SNAP benefits change now in effect

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•February 4, 2026•

by DM Williamee

Beginning on February 1st, SNAP benefits changes were put into motion by H.R. 1, or the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’, signed into law last July 4th. This legislation enacted major changes to federal taxes, Medicaid, and other programs, becoming Public Law 119-21. The primary impact on SNAP is the changes to the work requirements. Adults aged 18 to 64 without dependents under age 14 must work, participate in employment and training programs, or volunteer at least 80 hours each month to receive benefits.

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Empower Academy’s Dance hosts preview showcase

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Empower Academy’s Dance Competition Team hosted its annual Preview Showcase at Sullivan Elementary School on Sunday, January 18th. Friends, family, and the public were invited to attend and view the team’s 28 different routines. Competition season for the team begins in just a few weeks.
This year’s team is made up of 29 dancers who range in age from 5 to 17 and come from Sullivan and surrounding towns. Members include (in no particular photo order): Adalee Foster, Addi Finn, Alayna Ard, Alayna Young, Aubrey Young, Aubrie Payne, Blair Camp, Brinnley Hobbs, Caroline Hobbs, Claire Kelly, Gianna Krieger, Hadlee Blakey, Harper Smith, Josslyn Brown, Kaylee Hostettler, Knox Weakly, Lexi Yoder, Lucille Pope, Mara Inman, Miah Voegel, Sophie Elliott, Sophie Foster, Synthea Doss, Tiffany Hostetler, Tinley Krieger, Vaeda Spencer, Zoe Lynch, and Zola Krieger. Empower Academy’s Dance Director is Melissa Krieger.

Sullivan’s First United Methodist has interim pastor

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•February 4, 2026•

by DM Williamee

Beginning on January 1st through to June 2026, Sullivan’s First United Methodist Church has an interim pastor, Mike Smith, a busy man. Pastor Smith is a retired UMC pastor with over fifty years of pastoral experience in local churches, serving in numerous conference leadership roles through the years. After retiring in 2020, he was appointed by three different bishops to serve several churches that needed short-term, transformative leadership. He has also developed an innovative/experimental program for churches to turn their stories around, with five churches currently engaged. He is also a part-time professional (certified) tour guide for Chicago, writes a blog, speaks at conferences, and has published a book (with more writing in the works) titled “Teaching the Preacher to Curse.” His wife Jie is the pastor of the Mansfield United Methodist Church, and they have three daughters and four grandchildren. 

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Sullivan Fire and Protection District: a busy 2025 saw more calls

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•February 4, 2026•

by DM Williamee

We see the lights and hear the sirens as the SFPD trucks mobilize on a call, but oftentimes we don’t see or know the outcome of that call. No story is reported in the newspaper or released online, and nothing is coming down the grapevine. That does not mean, however, that nothing important occurred on that call. Sullivan Fire Protection District’s team of staff and volunteers is continuously hard at work, and what we see is a small fraction of what happens behind the headlines. When not out on a call, the Sullivan Fire Protection District staff is involved in a multitude of diverse duties such as ongoing training, smoke detector installations, pre-plan development, and maintenance on a daily, weekly, and monthly (always ongoing) basis. And this list is not all-encompassing.

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Vote by mail disrupted, USPS changes impact widespread

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•January 28, 2026•

by DM Williamee

On December 24th, 2025, the United States Postal Service (USPS) officially implemented new procedures for dating mail—reflecting when it is processed at a Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC) rather than when it is dropped off at a local post office. Ballots also will no longer be automatically considered priority mail, increasing the amount of time it will take to deliver them. These changes are part of the “Delivering for America” (DFA) plan to consolidate processing into regional hubs, which began implementing service standard refinements on April 1st, 2025. The new rule, which updates Section 608.11 of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), became effective December 24th, 2025. Sweeping changes to regionalized, automated postmarking is part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year modernization plan. 

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Bethany American Legion donates to Danville VA

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On December 15th, Sam Scott, representing Bethany American Legion Post 507, donated an Infinity game board with an anti-blue light filter, gift cards to local restaurants, and several packages of t-shirts to the Danville Veterans Administration. Pictured is Sam Scott with Margie Hamilton, Volunteer Services. “This is something that we have done for many years to help out Illinois Veterans and provide for their needs.”

Frostbite: risks and tips for prevention

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•January 28, 2026•

by Angela Hogan

Moultrie County Health Administrator

Winter brings plenty of challenges to Central Illinois, including the risk of frostbite. It can develop quickly, even during routine activities like walking the dog, shoveling snow, or commuting to work. Frostbite can cause lasting tissue damage and often strikes before a person realizes they’re in danger. The time necessary for frostbite to occur depends heavily on the temperature, wind chill, and how long the skin is exposed. Understanding how it happens and how to prevent it is essential. This article offers practical steps to stay safe, protect vulnerable loved ones, and make informed decisions during harsh winter weather. 

What is frostbite? Frostbite occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. It typically affects body parts farthest from the heart, such as fingers, toes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. Reduced blood flow to these areas allows ice crystals to form in the tissue. Frostbite results in tissue damage that ranges from mildly uncomfortable to permanent tissue death. Early recognition and prevention are key.

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My funny bone is the one that doesn’t hurt

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•January 21, 2026•

by DM Williamee

Below is a compilation of what I have heard people say and/or what I have read in the past year that I have found both funny and ironic. These gave me a chuckle, and I think we all could use one about right now.

When one door closes, and another opens, you are probably in prison.

60 may be the new 40, but 9:00 p.m. is the new midnight.

When I say, “The other day,” I might actually be referring to something that happened yesterday or 20 years ago. That whole millennium thing really throws me for a loop. 

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Unique words for everyday things

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•January 21, 2026•

by DM Williamee

There is a name for nearly everything. Who names what and how it is used (or abused) is often a mystery- sometimes it’s Latin in origin, or at times a word wholly created by an author that goes mainstream. Other words sound so offensive as to border on obscene, yet are innocuous in meaning. No matter how you stir your alphabet soup, words are rarely dull. Below are the names of a few of the whatchamacallit thingmajigs that you may or may not have ever wondered about (and may score you points in your next Scrabble game).

Agraffe: the wire cage that keeps the cork in place on a champagne bottle.

Anglet: the small plastic or metal tip on a shoelace.

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Sullivan receives housing grant

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•January 21, 2026•

by Sharon Barricklow

Homeowners in Sullivan will have a chance for their homes to receive needed maintenance assistance after the city received a $650,000 Housing Redevelopment Grant through the Coles County Regional Planning Commission. Mayor Mike Mossman announced the grant at the city’s first meeting of 2026 on January 12. “This grant doesn’t have any limitations as far as parts of town,” Mossman said. “We’ll need to get a plan in place for applications.” 

The housing grants can be used for weatherization, heating and cooling systems, and other improvements or repairs for needy homeowners. Other grant applications are being processed, including Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grants and Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development grants that could provide parking and walking trails to the city park. “We hope we can make those happen,” said council member Abby Sherwood.

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