•December 7, 2022•
On Sunday, December 11 at 3 pm Santa will be riding around Findlay on a firetruck.
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Recent Obituaries: Susan Matusas
Susan Matusas
Susan B. Matusas, 57, of Sullivan, passed away peacefully in her sleep in her residence on Saturday November 26, 2022.
A Celebration of Life reception will be from 6 - 8 pm. Friday in the Sullivan VFW. Private family services will be Saturday December 3, 2022 in the Liberty Cemetery, Sullivan. Susan requested memorials to Moultrie County PAWS, 10 Leisure Acres, Sullivan, IL 61951, where she had adopted her two dogs, Gerdie and Stella. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Susan was born December 31, 1964 in Naperville, Illinois, the daughter of David W. and Ruth Mark Miller. She had been a cook for the Sullivan Elementary School for several years. Susan was a member of the Sullivan First Baptist Church and Sullivan T.O.P.S. She enjoyed gardening and tending to her apple orchard. She enjoyed playing canasta, chinese checkers, and her favorite was monopoly. Susan was a devoted wife and mother and a people person who enjoyed socializing and was a good listener for people to talk to. She married Phillip Matusas on August 11, 1984 in Sullivan.
Surviving are her husband Phillip of Sullivan, children Cory (Michelle) Matusas of Decatur, Jasmine (Shane) Mize of Lovington, Heather Matusas of Bethany, Holly Matusas and partner Nathan Tavoletti of Bement and Phillip ( Kristin) Matusas, II of Oak Harbor, Ohio; brothers Byron (Pam) Miller of St Charles and David (Barbara) Miller of West Chicago; sister Marcia (Pat) Casey of West Chicago and grandchildren Brooklyn Matusas, Brett Matusas, Baylor Matusas, Tatum Williams, Laynee Williams, Alexus Mize, Gavin Alsup, Kalie Alsup, Olivia Matusas, Sofia Matusas, Phillip Matusas III and Rozalie Matusas.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Nancy Bown.
Recent Obituaries: Evelyn Harris
Evelyn Harris
Evelyn Lenora ‘Nory’ Harris, 86, of Sullivan, passed away at 6:36 p.m. Monday November 28, 2022 at Aspen Creek of Sullivan.
Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday December 3, 2022 at Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ with Vanessa Patient and Brigham Hagerman officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Interment will take place at Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan, Illinois immediately after the service. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Lenora was born August 16, 1936 in Sullivan, the daughter of Shirley and Evelyn Keen Kirk. She was a lifelong member of the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ. She married Rodney Harris on July 23, 1960 in Sullivan, and he preceded her in death on April 14, 2022. Lenora was a creative and talented person who created beauty in all she did. She loved to sew, upholster furniture, embroider, decorate, and arrange flowers. She made elaborate costumes for the Little Theatre, her church, family, and friends. Taking inspiration from her world travels, she learned Japanese flower arranging and the Austrian art of lacemaking, among many other arts. Her love of dolls led Lenora and her sister Mary to start a business called Treasure Haus where they imported and sold German-made “Lizzie” dolls. She also had a passion for the past and loved collecting photos and family histories from distant relatives scattered all across the country and world. She especially loved the Christmas season and made it magical, decorating with elegant and handcrafted ornaments, bringing the family together, setting a beautiful table for holiday meals, and making her house a home for everyone. She loved walking with her family, and was joyous in greeting loved ones and friends with her laughter and smile. Most of all, Lenora excelled at creating a happy, enchanted childhood, first for her own children, and then for her grandchildren.
Surviving are her daughters Jacqueline S. (Matthew) Lane of Sullivan and M. Allison (Steve) Witt of Monticello; son Jonathan C. (Elsa) Harris of Aliso Viejo, California; brother Ralph (Barbara) Kirk of Sullivan; sister Mary White of Sullivan; grandchildren Adriene Lane, Brendon Lane, Caleb Lane, Emmeline Witt, Liam Witt and Jonah Harris. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her brothers Julian, Frank, Leon and Quentin.
To honor her passion for history and genealogy, memorials are suggested to the Moultrie County Historical Society, or to Moultrie County PAWs to honor her love of dogs.
Lovington’s Christmas in the Park 2022
Photo by Crystal Reed
Singing Christmas Carols
This group of ladies came to the event and sang several Christmas carols. Other activities during the event included vendors, cookies and hot chocolate, a craft for children and visits with Santa.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Handmade Decorations
For this Christmas tree entry, the decorations were all handmade and included snowflakes, round plaid fabric ornaments and a large snowflake tree topper. In total there were ten trees decorated by schools, individuals and businesses that were auctioned off.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Tree Decorating Contest
During Christmas in the Park in Lovington there were ten trees that were decorated and auctioned off. Trees were decorated by residents, schools and businesses. The tree pictured was decorated by the Lovington Grade School Student Council and they were the school winner. Residential winner was a tree decorated by Tracy Garmon and Alexandria Poe. Winner in the business category was TGM. Themes included board games, Star Wars, angels, Willy Wonka, and others.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Santa Photo
Santa was at Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 26 in Lovington posing for photos and hearing requests from children and adults. He arrived at the park in style on a Lovington Fire Department fire truck.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Listening to Christmas Wishes
Santa heard requests from children during Christmas in the Park in Lovington. Here he talks to one of the local children.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Creating a Snowman Ornament
A young child draws a carrot nose on her snowman ornament during Christmas in the Park in Lovington with assistance from her mother. This is one of several activities that was going on that day.
LLC to host Laker Visit Day
•November 30, 2022•
Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 2 in the Luther Student Center, giving potential students the opportunity to learn about The Laker Advantage and how it can guide them on the path to success.
Attendees will tour campus with a student ambassador, who will share information from a student perspective. Participants will also meet with faculty to learn more about specific programs. Read More
Curran Eyes ‘Balance’ as he Prepares to Lead Illinois Senate’s GOP Minority
•November 30, 2022•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki @ capitolnewsillinois.com
Senate Minority Leader-elect John Curran will take over a caucus that’s more than doubled in size by the majority-party Democrats.
His goal: “Bring balance to state government.”
“Because we’re going to produce better results with that balance for working families throughout all Illinois communities,” Curran said in an interview with Capitol News Illinois last Wednesday, one day after being chosen as the GOP’s next minority leader.
The Republican from southwest suburban Downers Grove has served in the General Assembly since 2017. In January, he’ll take over for Minority Leader Dan McConchie, a Hawthorn Woods Republican who was chosen for the post in November 2020, but whose caucus chose a new route by electing Curran this week.
“There’s no pivot,” Curran said. “We all sit at one table, this is a few people changing seats, just a couple of different roles as we go forward. But, you know, really, this is about us being a unified caucus.”
Capitol News Illinois · New Republican LeadershipCurran brings a track record of working with Democrats to his leadership role as the caucus looks to navigate a likely 40-19 Democratic majority. Read More
Youth Participants Sought for Quilt Fest
•November 30, 2022•
The Decatur Quilters Guild is requesting youth participants for their Quilt Fest 2023 called “Our Town Kids Can Quilt.”
Participants should be aged 8 – 16 years. The child should make a quilt and enter it in the Decatur Quilt Fest to be held at the Decatur Civic Center on April 14 and 15, 2023. First, second and third place winners will be chosen by the show attendees with prizes awarded for chosen winners. Grand Prize will be a sewing machine. Read More
Pedigo Sworn in to Air National Guard
Photo furnished
Pedigo Sworn in to Air National Guard
Makenzie Pedigo (center) was recently sworn in to the Air National Guard during the school day at Sullivan High School. Pictured from left to right are Makenzie’s father Clarke Pedigo, her grandfather John Waters, her mother Mikki Pedigo, Makenzie, Recruiter/Tech Sergeant Thomas Garvin, Senior Airman Emily Hortenstein and First Lieutenant Justin Releford.
Lady Redskins Fall to Eagles
•November 30, 2022•
The Sullivan Lady Redskins just did not seem ready to play in their first home basketball game against Newton Monday night. The Eagles took a comfortable 24-12 first half lead and held on for the 36-25 victory.
Addison Minor led Sullivan with eight points, followed by Isabelle Hay with seven and Chloe Smith with four. Emily Miller and Shae Ellis each added three points, Ellis also led the team with ten rebounds.
Newton also took the JV game 23-21. The next game will be Thursday at Clinton.
Lake Land College Broadcast Students Receive State Accolades
•November 30, 2022•
Lake Land College broadcast students Stephanie Sample of Sullivan, Kyla Hutton of Arcola and Sue Shirley of Mattoon earned accolades at the annual Illinois Broadcasters Association Student Silver Dome Awards.
Sample earned first place in the Best Sales Presentation category for her piece “Shirley Girls Cuts & Curls.” Sample and Shirley also earned first place in the Best Radio Recorded Promotion category for the piece “We’ll Be There for You.” Read More