Recent Obituaries: Mattie Jo Fifer

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Mattie Jo Fifer Mattie Jo Fifer, 102, of Sullivan passed away 5:09 PM Thursday, September 8, 2022 at Courtyard Estates, Sullivan. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in Mt. Zion General Baptist Cemetery, Mattoon. Memorials may be made to Courtyard Estates, Activities Fund. Mattie Jo was born May 29, 1920 in Sullivan, the daughter of John Ivan and Lena Marie (Reedy) England. She was retired from Brown Shoe Company, Sullivan. She was a member of the Mt. Zion … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Frank Sentel

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Frank Sentel Frank Sentel, 89, of Sullivan, passed away at 5:05 a.m. Wednesday September 7, 2022 in Aspen Creek in Sullivan. Graveside services will be 5:00 p.m. Saturday September 10, 2022 in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan with Pastor Bob Vail officiating. There will not be any visitation. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Frank was born October 4, 1932 in Sullivan the son of William Walter and Ella Merle Graven Sentel. He had been a grain and livestock farmer in Sullivan and … Read More

Texas Begins Sending Migrants to Illinois

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•September 7, 2022• Capital News Illinois At least 60 migrants arrived in Chicago Wednesday, Aug. 31, on buses from Texas as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s ongoing policy to send undocumented immigrants to so-called “sanctuary cities.” But Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, both Democrats, say the new arrivals are welcome in Illinois, and they are vowing to make sure the new arrivals receive essential services. “Illinois welcomes refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants and we are working with federal and city officials to ensure that these individuals are treated with respect and safety as they look … Read More

Lake Land College Foundation to Host Golf Classic

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•September 7, 2022• The Lake Land College Foundation will host its annual Golf Classic on Friday, September 30, at the Mattoon Golf & Country Club. The golf outing will be played in the popular four-man scramble format with registration and lunch for golfers beginning at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. Golfers can register as a team of four or individually. Individual players are encouraged to sign up, as all players will be placed on a team. Entries for Friday’s outing are limited to the first 144 golfers. … Read More

Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 Announces New Board Chair

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•September 7, 2022• After five years of service as Board Chair of the Local Workforce Innovation Board 23, Pat Click handed over the role of Chairman of the Board to Gareld Bilyew. The Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 is a business-led policy and oversight board for workforce development programs and services across the 13 counties of Local Workforce Innovation Area 23 (LWIA 23). The Board is selected and reviewed by the Consortium of Chief Elected Officials (CEO). On June 20, 2022, the Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 voted in favor of electing Gareld Bilyew as the new Board Chair. Bilyew, … Read More

Three Promoted at Kirby Foods in Sullivan

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•September 7, 2022• Angela Cuttill has been promoted to the Director of Bakery/Deli for Kirby Food effective September 11. Angela started her career with Sullivan IGA/Kirby Foods in 2007, was promoted to Bakery Manager in 2009, and then Bakery/Deli Manager in 2011. She has held that position since, and has done an outstanding job growing the business over time. Angela will now oversee all 13 bakery/delis of Kirby Foods owned IGA’s. Angela and her husband Jeff have been married 32 years and have three boys: Larry, Alan and Wes. Taking Angela’s place at Sullivan will be Darla Bridges. Darla has … Read More

At a Remote Mental Health Facility, a Culture of Cruelty Persists Despite Decades of Warnings

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Federal and state officials have urged reforms at the rural facility for people with mental and developmental disabilities. But the state-run center still has more allegations of abuse and neglect than any other in Illinois. •September 7, 2022• By Molly Parker Lee Enterprises Midwest Beth Hundsdorfer Capitol News Illinois This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois and Lee Enterprises. Over a year ago, the security chief at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in southern Illinois sent an email to the head of the state agency that operates the facility, warning her … Read More

Former Moultrie County Clerk Receives Awards

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•September 7, 2022• Presenter Robin Harper-Whitehead stated on August 23, 2022, that the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders has never had a tie for County Clerk of the Year – until this year, and it was an honor to present the award to former Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England and Warren County Clerk Tina Conard. England assumed the Moultrie County Clerk and Recorder position in June 2001 when she was appointed following the death of the previous clerk, her husband, Gerald “Griz” England. She ran for re-election, unopposed, for five additional terms. England faithfully, dutifully, and timelessly served … Read More

A New and Faster Way to Request a Social Security Card

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•September 7, 2022• By Ileana Saveley Socoal Security District Manager in Decatur, IL Do you need an original or replacement Social Security Number card? We now have a new – and faster – way for you to start online. When you go to our Social Security Number and Card webpage at www.ssa.gov/ssnumber, we now ask you a series of questions to determine whether you can: · Complete the application process online. · Start the application process online, then bring any required documents to your local office to complete the application, typically in less time. … Read More