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Recent Obituaries: Jim ‘Sonny’ Andrews

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Jim ‘Sonny’ Andrews, 86, of Decatur, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 5:25 a.m. Thursday, August 15, 2024 in his residence.

Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 18, 2024 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Scott Hall officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials are suggested to the Faith Baptist Church Snuggies For The Soul program. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Andrews was born July 8, 1938 in Thomasville, Missouri, the son of Edward Leslie and Mary Louise (Fisher) Andrews. Jim retired from Caterpillar in Decatur after 35 years and was a member of the Faith Baptist Church in Decatur. He married Sue Shoemaker on August 28, 1959 in Tuscola, Illinois and she survives.
Also surviving are his children Tanya (George) Bone of Bethany and Mike (Cindy) Andrews of Seneca, South Carolina; seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren and a brother Gordon Andrews of West Plains, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister and one brother.
Jim loved the Lord, his wife of 65 years, his family, helping others and fishing. He will be missed by all that knew him. But we know we will see him again someday in heaven.

Reverse raffle winners

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•August 14, 2024•

The Sullivan American Legion hosted the 14th annual fall reverse raffle on Saturday, August 3rd. The doors for the raffle opened at five in the afternoon with serving food just an hour later at six. The raffle drawing officially started at seven that night. 

All of the following individuals were the winners: Sharilyn and Leroy Goodbear, George Shelby, Tyler and Rachel Harvey, Gary wirth, Dave Boyer, Kenny and Chelsea Graven, Kurt VanDeursen and Chad and Chandra Gogolin. 

The 127th Windsor Harvest Picnic

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•August 14, 2024•

The beloved annual Harvest Picnic is arriving back in Windsor, starting Thursday, August 15th and will be serving meals for three nights, ending on Saturday, August 17th, for a whole day of festivities. Thursday’s meal will be a pulled pork and Italian beef dinner starting at five that evening. The first day also starts the Little Miss Harvest Picnic pageant just an hour after dinner is served. Friday’s meal will be a fish dinner and desserts from the 5th and 6th graders, followed by a special auction. Saturday starts off early at seven for a breakfast and 5k run, later continues on to have a parade and a dinner starting at 4:30 in the afternoon featuring pork chops and desserts by W.H.A.T. Later that evening another special auction will be taking place as well as a raffle drawing.

Family game night

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•August 14, 2024•

The Marrowbone Public Library in Bethany will be hosting a family game night, Uno edition, on Friday, August 16th from 7-8:30pm. With snacks and drinks provided the short game night for the whole family will be free of charge in the library’s community room. The library is located at 216 W. Main Street in Bethany.

Lake Land College Board of Trustee election 

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•August 14, 2024•

The Lake Land College Community College District No. 517 Trustee Election will be held April 1, 2025, as part of the 2025 consolidated election. Two six-year terms and one four-year unexpired term will appear on the Lake Land College ballot.  

The two six-year terms are currently held by Kevin Curtis, Mattoon and Dave Storm, Effingham.  Larry Lilly, Mattoon, was appointed in March 2024 to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Mike Sullivan’s resignation. Lilly’s appointment to the vacancy was to serve on the Board until the next regular election (April 2025) when a successor will be elected to serve the remainder of the four-year unexpired term that goes through 2029. Read More

Mini lemon meringues are tasty little tarts

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•August 14, 2024•

A lemon meringue pie is the perfect warm weather treat. Full of tangy lemon, bright coloring and loaded with flavor, lemon meringue pie is almost like having sunshine on a plate. 

Cutting into a lemon meringue pie can sometimes become a messy ordeal, so these “Mini Lemon Meringue Pies” let each person have an individual taste that’s much more manageable. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of “Jane’s Patisserie Celebrate!” (Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn. Read More

The American Red Cross back to school safety list

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•August 14, 2024•

A reminder for drivers as school buses take to the road again 

The American Red Cross offers this checklist you can follow to help make sure your student is safe as they go back to the classroom.

If your student is younger or going to school for the first time, teach them their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 911 also teach young children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.

If your child walks to school, teach them to walk on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic. Stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming and never run out into the street or cross between parked cars. Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals and stay in the crosswalk.  Read More

Keeping calm during a political conversation

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•August 14, 2024•

by Cheri Burcham

Extension Educator

University of Illinois Extension   

Illinois Extension Educator Tessa Hobbs-Curley recently posted this article on the Family Files Blog and it is super timely right now and an important topic to explore. Tessa says: It is July of 2024, and we are in the trenches of political debate for President of the United States. People are passionate about their political perspectives, which is good; however, ideally, it is important to communicate respectfully, whether at home or out and about with others. No one should ever leave who they are, but we are obligated to contribute to the greater good, so showing respect for one another must be essential. According to associate professor Rachel Wahl, University of Virginia states that “For Democracy, Talking is more important than agreeing.  Read More

Menu 8-14-2024

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Senior Peace Meal For Reservations Call 1-800-543-1770

August 19 - Biscuits and Gravy, Paco Blend Veggies, Hot Fruit, Fruit Juice

August 20 - Fried Chicken, Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes, Lima Beans, Cucumber Salad, Bread or Roll

August 21 - Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole, Corn and Black Beans, Pina Colada Cale, Bun

August 22 - Sub Sandwich Ham,Turkey,Cheese, Veggie Pasta Salad, Minestrone Soup, Summer Fruit Salad, Sub Bun

August 23 - Pasta with Meat Sauce, Peas, California Blend, Romaine Salad

2nd annual ‘Step Out For Purple’

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•August 14, 2024•

Eastview Terrace is hosting this years annual 1k and 2k walk/run for the ‘Step Out For Purple’ Alzheimer’s Awareness on August 24th starting at 10:30am. The walk/run starts at Eastview and also will be ending there. Lunch will be provided and will start at 11:30am, consisting of hotdogs, chips, salad, slaw and baked beans. Refreshments such as water, tea and lemonade will also be provided. There will also be a silent auction, t-shirts available for purchase and children’s activities starting at noon. 

At noon, the bounce house and balloon twisting fun for children and residents begins, the bounce house is being sponsored by Traditions Hospice. All proceeds of the event, including donations, will be going to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. For more details or more information contact Eastview Terrace at (217)-728-7367, visit the website at petersonhealthcare.net or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/EastviewTerrace.