Toy Bar’s “Allwheels Run for ALS”
Sullivan American Legion aids fire victim
Photo submitted
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.
Unrest continues at ALAH School District
Collective bargaining agreement with the AEA passed
•July 23, 2025•
by Ariana R Cherry
Unrest continued at the Arthur School District #305 school board meeting on Wednesday, July 16th. Approximately thirty teachers were in attendance regarding the teachers’ contract. Sharon Chupp spoke first during the public comment section of the meeting. She felt she needed to share her story regarding Shawn Davison’s Letter to the Editor in the newspaper the prior week. Chupp said, “I have a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and Shawn has been his one-on-one assistant for the last two years. When my child was ready for high school, I knew he was getting a new one-on-one. I was nervous, not knowing how that was going to go or what his last four years were going to look like. I have to say it has been the best thing ever. Shawn has gone out of his way to help Lance so many times, not that he had to, but because he wanted to.” She stated, “He asked if he could spend the last hour with him to help with his speech and other areas he needed help with, including his bathroom issues when no one else wanted to, and got him to where he knew the routine. On Christmas Eve, Shawn and his wife stopped by the house to give my child a Christmas gift because he wanted to.” And added, “My child has more confidence than ever before, talks so much more, and looks forward to going to school most days,” Chupp commented. “I would like to add, what would be a better way than to impact a whole classroom versus just one child?” she concluded.
Read MoreBluey visits ETML, and young fans are not disappointed
•July 23, 2025•
by DM Williamee
This past Saturday, July 19th, Bluey paid a visit to his fans at Sullivan’s Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library. In addition to hugs and playing games with Bluey, stations were set up that attendees enjoyed, such as an arts and crafts station, a coloring station, face painting, balloon games, and a playtime library checkout desk, which allowed for a popular game of pretend.
Parents and grandparents alike attended with their children and found that the timing could not have been better, with rain curtailing many outdoor activities as summer winds down, and many are preparing for the school year to begin.
One parent stated, “The programs here at the library are great; we almost never miss a week, and on a day like this with the rain, humidity, and heat- it just worked out perfectly!”
City Council hears “Economic Development Report”
•July 23, 2025•
by Sharon Barricklow
The Sullivan business outlook is very good, and hopes are high for additional restaurants, the City Council heard at their July 14 meeting. Sullivan Economic Development Director Laurrie Minor gave the council an updated report including new housing starts, business development, and economic development goals. “Right now our biggest goal is attracting more restaurants,” she said.
Minor brought along Lake Shelbyville Operations Manager Jon Summers, who praised the city’s initiatives for development. “I sit on a lot of boards and go to a lot of meetings,” Summers said. “Sometimes there is barely an agenda, but in Sullivan it’s several pages long and real work gets done.”
Read MoreSullivan’s ‘Guns and Hoses’ softball fundraiser knocked it “outta the park”
•July 23, 2025•
by DM Williamee
Braving predicted thunderstorms and high temperatures as well as humidity, this past Sunday the first responders of Moultrie County came together to play a “Guns vs. Hoses” softball game in Wyman Park. This game was held to raise money for school supplies and other needs for students in the Sullivan, Bethany, and Lovington school districts. In addition to the game, there were bounce houses and pre-game events for the kids (and kids at heart), and food and beverages for the fans. The planned finale, a fireworks show scheduled for 9:00 p.m. by DC Wholesale and Pyrotechnics, had to be cancelled due to inclement weather.
Read MoreHabitat for Humanity holds ground-breaking ceremony
•July 16, 2025•
by DM Williamee
Despite a breakout drizzle, Gary Smith led other volunteers with Habitat for Humanity in a groundbreaking ceremony and on Sunday, July 13th. With a foundation laid and ready for building, those who gathered prayed, read scripture, a litany, and a benediction. The building caravan, consisting of 10 couples, has arrived and is eager to get started. Four local SHS students have participated to date, getting the floor joists installed.
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Things people “forget” to clean
•July 16, 2025•
by DM Williamee
We all bear the detestable chore of housekeeping, to whatever extent we consider clean enough. To each his/her own. When I was raising my children, I had the 3-second rule in our house, and in hindsight, I have my regrets at setting that precedent. To many of us who are busy with jobs, shuttling kids back and forth, managing calendars, paying bills, cooking, doing laundry, and innumerable other day-to-day tasks, a standard of “good enough” suffices. Perhaps we are retired and just don’t care, preferring to live our lives, go places, and do things, which is perfectly acceptable *cough* preferable, in my opinion. For the neat-freaks, below are the items most people (whoever they may be) forget to clean. Mind you, I am one hundred percent certain it is not an all-encompassing list (I did not see one mention of air fryers in my research), but I’m not going to let that keep me up at night. Very late.
Read MoreBuxton resigns from Moultrie County Board
•July 16, 2025•
by Sharon Barricklow
Joe Wallace is the newest member of the Moultrie County Board after Scott Buxton, 58 of Bethany, resigned his position last week.
Wallace, the former mayor of Dalton City, was selected to replace Buxton who resigned via his attorney.
Read MoreMC Historical Society hosting Traxler on trains
•July 16, 2025•
Submitted by MCHS
The Moultrie County Historical Center, located at 1303 South Hamilton Street, will hold its monthly meeting on July 17th at 7:00 p.m. Their presenter this month is David Traxler, who is the Executive Secretary of the Wabash Historical Society. Mr. Traxler is from Hammond and lives in the same house his grandparents built in 1875, across the street from the Wabash rail-road tracks. As a child, Mr. Traxler developed an interest in the history of the Wabash Railroad.
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