Lehman takes 2nd with team at NJHA

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Rhett Lehman (second from right) of Sullivan was a member of the 2nd-place senior team representing Illinois in the Livestock Judging Contest, at the event provided by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America. The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) hosted the 2025 VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) “Live from Louisville,” in Louisville, Ky., July 12th-18th. More than 700 Hereford juniors were entered to exhibit cattle, compete in educational contests, and participate in leadership events.

Gays to host ‘Outhouse Festival’ this Saturday

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•August 6, 2025•

Gamble’s General Store, built in 1872, was attached to a general store downstairs, and upstairs were apartments. The design was so each floor had its own ‘facilities’. Gamble’s General Store was torn down in 1984, when the Village acquired it, and the two-story outhouse has been a tourist attraction since the 1960s. This is the biggest festival yet. Below is the Schedule of Events for the festival. 

Saturday Festival Schedule:

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Sullivan Senior Expo to be held in September

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•August 6, 2025•

It’s almost that time of year-the annual Mid Illinois Senior Services Expo will be held on September 25th, with 2 expo times this year: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., with the doors opening at 9:00 a.m. The event will be held in their new location at 113 Jefferson Street, Sullivan, and is a day to celebrate and empower seniors. 

Take-out only lunch will be provided by Griffins BBQ and catering, donated by Agrifab and Hydro-gear. Prepare for an informative expo session with friends, local businesses, learn new information, gifts, and a free lunch. To register or if you have any questions, call (217) 728.8521, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All planning to attend must register by Friday, September 13th, at 3:30 p.m.

Kids spread joy with lemonade stand and birthday kit donations

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•August 6, 2025•

What started as a simple summer project turned into a heartwarming act of kindness thanks to the creative and compassionate Summer Squad kids at Empower Academy. During their recent “Pay it Forward” week, the school-aged group set up a cheerful lemonade stand with one goal in mind: to make someone’s special day even brighter.

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Growth comes at a cost for City Council

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•August 6, 2025•

by Sharon Barricklow

An ambitious plan to add 100 new housing units in ten years to Sullivan is coming along ahead of schedule, but at an added cost to the city’s utilities. During an extended discussion about economic development, the council discussed the costs of additional electric, water, and gas meters for new construction. “Lots of communities our size and bigger would like to have what we have,’ said Mayor Mike Mossman. 

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37th annual Findlay Walleye Festival

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Photos DM Williamee

Locals and non-locals alike gathered in Findlay on Friday, July 25th, and Saturday, the 26th, to celebrate their 37th annual Walleye Festival. On offer were everything from a Kid Zone, beer tent, American Legion Dinner, vendors, food trucks, firehouse obstacle course, to a pedal pull, car show, live musical performances, tractor pull, and the parade, which drew a sizable crowd for the town of approximately 700 residents. There was something for everyone, and the atmosphere was one of very good cheer, despite the record-hot, humid weather experienced in the region the past two weeks.

Moultrie Historical Society: August special event

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•July 30, 2025•

On Saturday, August 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Moultrie County Historical Society in Sullivan will be hosting a “2nd Native American Artifacts Roadshow” at 1303 S. Hamilton Street in Sullivan.

Randy Fair, their Native American consultant, will be available to discuss the artifacts to include age/time period of the artifact, arrowhead names, and point types. Materials will also be on hand to help with research. Everyone attending is invited to visit their collection of arrowheads and artifacts. Those attending are also invited to bring any articles, artifacts, or objects they believe to be related to Native American ways and life, such as stone tools, arrowheads, axes, pottery, and pottery shards. If you have any questions, call (217) 728-4085.

Lovington Library “Ag in the Classroom”: conservation

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by DM Williamee 


Photo by DM WIlliamee
Linda Henry discusses conservation with attendees.


•July 30, 2025•

On Tuesday, July 22nd, Linda Henry from the Moultrie County Soil and Water Conservation District provided a fun and educational water conservation activity for local youth at the Lovington Library, focused on water conservation. Mrs. Henry used a terrarium-building project to demonstrate water conservation, hands-on. Many of the youth have been learning about space, and Mrs. Henry shared the mnemonic “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos” (which elicited smiles and giggles) to help the children remember the order of the planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Those present were eager to ask questions, share their thoughts on the subject, and discuss what they had learned. All were especially excited to build their terrariums. 

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Toy Bar’s “Allwheels Run for ALS”

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Photo by R.R. Best Toy Bar’s “Allwheels Run for ALS” On July 26th, the Toy Bar of Sullivan, the VFW of Shelbyville, Strasburg’s 32 Below, Windsor’s Old No. 1, and Mattoon’s The Castle participated in the “Allwheels for ALS” run, with proceeds going to Trevor Storm, who was raising awareness for ALS. The theme was sports-related, as Greg Dirk’s favorite team was the Cardinals, so all came dressed in their favorite baseball team’s attire.

Sullivan American Legion aids fire victim

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Mark Madson presented Lee Bishop with a check from the American Legion Department of Illinois Disaster Relief Program to help cover expenses incurred from his house fire, which caused significant damage to his home.

From left to Right: Mark Young, Illinois American Legion Fourth Division Commander, Lee Bishop Member of Sullivan Sons of American Legion Detachment 68, Wayne Madson, American Legion Department of Illinois Vice Commander, and a member of the American Legion Department of Illinois Disaster Relief Program, and Dave Selby Sullivan Sons of American Legion Adjutant.