Obituaries 5-14-2025: Rev. James Helton

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Rev. James Helton Rev. James R. Helton, 80, of Sullivan, passed away at 9:29 p.m. Friday May 9, 2025 in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield. Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday May 15, 2025 in the New Life Church, Sullivan with Pastor Dave Dolan officiating. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the college fund for Gracee Helton. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.   … Read More

Obituaries 5-14-2025:

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Henry “Ted” Atkinson Henry Theodore “Ted” Atkinson, of Bethany, passed away on Tuesday, May 6, at his home. He was 85. Graveside services will be at 12 noon on Friday May 16, 2025, in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany with military rites conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post # 507. There will not be a visitation. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. … Read More

A Look Back…5-14-2025

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2015 At a special meeting on May 4th, after the culmination of more than an hour of discussion, the Okaw Valley School Board assigned Superintendent Kent Stauder what amounts to a mini research project, some of which will deal with the possibility of closing the elementary school in Bethany. A group of Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School students placed first overall at the annual Business and Computer Contest at Lake Land College. Those were Coach Amanda Romine, Samantha Landers, Christy Allen, Jeremy Plank, Avery Schrock, Beth Lambdin, Elyse Harris, and Brooke Tabb. … Read More

Mosquitoes: health concerns and prevention tips

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Enjoy the outdoors and reduce your risk of mosquito-related health concerns by Angela Hogan More Than an Annoyance: Spring marks the return of warmer weather and the chance to spend more time outdoors. It also marks the return of mosquitoes and the health concerns that can affect individuals and animals. The presence of mosquitoes is more than an annoyance. Mosquitoes are carriers of several diseases. Their bites can threaten the public’s health, especially during peak mosquito season. … Read More

SES receives book vending machine

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HICF donates machine, students reap rewards by DM Williamee On Tuesday, May 6th, the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation (HICF) unveiled a book vending machine at Sullivan Elementary School at 8:00 am. Each year, the HICF funds the book vending machines. This year, Sullivan is one of the schools fortunate to receive one. On hand from HICG were Kaitlyn Farrar and Chastity Casey. Rev. Grant Wade serves as the Moultrie County advisor for HICF and has worked on this project with Leslie Guyot (school principal) and Leah Fleming (school librarian).  … Read More

Sullivan siblings’ passion for journalism

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Photo by Sonya Best The “Bests” of writing, photography, and community by DM Williamee Siblings Kathy and Bob Best, both Sullivan locals, were recently interviewed by Vanessa Ferguson in NPR Illinois’ “Community Voices” segment. Both have worked in multiple journalistic roles throughout their careers; editor, writer, publication owner, and photographer (to name a few), with Kathy having won (with her team, as she strongly emphasizes) the Pulitzer Prize twice (and recently nominated for the third!), in both the small-town and big-city journalism arenas. … Read More

Physicals for Sullivan athletes

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•May 14, 2025• Sarah Bush Lincoln will provide sports physicals to athletes from Sullivan schools. Sports physical clinics will be held from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4th, and on Wednesday, August 6th at the SBL Sullivan Clinic, 7 Hawthorne Lane, Sullivan. “We’re proud to offer these sports physicals as a way to give back to our local schools and support student-athletes,” SBL Vice President of Practice Management Brooke Zerrusen said. “By donating the fee to the schools’ athletic booster clubs, we’re helping strengthen programs that mean so much to our communities.” … Read More

Memorial Car Show Saturday

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•May 14, 2025• On May 17th, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the 4 Star Diner, 1100 Route 121 in Mt. Zion, the annual “Rip Roarin’ Extravaganza” Memorial Car Show will be held. All makes, years, and models are welcome to enter. The entry fee is $15.00, and there will be a 50/50 drawing as well as door prizes awarded (must be present to win).  This event is in memory of Greg Hostetler (12/15/75-5/13/24), with all proceeds going to Moultrie County first responders. … Read More

Amish sheep shearing at IAHC

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On Saturday, April 26th, at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center barn in Arthur, sheep were sheared for public viewing. At this event, vendors were on hand with their wares as well as an assortment of animals: from a new litter of puppies, lambs, ponies, and rabbits. Pictured above is a sheep in the early stages of the mechanical shearing process. … Read More