•October 28, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
Students at Sullivan Elementary School welcomed author and extreme runner Dion Leonard, his wife, Lucja, and their dog, Gobi, for a special visit Friday, Oct. 16.
Kindergarten through second-grade students greeted the visitors with a familiar tune adapted for their four-legged guest, singing, “G-O-B-I, G-O-B-I, G-O-B-I and Gobi was his name-o!”
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•October 21, 2026•
by Ariana R. Cherry
A longtime holiday tradition is returning to Sullivan as Flesor’s Candy Kitchen in Tuscola prepares for its 15th annual candy fundraiser benefiting the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
The fundraiser gives area residents an opportunity to purchase homemade candy for the holidays while helping families in need.
According to Devon of Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, the fundraiser originally included an in-person candy sale in downtown Sullivan, along with Christmas candy orders. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed how the event operated.
“During COVID, we just took orders,” Devon explained. “That worked so well that we decided just to continue doing it that way.”
Today, customers place their orders in advance, and the candy is prepared for pickup in Sullivan during the holidays.
Twenty percent of candy sales through the fundraiser will benefit the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Over the years, the fundraiser has raised well over $20,000 for the organization.
Devon said supporting the food pantry is especially important during the holiday season.
For Devon, the fundraiser is about more than simply selling candy. Many customers purchase the homemade treats to share with family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers during the Christmas season.
“That candy that people buy, they’re not just buying it for themselves,” she said. “They’re buying it to share with their friends and neighbors and family.”
She believes those small acts of sharing help bring people together while also benefiting a worthwhile cause.
“There’s fellowship on a lot of different levels,” she added.
The fundraiser also supports a small, independently owned business that continues the increasingly uncommon tradition of making candy by hand.
“You’re not going to find homemade candy in too many places,” Devon said. “It’s a dying art.”
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•October 14, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
For 85 years, the Sullivan Lions Club has served the community through projects ranging from vision and hearing assistance to improvements at Wyman Park, scholarships for Sullivan High School students and support for local food programs.
The club, an affiliate of Lions International, has been part of Sullivan since 1941 and recognized its 85th year in April. Its work has centered on serving local residents and supporting community needs, with money raised locally directed back into charitable causes in the community.
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Twenty-nine inducted into NEHS
Sullivan High School held their annual National English Honor Society Inductions on Wednesday, September 23rd. This year, twenty-nine new members were inducted, which is the largest induction to date. Inductees were (alphabetically): Kinlee Agney, Lyla Bear, Logan Booker, Owen Brush, Tenley Campbell, Grace Crothers, Luke Cummings, Emma Drake, Landon Elder, Sage England, Gavin Finn, Asher Hendry, Owen Hooten, Austin Kelley, Jett Kinder, Ellie Lehman, Addyson Martinez, Reagan McKinney, Mali Roe, Ryder Saul, Collin Shain, Tenley Stollard, Karen Szachnitowski, Hannah Taylor, Wren Wall, Elin Watkins, Easton Wickline, Jillian Woods, and Lyla Wright.
•September 30, 2026•
Moultrie County’s CASA program is growing, and Heartland CASA is looking for more community members willing to step up for children who need an advocate.
On August 12, Heartland CASA celebrated an important milestone with the swearing-in of Moultrie County’s first class of CASA advocates. At the Moultrie County Courthouse, Judge Jeremy Richey welcomed Christine Grohler, Rita Florey, Ann Sanner, Mitzi Hartman, Melissa Krieger, Kayla Tipsword, Becky Comstock, MaryAnn Hecht, and Linda Featherling, as they took their oaths and officially became Heartland CASA advocates.
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•September 23, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
The Moultrie County Board handled a full slate of county business during its Sept. 10 meeting at the Moultrie County Courthouse, approving funding requests, salary adjustments, property matters and other items while discussing plans for the coming fiscal year.
The board approved $12,000 in funding for CEFS for fiscal year 2027 following a presentation from Crystal Edwards.
Edwards said CEFS had requested $8,000 in each of the past couple of years but increased its request to $12,000 this year. Of that amount, $8,000 will support outreach services, $3,000 will go toward transportation needs and $1,000 will support the RSVP program.
Outreach assistance can include fuel vouchers for work or medical appointments, rental and hotel assistance, auto repairs and utility assistance. Edwards explained that documentation is required for certain assistance, including work schedules for employment-related fuel vouchers and documentation for medical appointments.
The board unanimously approved the funding request.
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•September 16, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
Three years ago, Ashley Florey was a wife, mother, coach, coworker and local park ranger. She went to work, cared for her family and continued meeting the responsibilities of everyday life.
What many people around her could not see was that Florey was struggling with her mental health. She eventually survived a suicide attempt and was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.
Now, during Suicide Prevention Month, the lifelong Shelby County resident is sharing her experience in hopes of encouraging more open conversations about mental health and helping people recognize that someone in crisis may not always appear to be struggling.
“I wish people understood that looking okay and actually being okay are two completely different things,” Florey said. “Looking back, I wish someone had understood that being strong and being okay aren’t the same thing.”
Florey was born and raised in Shelby County and graduated from Cowden-Herrick High School. She now lives in Tower Hill and works as a local park ranger. Area residents may know her through her years of coaching high school and junior high basketball.
Her experience challenged her own understanding of what depression and suicidal thoughts can look like. Florey said someone who is struggling may still go to work, care for children, coach, make dinner and respond to messages. Asking for help can be complicated by shame, fear, embarrassment or the belief that one has become a burden.
Read More•September 9, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
Brightly painted obstacle courses, hopscotch challenges, an alphabet scramble and other activities now stretch across the blacktop at Sullivan Elementary School, giving students new ways to move, create and play during recess.
The artwork is a visible change students can enjoy now, but it is part of a larger, multi-year effort by the Sullivan Elementary School PTO to improve the school’s outdoor spaces and eventually replace playground equipment that is approximately 30 years old.
The idea grew from what the PTO calls its annual “Dream Big” requests, which give school staff an opportunity to suggest improvements they would like to see for students. Over time, the PTO noticed a recurring theme: Teachers were asking for playground repairs, outdoor toys and a shaded area where students could learn and spend time outside.
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•September 2, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
After 26 years of answering calls and serving in roles ranging from firefighter to fire chief, Curt Robinson is preparing for his final shift with the Bethany Fire Protection District.
Robinson, who currently serves as assistant fire chief, will be recognized during a retirement gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Bethany Fire House.
His career began as a volunteer firefighter. Robinson later earned his EMT-Basic certification and continued his education to become an EMT-Intermediate while moving through the department’s ranks as lieutenant, captain and assistant fire chief. He served as fire chief from 2008 to 2010.
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•August 26, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
The Moultrie County Board approved a $3.25 million construction bid Thursday for a new county building designed to bring several departments and services together while providing additional storage, training and emergency-response space.
The board voted during its Aug. 13 meeting to accept the $3,251,000 bid from K. Wohltman Construction Inc., the lowest responsible bidder. The overall project budget is approximately $4 million and includes construction, a new drive, contingency funds, architectural and engineering fees, furnishings, technology and landscaping.
Construction is expected to begin in September, with the project estimated at 270 calendar days.
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