Personal Assistant Training rescheduled

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•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

American Legion Memorial Day Ceremony

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•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

Recent Obituaries: Brian Porter

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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

Let’s plant a tree!

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•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

Local 4-H members unite for Regional Livestock Clinic

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•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

MCHGS begins genealogy workshop series

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•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 is mental health awareness: alcohol

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•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

ETML May happenings

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•May 6, 2026• Story times are every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. The bounce house will be available after the story and craft.  Every Monday at 9:00 a.m., the ETML hosts a Memory Café. This is a social gathering for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Get helpful information and support from others who also have loved ones who struggle with memory loss.   Crochet Group is on Tuesdays, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Join fellow crafters to learn new stitches and patterns in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Beginners and experienced crochet artists are welcome. Those interested in learning how to crochet … Read More

Steps to prevent tick bites in warmer months

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•May 6, 2026• by Angela Hogan Administrator – Moultrie County Health Department As the weather warms, more people spend time outdoors working in the yard, walking trails, gardening, fishing, and enjoying local parks. That also means greater exposure to ticks. Due to an unusually warm and wet March, ticks are already quite active in central and east-central Illinois. Preventing tick exposure is an important part of health maintenance. Throughout the United States, ticks can carry a variety of diseases, some of which can cause chronic and severe illness. A few simple precautions can help protect you, your children, and your pets … Read More

OVHS Royalty

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Okaw Valley High School’s Prom was held on April 25th at the Mt. Zion Conventions Center. Reese Bruns was crowned Queen, and Ames Drollinger King. … Read More