‘They’ve touched a lot of lives’: Stew-Stras holds memorial for three girls killed in crash

SHELBY COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Two communities in Shelby County are continuing to mourn for the three young girls who died in a UTV accident Thursday. The beginning of the healing process began with thoughts, prayers and a memorial service dedicated to their memory.

14-year-old Edie Wittenberg, 13-year-old Karly Wetherell and 14-year-old Sienna Bostedo were honored Tuesday night at a memorial at the high school where they were incoming freshmen this year.

The very beginning of the healing process began this week. Students from all across Central Illinois stayed late Monday to decorate the school’s hallway with remembrance posters and notes, along with pictures of the girls.

Superintendent Justin Deters said this gave students the space to process.

“The amount of students that we had in our building — and not even our students — we had students from other schools,” Deters said. “We had kids that were on travel teams with these young ladies. You know, they’ve touched a lot of lives.”

The public visitation inside the building included grief counselors and therapy dogs, resources that Deters said will remain into the school year.

“Helping students and teaching students how to be present without such a big part of our lives, you know, and how to move forward, but how to never forget,” Deters added.

Outside the building has signs reading “Prayers for Stew-Stras” and green ribbons on poles stretching over six miles; the distance from Stewardson to Strasburg.

“Community members’ houses, they have signs in their yards. You know, everybody wants to show their love and support,” Deters said. “And I think or I hope those families have felt that.”

Then Tuesday, people from across the area packed the school parking gymnasium to come and say goodbye.

“That love and support factor through all this is the people involved,” Deters said.

Deters said the families of the girls have been adamant about not needing fundraising.

That hasn’t stopped the community from lending a hand. They’ve set up accounts for the families at both Shelby County State Bank in Strasburg and at First National Bank of Waterloo in Stewardson.

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