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National Life Chain Sunday

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•September 14, 2022•

National Life Chain Sunday will be Sunday, October 2 from 2-3 pm in Sullivan. Life Chain is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life individuals standing for 60 minutes praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. Signs will be available for participants to choose from to hold while they stand and pray will be available at the corner of Hamilton and Jackson Street starting at 1:45 pm. They ask that those participating stand or sit 6-10 feet or more apart so they signs will be easier to read. The event will happen light rain or shine and participants may bring a lwn chair if they are unable to stand.

Volunteers Needed for Barn Raising

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•September 14, 2022•

There will be a traditional barn raising for the Herschberger-Miller barn on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29 from 9 am to 5 pm each day at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. They are seeking volunteers for skilled and non-skilled labor. Skilled labor tasks will include assist in raising bents, installing mow floor, installing siding and installing roofing. Nonskilled labor tasks will include carry lumber, de-nail boards, paint siding, peg making, clean up and admissions. For more information call 217-202-2035. The Illinois Amish Heritage Center is located on Rt. 133 between Arcola and Arthur. Their address is 284 East Illinois Route 133 in Arthur.

Back to School Immunization Clinics

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•September 14, 2022•

The Moultrie County Health Department will be holding three back to school immunization clinics this month. On Tuesday, September 20 from 10 am to 12 pm and 3 to 6 pm, Wednesday, September 21 from 1 to 4 pm and Wednesday, September 28 from 1 to 4 pm. Call 217-728-4114 to schedule your student’s appointment. If you need an appointment to fit your schedule those can be scheduled as well. More information can be found at moultriehealth.org. The health department is located at 202 S. Main Street, Sullivan.

Recent Obituaries: Timothy Squire Roberts, Sr.

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Timothy Squire Roberts, Sr.
Timothy Squire Roberts, Sr., 69, of Lovington, passed away 11:05 p.m. Sunday, September 11, 2022, at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 22, 2022, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Lovington. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at the funeral home in Lovington. Burial will be in Wright Cemetery, Findlay. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

 Timothy was born September 7, 1953, in Decatur; the son of Elmer R. and Betty (Cox) Roberts. He married Karen L. Wentzel on April 24, 2010 in Decatur; she survives. He was a member of the Lovington First Christian Church. Timothy enjoyed jail ministry, hunting, baking and storytelling.

He is survived by his wife, Karen of Lovington; son, Timothy S. (fiancée Rebecca Homerin) Roberts, Jr. of Rantoul; daughter, Amanda (Tim) Sides of Sullivan; step-sons, Nicholas (Missy) Vitai and Daniel Vitai both of Pittsburg, PA; brother, James Roberts of Decatur; sisters, Marilyn Kaye Gifford of Columbus, IN, Judy Peifer of Springfield, Theresa Roberts of Decatur and Toni (Lance) McTaggart of Chatham. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Timothy was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Diane Oliver, several aunts and uncles.

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

Recent Obituaries: Mattie Jo Fifer

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Mattie Jo Fifer
Mattie Jo Fifer, 102, of Sullivan passed away 5:09 PM Thursday, September 8, 2022 at Courtyard Estates, Sullivan.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in Mt. Zion General Baptist Cemetery, Mattoon. Memorials may be made to Courtyard Estates, Activities Fund.

Mattie Jo was born May 29, 1920 in Sullivan, the daughter of John Ivan and Lena Marie (Reedy) England. She was retired from Brown Shoe Company, Sullivan. She was a member of the Mt. Zion General Baptist Church, VFW Auxiliary, Mattoon and the Mattoon Eagles. Mattie Jo enjoyed life and sewing.

She is survived by her daughters, Joline Rollings and Dixie Arthur both of Sullivan; grandchildren, Kevin French of Louisville, Ky, Mark French of Gays, Vonnie (Doug) Lee of Sullivan, Aimee (Jeff) Boswell of Mattoon, Tera (Travis) Wallace of Mattoon, Gina (Kevin) Moran of Sullivan and Erika Arthur of Mattoon; 5 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Doug Arthur; 2 brothers, Jack and Bob England and granddaughter, Greta Arthur.

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

Recent Obituaries: Frank Sentel

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Frank Sentel

Frank Sentel, 89, of Sullivan, passed away at 5:05 a.m. Wednesday September 7, 2022 in Aspen Creek in Sullivan.

Graveside services will be 5:00 p.m. Saturday September 10, 2022 in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan with Pastor Bob Vail officiating. There will not be any visitation. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.
Frank was born October 4, 1932 in Sullivan the son of William Walter and Ella Merle Graven Sentel. He had been a grain and livestock farmer in Sullivan and drove a truck for Agri Fab for several years. He was a member of the George A. Sentel Masonic Lodge #764 and the Moultrie County Farm Bureau. Frank married Lois Elaine Valentine on September 6, 1953 in Sullivan and she preceded him in death on May 20, 2007.
Surviving are his sons, Leslie Sentel, David Sentel of Sullivan and Dan (Denise) Sentel of Sullivan; grandchildren Kyle (Janice) Sentel of Effingham, Rachel (Charles) Watson of Harrisburg, Meghan (Jake) Conder of Sullivan, Brynna Sentel of Sullivan, Wyatt Sentel of Sullivan and great granddaughter Willa Watson of Harrisburg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, five brothers and four sisters.

Texas Begins Sending Migrants to Illinois

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•September 7, 2022•
Capital News Illinois

At least 60 migrants arrived in Chicago Wednesday, Aug. 31, on buses from Texas as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s ongoing policy to send undocumented immigrants to so-called “sanctuary cities.”
But Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, both Democrats, say the new arrivals are welcome in Illinois, and they are vowing to make sure the new arrivals receive essential services.
“Illinois welcomes refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants and we are working with federal and city officials to ensure that these individuals are treated with respect and safety as they look to connect with their family and friends,” Pritzker said in a statement Wednesday night.
Abbott launched the program in April when he issued a memo directing the state’s Department of Emergency Management “to begin coordinating the voluntary transportation” of immigrants who had been released from federal custody. Read More

Lake Land College Foundation to Host Golf Classic

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•September 7, 2022•
The Lake Land College Foundation will host its annual Golf Classic on Friday, September 30, at the Mattoon Golf & Country Club. The golf outing will be played in the popular four-man scramble format with registration and lunch for golfers beginning at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon.
Golfers can register as a team of four or individually. Individual players are encouraged to sign up, as all players will be placed on a team. Entries for Friday’s outing are limited to the first 144 golfers. Read More

Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 Announces New Board Chair

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•September 7, 2022•
After five years of service as Board Chair of the Local Workforce Innovation Board 23, Pat Click handed over the role of Chairman of the Board to Gareld Bilyew.
The Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 is a business-led policy and oversight board for workforce development programs and services across the 13 counties of Local Workforce Innovation Area 23 (LWIA 23). The Board is selected and reviewed by the Consortium of Chief Elected Officials (CEO). On June 20, 2022, the Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 voted in favor of electing Gareld Bilyew as the new Board Chair. Bilyew, who joined the Board in 2013, succeeds Pat Click, of McKellar, Robertson, McCarty, & Click Insurance, Ltd., who served as Chair since 2017. Read More

Three Promoted at Kirby Foods in Sullivan

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Three employees at Kirby Foods have been promoted. Jessica Weaver (left) is the new bakery/deli assistant manager, Darla Bridges (center) is the new bakery/deli manager and Angela Cuttill (right) has been promoted to Director of Bakery/Deli for Kirby Foods.

•September 7, 2022•
Angela Cuttill has been promoted to the Director of Bakery/Deli for Kirby Food effective September 11. Angela started her career with Sullivan IGA/Kirby Foods in 2007, was promoted to Bakery Manager in 2009, and then Bakery/Deli Manager in 2011. She has held that position since, and has done an outstanding job growing the business over time. Angela will now oversee all 13 bakery/delis of Kirby Foods owned IGA’s.
Angela and her husband Jeff have been married 32 years and have three boys: Larry, Alan and Wes.
Taking Angela’s place at Sullivan will be Darla Bridges. Darla has been with Sullivan IGA/Kirby Foods since 2016, when she started as a Deli Clerk, she was then promoted to Head Cook in 2018, and has been Angela’s assistant in the deli since 2020. Darla has made great strides in her time with Kirby Foods and will do a great job taking over for Angela to lead the bakery/deli moving forward.
Jessica Weaver will be taking Darla’s place as Bakery/Deli Assistant Manager. She has been with Sullivan IGA/ Kirby Foods since 2021 and is looking forward to learning under Darla to help lead the department moving forward.