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Recent Obituaries: Lavonne Graven

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Lavonne Graven

Lavonne Graven, 94, of Sullivan passed away at 11:16 p.m. on September 7, 2026, at Willow Breeze Hospice House, in Mattoon, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 14, 2026, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. In lieu of flowers; memorials may be made to the donor’s choice or to the Willow Breeze Hospice: 10660 E Co Rd 800 N Mattoon, IL 61938

Lavonne was born July 28, 1932 in Shelby County to Ancil and Ruth (Winings) Perrine. She graduated in 1950 from Sullivan High School and later drove school buses for Sullivan. She married Mac Graven in First Christian Church, Sullivan, on July 7, 1951, and he preceded her in death April 25, 2005. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and was an avid Illini basketball fan. 

She is survived by her sons, Mark of London, England, Mikel (Nancy) of Warrensburg; daughter, Lori Kelso of Champaign; granddaughters, Kayla Graven and Michelle Graven (Arthur Steiner) of Springfield, Lindsey Kelso (JT Moscardini) and Sydney Kelso of the Chicago area.

She was preceded in death by husband, Mac; parents; brothers, Bill (Emma Lee) Perrine, Vernon (Beverly) Perrine; infant brother, Ralph Eugene; and sister, Dorothy (Lawrence) Morrison.

The family would like to thank Willow Breeze Hospice House for the care of Lavonne and her family in her final days. 

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

AMBUCS provide wheels

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•September 2, 2026•

by Sharon Barricklow

A Shelbyville boy is the most recent recipient of a specially equipped mobility trike for getting around with his family. 

Lawson Reedy received the “amtryke” from the Sullivan chapter of AMBUCS, an organization dedicated to improving mobility and accessibility for everyone. The Sullivan group provides adaptive riding machines for children like Lawson, builds accessibility ramps, and raises funds for scholarships for physical therapists. With more than 150 chapters in 36 states, AMBUCS’ stated goal is to provide accessibility and empower others.  

Upon receiving his amtryke in Sullivan, Lawson expressed a desire to ride it home to Shelbyville. Within minutes he was moving along at a pace, his mother Lindsey says will enable him to participate in  family bike rides with dad Kevin, mom Lindsey and sister Chloe. 

In the photo, Kevin and Lindsey Reedy with son Lawson and his new “amtryke”.

Sullivan Trap Team makes its mark at National Championship

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•September 2, 2026•

by Jamie Crosier

Kolten Kidd displays his eighth-place trophy after competing in the individual championship finals at the 2026 USA High School Clay Target League National Championship.

The Sullivan High School Trap Team capped off its season this past summer on the national stage, competing among approximately 400 teams and 1,800 individual shooters at the USA High School Clay Target League National Championship.

For Sullivan, simply arriving as a team marked a milestone. It was the first time the young program had fielded a team at Nationals, and only Carter Honchell and Kolten Kidd had previously experienced the national competition.

Despite entering an unfamiliar environment and facing teams from across the country, Sullivan posted a score of 460 in the team qualifier, finishing 89th. Only the top 80 teams advanced to the championship round, leaving Sullivan just nine places — and two targets — short of moving on.

Head Coach Rob Kidd said the magnitude of Nationals creates an entirely different atmosphere for shooters.

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BASO Car Show a success

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Photo by R.R. Best

The Bethany Advocates and Support Organization hosted its annual car show on August 22 at Crowder Park. The perfect afternoon weather bought out 52 entries and many enthusiastic onlookers. Greg Fitzgerald’s 1966 Pontiac GTO took home Best off Show honors.

On to the next chapter

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Photo by Sonya Best

A retirement open house was held Thursday, August 27, to honor Dave Cole at the Moultrie County Counseling Center. Cole served as executive director of the counseling center since March 2003.

Sullivan Scout programs face leadership shortage

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by Jamie Crosier

Six active Scouts remain in Boy Scout Troop 39 in Sullivan, while the community’s Cub Scout Pack 39 is currently unable to hold meetings after it was unable to renew its charter with Scouting America because of insufficient adult leadership.

The two situations are connected. Cub Scout Pack 39 has traditionally provided a path for younger Scouts to advance through the Cub Scout ranks before moving into Boy Scout Troop 39. Without an active pack, the troop loses that source of future members.

Eric Bettinger, who has been involved with Scouting for 14 years, said his own son has been out of Scouts for four years. Bettinger continued his involvement and had been serving as Cubmaster in an effort to keep Sullivan’s Cub Scout program going.

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City of Sullivan well project continues

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•September 2, 2026•

by Sharon Barricklow

A frustrated Sullivan City Council tabled approving a $452,000 invoice for well work Monday, August 24, because the vendor has failed to finish the job. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth said Cahoy Pump Service had not returned to finish completing pumping tests on the new well. “They said they’d be there next week and that was three weeks ago,” Woodworth said. “I recommend we not pay the invoice until the work is completed.” The council approved construction of the new well earlier this year after a drop in the aquifer that supplies the city’s water led to summer water usage restrictions.

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Lee transitions to Horticulture Educator role with Illinois Extension

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•September 2, 2026•

University of Illinois Extension recently announced Jenny Lee as the Horticulture Educator serving Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby counties.

In her new role, Lee develops and delivers educational programs that help individuals and communities create healthy, sustainable landscapes and gardens. Her programming focuses on home gardening, tree selection and care, native plants, pollinator conservation, sustainable landscaping, and environmental stewardship. She works with homeowners, community organizations, and local partners to increase horticultural knowledge and promote practices that enhance both the environment and quality of life.

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Be a 2026 Special Olympics Family Festival volunteer

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More than 1,000 volunteers needed
•September 2, 2026•

The Special Olympics Family Festival (SOFF) volunteer committee is calling on big-hearted individuals to join the fun at the 43rd annual SOFF, happening Saturday, September 19, on the grounds of Lake Land College. This year’s theme, There’s No Place Like SOFF, celebrates the magic, belonging and joy that make this festival unlike anything else.

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