River Helmeth received an Amtryke from the Sullivan AMBUCS at their fundraising cookout last Saturday, May 9th, in the Kirby Foods parking lot. River rode her new Amtryke for the first time like a pro as her mom Stephanie, looked on. With a big smile and look of determination, River showed everyone how well she could ride. … Read More
•May 13, 2026• The Illinois Department of Agriculture has designated the Shuman farm as a Sesquicentennial Farm. To qualify as a Sesquicentennial Farm, a straight or collateral line of descendants must own the agricultural property for at least 150 years. The family received this historical distinction to their farm after their application for designation as a Sesquicentennial Farm was approved. … Read More
by DM Williamee Photo SubmittedL- R: Grant Wade and Andrea Gerhard from HICF, Principal Nathan Ogle, and Library Aide Julie Parrish. Sullivan High and Middle School students will notice some changes when they return to school after this summer, most notably a modernized revamp of their library. The library is currently a small, utilitarian space compared to what students will find when they return to classes this fall. Principal Nathan Ogle, lead of the project, shared the new floor plans, layout, furniture, and modernization in the design of the coming space, which were all impressive and reflected a great deal … Read More
•May 13, 2026• Soyland Access to Independent Living (SAIL) has rescheduled Personal Assistant Training for people interested in working as a Personal Assistant. The training will be held in Shelbyville on Monday, May 18, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Shelbyville SAIL office, 1604 West Main Street. Personal Assistants are employed by people with disabilities to perform household chores and personal care tasks in their homes and are paid by the State of Illinois through the Department of Rehabilitation program. Participants in the training must be registered in advance and arrive by 1:00 p.m. Those who complete the training will have their names added to … Read More
•May 13, 2026• On Monday, May 25th, on the Sullivan Square beginning at 8:00 a.m., American Legion Commander Rick Read will be organizing a parade of Honor Guard and Color Guard members, as well as American Boy Scouts, who will be marching to Green Hill Cemetery. There will be a prayer by a local minister, a speaker, and the Honor Guard will fire a 21 Gun Salute, with Taps being played to conclude the program. Next, they will move to the American Legion War Memorial and hold a prayer and 21 Gun Salute. These brief, meaningful, and significant events are … Read More
Brian Porter Brian K. Porter, 55, of Sullivan, passed away 6:35 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, Mattoon. Graveside services will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Richland Cemetery, Boyleston, IL. Memorials may be made to the Sarah Bush Cancer Center in Mattoon. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements. Brian was born on January 9, 1971, in Fairfield; the son of James and Betty (Allison) Porter. He attended the Solid Rock Chapel in Sullivan. Brian was an avid sports fan with the Dallas Cowboys as his favorite football team, the … Read More
•May 6, 2026• Pictured front row (l to r): Audrey McDonald, Sawyer Wheeler, Lindy Hubner, Tucker Hubner, Leo Hickman. Second row (l to r): Ashlyn Hunter, Emma Hickman, Nathan Hickman. Third row (l to r): Ryder Wheeler, Andy Schumacher, Aidan Schumacher. (Not pictured: Resmiranda Small, Archer Miller, Teddy Miller, Ollie Miller, Brady Rivas, and Alicia Rivas. Shelby and Moultrie County Soil & Water Conservation Districts and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered with 14 Shelby County 4-H members and two Cloverbuds on Friday, April 3, for a hands-on tree planting project. Together, the group planted a total of 50 … Read More
•May 6, 2026• Moultrie-Douglas 4-H members who participated in the Regional Livestock Clinic, L-R: Hope Whitlow, Myles Gingerich, Aubrie Stenger, Joslynn Steffens (not pictured, Ellie Stewart). Thirty-three 4-H members from Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby counties gathered on April 18th at the Shelby County Fairgrounds for a multi-county Livestock Clinic and Skill-a-thon centered on hands-on learning, youth development, and the strength of community. Five Moultrie-Douglas 4-H members participated, including Hope Whitlow, Myles Gingerich, Aubrie Stenger, Joslynn Steffens, and Ellie Stewart. Guided by the 4-H motto “make the best better,” the event brought together families, volunteers, and agricultural partners who … Read More
•May 6, 2026• On May 19th at 6:00 p.m., the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogy Society (MCHGS) in Sullivan will be presenting the first in a series of workshops to help build research, documentation, and organizational skills to build a family genealogical history. Each session will introduce practical strategies, essential tools, and resources. … Read More
•May 6, 2026• Lauren Edwards Community Outreach Coordinator Virginia Recovery Centers After a long, stressful day, it’s tempting to reach for a drink. For many, that glass of wine or cocktail can feel like a fast track to unwinding, taking the edge off, or briefly quieting anxious thoughts. It’s a ritual that’s widely normalized (and even encouraged). But this May Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s worth taking a closer look at the connection between alcohol and emotional well-being (and why self-medicating with alcohol often backfires). As Community Outreach Coordinator at Virginia Recovery Centers (an alcohol and drug rehab in Virginia), I’ve … Read More