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County Hallowfest Delights Participants Of All Ages

The Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Butler was brimming with spooky sites and sounds as the air filled with the smells of grilled hot dogs and toasted s'mores at Hallowfest on Saturday, Oct. 24. The …

Nokomis School Board Honors Principals, Custodians

The Tuesday, Oct. 20 meeting of the Nokomis School Board was called to order at 7 p.m. by President Denny Bauman. In addition to Bauman, other board members present were Steve Janssen, Carl …

Veterans Memorial Nears Completion In Coffeen

Pyramid Marble and Granite of Effingham recently delivered the slabs for the Coffeen Veteran’s Memorial on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Coffeen Mayor Robert Wessell says he was pleased with the progression …

Voters Reminded To Drop Off Vote By Mail Ballots

Montgomery County Clerk and Recorder Sandy Leitheiser reminds voters who received a vote by mail ballot for the Nov. 3 General Election to return their completed ballots as soon as possible. Voters …
Journal-News Sports

Panthers Make Good On Their One Chance

Last year, Chance Holliday’s soccer season ended on his birthday when the Litchfield High School boys soccer team lost to Carlinville in the regional championship. Exactly one year later, the …

Toppers Score Early, Often To Win Title

The last time the Hillsboro and Carlinville boys soccer teams met, it was 4-2 in the Toppers’ favor after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. In the regional championship game on Friday, …

Scoreboard Doesn't Tell The Story For Nokomis Football

It’s hard to put into words what the 2026 Nokomis High School football team has gone through this season, a season that came to an end with a 41-7 loss to Carlyle in the opening round of the Class …
Obituaries
Billie L. Carlock, 93 Billie Leon Carlock, 93, of Fillmore, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at his residence in Fillmore, surrounded by family. The funeral will be held Monday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m. at Miller Funeral Home in …
Melvin Bergman, 87 Melvin Bergman, 87, of Litchfield, died on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Litchfield. A full obituary will appear in the Thursday, Oct. 29 edition of The Journal-News. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield …
Dennis R. Green, 67 Dennis Ray Green, 67, of Millersburg, died peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in the emergency room at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, surrounded by his loving wife and children. …
Mark A. Schafer, 41 Mark Anthony Schafer, 41, of Carlinville, died on Wednesday morning, Oct. 21, 2026, on I-55 in Edwardsville. Visitation will be held on Friday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Davis-Anderson Funeral …
Mark S. McGown, 74 Mark Steve “Hollywood” McGown, 74, of Irving, died on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at his home. Mr. McGown’s family will hold a celebration of his life at a future date. Born Nov. 8, 1951, in …
Local News
From The Opinion Page

PANTHER PRESS • Litchfield Soccer Team Wins Regionals

As LHS fall sports come to an end, I would like to congratulate everyone on a great year. Special congratulations to the girls' and boys' cross country teams for advancing to sectionals, and to the …

REDSKIN REVIEW • Soccer, Football Seasons End At NHS

Welcome back Redskin fans! I hope everyone had a great week and is prepared for this one. Monday, the Nokomis Lady Redskins volleyball team picked up the win against Greenfield/Northwestern, 25-18, …
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 …