Category Archives: Human Interest Stories

Raffle Winner Treats Friends to Unusual, Homestyle Meal

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Submitted Glenn Austin informs guests about what it was like to be students and teachers at Center School, a one-room school house located at The Great Pumpkin Patch.

Submitted
Glenn Austin informs guests about what it was like to be students and teachers at Center School, a one-room school house located at The Great Pumpkin Patch.

Submitted by
Ann Wheeler

From the early 1900s until the 1950s, one-room school houses dotted the landscape in east central Illinois. Today, most of these structures have gone the way of the rotary dial phone: only a few exist and even fewer are actually used for their original purpose. Perhaps only Center School, which has found a home among the pumpkins and mums at The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, has been used as the site for a winning raffle ticket. Read More

Inaugural Alzheimer’s Walk at Wyman Looks for Good Turnout

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First year of many to come

by Jake Dilley
Reporting in Sullivan

Christina Whitford knows all too well what the struggle with Alzheimer’s is like. The Sullivan resident lost her grandmother Nora Hatley five years ago to the disease and has since worked to not only honor her but to help others who are affected.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated five million Americans 65 years and older have Alzheimer’s, and the number is expected to triple as high as 13.8 million unless other, more effective measures, are discovered and put into practice in the treatment of the disease. Read More

Knitting from Love Wins Jean First Place at State Fair

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Photo Submitted Sullivan resident Donna Jean is seen here with her first place ribbon she earned at the state fair for her knitted baby sweater, hat, and blanket.

Photo Submitted
Sullivan resident Donna Jean is seen here with her first place ribbon she earned at the state fair for her knitted baby sweater, hat, and blanket.

Second year in a row Jean takes first place

by Ariana Cherry
Sullivan/Arthur Reporter

Knitting has become a labor of love that started nearly 50 years ago for Donna Jean.

Crocheting and knitting were hobbies passed down in Jean’s family, and while her own grandmother used to crochet, Jean didn’t learn the tricks of the trade from her.

“My grandma crocheted so fast that there was no way that I could learn from watching her!” she joked.

But Jean took an interest in knitting as a young adult and taught herself every stitch and pattern.

“I sewed a lot and enjoyed doing handiwork, so knitting was just another challenge for me to conquer,” she said. Read More

Small Town Roots Not Preventing Dancing Dreams

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Ryherd breaks out to earn dance scholarship

By Emily Scott
Bethany Reporter
Submitted Eleven-year-old Chloe Ryherd recently earned a scholarship to attend a fall dance scholarship this November. Ryherd was one of just seven chosen out of 650 for the scholarship.

Submitted
Eleven-year-old Chloe Ryherd recently earned a scholarship to attend a fall dance scholarship this November. Ryherd was one of just seven chosen out of 650 for the scholarship.

Coming from a small town as a girl who loves to dance, Chloe Ryherd never thought she would be instructed by Broadway choreographers.

Then again, the 11-year-old from Bethany, never dreamed that she would be one of seven people out of 650 chosen by these same choreographers to have the opportunity again.

But this summer, that's exactly what happened when Ryherd attended the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters summer workshop in Oak Brook at the end of July. There she was taught by several choreographers from all over the country and even from Broadway.

One of 650 dancers who attended the workshop, Ryherd was among those split up into seven different age groups. One dancer was selected out of every group to receive a merit scholarship which would allow them to attend the association's fall workshop in November for free. Read More

SES Teacher Takes to YouTube to Introduce Students in Creative Fashion

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So successful, England receives video response

by Jake Dilley
Reporting in Sullivan
FirstDay3

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan Elementary School first grader Kya Allen is greeted by her teacher Scott England Monday morning.

Monday marked a big week for area students. In what for some children can be a scary or intimidating first week of school, one local educator has decided to dispel those fears in exchange for some lighthearted and welcoming karaoke via YouTube.

Sullivan Elementary’s Scott England let his first graders know that this year was going to be a fun one by making a video and parody of Carly Rae Jepsen’s popular song “Call Me Maybe” all while welcoming his students to his first grade class in style.

England first had the idea last summer when “Call Me Maybe” had become a big hit on the radio, and he began toying with the words. Busy with commitments though, it wasn't until this summer when England joked with his wife about making the video that she told him that he should actually do it. And like any good husband, he listened, writing the song in just one day, recording it himself, and in total, completing the video all in less than a week.  Read More

Afternoon Spent Pampered Like a Princess

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Inaugural princess ball pampers area girls

by Mallory Murphy
Lovington Reporter
Submitted Hair sylist Julie Kinert creates a new look for one princess Saturday at the Lovington Church of God.

Submitted
Hair sylist Julie Kinert creates a new look for one princess Saturday at the Lovington Church of God.

The Lovington Sparrows Unlimited treated 50 young girls from Lovington and Arthur this past Saturday to a royal afternoon with the organization’s first Princess Ball. Area girls ranging from two years of age to those entering the sixth grade were invited to enjoy a day of manicures, pedicures, hair styling, dancing, coloring, cookies, and punch.

The Sparrows Unlimited is a non-for-profit organization whose main mission is to provide Christmas to Lovington families in need. The Sparrows have expanded to help Lovington in other charitable ways including hosting food drives and donating bicycles to the annual Lovington Easter egg hunt. Read More

Robinson wins Reserve Champion at State 4-H Horse Show

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At 14 years old, Robinson adds one more accolade to young career

by Ariana Cherry
Reporting in Bethany
Photo Submitted Jessica Robinson stands with her horse, “Wendy” during the showmanship competition at the Illinois State Fair Grounds in Springfield.

Photo Submitted
Jessica Robinson stands with her horse, “Wendy” during the showmanship competition at the Illinois State Fair Grounds in Springfield.

Showing horses in 4-H has been a tradition that Debbie Robinson has enjoyed since she was a child. At nine years old, Robinson began showing horses and made friends that have lasted a lifetime.

“I met these people when I was nine years old, became best friends and was even in each other’s weddings. Once you develop a friendship in 4-H, they become family to you."

Read More

Durbin honored with Illinoisan of the Day

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August 16 to be named John W. Durbin Day by Gov. Quinn

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

“I never realized I did that much.”sz-Durbin
Those humble words belong to Lovington resident John Durbin, who says he was surprised when he received a phone call informing him that he had been named Illinoisan of the Day, an honor created in 2009 by the Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation that seeks to applaud 10 outstanding Illinois residents each year; the decision is largely based on volunteer service.
“It is the key ingredient,” says Doug Kamholz, a member of the foundation.
And Durbin has a whole pantry full of just those ingredients.
When he lived in Sullivan, Durbin performed Read More