Category Archives: Features

Courtyard Celebrates Five Years, Staff and Residents Alike

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Photo by Keith Stewart Courtyard Estates’ resident Eloise Heidbreeder (left) dances with her daughter Carol while the Melvin Reynolds Jr. band performs Saturday during the five year celebration of the facility.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Courtyard Estates’ resident Eloise Heidbreeder (left) dances with her daughter Carol while the Melvin Reynolds Jr. band performs Saturday during the five year celebration of the facility.

Area bands, family and friends make for special day

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

Five years ago this October, Mary Jane Harshbarger made the transition into assisted living, a move that can often times be difficult to make given many older individuals’ long-held love of independence. But it was upon her niece’s kind coercion and in light of Harshbarger’s difficulty taking medication on time, that Mary Jane became the first resident of Courtyard Estates in Sullivan.

On Saturday, she along with her fellow residents, family members, and friends celebrated five years of assisted living at the Sullivan facility. Read More

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

Tennis Day this Saturday in Wyman Park

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Newly formed tennis association tries to bring tennis and active fun to area youth

by Emily Scott
Reporting in Sullivan

The Okaw Valley Tennis Association will sponsor a Tennis Fun Day noon-2 p.m. Saturday in Wyman Park in Sullivan in cooperation with the Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play to encourage children to stay healthy and active. Read More

Celebrating Another Year of Local Goods

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Submitted by Elaine Smith Grady Sparks of Sullivan holds onto his new dog, Mater’s leash after adopting him with his mother Amie at the Findlay Farmers Market Saturday, August 31.

Submitted by Elaine Smith
Grady Sparks of Sullivan holds onto his new dog, Mater’s leash after adopting him with his mother Amie at the Findlay Farmers Market Saturday, August 31.

Findlay Farmers Market wraps up third year

by Jake Dilley
Reporting in Findlay

The Findlay Farmers’ Market came to an end August 31 as people from the surrounding area gathered to enjoy the last week of this year’s market, which had a few four-legged visitors to mark the occasion.

Despite the heat and holiday weekend, many citizens made it out to see the vendors and activities happening near the park and helped conclude what has been one of the best years for the market.

Julie Tucker of Findlay had steady traffic this year at her arts and crafts table. 

“It’s been much better than last year,” she said. “I absolutely plan on coming back. It’s been better since we moved from downtown and onto the grass. We always have music, demonstrations, and food.”
Read More

Former Education Director Returns To LTOTS

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After a year away, Weber comes back to instruct once again

Weber

Weber

By Mallory Murphy
Sullivan Reporter

The Little Theatre On The Square is excited to announce the return of Education Director and Actor, Heather Doré Johnson Weber of Urbana.

Weber, who got her start at The Little Theatre in 2003 performing in their first two seasons of the STAR Education Outreach tour, served as full-time dance director from 2008 through 2012. During this time, she earned several other titles and responsibilities including director of the annual Education Outreach musicals.

“It was sort of meant to be, me and this job,” said Weber regarding her return. “It’s defined me and changed my life in very good ways. I adore the kids. I love dancing and teaching, I love directing, I love performing, I love my colleagues, I love snow, and I love cornfields.” 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

Tabor Park Harboring Secret Story

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FairyRegular walker discovers a “chapter one”

by Ariana Cherry
Sullivan/Arthur Reporter

Deep within the untouched timber of Tabor Park, is a mystery that only a few people have had the chance to discover. People often frequent the park to find peace and gather their thoughts or put in some daily exercise. Often, many don’t really see the magic that is hidden within the forest of Tabor Park and its flowing creek. It takes a very special person who can truly see and appreciate the gift that has been left for others to witness.

Read More

Taste of the Prairie Gives Lift to Area Businesses

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Big turnout makes set up, tear down worthwhile

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Photo by Keith Stewart Local artist Benjamin Cohan puts the finishing touches on a scene outside of the Green Mill Village Best Western in Arcola Saturday during the Taste of the Prairie event.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Local artist Benjamin Cohan puts the finishing touches on a scene outside of the Green Mill Village Best Western in Arcola Saturday during the Taste of the Prairie event.

From 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, area artisans, painters, and entrepreneurs gathered in Arcola for the inaugural Taste of the Prareie Business Expo at Arcola’s Green Mill Village.

Of the 46 vendors at the expo, eight were from Moultrie County, including The Flower Pot/Hamilton Street Candle Co, Art by M. Benjamin Cohan of Sullivan, The Kitchen of Doris Yoder, KettleCorn, Lemon Shake Ups by the Walker Family of Lovington, The Pumpkin Patch/The Homestead Bakery of Arthur, Richard Herschberger’s Gallery, Sherry E. Harris’ Watercolors and Swarm Tree Honey Farm.

“Unlike many expos, we had many businesses who were participating in their first expos ever,” said Cassie Yoder, who handles the marketing of Green Mill Village. “We found a lot of participants wanting to break into the storefront who showed off talent from products to food and were allowed to showcase things they had for other areas as well. We had some hidden gems from the area all in one room, and that’s not just something that happens every day.”  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