photo by Crystal Reed
Heartland Mini Hoofs Visit Senior Center
The Heartland Mini Hoofs visited the Mid-Illinois Senior Services and Community Center on Thursday, June 15. Heartland Mini Hoofs, a non for profit organization, has a mini equine visitation therapy program. They operate solely on donations. Pictured are Reva Martin and Carolyn Doss spending time with Oliver during the organization’s visit.
•June 21, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Moultrie County Board approved the 2023 Moultrie County Comprehensive Plan and the Moultrie County Hazard Mitigation Plan during their monthly meeting. County Board member Aaron Wilhelm requested that if there are those on the board who have not read it, to do so since there is informative and helpful information in it. Kelly Lockhart from Coles County Regional Planning Commission was in attendance to answer any questions the board had.
Wilhelm asked what the purpose of the plan is. Lockhart said the goal is to determine land use, especially future land use, and transportation. He noted that if they want to apply for a grant, it needs to be in the comprehensive plans of a community, and it has to be updated every five years. He added they are in the process of updating Cumberland County’s plan now, and the city of Sullivan recently hired them as well. Read More
photos by Crystal Reed
Flag Day Ceremony Held at Sullivan American Legion
The Sullivan American Legion Post 68 and Boy Scout Troop 39 conducted a flag retirement ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 which was Flag Day. There was a short ceremony and then worn out flags were respectfully retired.
photo submitted by Jim Wandmacher, AMBUCS secretary
A memorial plaque for Jim Bales was put up at the Inaugural “Big Jim” Fishing Derby at the Woods Lake handicap accessible fishing pier. The plaque was mounted by his son Scott and grandson Brock.
•June 21, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
This past Saturday at Wood Lake in Sullivan was a day not only for fishing and fun for local children but also a time to remember AmBuCs member Jim Bales. The inaugural Big Jim’s Memorial Fishing Derby was held at the ADA/wheelchair access fishing pier at Wood Lake. Bales was a lifetime Sullivan resident who taught in the Sullivan School District and was a member of Sullivan AmBuCs. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Counseling Center will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary with an open house on Wednesday, June 28 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at 12 West Harrison Street in Sullivan.
•June 21, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Counseling Center is getting ready to celebrate 50 years of service to the community. They will have a 50th Anniversary Open House 3-5 p.m., Wednesday, June 28 at 12 W. Harrison in Sullivan.
Moultrie County Counseling was founded June 28, 1973 as a non-profit corporation that provides mental health services to clients. Their professionals offer direct treatment, consultation, education and referral service to Moultrie County residents, organizations and agencies. Over the years they have had a few different locations including at the Fields Wright Medical Center.
They moved to their current site in 2006. Read More
•June 14, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Monday, June 12.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood shared an update on the city hall project. She gave a timeline of the project and the different locations they had explored. The former city hall was demolished in February of this year.
The first bid opening came in way over budget so council members went back to the drawing board. Sherwood noted that on May 23 she received a text message from Mayor Mike Mossman asking her to stop the further development of the building project . Sherwood said she respects the council’s decision, and they should definitely discuss it.
Mossman said before they can sign off on it, they need to know what has gone on with the project prior to the current council. Commissioner Doug Shook indicated he would like a chance to look at the plans for the building before he would be prepared to make a decision. He said he was concerned about ADA access. Read More
photo by Crystal Reed
Children gather around Scovill Zoo volunteer John Arnold to pet a corn snake at Marrowbone Public Library during their first summer reading program of the summer. Volunteers Arnold and Sandy Bray brought several animals with them for children to see including a corn snake, kookaburra, turtle, guinea pig and tarantula.
photo by Crystal Reed
Andrews Family Magic Show
Andrew Anderson of Andrews Family Magic reads the mind of a child in the audience during a magic show at the Sullivan St. Jude Dash and Bash held on Saturday, June 10.
photo by Crystal Reed
Car Show for St. Jude
This vehicle was one of several that was on display during the St. Jude Dash and Bash Car Show. The Dash and Bash included inflatables for children, pedal pulls, raffles, pretzel and lemon shakeup sales, a duck derby and much more.
photo by R.R. Best
St. Jude Dash and Bash Duck Derby
St. Jude Dash and Bash co-chair Phil Ozier uses a hose to spray rubber duckies towards the finish line during the duck derby at Wyman Park on Saturday, June 10.
photo by Crystal Reed
Free Inflatables at St. Jude Dash and Bash
This year the inflatables at the St. Jude Dash and Bash were sponsored by Hydro Gear so children were able to play for free that afternoon. There were bounce houses, inflatable games, slides and more for children to enjoy.
photos by Crystal Reed and submitted
Lovington Celebrates 150th Anniversary
Lovington celebrated their Sesquicentennial on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10 with a variety of activities. Friday night the Lovington Alumni banquet was held and the band Identity Crisis played uptown. Saturday’s festivities started with the Fireman’s pancake and sausage breakfast at the Lovington Firehouse followed by a display at the Lovington Library on the history of Lovington provided by the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society. There was also a parade and bags tournament. In the evening at Tom Conn Park there was music, vendors and extreme sports/bounce houses. The Lovington Community Club also had a fish fry and at dusk fireworks lit up the sky above Lovington. The event was sponsored by the Village of Lovington and Lovington Community Club.
Photo by Crystal Reed
State Rep Brad Halbrook Holds Town Hall
State Rep Brad Halbrook held a town hall discussion to update local residents on the important issues debated and passed in Springfield during the spring session. The town hall was the first of several that he will be holding this month. During the discussion he noted that the budget passed by Governor J.B. Pritzker recently is one of the largest budgets in history at $50.6 billion and will include borrowing over $700 million. Other talking points included the sunset of tax holidays, equal pay act and ethics reform.