•May 14, 2025•

by Jody Boulay 

As Memorial Day approaches, Americans nationwide prepare to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Ceremonies will be held, flags will be flown at half-staff, and families will gather to pay tribute. But amid the solemnity and gratitude lies a quieter, often overlooked truth. Many of our heroes return home not to peace but to a new battlefield, one waged within.

It’s a battle that doesn’t make headlines and is waged silently behind closed doors, far from the front lines. Military service members and veterans face unique and profound challenges that can linger long after their tours of duty end. While we rightfully celebrate their courage and sacrifice, we too often fail to recognize the invisible wounds many carry, particularly those that lead to substance use disorders.

The Hike to Mattoon

•May 14, 2025•

by Janet Roney

When I was a child, my Grandmother Shuman told me that when my great-grandmother Mary McPheeters Shuman was a little girl playing in her yard, Abraham Lincoln once waved at her as he rode by on the old Charleston Road that passed through our family farm. That story and others inspired my life-long interest in local history and old trails. 

In the summer of 1982, I suggested that our family hike the old Charleston Road from our home north of Sullivan to Mattoon. Our son, Clay, was twelve and daughter, Cynthia, just nine, but we were used to short hikes. On nice summer evenings, the kids and I, plus our dog, Ernie Bob, often walked down the road to visit Roger’s 92-year-old Grandfather Hall, about two miles, round trip. 

•May 7, 2025•

Chair represents a place being held for all POW/MIA’s

Rolling Thunder Incorporated, Illinois Chapter 3, will be placing a POW/MIA Chair of Honor at the Sullivan VFW Post No. 6410 on Saturday, May 17th at 2:00 p.m. This is Armed Forces Day. The public is invited to attend the unveiling of this chair. 

A Rolling Thunder POW/MIA Chair of Honor is a dedicated, empty seat in a public space, typically a stadium or arena, used to honor and remember U.S. servicemen and women who are Prisoners of War or Missing in Action (POW/MIA). These chairs are a symbol of the ongoing effort to bring all American servicemen and women home and a reminder of their sacrifices.  This chair is placed for families to reflect and find closure and know their loved one always has a place waiting for them, and represent the 82,000-plus unaccounted American Service Personnel who never returned home from service to their country.

•May 7, 2025•

The Regional Office of Education #11 (ROE #11) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Recognition of Excellence Award, honoring outstanding education professionals who exemplify skill, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to inspiring students across the region. Selected from a pool of exceptional nominees, these awardees have earned the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues alike through their leadership, community involvement, and extraordinary ability to ignite a passion for learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.

Nominations for the prestigious award were accepted through February 2025, with each candidate reviewed by a dedicated committee. One professional per school district was chosen to receive this distinguished honor, recognizing their vital contributions to both their schools and communities. The recipients stand out not only for their professional excellence but also for their active and meaningful roles beyond the classroom, often serving as leaders and role models.