Photo by DM Williamee
IMEC check presentation to Kevin Conlin.
Greatness comes from humble beginnings; it comes from grunt work.” (Ryan Holiday). Proof of that adage is Sullivan’s Mid-State Tank Company, which recently received a grant for $50,000 from the Made in Illinois Grant Program, administered by IMEC with funding from the Department of Economic Opportunity. The check presentation/award ceremony, tour of the facilities, and award speeches were held on Wednesday, October 22nd, at Mid-State Tank’s facilities. A jovial yet humble Kevin Conlin accepted the grant and, in his address to those present, made clearly apparent his appreciation for the grant, his entire team, and the support of the Sullivan community.
The 94th annual Bethany High School Alumni Banquet was held on October 11th at the Okaw Valley High School gymnasium, with nearly 90 in attendance. Diane Foster Waggoner, Class of 1983, welcomed the alumni and friends to the banquet, and Bart Spencer, Class of 1980, gave the opening prayer. Terry Muzzy, Class of 1966, gave a Military Recognition and talked about the Wall of Honor with pictures of Bethany School graduates who served in the military.
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Dave Overlot, speaker.
The graduating classes of 1975 were honored for 50 years, and the graduating class of 2000 for 25 years. Alumni who passed away since the last banquet were recognized, and all alumni in attendance were invited to stand for the Roll Call of Classes. The featured speaker, Dave Overlot, Class of 1977, shared his memories of attending Bethany Schools and brought back fond memories for those attending. Door prizes were awarded to Harold Keown, Class of 1946, for being the oldest graduate, 80 years ago, and to Norma Tipsword Farris, Class of 1949, for serving the longest administrative term, with 24 years as high school secretary.
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Honored Class of 1975 for 50 years - Greg Allsop, Linda Webner Casteel, Stan Stables
The 50/50 drawing was won by Joyce Shipman Jenkins, Class of 1954, and a drawing for a whole hog, donated by Corrington Farms, was won by Libby Larkin Booker, Class of 1980. The meal was catered by Rhodes Catering from Effingham and desserts by Sweet Vail in Sullivan. The Okaw Valley FFA students and their sponsor, Wes Wise and his wife Megan, assisted with serving and other duties. Officers for the next year will continue with Diane Foster Waggoner, Class of 1983, as President; Rita Kesterson Seelow, Class of 1983, as Vice President; Libby Larkin Booker, Class of 1980, as Secretary; and Nancy Sowers Mueller, Class of 1974, as Treasurer. The evening wrapped up with alumni visiting and taking pictures. The 2026 reunion date will be set for late September or early October. All alumni and friends are invited to attend. [/s2If]
On Tuesday, October 1st, twenty-five Moultrie County retired teachers met at Flesor’s Candy Kitchen in Tuscola. Devon Flesor Story, the owner, welcomed the MCRTA with a history of her business and a tour of her kitchen. Story herself was a former teacher at EIU in Charleston.
Story’s grandfather, Gus Flesor, immigrated from Greece and began the American Dream working on the railroad. Through his efforts, Flesor brought over several family members and their favorite family recipes. By 1901, Gus and his brother Nick opened an iconic Greek confectionery and restaurant in Tuscola. Eventually, though, a family feud broke out and created business competitors. Customers had to sneak around the two brothers to do business with both.
Photo by DM Williamee
Pictured is Skylar Miller, who organized and led the Recovery Walk.
by DM Williamee
On Saturday, September 27th in Sullivan’s Wyman Park, ROSC held their “Step into Purple” recovery walk to celebrate National Recovery Month and to remember those who lost their battle with addiction, those still fighting for their recovery, and those celebrating their recovery, as well as the recovery of friends and loved ones.
Participants walked around the pond and bridges at the park while sharing their stories and their reasons for participation. The atmosphere overall was hopeful and upbeat, with many feeling rejuvenated in being able to share their stories with each other, from their successes and losses to their strategies for sobriety and the issues many still face once achieving sobriety. One area of great concern echoed by those on the Recovery Walk was the lack of substance use disorder treatment options in Moultrie County, with many having to travel 30 or more minutes to obtain access to necessary recovery tools and resources. Despite numerous barriers, many have found a path to recovery and continue on this arduous journey. The support and camaraderie shared on the Recovery Walk were both encouraging and inspirational.
On Thursday, September 25th, in two sessions, nearly two hundred local seniors met with vendors at the Mid-Illinois Senior Center for their annual ‘Senior Expo’. The event was held in their new location at 113 Jefferson Street, Sullivan. The purpose of this event was to both celebrate and empower seniors, which it accomplished.
The Expo was enjoyed by friends and neighbors, with local businesses providing an opportunity for all attending to learn new information, get questions answered, receive gifts, and enjoy a free lunch. Take-out only lunch was provided by Griffin’s BBQ and catering, as a result of the generosity of multiple donors.
Said one attendee, “I have had this on my calendar since I found out about it, and I told my friends, too. As a matter of fact, three of us rode together today to come here, and I’m glad I did. There’s so much I didn’t know about a bunch of things!”
Photo courtesy of Cami Badman
Front Row (L-R): Caleigh Dyer, Mya Dyer, Emerson Risley, Jennifer Lofland. Second Row (L-R): Adalyn Cruitt, Julia Moody, Cadence Schmohe, Ellie Lehman. Back Row (L-R): Claire Kursell, Austin Kelly, Brady Stollard, Grant Martin, Gavin Wade. Not Pictured: Synthea Doss and Kaylee Smith.
‘Letters to the Editor,’ written by Cami Badman‘s Honors English III students at Sullivan High School, explored controversial subjects with inquisitive minds and logic as well as emotion-based arguments. Badman opened the school year by challenging these 15 students to present well-rounded arguments for student-selected controversial subjects in the format of a ‘Letter to the Editor’.
Photo by DM Williamee
L-R: Andrea Gerhard, Chasity Casey, Susie Inman, Grant Wade, Linda Huber, Kaitlyn Farrar, Natalie Beck.
Submitted by Rev. Grant Wade
A new effort to strengthen local nonprofits took root last week, on September 9th, as residents gathered under a tent in downtown Sullivan for the launch of the Impact Giving Circle. The initiative, sponsored through the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, is designed to pool community resources and direct them toward organizations serving Moultrie County.
The event celebrated its beginning by awarding two inaugural grants totaling $5,000 to local groups. More than the funding itself, however, attendees remarked on the spirit of unity that marked the gathering. One participant reflected, “This feels like a chance to remember what community is supposed to be, not arguing about what divides us, but working together on what matters most.”
Sullivan ten-year-old 5th grader Matthew “Matty” Gudenrath heard his neighbors smoke alarm going off and when he was unable to reach his neighbor, he immediately hopped on his bike and rode directly to the Sullivan Fire Department to alert them to the situation. Offered a ride on the fire truck to show them where the address was, Matty opted to hop back onto his bike and lead them nearly 2 miles to residence address, where the call out was quickly resolved.
On Friday the 5th, Sullivan Fire Department Captain Kenny Graven awarded him a plaque of recognition, “for his courage and quick thinking alerting the fire department of a smoke alarm activation on August 15th, 2025.” A very surprised Matty accepted it humbly. Said Captain Graven of Matty with a handshake, “that was quick and smart-thinking.”
Photo by DM Williamee
L-R: Sullivan Vol. Firefighter Aiden Burgess, SFD Fire Chief Chris Wright, MCSO Sheriff Gary Carroll, MCSO Ofcr. Jesse Scribner, MCSO Ofcr. Bryce Fariss, SFD Fire Captain Kenny Graven, MCSO Ofcr. Alec Barringer, Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings, SPD Officer Wyatt Sentel, MCSO Ofcr. Brody Bickel, MCSO Administrator, Lesley Donoho, State’s Attorney, Tracy Weaver, and SFD FF/EMR Rob Young.
Kneeling: MCSO Deputy JP Lulek
by DM Williamee
Heroism takes many forms. On Friday, August 29th, Moultrie County First Responders from multiple agencies came together to deliver school supplies to elementary schools in Sullivan, Lovington, and Bethany. Born of an idea that three Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office Deputies had to develop a fundraiser for the kids, specifically; much-needed school supplies for the elementary schools in the county. From this, the First Responder’s “Guns and Hoses” softball game evolved, showing the support of all Moultrie County First Responders for their communities and the needs of its children.
Photos by DM Williamee
Walt Jenkins visits his family home, where he was born, for the first time since moving at age 12. Taking everyone back in history, he described how it looked then compared to now, which bedroom was whose, and shared stories of what life was like while the family lived there.
Walter H. “Walt” Jenkins was born October 26th, 1934, in the brick house at what was, at the time, the Illinois Masonic Home. Walt and his older brother Glen were both born in the brick house, with Walt being born in 1934. Walt’s father was Walter Jenkins, and his mother was Effie Niccian.
