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.
Photo courtesy of Cami Badman
Front Row (L-R): Caleigh Dyer, Mya Dyer, Emerson Risley, Jennifer Lofland. Second Row (L-R): Adalyn Cruitt, Julia Moody, Cadence Schmohe, Ellie Lehman. Back Row (L-R): Claire Kursell, Austin Kelly, Brady Stollard, Grant Martin, Gavin Wade. Not Pictured: Synthea Doss and Kaylee Smith.
‘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’.
Photo Submitted
Mitchell Bennett and Kaden DalPonte with their graduation certificates.
Two local Sullivan Fire Department cadets recently completed their nine-week academy orientation and are enrolled in Lake Land Community College’s EMT Basic program. They both received their Certificate of Graduation on August 26th. Mitchell Bennett and Kaden DalPonte will both remain with the Sullivan Fire Department as probationary volunteer firefighters. Sullivan Fire Chief Chris Wright shared that both are very capable, and SFD is excited to have them there as they progress in both their education and careers.
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Nathan Selby, FF/EMR and cadet coordinator, works with cadets Bennett and DalPonte.
The Sullivan City Council had almost an hour of public comment at their Monday, September 8 meeting, most of it discussing the problem of stray and feral cats in the city. Members of Moultrie County PAWS were asking the city to do a better job of capturing stray and feral cats and relocating them to area farms and also to Macon County Animal Control. Advocates said the cats are not properly acclimated to their new homes and often run away or are killed by predators. “It’s not their fault,” said one person about the stray cats.
Photo by DM Williamee
L-R: Andrea Gerhard, Chasity Casey, Susie Inman, Grant Wade, Linda Huber, Kaitlyn Farrar, Natalie Beck.
Submitted by Rev. Grant Wade
A new effort to strengthen local nonprofits took root last week, on September 9th, as residents gathered under a tent in downtown Sullivan for the launch of the Impact Giving Circle. The initiative, sponsored through the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, is designed to pool community resources and direct them toward organizations serving Moultrie County.
The event celebrated its beginning by awarding two inaugural grants totaling $5,000 to local groups. More than the funding itself, however, attendees remarked on the spirit of unity that marked the gathering. One participant reflected, “This feels like a chance to remember what community is supposed to be, not arguing about what divides us, but working together on what matters most.”
Photo courtesy Land of Lincoln Honor Flight
Mike Daily, as well as nearly 100 veterans and their guardians, attended the 75th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, held in Washington, D.C., on September 9th. Those in red represent Vietnam War era Veterans, and those in Yellow represent Korean War Veterans. Said Mike of the event, “It was a great honor and privilege to fly out to Washington, D.C. with the other Veterans. It was a tremendous bonding experience for my grandson Colby Taylor and me. When they told me I would need a guardian for this event, Colby was my first choice.”
This past Sunday, Heritage Woods held a Grandparents Day celebration, with friends and family of residents coming to celebrate with their loved ones. The sundaes bar was a hit, but even more was the quality time that families spent together catching up, taking photos, and generously dishing out the hugs and kisses.
With the recent influx of dogs at the Moultrie County Animal Control facility, they are going through supplies faster than ever. Currently, they are in need of the following: MARS Pedigree Adult Roasted Chicken Flavor dog food, and Max & Neo leashes and collars. Their current inventory is very low, and the food is flying off their shelves quickly. Every donation helps them continue to provide the best care possible for these dogs until they find their forever homes.
Donations can be made directly via this link: https://www.maxandneo.com/collections/buy-a-donation-box-for-a-rescue, or can also be left in their drop box in front of their facility if no one is around.