Top stories

County Sees Sixty Percent Turnout For Midterms

Montgomery County voters made their voices heard on Tuesday night, Nov. 3, as the general election results trickled into the Historic Courthouse. Overall, 38 precincts received 10,217 ballots, …

Magnuson Runs 100 Miles To 'Lift Up Litchfield'

Longtime runner and Litchfield resident, Caitlin Magnuson is planning a two-day event entitled “Lift Up Litchfield,” on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14, to run each and every street and …

SERTOMA Poinsettia Sale Returns In 2026

The Hillsboro SERTOMA Club will be holding their 19th annual poinsettia sale throughout November, with orders due by Wednesday, Nov. 25. To place an order, one may contact any SERTOMA member, or text …

Veiled Non-Profit Group Hosts Annual Fall Meeting

Litchfield's Veiled Non-Profits recently welcomed Joe Zalar as their newest inductee at their fall meeting on Saturday evening, Oct. 31, at The Ariston Cafe in Litchfield. The meeting was held after …
Journal-News Sports

Panthers Season Ends At Althoff

“We knew they were a great team. They’re unreal, honestly.” Litchfield Coach Kevin Young’s description of Belleville’s Althoff Catholic boys soccer team is an apt one. In the last …

CIYSA Holds Year-End Tournaments

The year-end tournaments for the Central Illinois Youth Soccer Association were held for boys and girls in third through eighth grade on Oct. 24-25. Among this year's winners and runners-up were five …

Litchfield Bake Sale Kills It For Breast Cancer Group

The Litchfield High School volleyball team made a donation of $727 to the Montgomery County Breast Cancer Support Group on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from the proceeds of the bake sale they held during their …
Obituaries
Ronnie E. Deal, 83 Ronnie E. Deal, 83 of Morrisonville, died on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at 9:14 p.m. at Pana Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pana. Visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. at …
Richard D. Kibler, 94 Richard Dean Kibler, 94, of Greenville, and formerly of Irving, died on Nov. 4, 2026, at Litchfield Health and Rehab Center in Litchfield. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Nov. 20, at …
Jacob A. Robinson, 33 Jacob Allen Robinson, 33, of Hillsboro, died at home on Oct. 18, 2026. A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. Mr. Robinson was born on Oct. 18, 1993, to Cecil A. and Sharon L. …
Alvin R. Lapsansky, 94 Alvin Ray Lapsansky, 94, of Witt, died on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at Tremont Ridge Assisted Living in Hillsboro. A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, at Stiehl-Dawson …
Vicki D. Cialkowski, 73 Vicki Diane (Durbin) Cialkowski, 73, of Brownstown, died peacefully on Oct. 28, 2026. A graveside service was held on Monday, Nov. 2, at Green Hill Cemetery in Van Burensburg. Ms. Cialkowski was born …
Local News
From The Opinion Page

TOPPER TALK • Ultimate Food Drive Takes Over HHS

Hello, Hiltoppers! I hope everyone enjoyed their extended spooky-tastic weekend. To those returning, the answer to last week's Topper Tangle was Bat Infestation! I would like to share my condolences …

DRAGON BEAT • Hillsboro Junior High Enters November

Welcome back to another week of the Dragon Beat.  It's officially November, gobble gobble.  Now let’s begin with our Disney Character Quote. Last week’s quote was, “You don’t lose …
Letters To The Editor
Letter To The Editor

There is much hubbub these days about socialism being a preferred system of government. Only the uninformed and the deluded think so. When the Pilgrims landed on the shores of what is now …

Letter To The Editor

The United States constitution provides for the protection of religion. This guarantees the individual expression of faith. Christians are called to participate in public discourse and decisions as …