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SHS Prom court:(L to R): Front Row - King - Owen Smith, Queen - Kate Bushue, Back Row - Devon Richardson, 2025 King Lucas Floyd, Carter Thurston, Johnathon Iacobazzi, Riane Bear, Caden Saul, James Feldkamp, Eiley Poe, Emily Crosier, and 2025 Queen Katilyn Kirby.
•April 29, 2026•
by DM Williamee
On April 13th, the Village of Lovington held its regular monthly meeting, with Lovington locals in attendance who were armed with questions ranging from water bill payments to liquor licensure, and whether ordinance changes to the liquor ordinance were legal and/or ethical. Before the regular meeting, a brief appropriations meeting was held. Appropriations remained unchanged through to 2027, with no dissenting votes by the village board.
Resident Carolyn Trower spoke, requesting that the Village create an online payment and billing portal for utilities, specifically the water bill. Mrs. Trower advised the board that bills sent via U.S. Mail were frequently lost in transit, requiring her to call the Village to find out what she owed so she could make the payment on time and avoid late fees. She contended that, based on her previous banking and finance experience, for the cost the Village spent on postage, an online/ ACH system could be implemented to access utility bills and online payment. These missed utility bills had become so prevalent for her that she spoke to the local post office and was advised by them that the best remedy for missed mail was to rent a PO box for an annual fee of $72, which was a cost she did not feel she should have to shoulder. “It’s the 21st century, and it’s convenient,” she stated. In closing, Mrs. Trower shared her list of positives and negatives for implementing her suggestion with the board, closing with, “Jeff and I did not come to this meeting this evening to create disruptions, but to bring this issue to your attention. It’s just been such a problem to monitor and get our water bill…. We look forward to hearing your decision concerning this issue.”
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•April 29, 2026•
by DM Williamee
The Prairieland Frontiersman’s 50th Annual Spring Rendezvous, held on April 24th-26th at the Prairieland Frontiersman Club Grounds in Sullivan, resulted in a packed campground enjoying both the event and the perfect weather on Saturday. This year’s celebration commemorated both the 50th Spring Rendezvous and the 250th birthday of the United States.
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•April 29, 2026•
Dr. Kent Stauder, superintendent of Okaw Valley CUSD #302, has been named the 2026 Superintendent of Distinction by his peers in the Abe Lincoln Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). Stauder was honored at an awards luncheon on April 23 in Springfield, where 21 regional Superintendents of Distinction were recognized. Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, served as the featured speaker.
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Front row: (L to R) Katelin Livingston, Reese Bruns, Aubree McBride, and Ava Harshman. Back Row: (L to R) Brady McQuilling, Ames Drollinger, Tucker Montgomery, and Wyatt Hildebrandt. This year’s Prom will be held on April 25th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Mt. Zion Convention Center.
•April 22, 2026•
by DM Williamee
As many locals have noticed, the much-loved park in Lovington has been closed for renovations, much to the chagrin of those who enjoy the park on a nearly daily basis. As part of the renovation process, Mayor Brittany Bates contacted a generational Lovington resident to gather historical information on the pavilion, and he provided newspaper articles indicating the park may have first received the pavilion around 1904. While historical records are limited, it is clear that this structure has been an important part of Lovington for well over a century. The pavilion has undergone several changes over the years, including the removal of the original side walls and stage area to accommodate restrooms and storage space, as well as multiple roof replacements and ongoing concrete repairs as needed.
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•April 22, 2026•
On Monday, April 13th, the Sullivan School board held its regular monthly meeting. The following reports from the principals were shared with those in attendance:
Mrs. Guyot shared that the SES Strong April Character trait was courage-choosing what is helpful, right, and kind, even when it’s hard or scary, and SES celebrated “Leaders of Cooperation” at the Sullivan Strong Assembly. She went on to thank Mr. Waelde, Mrs. Kalagian, Mrs. Collins, and the 3rd – 5th grade teachers for getting SES through the IAR testing window and make-ups. Project One Family had their first community event on Sunday, April 12th, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Building 1225. Families were served dinner together, and then community organizations and parents participated in a roundtable discussion of programs and support they provide to families within the Sullivan community. 3rd grade visited Reedy Farm on March 24th as a culmination of the conclusion of their Charlotte’s Web novel read, and Coach Typer and Coach Bosgraaf have taken advantage of some of the warmer Spring days this month to begin preparing students for the upcoming annual SES track meet in May. Sullivan PTO has “Coin Wars” fundraiser; The Best Day Ever Event. SES’s Good Behavior Celebration for the month of March was “School-Wide Bingo”, where staff and students participated in traditional Bingo via Google Meet, playing six games and with ten winners. Upcoming events are a TLTOTS Trip on April 14th and April 15th, and the Special Olympics on Friday, May 1st.
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•April 22, 2026•
Sheep to Yarn to Quilts will return to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday, May 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will feature sheep and alpaca shearing demonstrations, processing the wool, and making clothing and quilts from the shared materials. There will also be numerous activities for children, including pony cart rides and a petting zoo with a variety of farm animals, as well as household pets.
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•April 22, 2026•
The Prairieland Frontiersman’s 50th Annual Spring Rendezvous will be held on April 24th, 25th, and 26th at the Prairieland Frontiersman Club Grounds, 1426 County Road 800 North in Sullivan. This year is a special celebration, commemorating the 250th birthday of the United States of America. For those who have never attended this event, this family-friendly event is a step back into history by a group of dedicated, friendly, and knowledgeable craftspeople and historians, including live demonstrations. This year’s special events include an Honor Guard, the raising of Old Glory, with a live performance of the singing of the National Anthem, with attendees encouraged to join in. Trade blankets and vendors are both welcomed and encouraged to attend, as well as local area residents desiring to step back into the past.
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•April 22, 2026•
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society recently hosted two unique and dynamic events at the History Center. The first event, the MCHGS 2nd Annual Trivia Contest, saw eight eager teams of trivia buffs vie for bragging rights and prize money. Teams answered 80 trivia questions across eight categories, ranging from sports to movie stars to Moultrie County history. After much sweat and many tears, trivia mastery was ultimately claimed by “Dolan’s Divas” in 1st Place and “Big Bob’s Disciples” in 2nd Place. Sixty-four contestants came out to the History Center for a fun night of food, friends, and facts. The MCHS encourages both veteran trivia players and newbies to consider playing in the 3rd Annual Trivia Contest next year. Details will be announced in early 2027.
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