News | The Journal-News

Tarr Murder Trial Begins At Montgomery County Courthouse

Two years, four months and 29 days after the death of Leslie Reeves and near death of Christopher Smith on Thanksgiving Day, 2021, in Farmersville, eight women and six men took their spot in the jury … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/25/24

Architect Sheds Light On LHS Gym

Jamie Cosgriff of Graham and Hyde Architects was on hand at the Panhandle School Board meeting on Monday, April 22, to discuss the possibility of renovating the current Lincolnwood High School Gym or … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/25/24

Pictured above, Mitchell Cunningham as Nick Bottom, at left, and Samuel Dilley as Nostradamus, are ready to produce a musical.

Something Rotten! Opens Tonight At HHS

There's Something Rotten! in the Hillsboro High School gym as this year's operetta performance opens tonight, Thursday, April 25, with the Hillsboro Rotary Club dinner theater. Additional … more

4/25/24

Nokomis Council Sets Temporary Housing Limit

The Nokomis City council met for its regular meeting on Monday, April 22, at City Hall. Commissioners approved an ordinance to limit the amount of time someone may live in temporary housing such as a … more

by Ben Schwarm | 4/25/24

Work Begins On Site Of Sinkhole

Excavators can be seen on the site of a large sinkhole on Wednesday afternoon, April 24, on the property of Arlen and Pat Kasten, located on Illinois 185 between Coffeen and Hillsboro. The highway … more

4/25/24

City Of Litchfield Awarded $650,000 State Grant

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the recipients for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Housing … more

4/25/24

City Of Litchfield Settles With Flannery For $140,000

After several weeks of meetings and negotiations, the City of Litchfield settled with Economic Development Director Tonya Flannery for just over $140,000. The matter was first brought up in a special … more

4/25/24

Pictured above, in front, from the left are Ashley Smith, Heather Brown, Shalimar Vittek, Jaime Bormida, Jacquelyn Holloway, Katie Wollerman, Dr. Michael Koeppen, Hillsboro Health CEO Mike Alexander, Hillsboro Mayor Don Downs, Jack Evans, Misty Borrowman, Alex Nazarian, Mary Herschelman, Jordan Ruppert and Claire Eskew.

Hillsboro Health Primary Care Hosts Open House

Hillsboro Health officially cut the ribbon on a new primary care clinic located inside the Douglas Telfer Clinic on Tremont Street in Hillsboro. The community was invited to a ribbon cutting and open … more

4/25/24

‘Give Grant a Lift’ Fund Drive Kicks Off In May

In just a few days, the smell of grilled hot dogs and pork patties will be wafting through the streets of Hillsboro as the work of nearly one hundred volunteers comes together in a fundraiser for a … more

by Steve McLaughlin | 4/25/24

Local members of the Montgomery County 4-H recently planted 25 new oak trees. From left to right, Thomas Marley, Ethan Marley, Katelyn Marley, Fallon Knodle and Bond Knodle.

Montgomery County 4-H Plants Oak Tree Savanna

Montgomery County is now home to an oak tree savanna thanks to local youth and community members. The group of 25 oak trees, called a savanna, will bring new life to oak-hickory forests currently … more

4/25/24

Litchfield Education Association members honored for their retirement this spring, from the left, are Mark Elvers, Brenda Elvers, Lisa Schaffer and Lori Heise. Not present for the photo was Bill Jones.

LEA Holds Annual Recognition Dinner In April

Members of the Litchfield Education Association held their annual recognition dinner on Friday evening, April 19, at the Litchfield Community Center. This year's Creativity Grant winners were … more

4/25/24

Fletcher Retires From Bank & Trust This May

Patty Fletcher, assistant vice president and branch manager at Bank & Trust Company’s Raymond Branch, has announced her retirement after 29 years of dedicated service. Fletcher began her … more

4/25/24

LHS Grad Publishes Article On COVID

Beverly Matthews of Springfield, formerly of Waggoner, has published an article in BMJ Case Reports on the effects of long-COVID this year. The article, "Long-term cognitive effects of COVID-19 … more

4/25/24

HSHS To Hold Women’s Conference

HSHS St. Francis Hospital presents the “Women’s Health Survival Guide” event, an informational conference to discuss women’s health concerns and safety resources with local … more

4/25/24

Litchfield, Flannery Approve Settlement Agreement

After much discussion over the last month, the members of the Litchfield City Council approved a settlement agreement and the release for Economic Development Director Tonya Flannery during their … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/22/24

Nokomis Board Prepares For End Of School Year

President Chad Ruppert called the Nokomis CUSD22 School Board to order at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16. In addition to Ruppert, Superintendent Scott Doerr, board members Steve Janssen, Carl Ray … more

by Randy Rieke | 4/22/24

Five Loaves Food Pantry Director Linda Williams, left and Heidi Miles, right, are hoping to make a difference in Fillmore and surrounding communities with their efforts in providing homeless students, families and all in need with the basic supplies they need to survive.

Five Loaves Hopes To Make A Difference

The phrase “Be Kind” is one that many are told throughout their lives, as well as being one that they follow in their day to day lives without thinking much about it. Linda Williams … more

by Cayden Huber | 4/22/24

Junior Board Does Spring Cleaning In Hillsboro

Hillsboro Health Junior Board was hard at work on Saturday, April 20, doing some spring cleaning throughout the city. The volunteers spent time sweeping the sidewalks and picking up trash in … more

4/22/24

Haven Home of Hope in Hillsboro received a $10,000 from Nokomis Christian Missions (NCM) as part of their Bridge The Gap fundraiser. Pictured above, from the left, are NCM Board of Directors Chairperson Suzanne Dooley, NCM Treasurer JoAnn Bauman, Haven Home Of Hope Executive Director Jennifer Carron, Haven Home Of Hope Program Director Erica Petcher, NCM Board Member Chris Compton, NCM Board Member Father Michael Meinhart and NCM Co-Director Kevin Laurie.

Haven Home Receives $10,000 Donation

Nokomis Christian Missions (NCM) has recently donated $10,000 to Haven Home of Hope in Hillsboro as part of the 2024 Bridge The Gap (BTG) fundraiser. Haven Home of Hope, a part of Crossover … more

4/22/24

John Battuello and Melanie Irvine, pictured with Raise the Bar LLC owner Heather Greenwood (center), were the inaugural winners of the Hillsboro fitness center’s 12 Week Transformation Challenge, which was held Jan. 8 through March 30. Battuello lost 13 pounds and gained 2.2 percent muscle, while Irvine lost 19.2 pounds and gained 1.9 percent muscle. All told, the nine people who participated in the challenge lost 77.4 pounds.

12 Week Transformations Revealed At Raise The Bar

To start the new year, Raise the Bar LLC set out to show that significant change can happen in a fairly short amount of time. On March 30, they received the final results. The Hillsboro fitness … more

4/22/24