The Illinois Army National Guard’s 634th Brigade Support Battalion Forward Logistics Element was activated on Jan. 20, at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Readiness Center in Sullivan for deployment to Africa and Europe.  

•January 29, 2025•

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association recently announced that it will be awarding over $58,000 in college scholarships throughout the State of Illinois to students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarships are to be applied to tuition, books, and fees only. The student must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher learning within the State of Illinois. Online learning at an Illinois-based school is also acceptable. 

Sheriff Gary Carroll, Moultrie County, will be awarding one scholarship in the amount of $500.00. 

S. Kenton

•January 29, 2025•

by Janet Roney

Among the seven men and 4 US Rangers in Isaac Hill’s party surveying in the lower Kaskaskia Valley in 1809 was a man listed as S. Kenton. Some of the Bond County people think “S. Kenton” is D. Kenson or “Old Henson”, a hermit who, according to the old Bond County history, lived in a big hollow sycamore tree during the War of 1812 hiding from the Indians. (…That’s right, a sycamore tree.)

Now, I should not presume to tell the Bond local history experts who “S. Kenton” was…

2015

Fifth grader Wesley Standerfer isn’t your typical kid. About a year prior to 2015, he started his very own neighborhood newspaper, the “Shumanville Times.” Living on Shuman farmland inspired him to share the family news to those nearby. He delivered print editions locally, while others requested it by email from as far away as Texas and Washington D.C. At such a young age, he already began to see the potential of the printed word so Standerfer expanded his horizons and took to reporting in the halls of Sullivan Elementary School. The 2015 newspaper staff included students Connor Golden, Devon Winings, Clayton Schmohe, Wes Standerfer, and Ben Bushue.