July 30, 2026

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.

Catlin to honor County’s 200th on Saturday

Crowd urges more time as Catlin extends moratorium

Salt Fork registration
Online registration open Wednesday, Aug. 5.
For returning students who need to register in person, a session will be held Monday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 7 p.m. in the South Elementary gym.
Registration for new students will take place in person Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m

National titles fuel Salt Fork freshman’s dreams
Maxfield will continue to wear the Storm colors this fall

Salt Fork FFA Sets Record at Section 18 FFA Fair

Catlin grad succeeds in helping women through therapy, advocacy

Salt Fork junior accelerates education on path to vet school

72 years of marriage, 92 years of memories

Obituaries
    DONNA M. CHESNUT HOBDEN, 87, passed away July 20, 2026 at the Storypoint Senior Center Home, in Plano, Texas. She was born Oct. 19, 1938 in rural Sidney to Ray and Ruth (Leerkamp) Chesnut.
    She is survived by her son Philip (Tina) Hobden of San Jose, Calif.; daughter Beth (Keith) Christensen of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Nathaniel Hobden, Faith Christensen, Daria (Nathaniel) Presley, Anya (Caleb) Darnell; sisters, Sandy Schumacher of Sachse, Texas and Janet Hubbard of Ridge Farm.
    Donna was the first graduate of the first graduating class of Jamaica High School in 1956.   She later received her degree in Christian Education, from the Milwaukee Grace Bible College.
    She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Jimmy Dean Chesnut and Morris Chesnut. A Celebration of Life will be at a later date.


    DOYLE “BEN” GRISSOM, 63, of Urbana, formerly of Homer and Fairmount, passed away July 5, 2026 at his home.
    A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sat., August 1 at Homer Funeral and Cremation Services, 708 S. Main Street in Homer. Burial of cremated remains will take place at Old Homer Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Please wear blue jeans or other casual attire in honor of Ben’s love of blue jeans.
    Doyle, Ben to those that knew him, was born December 27, 1962 in Danville, the son of Doyle Wayne and Racheal Irene Brewer Grissom.
    Survivors include his sister, Alinda Charlene McNeese of Homer; brother, Rance “Art” (Martha) Grissom of Fithian; and several nieces and nephews.
    He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Marvin Grissom.
    Ben was a truck driver for Stellar Express out of Champaign and LCL out of Green Bay, Wis. He also worked at Lucky Luke’s Gaming in Urbana. Ben liked to go fishing and enjoyed riding motorcycles. He was a very talkative person, never meeting a stranger.
    Memorials can be made to the family.

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