•June 24, 2026•
by Sharon Barricklow
A $400,000 purchase of software for the city’s electrical plant was approved without going through the bid process at the Sullivan City Council’s June 6 meeting.
Commissioner Mike Kirk, who oversees the city power plant said the software was an upgrade only available through ViPower LLC and is necessary for the city’s transmission of electrical power.
“We have to have it,” Kirk said. “And there’s no one else who provides it.”
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•June 17, 2026•
by DM Williamee
On Sunday, June 14th (Flag Day), members of the Sullivan American Legion Post No.68 and the Sullivan Boy Scouts Troop 39 conducted their annual Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Sullivan American Legion. This year, close to one-thousand flags were collected for retirement at this Flag Day ceremony, with friends and family members, as well as others in the community, attending the ceremony, placing flags on the fire in honor and memory of friends and loved ones who served. For those who have not attended this ceremony before, it imparts deep reverence, respect, and fraternity and reminds us that our nation’s flag symbolizes the history, sacrifice, and shared identity of all. The flag retirement ceremony is treated as a final tribute.
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•June 10, 2026•
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #68 Poppy Poster Contest is designed to help students understand the connection of the poppy to Memorial Day, those men and women who died while serving in the military, and supporting veterans. All Sullivan Elementary School fourth graders submitted posters this year. “We had a lot of beautiful posters to choose from,” noted Auxiliary vice president Ruth Keown.
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•June 3, 2026•
On May 29th, the Elizabeth Memorial Library kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program, and it was the place to be, where droves of community members, both large and small, were eager to sign up and partake of the opening festivities. On offer were free snow cones and cotton candy, bounce houses, a croquet match-up game with prizes, the ever-popular face painting, and the actual sign-up, which will reward readers with prizes for their summer reading accomplishments. The event was high-energy and filled with kiddos, from tots to teens, enjoying all of the sweet treats and activities, with many leaving with armfuls of books to get their reading off to a stellar start. Inside, many were taking advantage of the computers, games, and play area, with clusters of youngsters passing through all genres and reading sections, especially the new releases.
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•May 27, 2026•
The Sullivan Fire Protection District officially placed its new rescue pumper in service with a “push-in ceremony” on Monday, May 18th. The ceremony was performed by several of the Department’s children, “pushing” the truck into the apparatus bay. The ceremony is rooted in traditions of the past when fire apparatus were pulled by horses. The firefighters would have to push the wagons back into the station after a call to return them to service. Much has changed since then, while in some ways still remaining the very similar. The new engine features several updates while carrying older traditions into the future. Most noticeable is the blue paint color that Sullivan FPD has been known for for many years. Another tradition that was brought back was the single green light on the passenger side of the front of the apparatus. This is a tradition that is borrowed from the navy, which ships display a red light on the port side and a green light on the starboard side. It is meant to signify that help is coming toward you. Many past fire apparatus in Sullivan featured this light arrangement in the past, and it returns with the new Engine.
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•May 20, 2026•
Thanks to a generous grant from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, students at Okaw Valley Elementary will soon have an exciting new way to celebrate positive behavior and academic success. Funding provided through the foundation made it possible for the school to purchase a book vending machine as well as 230 books. Best of all, the school will be able to keep the machine for years to come.
Read Moreby DM Williamee
Sullivan High and Middle School students will notice some changes when they return to school after this summer, most notably a modernized revamp of their library. The library is currently a small, utilitarian space compared to what students will find when they return to classes this fall. Principal Nathan Ogle, lead of the project, shared the new floor plans, layout, furniture, and modernization in the design of the coming space, which were all impressive and reflected a great deal of detailed planning.
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•May 6, 2026•
Photo by DM Williamee
Weaver Kiri Fagen-Ulmschneider demonstrates
the split-shed weaving of a sampler tapestry.
by DM Williamee
On Saturday, May 2nd, the Illinois Amish Heritage Center (IAHC) held its annual (and newly named) “Sheep to Yarn to Quilts’ event in Arthur. The parking area was packed full, as attendees, both young and old, from near and far, attended the event. One young lady shared she came from Altoona, Pennsylvania, with a group of friends to attend the event and experience the Arthur and Amish communities and learn more about the Amish and their history.
The shearing of the sheep took place in the lower level of the Hershberger-Miller barn, with the animals both comfortable and familiar with the process as their heavy woolen and lanolin-laden coats were sheared off. Those shearing the sheep worked quickly and efficiently, from positioning the sheep to safely maneuvering them throughout the shearing process, which reflected practiced efficiency and years of experience.
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•April 29, 2026•
Dr. Kent Stauder, superintendent of Okaw Valley CUSD #302, has been named the 2026 Superintendent of Distinction by his peers in the Abe Lincoln Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). Stauder was honored at an awards luncheon on April 23 in Springfield, where 21 regional Superintendents of Distinction were recognized. Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, served as the featured speaker.
Read MoreSubmitted by Tonya Frevert
•April 22, 2026•
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society recently hosted two unique and dynamic events at the History Center. The first event, the MCHGS 2nd Annual Trivia Contest, saw eight eager teams of trivia buffs vie for bragging rights and prize money. Teams answered 80 trivia questions across eight categories, ranging from sports to movie stars to Moultrie County history. After much sweat and many tears, trivia mastery was ultimately claimed by “Dolan’s Divas” in 1st Place and “Big Bob’s Disciples” in 2nd Place. Sixty-four contestants came out to the History Center for a fun night of food, friends, and facts. The MCHS encourages both veteran trivia players and newbies to consider playing in the 3rd Annual Trivia Contest next year. Details will be announced in early 2027.
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