News | The Journal-News

Donnellson Community Announces End Of Boil Order

The Donnellson Village Board convened on Thursday evening, March 19, at village hall. Mayor Randy Stewart, treasurer and secretary Ashley Weder, water clerk Rachel Beckett and trustees Virginia … more

by Isaiah Atkins | 3/30/26

St. Francis ER Entrance Closed Tuesday For Work

HSHS St. Francis Hospital’s Emergency Department parking lot and entrance will be temporarily closed Tuesday, March 31, from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for routine facility improvement. Patients seeking … more

3/30/26

Veterans Names Sought For Litchfield Memorial

War Veterans with ties to the Litchfield and surrounding area have until Friday, May 8, to have their names added to the Litchfield Area Veterans Memorial by Memorial Day 2026, according to Committee … more

3/30/26

It was an egg-sellent good time as communities all over Montgomery County hosted Easter Egg Hunt events on Saturday, March 28, with more to come this weekend. Pictured above, Carter McBride carefully brings a purple egg back to her bunny basket at the Litchfield Park District’s egg hunt, held just outside the Litchfield Community Center on March 28. She is the two-year-old daughter of Tylor and Alyssa McBride of Litchfield. The Litchfield hunt had 4,500 eggs hidden with grand prize bicycles donated by Buck and Jenny Longwell. Litchfield Community Partners provided a special visit from the Easter Bunny and Mrs. Cottontail.

Youngsters Enjoy Egg-selent Good Fun

3/30/26

Pictured above, from the left are Trish Fenton (Educator of the Year), Candi Mazza (Citizen of the Year), Robert Maguire and Tiffany Bradburn of Diamond’s Bistro (Rising Star), Sydney Budd of Rise and Grind Coffee Co. (Business of the Year), Brittany Ronco (Special Recognition), 2025 Little Miss Litchfield Chamber of Commerce Teagan Pastrovich and 2025 Junior Miss Litchfield Chamber of Commerce Avery Crabtree.

Litchfield Chamber Celebrates Community

It was a night to celebrate community and local business as the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards banquet on Thursday evening, March 26, at Gudgel Ranch Saloon in Litchfield. … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 3/30/26

Riley the barn owl was the second avian guest in the World Bird Sanctuary’s presentation on Tuesday night, March 24. Riley is pictured above with Barb Slepeckey of the sanctuary.

Soil And Water District Holds Meeting

The Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District (MCSWCD) held its annual meeting and dinner Tuesday evening, March 24, at the Litchfield Community Center. Chairman Jason Anderson led off … more

by Cayden Huber | 3/30/26

HHS Band Performs At Bison Game

On Saturday, March 21, the HHS Band, led by Director Dan Drake, traveled to Bloomington to perform at a Bloomington Bison hockey game. The band performed pieces during timeouts and other pauses … more

3/30/26

The Montgomery County Farm Bureau held their annual Nutrient Stewardship Field Day on Saturday, March 21, at the Hillsboro Lions Building. Pictured above, Kirby Furness speaks on cover crops and conservation practices used on his fields in Montgomery County.

Farm Bureau Hosts Nutrient Field Day

The Montgomery County Farm Bureau was a recipient of Nutrient Stewardship Grant and held their annual Field Day on Saturday, March 21, at the Hillsboro Lions Building. Over thirty local farmers … more

3/30/26

Lincolnwood Junior High Names Honor Roll List

Lincolnwood Jr. High School in Raymond has announced honor roll and high honor roll students for the third quarter. High Honor Roll Sixth Graders: Loraine Mae Epps, Judith Jezabel Freyre, … more

3/30/26

Community Resource And Volunteer Fair Is April 13

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program will sponsor a Community Resource and Volunteer Fair on Monday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hillsboro Area Public Library. The event is free … more

3/30/26

PANTHER PRESS • Litchfield On Spring Break This Week

Happy Spring Break, Panthers! Litchfield Community School District’s spring break will run through Monday, March 30, with school resuming on Tuesday, April 7. This past Thursday, speaker … more

by Alli Frerichs at Litchfield | 3/30/26

REDSKIN REVIEW • Redskin Athletes Keep Busy This Spring

Welcome back, Redskin fans! I hope you are excited for this short week ahead! Looking back to last week, the boys baseball team defeated Edinburg twice, gaining two conference wins, and also … more

by Camryn Engelman at Nokomis | 3/30/26

Hillsboro Health To Host April Blood Drive Event

Hillsboro Health will be hosting a community blood drive on Tuesday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the hospital, located at 1210 E. Tremont, inside the Fitness and Aquatics gym. Those interested … more

3/30/26

Pictured above, in the back from the left is Stamp Out’s Chris Wygal, Theresa Priddle and Seth Watson with Charlie O’Malley of Rally with O’Malley. In the middle row is Stamp Out’s Renee Laughlin, Dana Holshouser, Colleen Helgen of Hyam Helgen Hustlers, Shelley Halleman of the MCCA, Gia O’Malley of Rally with O’Malley, Linda Klotz of the MCCA, Kelsey Flack of Stamp Out and Team Hillsboro-Ish’s Deidre Hanger and Amanda Overmeyer.

Stamp Out Donates $275,000 To MCCA

Members of the Stamp Out Cancer team presented a check for $275,000 to the Montgomery County Cancer Association on Sunday evening, March 29, at Opera House, following this season's finale event on … more

3/30/26

Pictured above, from the left are golden egg winners Lia Gaffney, James Cole, Old Settlers Little Miss AvaJane Lawson, Tinley Rufus and Old Settlers Little Mister Braxton Rhodes. In the back is Dexter Swoboda, Old Settlers Queen Peyton Christian, Imagine Hillsboro Snow Queen Jenna Durbin and Old Settlers Junior Miss Mila Harrell.

Hillsboro Flocks To Annual Egg Hunt

How long does it take to find 10,000 hidden Easter eggs? For the youth of Hillsboro, the answer is roughly six minutes, and a wonderful six minutes it was at the Greater Hillsboro Ministerial … more

3/30/26

Endress is pictured above greeting Father Daniel Willenborg.

Endress Retires After 16 Years Serving Hospital

Community members, friends, family, coworkers and more celebrated the remarkable career of Paula Endress at HSHS St. Francis Hospital on Thursday, March 26. Endress had served the community as the … more

3/30/26

May 9 Poker Run Will Benefit Warrior Willa

A poker run benefit for Warrior Willa will be held on Saturday, May 9. The run will begin and end at T-Tee’z Bar in Irving, with stops at Half Witt Winery, Green Tree Lounge, Chiefs Tavern and … more

3/30/26

Hundred Hunt Eggs In Taylor Springs

Members of the Taylor Springs Fire Department held their annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning, March 28,with approximately 100 children in attendance. Kids from zero to fifth grade hunted over … more

3/30/26

In front, from the left are Krue Enloe, Lucille Reiter, La’Rian Respress, Paisley Vargo and Tymber Curry. In back are the Easter Bunny and Mrs. Cottontail (provided by Litchfield Community Partners) and 2025 Junior Miss Litchfield Chamber of Commerce Avery Crabtree.

Five Win Bikes At Litchfield Egg Hunt

Five lucky grand prize winners took home bicycles from the Litchfield Park District Easter Egg Hunt at the Litchfield Community Center on Saturday, March 28. The bicycles were donated by Buck and … more

3/30/26

From the left are Ava Mclafferty (six to seven-years-old), Gabriel Aguilar (eight to ten-years-old), Easter Bunny with Savannah Stanfill (zero to one-year-old), Caleb Fleming (three to four-years-old) and Amiah Keller (two to three-years-old).

Easter Bunny Delights At Coffeen Hunt

Youngsters of all ages enjoyed the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Coffeen on Saturday morning, March 28, at the Coffeen School Park. It was hosted this year by the Coffeen Fire Department and Coffeen … more

3/30/26