News Progress

•March 11, 2026•

Illinois fishing licenses – among the most affordable in the nation – are now on sale for the 2026 season. Illinois fishing licenses and stamps for 2026 are available for purchase online and at department-authorized vendors. A standard, non-discounted resident fishing license costs $15. Licenses for the 2025 season remain valid through March 31. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid fishing license in Illinois. Exemptions apply to active-duty military personnel and people with disabilities.

•March 11, 2026•

CEFS will celebrate its 61st birthday with birthday kit donations to the food pantries. During March, the food pantries are requesting donations of the following items to help make birthdays special for families when budgets are tight. All donations are appreciated.

March’s donation request: cake mix, canned icing, cans of soft drinks (lemon-lime, orange, strawberry, cola), 9x13 aluminum pans with lids, and birthday candles.

Moultrie County donations can be dropped off during business hours at the CEFS Food Pantry in Sullivan, located at 114 East Harrison Street. For more information, call (217) 728-7721.

•March 11, 2026•

by Angela Hogan

Administrator of the MCHD

When a family walks into the grocery store with WIC benefits, every choice matters. The foods they bring home shape the mealtime experiences that help children grow. That’s why the recent updates to the WIC program are such welcome news for families across Illinois. These changes give parents more flexibility, more culturally familiar options, and more ways to support healthy eating at home.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced these updates on February 25th, expanding the variety of nutritious foods available through WIC. For families in Moultrie County, the changes mean easier shopping, more choices that fit their preferences, and stronger nutritional support during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood.

What ss WIC? WIC is a federal nutrition program that supports the health of pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding mothers, and infants and children under age five. The program provides monthly benefits for nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and community services. More than 175,000 Illinois residents rely on WIC each month, making it one of the most impactful public health programs in the state.

•March 11, 2026•

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (Illinois EPA) Office of Energy is offering up to $1,500,000 in grant funding available to support energy efficiency projects at publicly owned public water supply (PWS) facilities, commonly referred to as drinking water treatment plants (DWTP). Awarded projects will range from $50,000 to $500,000, with a match requirement of 10-20% based on geographic location. Application materials are available at the Illinois EPA Office of Energy PWS Energy Efficiency Grant Program webpage. The application period closes at 5:00 pm on May 4th, 2026. 

•March 11, 2026•

Applications are now available for the 2026 Irrevocable Scholarship Trust Program. This Sullivan American Legion scholarship offers two (2) $1,500 annual scholarships, renewable up to four years.