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Scot England, 59, formerly of Sullivan, will earn the title of oldest professional welterweight boxer in the world when he steps into the boxing ring in Nashville on December 5.

•November 22, 2023•

Hendersonville, Tennessee’s Scot England will earn a unique title when he steps into the boxing ring in Nashville on December 5th. The soon-to-be 59-year-old will become the oldest professional welterweight boxer in the world.

“My boxing dream began four decades ago when I became friends with my hero, Muhammad Ali,” says England. “The first time I walked into Ali’s living room, he asked, ‘Are you a boxer?’ I said, ‘No, Champ. I’m not tough enough for that.’ But now, almost 40 years later, I am tough enough.”

There are currently about 400 pro welterweight boxers in the U.S. and 2, 000 worldwide. Of those, official boxing rankings put Scot England as the number one oldest in the world.

“The oldest welterweight was 51 years old. But I’ll have about 8 years on him,” says England. “My opponent is just 28, so he’s about three decades younger than I am.”

For the past two years, England has been training with Army veteran Eric Draper, who has won over 20 professional fights. Draper says he respects England’s effort to gain his first victory. “Every day, somebody is telling somebody what they can’t do,” Draper says. “But Scot is proving that this can be done. I love to see an older guy like him in the ring, slugging it out with us young guys.” Read More

photo by Crystal Reed
In attendance for the ground breaking of the new Sullivan High School were (in no order): Sullivan Mayor Mike Mossman, Moultrie County Board Chairman Bill Voyles and Vice Chairman Marsha Kirby, Executive Director of the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Laurrie Minor, Friends of Sullivan Athletics and Academics Representative Amanda Glazebrook, Judy England, Clayton Quick and Evan Sudkamp with Grunloh Construction, Architect Ben Dockter with Graham and Hyde Architects, Board of Education members Jeff White, Josh Green and Zak Horn, Sullivan High School Principal Dan Allen, Director of Buildings and Grounds Kevin Landrus and Sullivan School District Superintendent Ted Walk.

•November 8, 2023•

Sullivan School District broke ground for the new high school last Friday afternoon. Superintendent Ted Walk reflected on the past noting that the Sullivan Township High School opened over 100 years ago in 1916. It served students in the Sullivan community for over 105 years. Students served initially included high school students but the building hosted middle and even elementary students during its time. “The community should be incredibly proud of the efforts and decisions made by the staff and leadership of Sullivan Schools over this time to keep this three-story structure, built initially without electricity, operational for such an amazing stretch,” he said.  Read More

photo by Crystal Reed
Paul “Short” Craig, 98, of Sullivan is planning to retire on his 99th birthday after working for almost 46 years at Atchison Electric.

•October 25, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Paul “Short” Craig of Sullivan is 98 years old, and he finally plans to retire from Atchison Electric on his birthday which is November 25. He was born in Shelby County, and his family moved to Sullivan when he was four years old. Growing up during the Great Depression, he remembers he and his eight siblings having doing without because their father didn’t make much money.

Craig remembers attending Julian School for eight years and noted he is the last person alive who attended the school. He only attended high school for two years due to the war and is the only one left of the class of 1944. He was unable to join the service because he was unable to pass the physical. Read More

photo by Crystal Reed
Horse power is used to press sorghum at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center this past Saturday.

•October 11, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center hosted their Harvest to Home event this past weekend. The purpose of the show is to teach attendees how crops were grown and harvested during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

One of the highlights of Friday’s activities according to Levi Yoder was that corn was harvested and shelled then ground into cornmeal. The cornmeal was then made into cornbread. That same day they stripped sorghum and pressed it and cooked it. By the middle of the afternoon those visiting the event could eat hot sorghum on cornbread. Read More

photo by Crystal Reed
A walk out ceremony was held for Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards on Friday, September 22 at the Sullivan Fire Department. He had over 26 years of service to his community through the Sullivan Fire Department. He is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and family.

•September 27, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards noted in a speech he gave last Friday that it had always been a dream of his to retire on his 50th birthday. Last Friday that dream came true for Edwards as the department held a walk out ceremony for a fire chief who had dedicated more than 26 years of service to the Sullivan community.

Edwards said he is retiring from a career he fell in love with. At the age of 22 or 23 he recalled driving by a wreck and thought that being a firefighter might be something interesting to do. He stopped by the Sullivan Fire Department to get an application. Edwards noted that about a year later he got a call asking whether he was still interested in being a volunteer. He started his career volunteering for the department but was hired on full time on July 18, 1998. Over the years he moved up through the ranks and was promoted to Fire Chief in 2022 after the retirement of Mike Piper. Read More