News | The Journal-News

NNA Concerned Over New Postal Rates

The July 2024 proposed periodicals rate increase amounts to an almost ten percent bump for community newspapers that are already paying high rates for subpar service. The rate increase means … more

4/15/24

The Hillsboro Sertoma Club presented a $750 check to the Beckemeyer Elementary School speech program. Pictured above, from the left, are Earl Meier of the Hillsboro Sertoma Club, Beckemeyer Speech-Language Pathologist Breanna Henson, Beckemeyer Speech-Language Pathologist Lorinda Jennings, Beckemeyer Principal Zach Frailey and Allan Spellbring of the Hillsboro Sertoma Club.

Sertoma Donates To Beckemeyer

The Hillsboro Sertoma Club recently presented a $750 check to the speech program at Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro. The check was presented by Hillsboro Sertoma members Earl Meier and … more

4/15/24

Sinkhole Forces Closure of Rt. 185

Illinois Route 185 from Hillsboro to Coffeen is closed indefinitely as a sinkhole was discovered 35 to 40 feet from the road near the Kasten farm on Thursday morning , April 11. … more

4/12/24

Hillsboro School Board Revisits Homeschool Athletic Policy

“Nobody is saying they want to take away athletics from homeschooled students,” board member Mike Cerutti said to a crowded audience at the Hillsboro School Board meeting on Tuesday … more

by Isaiah Atkins | 4/11/24

County Board Hires HR Consultant

It was a short night for members of the Montgomery County Board, who met for their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, April 9, at the Historic Courthouse in … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 4/11/24

Nokomis Eliminates Consultant Position

In a tense session of the April 8 Nokomis City Council meeting, commissioners voted 3-2 to terminate the contract of the part-time administrative consultant hired a year ago. Keith Hancock, a former … more

by Ben Schwarm | 4/11/24

Pictured above fourth graders in Steph Reynolds’ class, from the left, Lainey Barcum, Greyson Holliday and Ryann Powell, enjoy a birds-eye view from outside the new Litchfield Elementary School building. As a special treat, Litchfield National Bank provided special snacks for the day including Sunny D and Moon Pies.

Totality (Almost) Awesome

Although the path of totality for the solar eclipse did not come through Montgomery County, residents still enjoyed the wonder as the moon nearly covered the sun (97 percent) on Monday afternoon, … more

4/11/24

For more information on TASC or questions about the upcoming events contact Lynn Sellers at 217-556-9535 or Kim Draper at 217-710-3958, email tascillinois1@gmail.com, or follow the public “TASC (The Autism Support Connection)” page on Facebook.

TASC Families Enjoy Bowling Event

Above, families take to the lanes during The Autism Support Connection's (TASC) Bowling and Pizza Party at Galaxy Family Bowl in Hillsboro on Saturday, April 6. There was a full house for the first … more

4/11/24

Donations from the community and fundraisers like the Camden’s Crew Golf Outing made it possible for Camden Burke to participate in therapies that might not have otherwise been financially possible, like the Anat Baniel therapy he received in Chicago in 2018. The Burkes and Camden’s Crew want to help other special needs families in making alternative therapies and equipment possible through their financial assistance grants.

Camden’s Crew Makes Special Needs Therapies Possible

The Burke family knows firsthand how important different therapies can be to the development of a child with special needs. Since Jason and Gina Burke’s son Camden was diagnosed with 5p minus … more

4/11/24

The Briar Rose in Litchfield is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month with festivities on Saturday, April 13. Pictured above are owner Danell Fogle, at left, and her mother, Lorinda “Mama Bear” Shaw.

The Briar Rose Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

It’s a celebration ten years in the making, as The Briar Rose in downtown Litchfield marks its tenth anniversary this month. Owner Danell Fogle said she bought … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 4/11/24

HHS Art Club To Host Topper Art Studio Event

The HHS Art Club will be hosting an art studio on Saturday, April 20 for kindergarten through fifth graders. The theme for the art studio will be Earth Day. In each session, students will make … more

4/11/24

Pictured above, in front, from the left are Stamp Out Cancer committee members Dana Holshouser, Renee Laughlin and Zach Wygal. In back are Team Rock, Paper, Sisters (Amber Kalaher and Paula Bartz of Hillsboro), Team Hitch Up (Butch and Samantha Hitchings of Hillsboro), Joyce Lipe and Shelley Halleman of the MCCA, Team Um-Believable (Tina and Denny Umberger of Nokomis) and Team Gudgel Ranch Saloon (Cody Gudgel and Jennifer Gudgel, not pictured).

Stamp Out Cancer Donates $150,000 To MCCA

Members of the Stamp Out Cancer team presented a check for $150,000 to the Montgomery County Cancer Association on Wednesday evening, April 10, at The Event Center of Montgomery County, following … more

4/11/24

State Awards Victory Lane Charging Stations Grant

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim announced $25.1 million is being awarded to 20 applicants for electric vehicle charging infrastructure under the Driving a … more

4/11/24

Hendricks Home Furnishings, a third-generation family business in Virden, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this April.

Hendricks Celebrates 75th Anniversary In Virden

Hendricks Home Furnishings, the region’s quality furniture store, is celebrating its 75th year focused on serving longtime and new customers. The family-owned business was founded in 1949, when … more

4/11/24

Flannery Termination Tabled Until Next Litchfield Meeting

After meeting in closed session for an hour and 22 minutes on Thursday, April 4, the members of the Litchfield City Council determined that more time was needed to act on the … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/8/24

The confetti flew as Team Um-Believable was crowned champions at the 13th Stamp Out Cancer event, held Saturday, April 6, at The Event Center of Montgomery County in Taylor Springs. Pictured above, Zach Wygal of Stamp Out Cancer, at right, presents the trophy to Denny and Tina Umberger of Nokomis for raising over $63,000 for the Montgomery County Cancer Association. This year’s four fundraising teams raised over $136,000 for the MCCA, bringing the Stamp Out Cancer total to over $1 million donated since its inception.

Simply Um-Believable

“$1 million. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” said Zach Wygal of Stamp Out Cancer. “Going into this Stamp Out Cancer season, we knew it was a possibility. At the … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 4/8/24

Volunteers Needed For Spring Clean-Up

Imagine Hillsboro and Hillsboro Health Junior Board are organizing the annual spring cleanup on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Residents in need of help clearing leaves, brush and simple … more

4/8/24

Steve Schmidt of Love Packages in Butler is dwarfed by just one of several stacks of shrink-wrapped skids ready for shipping.

A Simple Message, ‘Waste Not’ Inspires Global Ministry

In March, eleven 20-foot containers loaded to the gills left Love Packages in Butler. The cargo: boxes of Christian literature in English. From Butler the containers went to the rail yard in St … more

by Nancy Slepicka | 4/8/24

Electronic Recycling Will Be Available In Litchfield

BLH Computers will host their annual electronics recycling drive from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 27, at the former recycling building in Litchfield, located on the corner of Illinois and Ryder … more

4/8/24

Lewey Joins Local Bank In Ag Loans

Bank of Hillsboro has announced the newest addition to its team, Kord Lewey, who joins as the commercial ag loan officer. With a strong background in agriculture and a deep connection to the local … more

4/8/24