•June 11, 2025•
Entries for Arthur’s 2025 Freedom Celebration Parade are now being accepted. “Hometown Celebration” is the theme for the 31st annual parade.
Read MoreRemembering Who We Are………62
The Panther’s Scream
•June 11, 2025•
by Janet Roney
“It’s time to quit and go home when I start seeing things!” Roger hung his jacket on the hook and stood there with a puzzled look on his face.
“Seeing things? What did you see?” I asked. My worry about my husband working so late at night at the isolated Murphy River farm on the east county line was replaced by a new concern.
“I don’t know. In my tractor lights, I thought I saw something dark dart across in front of me. Maybe it was a reflection. After I quit and was walking to my truck, I heard this blood-curdling scream come up from the Kaskaskia River bottom. It was time to go home!”
Now, you should know that my husband is a sober man. (We are Methodists, don’t you know…)
Read MoreArthur Public Library holding teen workshops
•June 11, 2025•
This summer, from June 16th through July 28th, the Arthur Public Library will be holding B.A.S.E. teen workshops for those ages 10 and above. June 16th will be “Plant the Seeds of Change,” a hands-on activity where youth decorate planters and plant a seed or small plant symbolizing growth and transformation. June 30th will be “ Positive Thought Loops,” where they will explore positive thought loops and paint a rock with uplifting affirmations. July 14th will be “ Gratitude Jar,” where they will create a Gratitude Jar to fill with positive notes and reminders for tough days; a simple, uplifting activity to help youth build resilience and focus on the good. July 28th will be “ Mindfulness Deep Breathing,” where they can learn to utilize mindfulness practices of deep breathing by using bubbles. For more information, contact Nick Spidle at (217) 218-9972 or nicks@hourhouserecovery.org.
A Look Back…6-11-2025
2015
Okaw Valley’s baseball team took home a fourth-place state trophy from the tournament in Peoria.
Zachary Coon was awarded a scholarship by the Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Association Foundation. Coon graduated from Sullivan High School in the spring of 2011 and attended Lake Land College to study building construction technology before transferring to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he worked towards his bachelor’s degree in construction management with a minor in business administration.
The Lovington Grade School eighth grade class promotion ceremony was held with the following students promoted: Isaac Ashenfelter, Gabriel Hallford, Paul Brodnansky, Jon Marquis, Kyle Carnahan, Dalton McDaniel, Veronica Chambers, Caleb Nettles, Adam Day, Taylor Powell, Hunter Day, Daniel Reedy, Ciara Emrick, Jessica Renfro, Molly Fort, Angela Robinson, Lauren Foster, Alexia Stanley, and Katelynn Gingerich.
Read MoreSHS Valedictorian and Salutatorian: Hard work, big dreams
•June 4, 2025•
SHS Valedictorian Addison Brush shared the following in her speech, “…success isn’t always about having it all figured out. It’s about taking that first step, then the next, even when you’re unsure. It’s about staying curious, being bold, and choosing to grow through every experience. The world we’re walking into needs fresh ideas, new energy, and the courage to question how things have always been done. That’s where we come in.”
SHS Salutatorian Olivia Cortes shared the following in her speech, “We are a class of big dreams and aspirations, but to achieve those goals, we have to work just as hard in the future as we have to get to this point. Success is not given but earned through hard work and determination. Some may be handed opportunities in life, but the Sullivan High School Class of 2025 will always be the ones working for the opportunities that they deserve.”
SDS summer meals changes
•June 4, 2025•
Sullivan Schools will be providing free meals to anyone 18 and under in our area. They plan to deliver meals door-to-door to anyone who would like to receive meals within the Sullivan School District. This will occur one day per week, with 7 days of meals per child. Meal delivery began the week of May 26th, and it will run through July 31st.
New this year is a meal pickup program for families residing outside of the Sullivan School District. Those families may pick up meals at the Sullivan Elementary School from 3:00-6:00 p.m., which began on Mondays beginning June 2nd.
Read more: SDS summer meals changesJune MoCo Quarter Madness
•June 4, 2025•
Moultrie County Monthly Quarter Madness will hold its June Quarter Auction on Wednesday, June 11th. The event will be held at the Sullivan American Legion. The organization of the month is the Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary Unit 68. Founded in 1919, they are made up of spouses, mothers, daughters, and granddaughters of veterans. They are dedicated to serving veterans, the military, and their families. The Sullivan Unit provides gifts for local nursing home veterans for various holidays throughout the year. And they support local youth organizations and families in the community. Specific community contributions include Poppy Distribution; sponsoring high school girls to attend Girls State each summer; holding the Veterans Day Art and Writing Contest, the Americanism Essay Contest, and the Poppy Poster Contest; supporting Auxiliary scholarships; conducting Chili and Anything But Chili Cookoffs; and supporting Red Cross Club’s Service to the Armed Forces projects.
Read more: June MoCo Quarter MadnessRemembering Who We Are…………61
The Halfway House
•June 4, 2025•
by Janet Roney
“Ted, you and Dena are doing the same thing your grandparents did almost two centuries ago at Graham’s Halfway House Inn on the old Charleston Stage Road…feeding and letting travelers spend the night at your inn!”
We had just finished pitching our tents in Graham’s east yard at the end of our second day of hiking into the past on our 1982 family hike to Mattoon on the old Charleston Road. Our kids, aged twelve and nine, had stuffed themselves with Dena’s fried chicken supper, while Roger and I were fed by stories Ted told about his grandparents’ inn that once stood a short distance east of their house.
Read more: Remembering Who We Are…………61Cadwell Blood Drive
•June 4, 2025•
Cadwell Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be on Tuesday, June 17th from 3:15 pm to 6:45 pm on Tuesday, June 17 at M & E Woodcrafts at 1533 CR 1900N, inside Donor Bus.
Read more: Cadwell Blood DriveDam West Recreation Area and boat ramp closure for the IHSA State Bass Fishing Finals
•June 4, 2025•
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Bass Fishing Finals will be held at Lake Shelbyville from Friday, June 6th, through Saturday, June 7th, at the Dam West boat ramp. To accommodate tournament activities, the Dam West recreation area will be open only to the participating teams, spectators, and workers beginning at 9:00 p.m., Thursday, June 5th, through 9:00 p.m. Saturday, June 7th.
Read more: Dam West Recreation Area and boat ramp closure for the IHSA State Bass Fishing Finals