Lovington first-grader takes the stage at Moultrie-Douglas County talent show

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by Jamie Crosier

Six-year-old Paisleigh had never performed on a stage before. Her singing experience had taken place at home and in the car, with encouragement from her mom and practice using a microphone at home.

On July 28, she took that singing to the talent show at the Moultrie-Douglas County fairgrounds in Arthur and came home a winner.

Paisleigh, a first-grader at Lovington Grade School, performed “If You Have To” by Ella Langley. She said she was “excited and a little bit nervous” when it was time to perform.

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Protect yourself during respiratory virus season

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Immunizations lower your risk of severe respiratory illness

•October 7, 2026•

by Angela Hogan

Respiratory illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause serious health problems. Complications from these illnesses are especially hazardous for infants, older adults, pregnant individuals, and people with chronic health conditions and compromised immune systems.

Recommended immunizations against these viruses can lower your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and other complications. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released new vaccine guidance to help Illinois residents protect themselves and their families during the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season.

Let’s review the vaccines most likely to help protect you and your loved ones from viruses expected to circulate this fall season.

Flu Vaccination Recommended for Almost Everyone

IDPH recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older.

Flu viruses change over time, and protection from a previous vaccination gradually decreases. Receiving the current seasonal vaccine helps prepare the immune system to fight the flu viruses expected to circulate this season.

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Sullivan ReStore Christmas Open House turns year round donations into support for home builds

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•October 7, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

For most shoppers, Christmas decorations may still be packed away in early October. Inside the Sullivan ReStore, however, preparations for Christmas begin six weeks before the doors open for one of the store’s biggest events of the year.

The Sullivan ReStore Habitat for Humanity will hold its eighth annual Christmas Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The two-hour event features Christmas décor donated throughout the year, with proceeds helping fund a future Habitat for Humanity home in Moultrie County.

ReStore Manager Tara Reed started the event eight years ago shortly after taking over as manager. When she looked through the inventory stored in the warehouse, she discovered Christmas merchandise occupied about half of the space.

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Twenty-nine inducted into NEHS

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Twenty-nine inducted into NEHS

Sullivan High School held their annual National English Honor Society Inductions on Wednesday, September 23rd. This year, twenty-nine new members were inducted, which is the largest induction to date. Inductees were (alphabetically): Kinlee Agney, Lyla Bear, Logan Booker, Owen Brush, Tenley Campbell, Grace Crothers, Luke Cummings, Emma Drake, Landon Elder, Sage England, Gavin Finn, Asher Hendry, Owen Hooten, Austin Kelley, Jett Kinder, Ellie Lehman, Addyson Martinez, Reagan McKinney, Mali Roe, Ryder Saul, Collin Shain, Tenley Stollard, Karen Szachnitowski, Hannah Taylor, Wren Wall, Elin Watkins, Easton Wickline, Jillian Woods, and Lyla Wright.

Matter of Balance classes return to Sullivan library

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•September 30, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

Adults looking to improve their balance and maintain their independence will have an opportunity to take part in a series of Matter of Balance classes at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan this October.

The classes will meet from noon to 2 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday throughout October. The eight-session program is designed to reduce concerns about falling while helping participants increase their activity levels.

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Heartland CASA enrolling for Moultrie County Volunteer Advocate Training

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•September 30, 2026•

Photo Submitted
Front Row: Stepheni Hall - Heartland CASA Staff, Ann Sanner - Advocate, Mary Ann Hecht - Advocate, Becky Comstock - Advocate, Lori McDaniel - Heartland CASA Staff, Melissa Krieger - Advocate, Melissa Wolfe - Heartland CASA Staff, Paige Foster - Heartland CASA Staff, and Linda Featherling - Advocate.
Back Row: Rita Florey - Advocate, Mitzi Hartman - Advocate, Christine Grohler - Advocate, CaSandra Blockton - Heartland CASA Staff, Kayla Tipsword - Advocate, Judge Richey, and Blaine Smith - Heartland CASA Staff.

Moultrie County’s CASA program is growing, and Heartland CASA is looking for more community members willing to step up for children who need an advocate.

On August 12, Heartland CASA celebrated an important milestone with the swearing-in of Moultrie County’s first class of CASA advocates. At the Moultrie County Courthouse, Judge Jeremy Richey welcomed Christine Grohler, Rita Florey, Ann Sanner, Mitzi Hartman, Melissa Krieger, Kayla Tipsword, Becky Comstock, MaryAnn Hecht, and Linda Featherling, as they took their oaths and officially became Heartland CASA advocates.

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Lovington plans Halloween festivities, sets date for Safe-Trick-or-Treating

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•September 23, 2026•

By E. Scott England

It was a relatively mundane meeting for the Village of Lovington this month. Absent member Andrea Wardrip, the remaining six carried out business efficiently.

Only one of the three attending members of the public chose to speak at this meeting. A concerned citizen was once again inquiring about the possibility of automatic debits for their water bill. The speaker had even gone as far as inquiring to the bank about the possibility of this. Unfortunately, the board informed, the software the village uses does not allow for automatic debits at this time. Asking if anything at all could be done, the village trustees said, regrettably, no, but they are hoping a future upgrade by the software company will allow for this down the road. The trustees did mention that they are willing to email a bill along with mailing a hardcopy to ensure the bill arrives in a timely manner.

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An Amish Education

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For two hours, I traded my reporter’s notebook for a chalkboard slate
•September 23, 2026•

by Ariana R. Cherry

For a few hours on Saturday, Sept. 12, an old schoolhouse became a classroom again — and I became one of its students. I arrived at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center expecting to learn about Amish education. I didn’t realize quite how literally that would happen.

Inside the historic Miller Amish German School, about 15 to 20 of us gathered in the small classroom, including visitors and local Amish residents who would lead us through the experience. At the front of the room was Sharon Miller, who had once been an Amish schoolteacher herself.

Before long, I had a chalkboard slate in my hands. And then school began. We started with German, learning the alphabet and hearing the familiar “ABC” song sung in a language that has played an important role in Amish faith and education for generations. We heard the Lord’s Prayer in German and listened as German songs filled the little schoolhouse. Then came spelling. Reading. And math. I found myself working with Roman numerals and subtracting fractions — subjects I hadn’t exactly expected to encounter when I walked through the schoolhouse door that morning. We read aloud, too. One of our stories was about a little girl determined to sew a doll by herself. Her determination didn’t end particularly well when she got a needle stuck in her finger. Beneath the simple story was a familiar lesson: sometimes patience — and listening to your parents — really is the better choice.

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