Standerfer’s “Scroll” an Ambitious Endeavor

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January 28, 2015 Fifth grader starts elementary school newspaper by Ariana Cherry Sullivan/Arthur Reporter Fifth grader Wesley Standerfer isn’t your typical kid. Just a little over a year ago, he started his very own neighborhood newspaper, the “Shumanville Times.” Living on Shuman farmland inspired him to share the family news to those nearby. He delivered print editions locally, while others requested it by email from as far away as Texas and Washington D.C. At such a young age, he already began to see the potential of the printed word so Standerfer expanded his horizons and took to reporting in the … Read More

Obituaries 1-28-2015: Dr. Earl Walker

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Dr. Earl Walker Dr. Earl Edwin Walker, loving husband of 57 years of Ruth (nee Whittenberg) Walker, passed away after an acute illness January 21, 2015 with Ruth by his side.  He was born to Carl and Thelma Walker in Princeton, Indiana, January 18, 1934. At one point, his family lived in Harrisburg, Illinois where he attended school in the one room schoolhouse in Cain Community.  He graduated from high school in Catlin, Illinois where he earned recognition in both sports and academics. At Southern Illinois University, he pursued his undergraduate degree in pre-med before moving to Chicago where he … Read More

Obituaries 1-28-2015: Leona Shank

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Leona Shank Leona Luella Gabelman Shank of Sullivan died at 4:27 p.m. Monday, January 26, 2015 in the Mattoon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Celebration of Life Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church with Pastor Charliam Renner officiating. Visitation will be 2-2:30 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Arrangements are by Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. … Read More

Foodmobile in Sullivan Saturday

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January 28, 2015 The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be distributing a truckload of food to hungry area families at the Sullivan VFW Post 6410 (1146 State Hwy 32, Sullivan) on January 31 from 10 a.m. to noon. All Moultrie County residents who meet income eligibility criteria are welcome (see below). Those attending are asked to bring bags or boxes to transport food. The distribution is part of the Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to areas of chronic or extreme need. Through the program, local companies and organizations are invited to … Read More

52 Gun Raffle/Fundraiser to Benefit Not for-profit Lake Volunteers Association

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January 28, 2015 The Lake Volunteers Association (LVA), a not for-profit volunteer based group of individuals serving the Lake Shelbyville and Carlyle Lake communities, will host a 52 gun raffle/fundraiser for 52 weeks. Starting Saturday evening, July 4, the first three numbers drawn in the pick three game from the Illinois Lottery (excluding the Fireball) is the winning number for that raffle. You must be 21 to play and to legally be able to own a gun in Illinois as all laws apply. Only 1000 tickets will be sold. Each ticket has 52 chances to win. … Read More

Understanding Illinois: Lags in D.C. Power Game, Can Do Much Better

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January 28, 2015 by Jim Nowlan Outside Columnist Politics is largely about who gets what and is a game of debits and credits amassed over the years by political power players. In the 1950s, U.S. Senate minority leader Everett Dirksen of Pekin would on many a late afternoon saunter over to the hideaway Capitol office of legendary Senate majority leader Lyndon Baines Johnson. Over a bourbon-and-branch water, or two, these political powerhouses would shape the national policy agenda for the coming week and beyond – while taking care of home state priorities. In the 1990s, Speaker of the U.S. House … Read More

Hagerman Headed to Olney Central on Scholarship

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January 28, 2015 OV senior slated to pitch for Blue Knights by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com For Okaw Valley senior Peyton Hagerman, when the time came to choose a college to go to play baseball, there was one adjective he wished to avoid in describing his decision: Crazy. “I wanted to play for Dennis Conley, first and foremost. I’ve heard nothing but great things about him. I’ve had people tell me that if I passed him up I’d be crazy. I don’t want to be crazy.” So the OV senior signed off on his, say, logical choice, last Thursday to go … Read More

Lilly, Durbin Recognized by Alumni Association

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January 28, 2015 Sam Lilly, a 1958 graduate of Sullivan High School and now a resident of Downers Grove, is the 2014 recipient of the Hall of Fame award presented by the Sullivan Alumni Association. Johnny Bill Durbin of Sullivan, a 1959 graduate, received the Who’s Who award. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Lilly was a high school teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and community college and university instructor before earning his Ph.D. During that time he was active in the organization and passage of the Illinois Community College Act which established the system we have today. Lilly co-chaired a … Read More

Obituaries 1-28-2015: Donette Renfro

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Donette Renfro   Donette A. Renfro, 79, of Lovington, went to be with the Lord unexpectedly at 2:19 a.m. Sunday, January 25, 2015 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Services to celebrate Donette’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 29 in Lovington First Church of God. Visitation will be held from 4-7 today (Wednesday) in the First Church of God Family Center in Lovington. … Read More

Obituaries 1-28-2015: Archie Bathe

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Archie Bathe Funeral services for Archie Logan Bathe, 77, of Sullivan were held at 2 p.m. Sunday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial with military rites by Sullivan American Legion Post # 68 was in French Cemetery in Allenville. He passed away at 6:20 a.m. Friday, January 23, 2015 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Coles County. … Read More