Category Archives: Top Stories

Multiple Departments Respond to Structure Fire in Bethany

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photo by R.R. Best
Bethany firefighters/first responders, John Smith and Dakota Briggs give medical attention to one of the two dogs that was found and rescued from the structure fire on Friday, February 9.

•February 14, 2024•

The Bethany Fire Department was dispatched for a structure fire at 11:53 am on Friday, February 9. They arrived within a few minutes to find fire coming out of one window. Crews did an initial attack from the yard while the scene was being sized up determining a room and contents on fire.  Read More

Award Winning Sullivan Quilter Speaks at Arthur Public Library

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photo by Crystal Reed
Karen Edwards of Sullivan talks about quilting at Arthur Public Library on Saturday, February 3. She spoke about the quilting techniques she uses to make art quilts and showed some of her original creations and well as quilts made from others designs. She is pictured with an original quilt called My Mother’s Window of a stained glass window from her childhood home.

•February 7, 2024•

by Crystal Reed

Karen Edwards of Sullivan presented a program Saturday, February 3 at Arthur Public Library on the techniques she uses to create art quilts and some of the supplies used in the process. She was the Grand Prize winner at the 2023 Amish Country Spring Quilt Show in Arthur with a quilt titled “My Childhood Home.” Edwards learned to sew at the age of nine because she wanted to make a dress. 

She first got into quilting when she became engaged, and she sorted through fabrics and made a scrap quilt. After she retired, she decided to return to making quilts. In the beginning of the pandemic, she made masks and noted that she stopped counting after she made 500.  Read More

City Council Approves Use of TIF IV Funds for Completion of Field Study

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•January 31, 2024•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council met Friday, January 26, in the afternoon, after canceling their meeting last Monday due to weather conditions. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth was absent. The council approved a project authorization for a field survey and preliminary drawings for the Worth Street Extension and the use of TIF IV funds for the completion of a field study both to be done with Milano and Grunloh. 

Commissioner Doug Shook explained that the project authorization for a field survey and preliminary drawings for the Worth Street Extension. He stated this is for an extension from Hawthorne and Worth down to 1200N. Shook said that without a road through there, it’s hard to sell lots and get interest in the heart of the TIF IV district. The field survey and preliminary drawings are estimated at a cost of $16,800.  Read More

Shawnee Communications Makes Donation to Lovington Grade School Backpack Program

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•January 24, 2024•

On Friday, January 12th, Jamie Franklin, Sales & Marketing Manager for Shawnee Communications, presented the Lovington Grade School Backpack Program with a jump start to the new year in the form of a $9,780 donation. The donation was collected through Shawnee employee contributions, which were matched individually by Shawnee’s four shareholders and that new amount was matched by the company. On hand to receive the donation was Lovington Grade School Principal, Marla Graham.

The Lovington Grade School Backpack Program became a vision for Principal Graham shortly after her arrival at Lovington Grade School. With nearly 70% of her students categorized as “low income” and qualifying for free or reduced lunches, her mission became to help ensure that the basic needs of the students were met so that they could be more focused on receiving an education. Read More

OVMS Offers Unique Elective Courses

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photo by Crystal Reed
Maggie Patient and Eden Hagerman during the Electric Guitar class at OVMS. These explore courses let students learn about everything from foreign language to art and podcasts.

•January 17, 2024•

by Crystal Reed

Okaw Valley Middle School students have the opportunity to learn guitar, design their own comics, learn how to sew and basic concepts of digital photography during their regular school day. The Explore program is in it’s third year at the school. According to OVMS Principal Ross Forlines when the school started to offer the classes there were not as many offerings available to students. 

Prior to the Explore courses there were only three electives - Spanish, Ag and Band and that was only for eighth grade students. Currently there are thirteen offerings for grades 6-8 and two offerings that are eighth grade only.  Read More

Moultrie County Childcare Committee Grants $21,600 to Sullivan Preschool

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•January 10, 2024•

The Moultrie County Childcare Committee recently announced the awarding of a substantial grant totaling $21,600 to Sullivan Preschool in acknowledgment of its exemplary commitment to providing exceptional childcare services in Moultrie County. This grant reflects the committee’s dedication to supporting and enhancing early childhood education within our community.

As advocates for quality childcare and education, the Moultrie County Childcare Committee recognizes the pivotal role that Sullivan Preschool plays in nurturing the development of our youngest community members. Read More

City Council Approves Grant Agreement for Main Street Water Main Project

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•January 3, 2024•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting Wednesday, December 27, at Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library. In attendance were Mayor Mike Mossman and Commissioners Mike Kirk and Chuck Woodworth. Commissioner Doug Shook attended via phone and Commissioner Abbey Sherwood was absent. In comments from the public, Nancy Barker asked the council whether they could budget some money for lights around the square during Christmastime. Mossman said they would look into it.

Barker also asked a question in regard to the paid leave for Sullivan employees item on the agenda. Human Resources Nakayla Swisher said it was for part-time employees. Read More

Year in Review

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•December 27, 2023•

January 

The new water plant of Route 32 South was starting to take shape. 

Guy Cravatta of Sullivan earned first place at the CrossFit Legends Championship in the 55-59 age group. The competition was held in Cookeville, Tennessee. He entered the Legends Championship online, qualified in mid-August to qualify for the championship and had to finish in the top 10 worldwide. 

There was a blood shortage due to the holiday season, seasonal illness and weather causing drives to be cancelled. Some donors who used to donate pre-COVID had also still not felt comfortable returning. 

The Bethany Legion and Auxiliary took donations to the Danville Veterans home. They delivered 20 winter jackets and 30 pairs of pajama pants as well as gift cards for local restaurants in the Danville.  Read More

MCHGS Receives Holocaust Pillar Award

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photo by Crystal Reed
Pam Wood, History Center Museum Director, holds the plaque that the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society received recently for hosting “The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners” in May.

•December 20, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Historical Society recently received the Holocaust Pillar Award from the Holocaust Education Center and the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation. The award was presented to Pam Wood, History Center Museum Director, on behalf of the society. The award was in recognition of the special exhibit “The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners” which was hosted by the History Center in May. Read More

Dolly Parton Imagination Library Launches in Moultrie County

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photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan mayor Mike Mossman reads “The Gruffalo” to children as part of the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Moultrie County at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Wednesday, December 6.

•December 13, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois in partnership with Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library had a kickoff event for the debut of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Moultrie County. Each child who attended the kickoff event of the debut of the program and signed up from the program received “The Little Engine That Could,” to start their collection.

Sullivan mayor Mike Mossman was in attendance at the event and read the story “The Gruffalo” to children and their parents. Following the story, children and their parents could do a craft related to the book and enjoy refreshments. Besides Moultrie County the following counties have access to the program currently: McLean, DeWitt, Macon, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Edgar, Logan, Menard and Sangamon. Shelby County will launch this week on Wednesday. The goal with the state partnership is to have all the counties covered. Read More