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Category Archives: Top Stories

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SBD’s support Senior Center

News Progress Posted on March 4, 2026 by webmasterMarch 4, 2026


•March 4, 2026•

Pictured are Mid-Illinois Senior Services Representatives Kathie Garvie, Nancy Ozee, and Serria Decker, second row on the left with the SBD.

The Sullivan Blue Dolphins partnered with the Mid-Illinois Senior Services to collect items for the center. 

This is SBD’s first year helping this organization, titling it, ‘Swimmers Supporting Seniors’. This collection was structured very similarly to the annual ‘Swimmers Supporting Soldiers’ that the Dolphins do every summer. 

Mid Illinois Senior Services sent the SBD a list of items that were much-needed. The team collected numerous items such as puzzles, paper towels, bathroom tissue, cups, sweeteners, Lysol wipes, plastic cutlery, and flower arrangement items. 

The SBD believes in giving back to the community that has so ardently supported them. 

Posted in Top Stories

Sullivan City Council discusses water options, sets cleanup days

News Progress Posted on February 18, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2026


•February 18, 2026•

by Sharon Barricklow

An unprecedented drop in the aquifer that supplies Sullivan’s public water supply has city council members discussing options after already declaring a “water emergency” at their February 9th council meeting. City engineer Lee Beckman told the council the aquifer had dropped 15 feet from previous levels. “We’ve never seen that before,” he said.

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Sullivan seniors ‘Dine with a Doc’: Alzheimer’s

News Progress Posted on February 11, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 11, 2026


•February 11, 2026•

Photo by DM Williamee
Jake Lehr, Senior Program Manager for the Central Illinois Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter.

by DM Williamee

On Tuesday, February 3rd, the Mid-Illinois Senior Services hosted their monthly ‘Dine with a Doc.’ Their guest speaker was Jake Lehr, Senior Program Manager for the Central Illinois Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter. This highly engaging guest informed attendees about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, from early detection and warning signs, therapies, and other forms of support, to healthy brain habits. Lehr clarified that dementia is an umbrella term for loss of memory and other thinking abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life, including the following: Alzheimer’s, vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal, others, such as Huntington’s, and mixed dementia, which may have more than one cause. Lehr shared that everyone experiences Alzheimer’s differently and that Illinois is the first state in the nation to enact legislation mandating both state-regulated and private insurance plans to cover FDA-approved treatments, medications, and necessary diagnostic testing for Alzheimer’s disease. 

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Sullivan Fire and Protection District: a busy 2025 saw more calls

News Progress Posted on February 4, 2026 by webmasterFebruary 4, 2026


•February 4, 2026•

by DM Williamee

We see the lights and hear the sirens as the SFPD trucks mobilize on a call, but oftentimes we don’t see or know the outcome of that call. No story is reported in the newspaper or released online, and nothing is coming down the grapevine. That does not mean, however, that nothing important occurred on that call. Sullivan Fire Protection District’s team of staff and volunteers is continuously hard at work, and what we see is a small fraction of what happens behind the headlines. When not out on a call, the Sullivan Fire Protection District staff is involved in a multitude of diverse duties such as ongoing training, smoke detector installations, pre-plan development, and maintenance on a daily, weekly, and monthly (always ongoing) basis. And this list is not all-encompassing.

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Frostbite: risks and tips for prevention

News Progress Posted on January 28, 2026 by webmasterJanuary 28, 2026


•January 28, 2026•

by Angela Hogan

Moultrie County Health Administrator

Winter brings plenty of challenges to Central Illinois, including the risk of frostbite. It can develop quickly, even during routine activities like walking the dog, shoveling snow, or commuting to work. Frostbite can cause lasting tissue damage and often strikes before a person realizes they’re in danger. The time necessary for frostbite to occur depends heavily on the temperature, wind chill, and how long the skin is exposed. Understanding how it happens and how to prevent it is essential. This article offers practical steps to stay safe, protect vulnerable loved ones, and make informed decisions during harsh winter weather. 

What is frostbite? Frostbite occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. It typically affects body parts farthest from the heart, such as fingers, toes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. Reduced blood flow to these areas allows ice crystals to form in the tissue. Frostbite results in tissue damage that ranges from mildly uncomfortable to permanent tissue death. Early recognition and prevention are key.

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Lake Shelbyville dredging operations – floating pipeline notice

News Progress Posted on January 21, 2026 by webmasterJanuary 21, 2026


•January 21, 2026•

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, is notifying the public of ongoing dredging operations at Lake Shelbyville that will include the installation of a floating dredge pipeline on the lake. The dredge pipeline was originally planned to be submerged; however, due to current winter pool water levels, there is not enough water depth to safely allow watercraft to pass over a submerged line. As a result, the pipeline will remain floating for the duration of this phase of the project.

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Three inducted into newly established SHS Athletic Hall of Fame

News Progress Posted on January 14, 2026 by webmasterJanuary 14, 2026


•January 14, 2026•

by E. Scott England

Many great athletes have graced the courts, fields, and pools for Sullivan athletics. State champions, collegiate standouts, and overall talented student-athletes have long represented Sullivan High School on some of the biggest platforms. While SHS has long recognized alumni during homecoming with their Sullivan Who’s Who and Sullivan High School Hall of Fame, never before had they had an athletic-specific recognition.

That has all changed this year with the inaugural class of former Redskin athletes being given the honor of being inducted into the recently formed Sullivan High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Three former student-athletes, who excelled both on and off their respective playing arenas were recently recognized before a crowd at the new high school gym. Originally planned for the Redskin Christmas Shootout that ended up cancelled due to weather, the induction came between the JV and varsity basketball games on December 19. Roger Beavers (1959), Seth Dunscomb (1993), and Luke Standerfer (1998) were all awarded this prestigious honor.

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Learning to love yourself

News Progress Posted on January 7, 2026 by webmasterJanuary 7, 2026


•January 7, 2026•

On February 20th at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services Center in Sullivan from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Moultrie County ROSC Council is partnering with Dove, with celebrity speaker Shawn Woods, on the topic, ‘Learning to Love Yourself.’ Shawn will be sharing his personal experience with learning to love himself through the process of recovery. He has made appearances in a number of well-known full-featured films and television shows. He has appeared in ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and full-length feature films such as ‘Charlie’s Angels’. This will be a family-friendly event, featuring activities for children to create their own Valentine’s Day cards for themselves, and a great way for the community to come together for positive self-help. For more information, contact Josh Forbes at joshf@hourhouserecovery.org

The Hour House ROSC Council serves Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Shelby, & Moultrie counties. Recovery Coaching Network at GSU (govst.edu).

Posted in Top Stories

Sullivan City Council approves electrical increase

News Progress Posted on December 30, 2025 by webmasterDecember 29, 2025


•December 31, 2025•

by Sharon Barricklow

The Sullivan City Council used the last meeting of 2025 to approve an electrical rate increase Commissioner Mike Kirk said had been a long time coming.

“We knew this and said this was coming last spring,” Kirk said. “We tried to put it off through the air conditioning season but now it’s time.”

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C.H.I. Overhead Doors helps bring Christmas joy to Moultrie Co. families

News Progress Posted on December 23, 2025 by webmasterDecember 23, 2025


•December 24, 2025•

Photo by Brian Beachy

Submitted by CEFS

Christmas is meant to be a season of joy, laughter, and togetherness—a time when families gather to celebrate and create cherished memories. But for some families in Moultrie County, the holidays can look a little different when financial hardships make it hard to provide even the basics. That’s where the community steps in to make a difference.

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Dawkins NEHS submission wows 



News Progress


Mae Dawkins, a Sullivan High School senior and member of the National English Honor Society, was recently informed that she is a national winner of the NEHS Intellectual Freedom Challenge, a prestigious competition that encourages NEHS members to craft compelling arguments defending texts that have faced challenges and bans. Her essay scored among some of the best submissions in the nation by university professors. May was awarded a certificate and a $150 dollar prize.


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