One Book/One Sullivan has a record turnout
•April 15, 2026•
L-R, beginning at the top: Zeke Walk, Noah Davis, Edie Gibbons, Nora Becker, Libby Wall, Ava Warren, Violet Cohan, Aubrey Fultz, Charlie Martin, Scarlett Perrott, Michaela Blickensderfer, Gideon Walk, Sarah Windhorst, Mrs. Ray, Bentley Meadows, Emma Drake, Mrs. Powell, and Mitchell Wesselman.
by DM Williamee
On Thursday, April 9th, One Book, One Sullivan (OBOS) experienced a record turnout of 130 people from the community, the largest turnout in nineteen years, for their annual student-led book reading. This year’s title, “The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn,” by Sally J. Pla, drew both insightful and some rave reviews from those who read it. Rikki Ray, who began the OBOS program, shared that her students are especially passionate about OBOS, with three students sharing their experiences and perspectives.
Said SHS Emma Drake, a student participant of OBOS, “I signed up for OBOS at the suggestion of my elementary school librarian, Mrs. Fleming. I joined my 5th-grade year, and I have participated in OBOS since then. OBOS has helped me with so many life skills through middle school and high school. I’ve learned how to look at situations from new perspectives. I’ve also gained confidence in my leadership skills, trying to be the best role model I can, especially as a high schooler. I would encourage younger students to join and become involved. You always have strengths to add to a group, even if you don’t think you do. And if OBOS is not for you, get involved in something and find out what you are passionate about.”
Read MoreSullivan’s Clean Up Day is coming
•April 15, 2026•
It’s that time of year again- clean-up day. As many Sullivan locals are already well into their spring-cleaning rituals, welcoming and taking pride in the additional space in their homes and garages, the next step is to dispose of those items permanently and responsibly.
Beginning April 20th through to the 24th, Sullivan will hold its annual Clean Up Day, (see map), delineating which days items will be retrieved from their area. Those who reside on Jackson and Hamilton streets will have their items picked up on Monday, April 20th. As a reminder, all items must be placed on the curb by 6:00 a.m. Only those residents within the city limits are eligible to participate. The townwide clean-up is only available to residential (not commercial) customers.
Read MoreDEA ‘Take Back’ day is Saturday, April 25th
•April 15, 2026•
by DM Williamee
The DEA’s National ‘Prescription Drug Take Back Day,’ held twice yearly (April and October), offers a safe, anonymous way to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications. This spring, Saturday, April 25th, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day began in September of 2010 to combat the growing opioid crisis and reduce prescription drug misuse. The initiative was launched to provide a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications, preventing them from being stolen, abused, or harming individuals and the environment. It was created as a critical component of the White House’s strategy to address the nation’s rising prescription drug abuse crisis and accidental poisoning rates.
Read MoreDine with a Doc: nutrition power
•April 15, 2026•
by DM Williamee
Denise Bloemer, Sarah Bush Lincoln Leadership Academy
On Tuesday, April 7th, Mid Illinois Senior Services of Sullivan’s monthly ‘Dine with a Doc’ presented an information-rich session titled, “Discover the Power of Nutrition” to those in attendance for the well-attended educational luncheon. Led by Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Denise Bloemer, a graduate of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Leadership Academy and member of the SBL Workforce Engagement team, the presentation provided current dietary guidelines and suggestions for eating healthily and living better through the power of nutrition.
Read MoreSHS Prom candidates
Queen Candidates are Eiley Poe, Riane Bear, Devon Richardson, Emily Crosier, Kate Bushue
Prom will take place Saturday, April 18th, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. at Building 1225 in Sullivan.
Heritage Woods ‘Eggtsravaganza’ draws crowds
•April 8, 2026•
by DM Williamee
On Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday), locals and children from near and far converged on the Sullivan Heritage Woods property, anticipating the annual Easter Egg hunt, even as a few drizzles of rain sporadically fell, but thankfully, no storm emerged to ruin the day. Amongst the festivities, there was a 50/50 drawing, a drawing for eight new children’s bicycles (two per age group), an adult gift basket drawing, pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and multiple local food and beverage vendors were on site.
Sullivan High School hosts blood drive
L-R: Julia Moody, Daisy Richardson, Kaylee Smith, and Devon Richardson at the forefront while SHS students donate blood.
On Wednesday, April 1st, the Sullivan High School student blood drive committee was at the Sullivan American Legion, working to sign in and help with their twice yearly scholarship blood drive fundraiser. All monies raised at this blood drive go to The American Red Cross scholarship. Their target was 30 people donating blood, and they were well on their way to realizing their goal.
Marsha Kirby, student council advisor, oversaw the students through this fundraising effort, conducting sign-ups and acting as the point of contact for the American Red Cross for this scholarship drive. Snacks and T-shirts were provided to donors for their generosity.
SAIL civil rights workshop held March 31
•April 8, 2026•
Marlena Johnson, left, and Cristina Kinsella, right.
by DM Williamee
On March 31st at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, attorneys Marlena Johnson and Cristina Kinsella from Soyland Access to independent Living (SAIL) held a free civil rights workshop for the community titled, “Equip for Equality.” This workshop provided an introduction and overview to Equip for Equality and their civil rights team, special education clinic information, a very information-rich presentation on Americans with Disabilities (ADA) rights, and ended with a questions and discussion period.
Read MoreIs your data secure?
•April 8, 2026•
by DM Williamee
In 2024, the FBI estimated that over two thousand cyberattacks were reported daily in the U.S., roughly one attack every 40 seconds, costing over $16 billion dollars in reported losses. The vast majority of these were automated, such as phishing and malware, rather than targeted breaches. As AI advances, so does the speed of the bad actors using tech for nefarious purposes.
Malware, phishing, ransomware, MITM, DDoS, and social engineering are the most common types of cyber attacks. Many people have heard these terms, less are vaguely aware of how these threats work, and most people do not know or consistently use best practices (hygiene) to keep their data safe. For bad actors, a big payday can be like shooting fish in a barrel. It’s not just individual consumers who are at risk; large corporations have been found to have holes in their security as well. To view some of the cyber attacks in 2026 thus far, visit https://tech.co/news/data-breaches-updated-list. Cyber threats and criminals are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, on a larger scale, and far more quickly than threats can be identified and neutralized.
Read MoreIt’s called the ‘net for a reason
•April 8, 2026•
Op Ed by DM Williamee
With the advent of dial-up in the everyday household, youth and adults alike were quickly obsessed with what this new ‘magic box’ was capable of. The cosmic excitement before this was when the graphics, player options, and newer stylized game controllers for video games like Halo and Grand Theft Auto became more pixelated. I, however, was the mean mom. Having used the internet in the workplace, I quickly became aware that now you could literally strike a few keys and click a mouse and have the world at your feet, whether via instant messaging (with people you had to trust were who they said they were), Ask Jeeves, or email. And that was the problem.
My economics professor told my class that if something was either 100% free or too easy to obtain, we were likely either the bait or the end product. How true, so many years later in this AI age, that his words of advice have proven to be true. As the mean mom, I had a 30-30-30 rule in my home. 30 minutes reading, 30 minutes gameplay or television (pick one), and 30 minutes on the computer, placed in the dining room so I could keep an eye on who was doing what, and when. Reading was not optional. No reading, no magic box time. My teen and ‘tween daughters let me know how cruel and unfair I was frequently, loudly, and even argued that I was stunting their tech growth and education. I reminded them that an hour of interfacing with something non-human each day was my hard line. Take it or leave it, my house, my rules. They, of course, took it.
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