•October 22, 2025•
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society monthly meeting was held October 16th at the History Center in Sullivan.
The featured speaker was Alice Durbin, a Moultrie County native. Alice was a dental hygienist and was instrumental in bringing modern dental practices to Kosovo, an Eastern European country. She told those attendance that she got involved in war-torn Kosovo in 2001 when she visited the area for the first time to set up a dental clinic.
Read MoreHere are a few simple tricks to help your children enjoy their Halloween treats
•October 22, 2025•
by Angela Hogan
Halloween is an exciting time for kids. They look forward to wearing their costumes. They also anticipate the delicious Halloween treats they’ll collect during their trick-or-treat activities. However, as parents, it’s crucial to ensure our children remain safe during this holiday. In this article, we’ll share some “tricks” to help you prioritize their safety.
Halloween Should Be Fun and Safe
For many, Halloween is a fun way to welcome the fall season. Unfortunately, the costumes, activities, and even the treats present some unique hazards. Help keep your kids safe by discussing the following tips before they begin their adventure.
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•October 22, 2025•
by DM Williamee
On Thursday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m., Dove Domestic Violence Program in conjunction with HOPE of East Central Illinois will be holding a Candlelighting Service at First Christian Church, 1357 CR 1200 E in Sullivan.
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•October 22, 2025•
by DM Williamee
As we move closer to winter, the Midwest should be bracing for the impacts of La Niña, according to meteorological experts. La Niña is a climate phenomenon characterized by cooler ocean temperatures in the Pacific, which can significantly influence weather patterns across the United States. The Climate Prediction Center has issued a La Niña watch, indicating that conditions could persist through the winter months, affecting areas of the Midwest and of course, Illinois.
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•October 22, 2025•
by DM Williamee
Words, whether written or verbally communicated, have the power to influence thoughts, behaviors, and change. Almost ninety percent of individuals with substance use disorder and thirty-five percent with a serious mental illness do not get treatment. A large percentage do not seek help because of shame. What exactly is a stigma? A stigma is a mark of shame or disgrace.
Read MorePhotos by R.R. Best
On Saturday, October 18th, neither wind nor rain could deter Sullivan’s First United Methodist Church from holding their ‘Trunk or Treat’ event. With the weather uncooperative, the event was moved indoors where the festivities went on, and enjoyed by all.
Photo by DM Williamee
On Tuesday, October 7th, the Mid-Illinois Senior Services hosted their monthly ‘Dine with a Doc.’ Their guest speaker was Taylor Cook, APRN, with Sarah Bush Lincoln. Taylor works at the SBL Sullivan Clinic and presented on how to prepare for a visit with your healthcare provider. Tips included bringing a list of current medications, how to address health issues at home, as well as writing down any questions you may have for your provider before your appointment. Taylor, who holds a multitude of advanced nursing and care certifications, is a local to the area and has a passion for providing the best possible care for her patients.
Photo by DM Williamee
On Wednesday, October 8th, Sullivan 8th-grade Middle Schoolers were treated to a docent-guided tour of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society. It was impressed upon them that stories come to life through objects, pictures, and experiences. Moreover, the importance of museums was stressed in that they protect history and culture, so that knowledge is not lost, as well as connect communities and inspire the future, among the innumerable other benefits of museums. The experience was as interactive as it was guided, with questions and answers and thought challenges throughout the tour.
The 2025 Okaw Valley Homecoming Dance will be held on Saturday, October 18th, in the OVHS gym from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., with coordination prior to the dance at 6:45 p.m.
The 2025 Homecoming Court: Front - Freshman Attendant Jonnie Hart, Junior Attendant Sophia Tice, Queen Candidates Kate Stauder, Aubree McBride, Ava Harshman, and Reese Bruns, and Sophomore Attendant Ellie Fitzgerald. Back - Freshman Attendant Jonathan Cazel, Junior Attendant Kwame Calhoun, King Candidates Braden Montgomery, Brady McQuilling, Wyatt Hildebrandt, Tucker Montgomery, and Sophomore Attendant Cole Holthaus.
•October 15, 2025•
by DM Williamee
The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation recently began awarding adult learner scholarships, and Clifton Ulbricht of Bethany was the first recipient of this scholarship. We spoke with him recently about the scholarship and the impact it has made on both his personal and academic life.
When asked how he became aware of the scholarship, Clifton advised that he found out about it through the Richland Community College Foundation office. It was a new scholarship, available to Moultrie County residents, and it had just been implemented this year for the Fall semester. He went online and applied, as well as followed through with letters of recommendation and the other typical pre-scholarship award steps. HICF asked him to share who he was, and his goals and ambitions were in the essay portion. Next, he spoke with the foundation and found out shortly thereafter that he was accepted into the scholarship program. Clifton shared that HICF’s scholarship application was one of the most streamlined, efficient, and simplest scholarships he has applied for. The scholarship award amount was $1,500.00, and it can be reapplied for on a semester-by-semester basis. Being awarded this scholarship has immensely helped him and his family. Having a family it helped balance the cost of going into a graduate program in Higher Education and Community College, which he is currently pursuing while also working in his chosen field.
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