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Recent Obituaries: Barbara A. Piper

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Barbara A. Piper

Barbara A. Piper, 77, of Sullivan, passed away at 5:38 p.m. Wednesday August 7, 2024 in her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Lovington Church of God with Pastor Rodney Houser and Pastor Jerry Graham officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the Weekend Food Pac Program or to a charity of the donors choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Barbara was born February 15, 1947 in Tracy, Kentucky the daughter of James Ralph and Viola Annice Russell Remick. She had been a licensed day care provider and was a bus driver for the Sullivan Schools. Barbara was a member of the Lovington Church of God. She married Don Piper on December 23, 1995 in Sullivan.
Surviving are her husband Don of Sullivan, children Paul (Angie) Isaacs of Auburn, J. Mark (Angelique) Isaacs of Sullivan, Shari (Chris) Bennett of Mattoon, Penny (Jim) Yuille of Missouri, Crystal (Brian) Critchelow of Sullivan, Denise Willson of Sullivan, Jennifer (Jack) Cohan of Sullivan; fifteen grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son John Isaacs; and daughter-in-law Renee Isaacs; granddaughter Jamie and great granddaughter Haley.

Recent Obituaries: Aaron Jones

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Aaron A. Jones

Aaron A. Jones, 26, of Mattoon, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 3:27 a.m. Monday August 5, 2024 in Sullivan.

Aaron was born July 15, 1998 in Mattoon, the son of Tony Jones and Joan Braun Jones. Aaron graduated from Sullivan High School in 2016, where he participated in the band program and earned the title of Drum Major for the Marching Redskins. Aaron attended Eastern Illinois University, where he was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Xi Upsilon chapter. He continued to pursue music and again became Drum Major before graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Aaron was first the band director for Roanoke-Benson High School, and most recently for Sullivan High School.

Aaron was a very accomplished musician. He could play anything you put in front of him, but his primary instruments were clarinet and piano. He also enjoyed traveling to watch marching band and drum corps competitions, boating on Lake Shelbyville, playing cards at family game days, walking and hiking, and spending time with friends.

Aaron was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Marjorie Jones of Pierson; maternal grandparents John Braun of Springfield and Geri Braun of Decatur; and his aunt Kim Vancil of Petersburg. He is survived by his parents Tony and Joan Jones of Sullivan; brother Cameron Jones of Champaign; sister Lindsay Jones of Mt. Prospect; paternal grandfather Arnold Jones of Pierson; aunt and uncle Terry and Sharon Jones of Pierson and uncle Monte Braun of Vandalia.

Memorial visitation will be 4 - 7 p.m. Friday August 9, 2024 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan and a Celebration of Life service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday August 11, 2024 on the Sullivan High School Football Field. The family requests casual dress; if you are able, please wear apparel supporting Sullivan High School, Eastern Illinois University, or the SHS band program. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sullivan High School Band Program. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net

Hunter name to Dean’s List

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•August 7, 2024•

Simon Hunter of Sullivan has been named to the Blackburn College Dean’s List for the 2023-2024 academic year. Students named to the Dean’s List must earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the semester. Hunter earned this recognition for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. Founded in 1837, Blackburn College is a four-year, Presbyterian-related, co-educational liberal arts college located in Carlinville, IL. One of only ten federally recognized Work Colleges, Blackburn is the only Work Program in the nation managed by students. Balancing academic rigor and experiential learning, each student at Blackburn gains tangible experience and develops critical skills by contributing to their community, all while building a resume and earning their degree. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Blackburn College as one of the best colleges in the Midwest region for 2024. Blackburn also earned a top-ten ranking for social mobility. Blackburn has been listed as a top performer for social mobility each year the list has been published. The Washington Monthly ranked Blackburn first in Illinois for performance by students receiving Pell Grants in 2022 and 2023. The publication has twice ranked Blackburn as the best baccalaureate college in Illinois.

Okaw Valley peach appreciation

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•August 7, 2024•

The Okaw Valley Orchard in Bethany hosted a peach party appreciation day on Saturday, July 27th from 9am to 4pm. Offering a free hotdog to each person from 10:30am until they run out, the peach party celebrated the fruit by coming together and creating with the beloved food. Starting at 9:30 in the morning, a “Peachy Baking Contest” began, with two different competing age groups 16 and up and 15 and under, the only rules for the baking contest were it must include peaches, must serve six to ten people and be ready to eat.  Read More

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program: available now

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How does this program benefit eligible families, seniors, participating vendors, and the Moultrie County economy? 

•August 7, 2024•

By Angela Hogan 

What is the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program? 

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMSP) provides eligible participants with coupons to purchase fresh produce at local farmers’ markets. This initiative supports FMNP participants, vendors, and the local economy. The FMNP is available in Illinois through October 31, 2024. The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) is excited to offer this beneficial program to Moultrie County residents. 

Who can participate in FMNP? 

WIC participants: Individuals participating in the WIC program are automatically eligible for FMNP. Other income-qualified individuals are eligible and can also obtain FMNP coupons from the MCHD.  Read More

Grant Wade joins Heart of Illinois Community Foundation

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•August 7, 2024•

Grant Wade, of Sullivan, has joined the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation (HICF) in the role of Philanthropic Advisor for Moultrie County, effective August 5. In this role, Wade is responsible for leading outreach in Moultrie County, working to match local needs to philanthropic resources. 

“We are excited to have Grant join our team,” said HICF CEO Natalie Beck. “We make giving locally easy and offer personalized service. To offer that level of service, our HICF team members live in the counties we serve. Grant brings passion for his community, has excellent communication and facilitation skills, and has a love for serving the people in Moultrie County. He will lead and implement local programmatic strategies and grant-making.”  Read More

Illinois Amish Heritage Center celebrates the power of steam engines

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Children scrambling to get the candy shot from the candy cannon.

•August 7, 2024•

On August 2nd and 3rd the Illinois Amish Heritage Center celebrated another Threshing Days filled with vintage steam engines, food, demonstrations and tours.

The purpose of this event is to show attendees how crops were grown and harvested using steam, gasoline and horse power as demonstrated by the Keck-Gonnerman steam engine which powers a Keck-Gonnerman threshing machine and other threshing machines powered by tractors and horses. Also on display was the Ellis Champion #1 threshing machine which was build in 1880 and cost $1,095.

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Remembering Who We Are……..20

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Travelers on the Kaskaskia-Detroit Road

•August 7, 2024•

by Janet Roney

The 1700s French Kaskaskia-Detroit Road has captured the imagination of others before our group of hardy explorers found its route through Moultrie and Shelby Counties. Adin Baber, a Coles County historian, describes travelers gathered in a Kaskaskia inn at the end of the trail in an article for the Illinois Historical Society Journal.

“Our couriers de bois had just come in over the long trail by the shortest way from Fort Detroit…He was born and raised in a French Canadian backwoods and is a master hunter, trapper and boatman. His companion is but recently over from Old France, and sits apart, silent. He is on some mysterious errand for his King and must needs hurry on down the Mississippi tomorrow…Mostly French they are, one a trader who has brought some Spanish mares from the southwest and plans to take them to a better market at Vincennes; …another sits there, a swarthy man, a Spaniard. Some Indians stand stolidly by.”  Read More

A Look Back…8-7-2024

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2014

Near the beginning of June, 16 Sullivan students from both the eighth and ninth grade classes traveled to Tampa, Fla. and experienced nonstop hands-on science, first beginning with a trip north of Tampa to the Crystal Springs Preserve. There the students swam with manatees and even interacted with a mother and its calf, before then traveling to the Rainbow River, where students enjoyed more snorkeling in the fresh water spring fed river.

Thirty-four new practical nurses were welcomed to the nursing field at a recent pinning ceremony held at Lake Land College, including Brennyn Kirk of Gays. Read More

After-School care for Sullivan

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•August 7, 2024•

The Sullivan Dance Studio has been providing dance classes to the area for years and has been helping parents keep an active, educational and fun dance class experience for both students and parents. One of the most helpful programs the studio provides in child care programs during the summer and school year. During the summer, having a camp like program where children can spend time with others, play outside and have a fun summer experience. Other programs like the After-School care and No School day programs are highly sought after by parents and guardians alike. Offering reliable child care 5 days a week, the studio provides this camp to children ranging from kindergarten to 7th grade, Monday through Friday until 5:30pm. This hassle free program also provides bus transportation, snacks, homework help, games and free play, days can be chosen as needed. With website parent testimonials raving about the positive outlook of the programs and the major impact the camp had on the child’s life. Spots fill quickly, contact (217)-909-9111 by text to enter the interest list.