•July 12, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Beacon will celebrate their 55th Anniversary with a celebration called Jeepin’ for the Moultrie County Beacon on Saturday, July 15 at Sullivan American Legion Post 68. The event will last from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will include a jeep run with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and departure at 11 a.m. The run is $10 per person. Also available will be food vendors, a bake sale, activities and crafts for the kids, 50/50 raffle and silent auction and musical performances by Shawn Dawson at 4 p.m. and Pizzazz at 6 p.m. Admission for the bands is $5. All proceeds go to Moultrie County Beacon.
Beacon Director Susan Rauch said the beginnings of the organization can be traced back to November 1966 when House Bill 708 was passed by the Illinois General Assembly which allowed tax revenue to be used for services for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health issues. A group of local business people began working to establish funding within Moultrie County, and on February 28,1968, the Moultrie County Beacon, Inc. was established. Read More

photo by Ellen Ferrera.
Shane Ramos, VP of MARK, demonstrates a locator antenna used to find rogue operators. The Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub held a Field Day event on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 at Wyman Park in Sullivan.

•June 28, 2023•
by Ellen Ferrera

On Saturday, June 24, members of the Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub (MARK) met at the Boy Scout cabin in Wyman Park to celebrate the annual Field Day with some 2.5 million ham radio operators around the world.
Since 1933, Field Day has been celebrated by amateur radio operators and clubs in the U.S. and around the world. The primary purpose of the Field Day is to practice and demonstrate emergency procedures and share information on new technologies, but each club determines their own activities.
Mike Morris, President of MARK, has been a ham operator for many years. He said, “It is an opportunity to combine a hobby with public service. We work closely with the weather bureaus to help issue warnings to remote areas or where communications have been damaged.”
The Moultrie Klub has been in existence for more than 60 years and meets the third Monday of each month at the Honey Bee restaurant in Mattoon. Dinner is at 5 p.m. with the meeting at 6 p.m. Visitors and those interested in joining the Klub are always welcomed. 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
Superintendent Shannon Cheek addresses the Class of 2023 and those attending the ALAH Class of 2023 commencement ceremony.

by Crystal Reed

The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthem, and Class President Brady Moore welcomed everyone to the ceremony.
Salutatorian Charley Condill came to the podium to deliver her speech to the class. She noted the members of their class are better today than they were walking in as freshmen.
Condill said the first two weeks of the shutdown had the excitement of a Christmas vacation. She noted that they as a class struggled mentally and emotionally. “We faced isolation at a time of our lives when we needed socialization the most,” she said.
Condill added that they used their competitive spirits to be better than the day before. The class earned $1.5 million in scholarship money, a new school record. “Our class went above and beyond because of our competitiveness and willingness to work,” she said. Read More

•May 17, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Okaw Valley Class of 2023 had commencement Saturday, May 13 in the high school gymnasium. Superintendent Kent Stauder was honored for 10 years of service to the district. Okaw Valley School Board President Brooke Bartimus presented him with an award. Stauder noted that the best thing that his family ever did was move to this area and become a part of Okaw Valley.
Stauder presented awards for the Volunteer Hall of Fame and Alumni Wall of Fame.

Dru Bennett, volunteer recipient, received a lifelong extracurricular pass and his name on a plaque placed in the gym lobby.
The Alumni Wall of Fame recipient was awarded to Brett Robinson. Robinson thanked the nominating committee and others responsible for his receiving the honor. He also thanked his parents and wife and daughters for always loving and supporting him.
Class president Hudson Ruppert said he realized that many of the class memories revolve around that gymnasium and noted they value each and every member of the class. Ruppert said his confidence in walking into the unknown comes from knowing that God does know. Read More