Nestled in a lush, park-like setting in Girard, 30 miles south of Springfield, sits Courtyard Estates, a senior living facility that offers both independent and assisted living and boasts a story that spans 120 years. The origin of Courtyard Estates goes back to 1900, when the Church of the Brethren of Southern Illinois appointed a […]
Jean Campbell
Posted inArticles
Three sisters join forces to open a day care center
With 128 enrolled children, ages six months to six years old, Independent Childcare Preschool and Nursery is a lively and successful business just 18 months after opening. The founders and owners are three sisters: Cynthia Daniels, 55; Tearetha (also known as “T”) Plair, 54, and Christie Carter, 49. They opened the day care in December […]
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Ava Carpenter-McPike
Ava Carpenter-McPike is a force of nature and an inspiration. She has dedicated her adult life to working with at-risk youth who often don’t have a voice for themselves and have endured traumatic events. She puts her heart and soul into advocating for them and helping them change the course of their lives for the […]
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Evelyn Brandt Thomas – Iconic entrepreneur and philanthropist
By Jean Campbell PHOTO BY TERRY FARMER Evelyn Brandt Thomas is a well-known business figure in central Illinois and beyond. She and her brother, Glen, co-founded Brandt Fertilizer Inc. in 1953. The company, now simply BRANDT, has grown to be an international giant in agriculture. She is also recognized for her community leadership and giving […]