Aiden Burgess and Lily Moxley were named 2025 Sullivan Homecoming King and Queen at halftime of the Redskin football game last Friday night. Sullivan dropped a tough defensive battle with the ALAH Knights 14-7
SHS Royalty
Redundancy – does it really emphasize a point?
•October 1, 2025•
by DM Williamee
Word redundancy (not corporate downsizing) is something most are ‘guilty’ of, myself included. I have been known to use phrases such as “Close proximity,” “absolutely essential,” and “end result.” Truth be told, I still do, not even realizing I have done it. Hats off to anyone who has mastered the elimination of redundancy! But what is it, and why does it matter?
Word redundancy is the unnecessary repetition of words, phrases, or ideas that don’t add any new meaning to what you are trying to say. Unlike effective repetition, which emphasizes a point (and is another topic in and of itself), redundancy bulks up communication and makes it less impactful. Short and sweet for the win. But exactly how does it impact what is being said?
Read MoreCat problems dominate Sullivan City Council
•October 1, 2025•
by Sharon Barricklow
A mostly routine Sullivan City Council meeting ended with a lengthy discussion about what to do about stray cats last Monday night.
Almost 40 people attended the meeting but none spoke during the public comment section of the agenda. The final item, a council discussion about the problem of stray cats turned into almost an hour of debate with Mayor Mike Mossman saying “We’re not going to solve this problem tonight.”
Read MoreSullivan Southern Baptist Church to celebrate 75 years
•October 1, 2025•
Sullivan Southern Baptist Church invites the community to join in celebrating its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, October 12th, at Sullivan Southern Baptist Church, 615 E. Jackson Street in Sullivan.
The day will begin with a 10:00 a.m. worship service that will highlight the history and heritage of the church since its founding in 1950. The guest speaker will be former pastor Don Evans. Pastor Don Lusk will bring the morning message, and longtime members will share stories of God’s work through the congregation over the past seven and a half decades.
Read More“TextMyGov” notification system announcement
•October 1, 2025•
Submitted
The City of Sullivan is introducing TextMyGov, a convenient and smart text messaging service. This service will enable residents to effortlessly receive important notifications and easily find specific information by texting the city.
Sullivan will officially launch the new text messaging system to the public on October 13th. Residents may receive a text message from 91896 from the City of Sullivan, initiating the service. Residents have the option to opt out at any time by texting STOP.
Read More‘Senior Expo’ draws crowds
•October 1, 2025•
by DM Williamee
On Thursday, September 25th, in two sessions, nearly two hundred local seniors met with vendors at the Mid-Illinois Senior Center for their annual ‘Senior Expo’. The event was held in their new location at 113 Jefferson Street, Sullivan. The purpose of this event was to both celebrate and empower seniors, which it accomplished.
The Expo was enjoyed by friends and neighbors, with local businesses providing an opportunity for all attending to learn new information, get questions answered, receive gifts, and enjoy a free lunch. Take-out only lunch was provided by Griffin’s BBQ and catering, as a result of the generosity of multiple donors.
Said one attendee, “I have had this on my calendar since I found out about it, and I told my friends, too. As a matter of fact, three of us rode together today to come here, and I’m glad I did. There’s so much I didn’t know about a bunch of things!”
SFD’s Taylor is now full-time
ALAH School Board holds a public hearing, discuss intent to sell bonds
•September 24, 2025•
by Ariana R Cherry
A public hearing was held to discuss the board’s intent to sell up to $22,000,000 in School Fire Prevention and Safety Bonds. These bonds are designated for the high school replacement project and are linked to a health life safety study conducted by BLDD, which was submitted to the state. The information provided by BLDD to the state determined the necessary repairs and their associated costs. After deliberation, the school board agreed to grant the district a fifteen-year repayment period for the bonds. Many believed this timeframe would offer the district financial flexibility, especially given ongoing state funding issues. The next board meeting will include a formal submission of the bonds, detailing the fifteen-year term, along with a resolution setting the tax levy and interest rate.
Other conversations from school board members included reaching out to former alumni and alumni groups who may have an interest in owning remaining pieces of the high school for memorabilia, which could be donated or sold for fundraising purposes.
Read MoreIllinois ‘Safe Routes to School’: Sullivan community survey input needed
•September 24, 2025•
by DM Williamee
Residents of Sullivan have recently received a link to an online survey requesting input for the Illinois ‘Safe Routes to School’ project. The online survey is a brief, 2-minute survey with selection-style answers; it does not gather personal information, and it provides critical input from residents for the ‘Safe Routes to School’ project. A new round of emails will be sent out soon, and each response matters.
Read MoreSullivan High School Honors English: Letters to the Editor
•September 24, 2025•
‘Letters to the Editor,’ written by Cami Badman‘s Honors English III students at Sullivan High School, explored controversial subjects with inquisitive minds and logic as well as emotion-based arguments. Badman opened the school year by challenging these 15 students to present well-rounded arguments for student-selected controversial subjects in the format of a ‘Letter to the Editor’.
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