Friends show some love to Santa Charlie in Herrin
Marilyn Halstead • January 18, 2022
HERRIN — Most people in Southern Illinois simply know Charlie Groves as Santa. Groves is one of Santa’s best helpers and stands-in, working events across the region during the holiday season.
Groves now faces a bigger challenge as he was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
On Jan. 14, a post appeared on his Facebook page that gave his diagnosis and said he was not up to having visitors. By Jan. 15, he went home from the hospital on hospice care.
Groves was honored with a drive-by parade on Tuesday afternoon, organized by Christie Goodman.
More than 100 cars lined up in the former Maytag parking lot, not far from Groves’ home in Herrin.
HERRIN — The Herrin High School athletic complex was a busy place Thursday morning as the 2022 Region K Herrin Spring Games of the Special Olympics kicked off.
HerrinFesta Italiana will return to featured entertainment for this year’s Herrin festival, which will run from May 23-30 in downtown Herrin.
