a quote for ball diamond lights.

Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said they have the splash pad equipment but needed to approve payment of it. The cost for the equipment is $133,877.60 from Imagine Nation. This was approved.

The council addressed the waiving of bidding and approval of a quote from Musco Lighting for ball diamond lights. Sherwood said she spoke with Electric Distribution Foreman Chris Parsons, and he said he was unable to get any other quotes. The quote includes a 25-year warranty. Read More