•March 26, 2025•
Opening dates for Lake Shelbyville campgrounds, released by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is as follows: Forrest W. Bo Wood, April 17th; Lithia Springs, April 17th; Coon Creek, May 1st, Opposum Creek, May 15th, and Lone Point on May 15th.
•March 26, 2025•
A community Easter egg “Eggstravaganza” will be held on Saturday, April 19th from 11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. at 20 Courtyard Blvd., Sullivan. Food trucks Sweetea’z, Eddie’s Taco Truck, Tucker Family Concession, Sweet Vail, and Donut Dollies will be there. Also at the event will be the Sullivan Fire Department, Sullivan PD, MCSD, City of Sullivan, and IDOT. Pony rides, inflatable bounce house, DJ music, and more. There will also be kid’s bike raffles for ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-11; adult Easter basket worth $250.00, a 50/50 raffle. Character visits from Bluey, Elsa, Poppy, Branch, Spiderman, and the Easter Bunny. For more information, call (217) 728-4300.
Jacqueline Thomas Grace
Jacqueline Thomas Grace, 94 of Sullivan, formerly of Decatur, passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, in the Arthur Home.
Services to celebrate Jacqueline’s life will be held at 11 am Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Interment will be in Macon County Memorial Park, Harristown. Memorial are suggested to the donor’s choice.
Jacqueline was born on July 11, 1930, in Decatur, the daughter of Herschel “Jack” and Ruth (Kerns) Sattley. Jacqueline married Charles “Loren” Thomas on November 20, 1948. He passed away in 1982. She later married Jerald Eugene Grace on May 2, 1987. He passed away in 2002. Jacqueline owned Sattley’s Office Machines for many years. She went on to work in housewares at True Value and later at the Sun ‘N Fun Swim Club. She was a former member of Cresthaven Country Club and Sun ‘N Fun Swim Club.
Surviving are her children: Cheryl Rich of Sullivan, and Jack (Cindy) Thomas of Decatur, grandchildren: Steven (Shannon) Phillips and Shannon (Kevin) McGregor, Lindsey Thomas, Shaun (Savana) Thomas, Amanda (John) Pizarek and Eric (Katrina) Robinson. Great grandchildren: Kylee Phillips, Jake Thomas, Avery Robinson and Landyn Robinson.
Jacqueline was greeted in Heaven by her parents, husbands, infant brother and son-in-law Bill Rich.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.gracelandfairlawn.com. Jacqueline Thomas Grace, 94 of Sullivan, formerly of Decatur, passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, in the Arthur Home.
Services to celebrate Jacqueline’s life will be held at 11 am Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Interment will be in Macon County Memorial Park, Harristown. Memorial are suggested to the donor’s choice.
Jacqueline was born on July 11, 1930, in Decatur, the daughter of Herschel “Jack” and Ruth (Kerns) Sattley. Jacqueline married Charles “Loren” Thomas on November 20, 1948. He passed away in 1982. She later married Jerald Eugene Grace on May 2, 1987. He passed away in 2002. Jacqueline owned Sattley’s Office Machines for many years. She went on to work in housewares at True Value and later at the Sun ‘N Fun Swim Club. She was a former member of Cresthaven Country Club and Sun ‘N Fun Swim Club.
Surviving are her children: Cheryl Rich of Sullivan, and Jack (Cindy) Thomas of Decatur, grandchildren: Steven (Shannon) Phillips and Shannon (Kevin) McGregor, Lindsey Thomas, Shaun (Savana) Thomas, Amanda (John) Pizarek and Eric (Katrina) Robinson. Great grandchildren: Kylee Phillips, Jake Thomas, Avery Robinson and Landyn Robinson.
Jacqueline was greeted in Heaven by her parents, husbands, infant brother and son-in-law Bill Rich.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
•March 19, 2025•
After two years in production, the feature documentary, “The Farmer’s Daughter” is now ready to touch the hearts of all who see it.
“The Farmer’s Daughter” follows the life of former television news anchor Tara Barrett-Duzan as she carries on her father’s farming legacy in east central Illinois. When tragedy hit her family, Tara made the decision to move from the anchor seat to the tractor seat.
“It was a little strange,” smiles Tara Barrett-Duzan. “They told me a camera crew was going to follow me for an entire year. I have to be honest and say that I really dreaded it. But I trusted Scot and I knew if he was involved that it was going to be something special.”
The film is directed by Barrett’s former co-anchor, Scot England. Kylie Daniel, who owns Half Moon Digital in Shelbyville, was in charge of the documentary’s filming and editing.
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Schafer Ogle signed his letter of intent Tuesday, March 4th to play baseball at Millikin next year.
L-R Seated: mother Becky Ogle, Schafer Ogle, father Nathan Ogle, coach Jason Badman. Standing: brother Christian Ogle
Sullivan High School’s Aian Fryman signed his letter of intent Thursday, March 14th to play football and compete in track at Millikin University next year.
L-R seated: Airica Hanna, Aian Fryman, Andrew Fryman. Standing: L-R David Hanna, Heather Fryman
Libby Henry of Arthur Christian School signed her letter of intent Tuesday, March 11th to continue her academic and soccer career at Hannibal LaGrange University next year.
Libby Henry pictured center.
•March 19, 2025•
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging young Illinois photographers to submit photos for the 2025 “Cream of the Crop Photo Contest”, which provides students with a creative opportunity to share their vision of agriculture in our state. Students ages 8 to 18 may submit contest entries until the deadline of June 13, 2025.
Bright Start scholarships of $1,000, $500, and $250 will be awarded to students who place first, second, or third in each of the three age categories.
“I’m excited to announce the opening of the contest because it’s a great opportunity for students to go out, explore, and use their cameras to highlight the beauty of Illinois agriculture,” Frerichs said. “Illinois is a leader in the agricultural industry because of our skilled, hardworking farmers, millions of acres of rich farmland, and diversity in products.”
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by D.M. Williamee
The free Shrove Tuesday Breakfast at Sullivan’s First United Methodist Church drew a good crowd despite the uncooperative weather. This was their first pancake breakfast since the pandemic. Along with traditional fare, there was a “Crazy Cake” station manned by Allison Haggen which included cinnamon roll pancakes and just about any topping or concoction you could ask for.