July 3, 2025
A sampling of headlines in this week’s Sidell Reporter. To read the stories that go with this, plus many more articles in this week’s issue, subscribe today to read the Reporter in print and/or online. For details click here.
Special Inside this issue:
Tax Delinquent Real Estate list of properties have been sold for delinquent taxes and a Petition for deed on the premises described below has been filed in the Circuit Court of Vermilion County, Illinois, on June 10, 2025 as Case 2025-TX-000233.
Crowd speaks out against 1400 acre solar farm
Vance to look closer at budgets
Citizens fill village hall with more questions on solar
JHS Reunion planned
Jamaica High School Classes of 1962, 1963 and 1964 reunion will be held Aug. 9 at the Possom Trot. Anyone interested in attending from these Jamaica classes, that have not been contacted yet, should contact Larry Smith at 843-516-0049 to make reservations.
Hird crowns Jr. Miss Vermilion County Fair
New series begins “Fairmount & Jamaica Flashback by Brett McMahon Sidell Reporter is seeking help
The Sidell Reporter would like to hire an additional recipe columnist to their staff. Columnists are asked to write four week’s of recipes three times a year. Guest columnists who might like to try it just a time or two, are also welcome.
The Reporter is also needing to add to their staff a reporter to cover one or two board meetings a month, especially the Fairmount Village Board that meets the third Wednesday of each month.
If interested contact Editor Rinda Maddox editor@thesidellreporter.com or 217.288.9365.
Obituaries
ERNEST “ERNIE” R. RICHARDS, 80, of Metcalf passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
Ernie was born to Forrest and Maxine (Eas-in) Richards on July 11, 1944 in Tuscola. On Sept. 23, 1966, he married the love of his life, Nancy Hance.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years; two sisters-in-law, Kay Simpson and Sharon Koester; mother-in-law, Martha Hance; and several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Forrest and Maxine Richards; sister-in-law Phyllis Webster; brother-in-law Charles Simpson; and father-in-law Alexander Hance.
Ernie was a lifelong farmer, beginning with his dad while still in school and continuing on his own after a stint in the United States Army. His love of farming began at an early age when his parents gave him his first toy tractor. He went on to become an avid collector of farm toys, mostly John Deere.
He enjoyed rooting for many sports teams, including the Fighting Illini, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Shiloh Lady Raiders, the Shiloh and Titan boys sports, and any team that included his nieces and nephews. He was their number one fan. He also enjoyed watching tractor pulls, whether at the county fair or the Louisville National Farm Machinery Show.
After retiring from farming, he enjoyed winters at their home in Florida, where he could be found spending time with family and friends or just enjoying a beer on the lanai watching for gators on the lake.
He was a member of the Hume Lions Club, the Roth-Williams Legion, and the Hume Christian Church.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thurs., July 3, 2025 at Joines Funeral Home in Newman. A funeral service will be held the following day (Friday, July 4) at 10 a.m. also at the funeral home. Pastor Craig Roller will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Young America Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Roth-Williams American Legion or Auxiliary.
DELBERT “DALE” LEE PANKEY, formerly of Sidell, passed away June 19, 2025 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.
He was born June 2, 1950 to Robert Lee and Edna Lorraine Mingee Pankey. He was raised in Sidell and spent most of his life driving a semi. He enjoyed traveling and seeing new places. He enjoyed his dog Sissy that traveled with him. He also enjoyed reading and Jim Beam.
His is survived by his daughter, Angela Pankey of Danville; two grandchildren, MaCabe (Lindsey) Pankey and MaKenzie Pankey, both of Danville; and four great-grandchildren, Deontae Cross, Cameron Walker, MaCabe Pankey II and Zander Pankey; a brother, Kenny (Jaye) Pankey of Shingle Springs, Calif. and their children, Tasha and Troy and several great nieces and nephews; and special friends, Matt and Polly Taylor of Covington, Ind.
Donations can be made in Dale’s name to the Cancer Research Foundation.
PATRICIA ANN PRUNKARD, 77, of Indianola passed away at 12:53 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center, Danville.
She was born Feb. 8, 1948, in Danville to Paul and Stella Mae Coon Cummings. She married Doug Prunkard on Dec. 1, 1979, in Danville. He preceded her in death on Dec. 7, 2017.
Surviving are two sons, Jeff (Michelle) Prunkard of Tomball, Texas and Jake Prunkard of Crawfordsville, Ind.; one daughter, Suzette Carpenter of Indianola; four brothers, Terry Cummings of Idaho, Lonny Cummings of California, Eldon Erwin of Danville and Jerry (Lori) Cummings of Catlin; one sister, Paula Vasquez of California; six grandchildren, Kyle (Andrea) Carpenter, Tyler (Crissy) Carpenter, Caleb (Cecile) Carpenter, Katie (Ross) Patrick, Kyle Todd and Olivia Prunkard; eight great-grandchildren, Lenny Carpenter, Clayton Carpenter, Devin Lappin, Tyler Lappin, Logan Lappin, Mateo Carpenter, Margot Carpenter, and Freya Patrick; three great-great-grandchildren, Tiana Lappin, Paisley Lappin and Charlotte Lappin. She was preceded in death by two brothers and one granddaughter, Sarah Carpenter.
Patricia was a longtime beautician for over 30 years, owning her own beauty school and teaching the art of hairdressing. She enjoyed TV, especially police dramas and documentaries, camping, diet coke, traveling and her home. She loved spending time with her family and kids. Memorial visitation is today (Thursday) 5-7 p.m. at Robison Chapel in Catlin.
The family will gather for a private burial. Memorials to the OSF Bobette Steely Hegeler Cancer Care Center. Online condolences at www.robisonchapel.com
MARJORIE BLOCK, 97, of Danville passed away at 10:33 a.m., Sat., June 28, 2025, at Parkview Retirement Village Sanford, NC.
Marjorie was born on Jan. 1, 1928, in Jamaica Township, the daughter of Willis and Grace Hedges Fox. She married Joseph Earl Block on April 8, 1950, in Catlin. He preceded her in death on Sept. 13, 2016. Survivors include one son, John L. Block of Sante Fe, NM; one daughter Deborah (David) Ziebart of Sanford, NC; one grandson, Jason (Amy) Ziebart; and three great-grandsons, Noah Ziebart, Joseph Gabriel Ziebart and Oliver Ziebart; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph and Marion Fox.
Marjorie graduated from Eastern Illinois University. She retired from teaching in Illinois and California. She was Teacher of the Year of her county one year in Merced County, Calif. She was interested in genealogy and was a member of the Genealogical Society in Merced as well as in Danville.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Mon., July 7, 2025, at Robison Chapel in Catlin. Chris Lawler will officiate. Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Indianola. Visitation is from 10 a.m. till service time on Monday. Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association. On-line condolences at www.robisonchapel.com.
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