Top stories

Two Vehicle Collision Occurs South Of Irving

On Wednesday evening, Jan. 15, at 5:32 p.m. the Witt Fire Department was dispatched to a two-vehicle head-on collision on IL Rt. 16, a half mile south of Irving. Montgomery County Sheriff’s …

Trio Of Principals Hired In Hillsboro

A flurry of personnel decisions highlighted the Hillsboro School Board meeting on Tuesday evening, Jan. 14, as a trio of familiar faces were hired as principals in the district. Blake Lipe will …

Voters To Decide About SOA Position

  Montgomery County voters will have a chance to decide whether or not to make the county supervisor of assessments position an elected one, following an ordinance by the Montgomery County …

Mental Health Court Has First Grad

“If you asked me three or four years ago, I never would have thought that I would be here doing this,” Judge Chris Matoush said in his opening remarks at the first-ever Mental Health …
Journal-News Sports

Third Quarter Rally Lifts Lady Panthers

After foul trouble for Litchfield helped Shelbyville take a 27-20 halftime lead on Monday, Jan. 13, the Panthers knew they had to do something quickly to avoid their 13th loss of the year. …

Nokomis Lives It Up Against Ponies

The Nokomis girls basketball team passed the halfway point of their conference season on Monday, Jan. 13, and are still in contention for their third straight MSM Conference championship. The Lady …

Lady Hiltoppers Hold Off Late Charge From Wesclin

Three late three-pointers by Wesclin gave Hillsboro a bit of a scare on Monday, Jan. 13, before the Lady Hiltoppers pulled out a 43-41 victory over the visiting Warriors. Hillsboro led by as many as …
Obituaries
Robert Pincsak, 77 Robert ‘Bob’ Pincsak, 77, of Panama, died on Jan. 2, 2025, at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family …
Rena J. Langer, 80 Rena Joan (Greer) Langer, 80, of Livingston, died on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 at her residence in Livingston. No services are scheduled. Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton is in charge of …
Richard B. Sereg, 91 Richard B. Sereg, 91, of Gillespie, died on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at SS Simon and Jude Church in …
Kenneth L. Hemken, 96  Kenneth Lee Hemken, 96, of Hillsboro,   died Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6:55 a.m. at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Taylor Springs. Funeral services will be held on …
Dorothy D. Eddington, 90 Dorothy Dean Eddington, 90, of Irving, died at 5:55 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. Visitation will be held on Monday, Jan. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bass …
Local News
From The Opinion Page

A FEW GOOD WORDS • A Look Back At The Best Films Of 2024

I watched 115 movies in 2024. According to my notes, I watched 40 2024 releases. Both are increases from the past year when I watched 100 and 30. But when I consider the circumstances of 2024, …

GRANDMA'S DIARIES • Showing Kindness To Neighbors

Grandma and Grandpa begin December 1957 sunning by a swimming pool in California and end the month back in Illinois dodging snow flurries. Grandma doesn't have the time to manage her usual Christmas …
Letters To The Editor
LETTER TO THE EDITOR • A Goodbye From the Schultes

Dear Editor, We moved to Irving from Granite City in 1996. Doug had built an airplane, but there was no hangar space in our area. The closest place was Hillsboro Airport. They had space, then by …

LETTER TO THE EDITOR • Some Acreage Thoughts

Dear Editor,   Until now, I have been uncharacteristically silent concerning the Wooded Acreage Assessment issue because, as the old folk excuse goes, “I have no dog in this …