Okaw Valley teacher sentenced to five years

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•December 25, 2024• by Sharon Barricklow A 45 year old former Okaw Valley school teacher was sentenced to a total of five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on December 12 after pleading guilty to Grooming, a Class 4 Felony, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, a Class 2 Felony.  Jason R. Engler of Shelbyville was a teacher and junior high cross country coach at the time of his arrest. He was sentenced in Moultrie County Court and still faces charges in Shelby County. Investigators said Engler sent pornographic pictures of himself to victims and a journal … Read More

Lake Shelbyville Christmas Tree Recycling Program

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•December 25, 2024• Don’t let your Christmas tree go to waste this year after the holidays. Extend your tree’s life by donating it for Fish Habitat Improvement Day at Lake Shelbyville. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance and Illinois Department of Natural Resources will place the discarded trees into Lake Shelbyville to enhance the fisheries for years to come.  … Read More

Ham for the Holidays

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Photo by Megan Russell Ham for the holidays Just like Thanksgiving, there is a special meal most have during Christmas consisting of sweet ham and many other furnishings. In reminder of what the holidays actually mean, giving back to the CEFS Moultrie County Outreach center with a generous donation of hams. The truck and supporting trailer of ham arrived in front of the Outreach center last Thursday. Delivering the donation ham, pictured from left to right, was Shawn Eccles, Seth Cobb and Blake Eller. … Read More

Third graders spread holiday cheer

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•December 25, 2024• The Sullivan Elementary 3rd graders put on a special performance on the morning of Thursday, December 19th at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services center, singing Christmas songs, reading poems and wishing for gifts from Santa for all to see.  The estimated 80 students filed into their lines and began their performance with seasonal favorites like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Deck the Halls.    “Dear Santa Claus, it’s me again and I’m here to remind you I’m here and have a list of gift this year,” recited all the students, “A stack of comic books, … Read More

LLC to host St. Louis Cardinals Caravan

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•December 25, 2024• Lake Land College will host the St. Louis Cardinals Caravan at noon on Sunday, Jan. 19, in the Lake Land College Field House.   This event gives fans the opportunity to interact with members of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, including current and former players, broadcast talents and other familiar faces. Children 15-years-old and younger will also receive one autograph from each current and former player in attendance at the event.  Doors will open at the Field House at 11 a.m. with the event beginning at 12 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, and admission includes two … Read More

Uphoff wins ag award

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•December 25, 2024• Findlay farmer Troy Uphoff took home another award this year as he won the National Corn Growers Association award for best conventional non irrigated field, averaging over 385 bushels per acre.  While Uphoff credits good seed and good weather, 2024 wasn’t his only award winning year. He has consistently been in the top finishers the last four years. He will receive his award in March.   … Read More

January Quarter Auction

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•December 25, 2024• The January Quarter Auction will be held at the Sullivan American Legion on January 8. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., auction starts at 6:30 and supper is being served from 5:00-7:00. The January auction will benefit Moultrie County Paws.  The meal will include pulled pork BBQ, macaroni and cheese, green beans and loaded nut free brownies. Meal cost $10 per person or $35 for a family pack, dine in or carry out. For tickets call Tina Bolsen at the American Legion 217-620-8185 or Lisa Griffin, Griffin’s Catering, 217-620-4003 (call or text). There will also be a bake … Read More

Early deadline

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•December 25, 2024• Due to New Years falling on a Wednesday this year the deadline for the holiday paper has been moved up. Deadline for the January 1 issue is the previous Thursday, 12/26, at noon. This deadline is for all items including legals, display advertising, classifieds, news items and obituaries. … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Sheri DeAnn Williams

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Sheri DeAnn Williams, 57, of Dover, Tennessee passed away at 4:30 p.m. Sunday December 15, 2024 in the Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray, Kentucky surrounded by her family.Celebration of Life services will be at 12 Noon Saturday December 21, 2024 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.Sheri was born April 22, 1967 in Decatur, the daughter of David and Connie Miller Smith. She married the love of her … Read More

Lake Land College Navigator News wins awards

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•December 18, 2024• The staff of the Lake Land College Navigator News earned awards at the 2023-2024 Illinois Community College Journalism Awards (ICCJA) in Palos Hill, Illinois. Viv Ard, Windsor, and Darrius Frazier, Charleston, earned first place for Best Page Design. Ard also received an honorable mention for Best Front Page Design.   The students also earned multiple team awards, finishing second place in the Mike Foster General Excellence Award category and third place in the Best Student Media category for the Navigator website design.  … Read More