•April 8, 2026• by E. Scott England The last weekend of March was the conclusion of the indoor track season for area schools. Athletes with top performances throughout the brief indoor season receive an invite to the 2026 Illinois Top Times Championships in Bloomington. Sullivan athletes did not disappoint in Class 1A. … Read More
•April 8, 2026• by E. Scott England It was supposed to be a quad meet last Tuesday, but the Tuscola Lady Warriors had a scheduling conflict and could not make it. St. Anthony and Cerro Gordo-Bement still came though to compete against the Lady Redskins track and field team. Sullivan took first place with a team score of 76 over the Lady Bulldogs (46) and CGB (42). Julia Moody, who set the school record in the 3200m the previous week, re-broke her freshly set record with a time of 11:44.63. This was more than 20 seconds off her previous record. … Read More
•April 8, 2026• by Kimberly Cullen Safe Families for Children Families are meant to be places of safety, refuge, stability, and care. Yet, many families face seasons of crisis—whether due to financial hardship, health challenges, or unexpected life circumstances—that can put that stability at risk. In those moments, the priority is clear: ensuring children are safe while also keeping family together. Many families are socially isolated and do not have a support system to walk them through their time of crisis. Foster care plays a vital and necessary role in protecting children when their safety is at risk. It provides … Read More
•April 8, 2026• Essex by Janet Roney I left you guessing last week why a Massachusetts seaman, Ebenezer Noyes, bought 2000 acres of rattlesnake-infested flat prairie land in the Whitley Township area in 1833-34. All his pioneer neighbors thought he was crazy because no one, including Noyes, knew that the black prairie land was among the most fertile soils in the world. Noyes wanted it because it was flat, high, and dry. Why? The late E. D. Hortenstine of Gays, who wrote about Noyes in the 1955 Mattoon centennial newspaper, as well as other sources, explained why. Although Noyes was … Read More
•April 8, 2026• by DM Williamee In 2024, the FBI estimated that over two thousand cyberattacks were reported daily in the U.S., roughly one attack every 40 seconds, costing over $16 billion dollars in reported losses. The vast majority of these were automated, such as phishing and malware, rather than targeted breaches. As AI advances, so does the speed of the bad actors using tech for nefarious purposes. Malware, phishing, ransomware, MITM, DDoS, and social engineering are the most common types of cyber attacks. Many people have heard these terms, less are vaguely aware of how these threats work, and … Read More
•April 8, 2026• Lake Land College is seeking feedback from community members and prospective students to help design class schedules. Residents of the Lake Land College district are invited to complete a three-minute survey at https://www.SurveyMonkey.com/r/ProspStu26 to share the most optimal class times and formats for their schedule. Survey results will be used to help the College offer more class choices, including online, in-person, evening and weekend options, to help students better balance school with their jobs, family and personal lives. … Read More
Janet Webner Janet Louise Webner, 84, of Bethany, passed away at 2:40 p.m. Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the Villas at Hickory Point, Decatur. … Read More
Janet Lee Purdeu Janet Lee Purdeu, 66, of Sullivan, passed away 11:45 a.m. Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital, Olney. … Read More
•April 8, 2026• For the 3rd year, the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) will recognize “30 Days of Public Health” throughout the month of April. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the role public health plays in keeping all Illinois communities healthy and safe. … Read More
2016 The City of Sullivan sidewalk renovation project started Monday, April 4th. It involved removing the sidewalk and curb around the inside of the square and replacing it with new ADA-compliant walks and crosswalks. The north and east sides of the square were closed first. Then closings occurred as needed after it was installed. After the Sullivan singer’s cancellation of another Invitational last year, the singers knew they had to make a comeback, director Jeffrey Thomas said. More than twenty groups participated in the competition, and 4,000 spectators flocked to the SHS gym. Singer’s alumni and school board member Jeff … Read More