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A Look Back…8-14-2024

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2014

With routine replacement of traffic signs and regulations from 2009 dictating new retro reflectivity levels and upper and lower case street signs, Moultrie County is preparing to replace more than 2,000 regulatory, warning, and post mounted guide signs beginning this fall, not to mention 2,755 rural reference/street signs as needed.

“Congratulations, Eagle Scout.” Three simple words that so many Boy Scouts hope to one day hear, they perhaps don’t completely encompass the years of merit badges attained nor the hours and hours of work on their Eagle Scout project. But for two local scouts, Benjamin Berner and Sean Johnson, hearing these words recently were well worth the time, money, and work. Read More

Two stories of small town history

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•August 14, 2024•

Gays celebrated the 2024 Two Story Outhouse Festival on Saturday, August 10, starting bright and early at seven in the morning. The festival celebrating the small structure includes a community breakfast, a car show, kid korner and inflatables for all around quality family fun. Gays, just a short drive east from Windsor used to have a full scale apartment building connected to the outhouse in the 19th century, once torn down in 1984 the outhouse would remain alone. Gays has been promoting the attraction since the 1960s to tourists from near and far, quoting “Gays, Illinois is the only place where you can find a building like this!” Read More

ALAH school board passes resolution for November ballot referendum on $24.6 million school building Bonds

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•August 14, 2024•

by Ariana R Cherry

The ALAH Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 to pass a resolution providing for and requiring the submission of the proposition of issuing $24,600,000 School Building Bonds to the voters of the district at the general election to be held November 5, 2024.

The proposition is as stated:

Shall the Board of Education of Arthur Community Unit School District Number 305, Douglas, Moultrie, Coles, Piatt and Champaign Counties, Illinois, improve the site of, build and equip an addition to and alter, repair and equip the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School Building, including replacing heating and ventilation systems, adding air conditioning to classrooms and other spaces, constructing secured entryways, renovating space for educational and vocational programs and improving accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $24,600,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof? Read More

Principals report buildings ready; students first day today

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•August 14, 2024•

by E. Scott England

The Sullivan CUSD #300 school board met on Monday, August 12 for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. All seven board members were present. Also present were the three principals. The meeting itself was fairly mundane, and, as is typical, few board members engaged in discussions on any of the business that was voted on.

Each principal gave a report on their respective buildings and happenings from over the summer. Sullivan elementary principal Leslie Guyot reported that they have had several new students register. She reported that some students have moved out, but there were far more move-in students this year. Read More

Osman to celebrate 80th

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•August 14, 2024•

A celebration will be held Sunday, September 1 from 2-4 p.m. at the Bethany American Legion for Jim Osman who will be celebrating his 80th birthday. Cards and well wishes may be sent to him at PO Box 272, Bethany, IL 61914.

Bethany car show

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•August 14, 2024•

Saturday, August 24th, Downtown Bethany will be hosting their very own car show. With a small entry fee of $15, all makes and models are welcome. The car show will be running from 4-7 in the afternoon that day with a competition as well. The first 50 entry’s get a dash plaque and there will also be a 50/50 raffle. The competition is being judge in a top 10 style with trophies being presented to the winners at 6:30pm. Concessions will be available, no alcohol allowed and no burnouts. For additional information or questions on the car show contact Terry Muzzy at (217) 412-0185 or visit Classicpony.net.

Windsor Harvest 5K

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•August 14, 2024•

The Windsor High School Class of 2025 is sponsoring this year’s Windsor Harvest 5K Run in conjunction with Windsor Harvest Picnic on Saturday, August 17.

Registration can be found on the Windsor High School website (windsorcusd.org) or participants can come that morning and sign up. Registration fee is $20.00 and includes a T-shirt. There are six different age divisions and medals will be given to the top male and female winner in each division, as well as, overall best time and eldest racer. Check-in is under the Windsor City Park pavilion, 1109 Ohio Ave in Windsor at 7 a.m., same day registration the race will begin at 7:30 a.m. 

A portion of the race proceeds will be given to the scholarship fund set up for Edie, Karly, and Sienna. 

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