The Journal-News

The College Report: Huber Helps IC Set Record

Dane Huber, a Hillsboro graduate, and the rest of the Illinois College men’s golf team did not waste any time in getting into the news or record books. In their first outing of the … more

by Dan Chamness | 9/16/21

It was a productive week in Charleston for the Bryant family as Phil Bryant won twice and made it to four finals, including one against his son Dustin, who took the top spot in the low roller race over his dad. Pictured in the winner’s circle, from the left, are Sharon and Phil Bryant, Roger and Pam Burdell with grandson Bayler, Dustin Bryant and Corey Wood.

Bryants Win At Coles County Dragway

It was a productive week in Charleston for the Litchfield Crew as several bracket racers ventured to Coles County Dragway for the track’s Double Nickle High Roller $5Ks. The track was … more

9/2/21

Chuck Feldman’s Sawmill Express took first in the Modified class at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Sunday, Aug. 22, pulling 347.79 feet to beat out second place Steve Hummert. More than 100 entries hooked up to the sled at the truck and tractor pulls, which had been rained out twice before.

Third Time The Charm For County Fair Pulls

The third time was the charm for the Montgomery County Fair truck and tractor pulls as more than 100 entries hit the track in Butler on Aug. 22. Seven different pullers picked up victories in one … more

9/2/21

Roselawn No Bummer For Area Riders

The Hill & Gully Riders’ Summer Bummer Enduro was anything but a bummer for several local riders at the annual event in Roselawn, IN. All six racers who competed in the two-plus hour … more

8/23/21

Cruthis Climbs To Second With Fourth Victory

It was another round and another win for Case Cruthis in the Crossroads Cross Country Series as the young Panama motorcyle racer took first at Ridge Run in Bloomfield, IN, on Aug. 14. Cruthis ran … more

8/23/21

Hearn Goes Rounds At Central Illinois Dragway

Litchfield’s Timothy Hearn got some help from younger brother Brayden during his race at Central Illinois Dragway on Saturday, Aug. 14. Hearn would make it down to six cars for the second … more

8/23/21

The weather is usually pretty warm, but the cars and trucks are even hotter at the Waggoner Car Show, which will celebrate it's 19th birthday on Saturday, Aug. 21. The show traditionally draws hundreds of automotive works of art, like this beauty from the 2018 show.

Waggoner Car Show This Saturday

On Saturday, the village of Waggoner flexes its muscle as the 19th annual Waggoner Car Show takes place on the grounds of the Waggoner Centennial Building. Registration runs from 9 a.m. until … more

8/19/21

Bondurant Finishes 11th, Takes Over Points Lead

Witt’s Dane Bondurant came within a whisker of earning his third straight top 10 finish in the Illini Division of Phoenix Bass Fishing League on Saturday, Aug. 14, finishing 11th out of 93 … more

8/19/21

Evan Lynch Battles Back To Take Top 10 At Macon

The Pro-Mods were back in action at Macon Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 14, including the Hillsboro foursome of Kevin Rench, Justin Reynolds and brothers Evan and Nathan Lynch. It would be a tough … more

8/19/21

Hillsboro racers Kevin Rench (116) and Justin Reynolds (3x) were side-by-side for much of the 15-lap Pro Modified feature at Macon Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 7. Reynolds would end up taking seventh overall, while Rench was eighth in the race, which was part of the Diane Bennett Memorial.

Extra Cash Adds Heat To Macon Races

A little carnage, a flip and a fire and a whole lot of money on the line made for an interesting trip to Macon Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 7, at the third annual Diane Bennett Memorial Race. More … more

8/12/21

After taking first in the AMA Hill Climb National Championships last year, Litchfield’s Cam Bone added another trophy to his collection with a second place finish in the 65cc class at the 2021 AMA Hill Climb National Championships, missing out on first by just 38 feet.

Bone, Noyes Boys Reach New Heights

The focus has been on motocross over the last year for Litchfield 10-year-old Cam Bone, but the 2020 AMA National Hill Climb champion showed on Aug. 7-8 that he still has what it takes. On a … more

8/12/21

Morrisonville’s Jhak Walker was the top finisher in the Super Mini class at the Whiskey River IXCR series race on Aug. 8, and was also the top overall finisher in the youth bikes division.

Jhak Walker Claims Top Spot At Whiskey River

Morrisonville’s Jhak Walker made his return to the IXCR Cross Country Racing Series on Sunday, Aug. 8, after missing the last four events due to other pursuits. Walker, who won the Super … more

8/12/21

Saathoff Battles Pro Riders

Fresh off of his Horizon Award and four wins at the AMA Grand Championships in DuQuoin, Hillsboro racer Chase Saathoff was back in action on Wednesday, July 28, at the Champaign County … more

8/12/21

Alison Lentz joined her son, Travis, at the Fox Valley Off Road Grand Prix on Saturday, July 31, her first race of the 2021 season. Lentz finished ninth in the women's division, while Travis was first in the 65cc class both on July 31, and in the hare scramble the next day.

Local Racers Bring Home Hardware From Fox Valley

The weather was perfect and the trails were calling on July 31 and Aug. 1, as the Fox Valley Off Road Series held it’s third of four grand prix/hare scramble weekends. Local riders would own … more

8/12/21

Komor Wins Big At Central Illinois Dragway

Litchfield racer Rich Komor went big money hunting in Havana on Saturday, Aug. 7, and brought home a beauty. Racing in the modified class, Komor went nine rounds on the night at Central Illinois … more

8/12/21

Thirty-one runners and walkers took to the streets and hills of Hillsboro on Saturday, July 31, for this year's Old Settlers four-mile fun run and two-mile walk. From the left are Elijah Atkins, Isaiah Atkins, Andrew Thomack and Nathan Potts, who won the inaugural team award, with Potts also taking the title of first finisher and fastest male. On the far right, Laura Lessman was the fastest female in the race, which staggered start times for the runners.

Fun Run Reigns In The Rain To Start Old Settlers

It seems to always rain at least one day during Old Settlers, but a steady downpour didn’t stop the annual Old Settlers Fun Run and Walk on Saturday, July 31, in Hillsboro. Twenty-three … more

8/2/21

With relics of the area’s baseball history surrounding one of the televisions set up at the Bottomley-Ruffing-Schalk Baseball Museum in Nokomis for Reid Detmers’ Major League debut on Sunday, Aug. 1, fans watched the Nokomis-born left-hander battle the Oakland Athletics.

Detmers Makes Major League Debut

Four hundred seventeen days after Reid Detmers heard his name called as the number 10 pick in the Major League Baseball draft, the Nokomis native heard his name called once again, this time echoing … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 8/2/21

Panama's Case Cruthis (at right) picked up his third win in the Crossroads Racing Series on July 24.

Cruthis Continues To Gain Ground With Win

Panama’s Case Cruthis picked up his third win in five events as the Crossroads Racing Series was at High Fly in Scottsburg, IN on July 24-25. Cruthis was the only rider in the 4-Stroke … more

8/2/21

Ty White and Macey Blevins celebrate White’s win in the Open Beginner class at the Fly Racing Showdown Series at Lincoln Trail Motorsports in Casey on Sunday, July 25.

White Picks Up Win In Fly Racing Series

Ty White beat out 17 other riders to take first place in the Open Beginner class at the Fly Racing Showdown Series event at Lincoln Trail Motorsports in Casey on Sunday, July 25. Consistency was … more

8/1/21

In the foreground, Josh Sander returns a shot during mixed doubles play with partner Tara Mata against Lynn Hanson and Christopher Shultz at the Central Park pickleball courts in Hillsboro. Hanson and Shultz would go on to take first in the 4.5 mixed doubles bracket, beating the team of Shelley Tischkau and Rod Robbins 17-15 in the final game.

Pickleball Action Heats Up At MoCo Summer Classic

With 109-plus entries from five different states, the third annual MoCo Pickleball Summer Classic was bigger than ever and proved that the time and money spent on the courts at Central Park was well … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 7/26/21