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Recent Obituaries: Owen L. Tull

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Owen L. Tull

Owen L. Tull, 89, of Sullivan, passed away 5:56 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 27, 2026, at French Cemetery, Allenville. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

Owen was born on September 23, 1936; the son of Bart and Marie (Sampson) Tull. He married Elma L. Budd on April 9, 1965; she survives. Owen loved spending time with his family and especially with his grandchildren.

Owen is survived by his wife, Elma Tull of Sullivan; sons, Darren (Stacey) Tull of Sullivan, Jason Tull of Charleston and Kurtis (Melanie) Tull of Findlay. He is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents and 1 brother.

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

Recent Obituaries: Anthony (Tony) Adams

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Anthony (Tony) Adams

Anthony (Tony) D. Adams, 79, of Bethany, passed away February 23, 2026 in his home.

Celebration of Life services will be 12:00 Noon Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Brett Hinrichs officiating. Burial with military honors conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507 will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m until service time on Saturday. Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 2055 South Franklin Street Road, Decatur, Illinois 62521. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Born to Charles and Dorothy Adams of Decatur on August 1, 1946. Tony is a Decorated Marine Corp Vietnam Veteran who served from 1966-1968. He was a member of the Bethany American Legion Post #507. He retired from Caterpillar after 30 years. In his retirement he served the Mid-Illinois Red Cross for over a decade. Tony had the biggest heart and would help anyone in need. He loved his family fiercely, always had a smile on his face and a joke up his sleeve. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

He leaves behind a sister, Lynn Thomas of Michigan, brother Larry Adams of Decatur, sister in-laws Nancy Scribner of Decatur, Carolyn “Joy” Lourash and husband Karry of Decatur, and Lela Ayers of Indiana. Tony also leaves behind a son, Robert Fandel of Bethany, a daughter Ellen Adams of Indiana, four grandchildren, four great grandchildren, with a fifth on the way as well as several nieces and nephews and his beloved dog Dotty.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents and love of his life Elizabeth A. Adams along with great granddaughter Delanie.

Recent Obituaries: Donna Jean Cochran

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Donna Jean Cochran

Donna Jean Cochran, 87, of Lovington, passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at The Loft in Decatur.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 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 Keller Cemetery, Lovington.

Donna was born on November 4, 1938, in Decatur; the daughter of Merle and Helen (Barnes) Phillips. She married Gerald E. Cochran on September 6, 1959, in Lovington; he preceded her in death on January 10, 2010. Donna enjoyed crocheting, sewing and gardening. She loved spending time with her family.

Donna is survived by her sons, Kenneth Cochran of Lovington, Daniel Cochran of Titusville, FL, and Robert Cochran of New Athens; sister, Sandra Fielden of Mt. Pulaski.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and 1 son, Walter Andrew.

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

Recent Obituaries: Pastor Jack P. Adwell

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Pastor Jack P. Adwell

Jack P. Adwell, 76, of Decatur, passed away at 7:28 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Shelbyville Manor Memory Care.

Celebration of Life services will be at Noon Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Life Foursquare Church in Decatur. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until Noon. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials are suggested to the Life Foursquare Church in Decatur, the Alzheimer’s Association or to Shelbyville Manor Memory Care. Online condolence may be sent to reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.

Jack was born April 18, 1949, in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of James G. and Dorothy E. Chapman Adwell. Jack graduated from Monmouth Public Schools in 1967. He attended Mt. Vernon Bible College in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He received his master's degree from the University of Illinois in May of 2008. The first church Jack pastored was in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He later served at Moline Gospel Temple as a youth pastor. He also served at Bloomington Foursquare Church in Bloomington, Illinois, Decatur Foursquare Church, Life Foursquare Church and Silver Creek Foursquare Church in Douglas, Arizona.

Jack worked for many years at the Good News Bear Camp. His dedication and love for the kids was the ‘bigger than life’ Veggie Tales room he created. All the graphic design, booklets, the sound system he set up, and all the time he taught, blessed the Lord and touched many lives, both campers and staff. Kids loved him and wanted to hang out with him all the time.

Jack was a gifted teacher, both divinity and computer technology. He started teaching at Richland Community College in 1999. In 2011 Jack was named Outstanding Faculty Member and was named Business and Technology Division Dean in January 2012. Jack retired in 2016 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2024.

Jack married Rebecca Farris Hall on July 3, 2004 in Bethany.

Surviving are his wife Rebecca of Decatur; children Kris (Jeff) Klinger of Reno, Nevada, James (Mira) Adwell of Fairfax Station, Virginia, bonus children Julie (Tom) Courson of Dalton City, Jennifer (D.J.) Linville of Veedersburg, Indiana; step-brother Bob (Carol) Parrish of Manito; sisters Joan Marlow of Monmouth and Betty Thompson of Peoria; brother and sisters-in-law Punch and Cheryl Martin and Diane and Brent Phillips of Bethany; mother-in-law Norma Farris of Bethany, and grandchildren Brooke Klinger, Chase Klinger,  Kaia Adwell and Quinn Adwell. Bonus grandchildren Hope Linville, Holly Linville, Peyton Courson, and Parker Courson,.

He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law Billy Farris.

SBD final meet

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The Sullivan Blue Dolphins finished their last regular short-course meet of the season at the 2026 Red Raiders Valentine’s Classic. SBD took 29 swimmers to compete February 13th-15th. The Dolphins had 162 top ten finishes, earning a 3rd place spot with 1697 points. The Dolphins are now gearing up for their championship meets. SBD is sending 18 swimmers to the Winter Regional Championships in two weeks. That is hosted by PAWW and will take place in Pekin, Illinois.

More Americans are caring for loved ones – but few feel prepared for emergencies

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•February 18, 2026•

Today, millions of Americans serve as caregivers, supporting both young children and aging loved ones - often at the same time. Yet many lack critical lifesaving training, including how to respond in a cardiac arrest emergency. Only about one-third of U.S. adults say they feel confident and ready to act if someone goes into cardiac arrest.

More than 300,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals each year in the United States. Infants, older adults and those with chronic health conditions are among the most vulnerable. For children of all ages, more than 80% of these emergencies happen at home - making the home the front line of response. CPR and AED training isn’t just a medical skill - it’s a caregiving essential.

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Show Choir and Singers dazzle

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On Saturday, February 14th, the Sullivan Show Choirs continued their season at the Naperville North ‘Clash of the Sequins’ in Naperville, Illinois. The Sullivan Singers Jr. brought home a 1st runner-up trophy in their division. Ava Warren was recognized as ‘Best Performer’. The Sullivan Singers won 1st Place in the ‘Best Choreography’ and ‘Best Vocals’ categories, with Avery Casteel winning ‘Best Performer’ in their division. The groups compete again next weekend at the El Paso-Gridley Show Choir Showdown in El Paso, Illinois. Singers Jr. will perform on Friday, February 20th, and the Singers will take the stage on Saturday, February 21st.

MISS Valentine’s Bingo

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Photo by DM Williamee

On Friday, February 13th, local seniors gathered at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc./ Moultrie County Senior Center for a few rounds of Valentine’s Day bingo, sponsored by Help at Home. Playing traditional bingo, I/O, and blackout, many won prizes, and all had fun catching up with each other and joking around, with friendly competition for the prizes, which ranged from edible delights and helpful housewares to scented candles and stuffies. Many were dressed for the occasion, wearing red and Valentine’s Day-themed clothing, and some even brought their sweethearts to play as well.

Steps to conserve water

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•February 18, 2026•

by DM Williamee

Currently, the City of Sullivan is under an emergency water restriction declaration. As of right now, an exact time-frame in which this will lift has not been given, but the current declaration is in effect through March 1st. Currently, the restrictions are washing cars, filling swimming pools, and watering lawns, with offenders paying up to a $750 dollar penalty. While there is much being said on social media in response to the emergency declaration, individual water conservation steps taken at home can help, and they need not be drastic nor painful. 

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Remembering Who We Are……..97

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Parties on the Prairie (part two...)


•February 18, 2026•

Janet Roney

On Sunday afternoons, from the fall of 1826 through about 1833, some very unusual events occurred on the high dry prairie in the southern part of the county (near the present Ash Grove Christian Church). A large winter camp of Kickapoo Indians was located there on the moraine at the south edge of the county. The 1881 county history described the events.

“This (Indian) camp was a lively place, particularly on Sunday, made more so by the presence of a great many white people, who would come from the settlements for miles around to spend the day. The camp was kept lively by horse-racing, shooting, foot-racing, jumping, and trying their muscle in various ways...These Indians were very friendly and considered honest by the early settlers.”

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