The Sentinel

12/13/2024

ATTENTION: Unfortunately the weather is not in our favor for the Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday. We are sadly CANCELING THE PARADE.

All other activities will continue. We will make a decision about fire truck rides tomorrow morning. Santa will still arrive at 10:00am by fire truck!!

Thank you to those that signed up to participate.

12/10/2024

Gloria Wicker Obituary
Gloria Wicker, 77, of Illiopolis, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at her home.
Gloria was born on January 29, 1947, in Illiopolis, the daughter of Arthur and Dorothy (Stokes) Shartzer.
Gloria worked for Dekalb in the hatchery for several years before going to work for the State of Illinois as an Administrative Assistant. She enjoyed reading, playing bingo on her tablet and taking care of her plants.
She is preceded in death by her lifelong companion, Keith Montgomery; parents; and 3 brothers, Bud, Darrell and Randy Shartzer.
Gloria is survived by two daughters, Barbara (James) Bledsaw, Cathy (Kevin) Beck; one son, Kevin Wicker; 13 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; three sisters, Cora Casteel, Sue (Richard) Ballinger, and Margaret (Dan) Norris; one brother, Rick Shartzer, and many nieces and nephews.
Per Gloria’s wishes, cremation will be accorded by Fullenwider-Park Funeral Home in Illiopolis and graveside services will be held in the spring.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Fullenwider-Park Funeral Home in Illiopolis is in charge of arrangements.

12/09/2024

SVI looks forward to entertaining you this evening!! You won’t want to miss it!!
Band students, please arrive at 5:30. All other students check into your classrooms at 5:45! Showtime is 6:00!

12/09/2024

Here comes Santa Clause!! We will have a community Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14th at 4:30pm. Parade Line Up will be in the Sangamon Valley Middle School Parking Lot at 4:00pm. Anyone is welcome to join the parade. The Parade route will be shared at a later date. Lots of Christmas Lights are...

12/09/2024

12/05/2024

12/05/2024

Get ready for some Christmas fun! The SVMS 12 Days of Christmas start tomorrow!

12/03/2024

REMINDER FAMILIES: Our SVMS Winter concert is Wednesday, December 4th in the SVMS/SVI gym at 7pm! Please come join us and see your child perform their little angelic hearts out for you all to hear...They are very excited to perform! :)

12/02/2024

✨⏰ Check out this Cyber Monday deal, valid TODAY ONLY, and share it with your besties so they can join in on the fun of Girl Scouting!

Become a Girl Scout for HALF PRICE! Exclusively on Cyber Monday, all new youth and adult membership registrations are only $12.50!

Get ready for a year full of adventure, fun and friendship by contacting Miranda at 309-282-0813.

11/29/2024

Russell Saulsbery Obituary
Russell Leroy Saulsbery, 78, of Niantic, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur, IL with his family by his side.
Russell (aka Rusty, Russ, Dad or Pop) was born on March 18, 1946 in Decatur, the son of Roscoe and Helen (Hall) Saulsbery. He married Vicki Files on June 19, 1971 and she survives. Russell served in the United States Army from 1966-1969 and worked as a diesel mechanic, retiring from FedEx Freight in 2016. Russell can best be described as fiercely protective and loyal to his loved ones, stubborn as hell and a firm believer in doing the job right. He had a green thumb and took pride in his massive garden and tending to his yard. He was passionate about doing the right thing and was hard on himself at times. He loved old cars, fishing, putting up his Christmas lights, playing solitaire on his phone and was an amateur genealogist. He will be dearly missed.
Russell is preceded in death by his parents and four dogs, Max, Stella, Bridget and Molly.
He is survived by his wife, Vicki; daughters, Christina Saulsbery and Kathy (Lou) Calvetti; two granddogs Piper and Sonny and many cousins.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 2:00PM at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, IL.
Fullenwider-Park Funeral Home in Illiopolis is in charge of arrangements.

11/29/2024

Dotty Royce Obituary
Dorothy Elizabeth “Dotty” Royce age 88 of Lake Milton, OH, passed away peacefully into eternal rest at her home surrounded by her children on Friday, November 22, 2024. Dotty was born December 4, 1935, in Decatur, IL, the daughter of Robert and Mary Crisup. Dotty married the love of her life, Jerry D. Royce on April 14, 1956, and they enjoyed 68 years of wonderful marriage together. Jerry and Dotty lived in Lake Milton for the past two years, previously residing in Illiopolis and Champaign IL, for 47 years; Zellwood, FL, for 14 years; and St. Clairsville, OH, for 7 years.
Dotty loved life, and the focus of her life was always her family. She enjoyed cooking and baking wonderful desserts, canning, golfing, exercising, tending her flower gardens, ceramics, music, and dancing. When living in Florida she became a Florida Gator fan, and, after moving to Ohio, became a huge Cleveland Cavaliers fan. Dotty was a devout Catholic, and the church was an integral part of her life. She volunteered for the Illiopolis Resurrection Catholic Parish Church as a secretary/bookkeeper for over 20 years. She was a member and volunteer for the Zellwood Red Hats for 13 years.
Dotty worked at GMAC in Decatur, IL, prior to being a dedicated homemaker for her husband and five children. She later was a buyer for Borden Chemical in Illiopolis, IL, for 24 years.
She is survived by her children, Penny (Eric) Osterman of Pickerington, OH; Janie (Lewie) Sill of Fayetteville, PA; Lori (Steven) Taninecz of Lake Milton; son J.D. (Mary) Royce III of Mechanicsburg, IL; Jodi (Syd) Payne of Martinsburg; WV; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Dotty is preceded in death by her husband (just 7 weeks ago), her parents, four siblings, and three grandchildren: Jason Meister, Michelle Payne, and Christian Osterman.
She will be laid to rest with her husband at Calvary Cemetery in Illiopolis, IL.
There will be a mass and memorial service for Dotty and Jerry on December 7th at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, 1254 Grandview Rd, Lake Milton, OH.
The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the St. Catherine Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, 1254 Grandview Rd, Lake Milton, OH 44429.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the James Funeral Home, 8 East Broad Street, Newton Falls, OH 44444 (330)872-5440. Family and friends may view her obituary online or to send condolences, please visit us at www.jamesfuneralhomeinc.com

11/23/2024

If you’d like to purchase a gift for a child in need this Christmas, please check out our Christmas trees full of stars at Rapid Rockies and Dollar General in Illiopolis.

Monetary donations can be sent to PO BOX 521