by DM Williamee
Since 2019, Misty Parrish, with her friendly companion Zo, has dressed in numerous kid-friendly costumes (with the T-Rex being a crowd favorite) and shared smiles, waves, and comments of good cheer and encouragement with students on their way to SES on their morning trek to school. Parrish, a former preschool teacher of 12 years, bought the costumes while she was teaching to greet students each day.
Read More
•August 27, 2025•
All residents of Lovington and the surrounding area are invited to attend a Town Meeting to be held at the Lovington Grade School on Saturday, September 6th, at 4:30 p.m. Lovington recently enlisted the help of the “MAPPING the Future of Your Community” program through the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University in an effort to take a proactive approach to planning for the future of the community.
Read More
•August 27, 2025•
by Officer Benjamin Schoonover
I’m proud to see our community standing behind the reinstatement of the D.A.R.E. program. As a police officer and a parent, I believe one of the most vital aspects of law enforcement is drug abuse prevention and early intervention. Programs like D.A.R.E. and Safe Passage allow us to extend a helping hand through education and support, using proven strategies to guide individuals away from substance abuse before it starts. Prevention is just as important as treatment when it comes to addressing addiction.
Read More
•August 27, 2025•
Submitted by Vicky Gemme,
Senior Care Specialist
Staying close to grandchildren in today’s screen-driven world can feel like a challenge, especially for families separated by distance. But the connection doesn’t have to fade between visits. By making small adjustments in how technology is used, grandparents can become part of their grandkids’ everyday lives - not just the occasional phone call or holiday visit.
One of the easiest ways to start is by focusing on a single method of communication. Whether it’s a video calling app, a messaging platform, or even simple texting, sticking with one tool in the beginning helps reduce confusion and builds comfort on both ends. When communication is predictable and straightforward, it becomes easier for everyone to connect without hesitation.
Read More
•August 27, 2025•
The 52nd Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival opens early Saturday morning, August 30, with a pancake and sausage breakfast at the firehouse on Route 133 West.
Arthur firemen will serve pancakes and sausage from 6 to 11 a.m. The 10-bay facility has plenty of room to serve the hundreds of people who flock to the annual event. This is a good opportunity to have a delicious breakfast prepared by members of Arthur’s volunteer fire department.
They cook the sausage patties over an open flame, and the pancakes are served hot off the griddle, prepared in sight. The firemen served a record 1,643 meals in 2018, destroying the previous record of 1,483 meals served in 2011. In 2024 they served 1,511.
How much food does it take to serve breakfast to that many people? The firemen prepared and served approximately 1,300 pounds of sausage, 500 pounds of pancake mix, 110 gallons of orange juice, and 60 pounds of butter during the five hours they worked the breakfast.
Daily Events:
Read More
Beulah Ruth Welch
Beulah Ruth Welch, 93, of Windsor, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at the Villas of Holly Brook in Shelbyville, Illinois. Funeral services were held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home in Windsor.
Donna Nadler
Donna L. Nadler, 64, of Windsor, passed away at 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 18, 2025 in her residence.
Read MoreRonald Houchin
Ronald William Houchin, “HOWDY HOWDY”, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025, in Sarasota, FL.
Ron was born at home on May 27th, 1940, to the late Vernon and Thelma Houchin near Allenville, Illinois. He graduated from Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Illinois in 1958. He then attended courses at Millikin University and the University of Illinois.
Read MoreCarolyn Doss
Carolyn Yvonne Doss, 87, of Sullivan, passed away 1:24 p.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025, at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Read More2015
Ryan Aikman is Sullivan Schools’ athletic and activities director and is getting into the new job with a little help from some friends. “One of my best resources has been Charlie Brown”, said Aikman of former Sullivan Athletic Director, now A&M Principal,
For the first time since before 2007, a special training session hosted 550 members of the Illinois National Guard battalion at the Sullivan Middle School and Civic Center on Saturday, August 15th.
Read More