News | The Journal-News

Pictured above are members of the Montgomery County Extension Office staff who were honored at the annual conference in November. From the left are Alexis Friesland, Andrew Holsinger, Jessica Jaffry, Cassie O’Connell, Lisa Peterson, Lisa White and Sara Marten. Not pictured are Valerie Belusko and Rebecca Niemeier.

Extension Office Awarded At Annual Conference

University of Illinois Extension has connected every county in Illinois with life-changing research to improve lives for more than a century. However, many community members are unaware of the … more

12/19/24

TOPPER TALK • Topper Students Ready For Holiday Break

Hello, Topper Nation! With it being one day until Christmas break, this week's article will be short and sweet. For those who answered the riddle from last week if you said Christmas lights, you … more

by Milla Anderson at Hillsboro High | 12/19/24

Lauryn Miller donated $400 raised from ticket sales and donations for her Taylor Swift tribute concerts to the Central Park Pool Project on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Pictured above, from the left, are Barb Hewitt with the Central Park Pool Project, Lauryn Miller and Nancy Slepicka with the Central Park Pool Project.

Miller Donates $400 To Pool Project

Lauryn Miller recently held Taylor Swift tribute concerts on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8, at The Grand Theatre in Hillsboro and donated the proceeds to the Central Park Pool Project. In … more

12/19/24

Pleasant Hill Church Plans Christmas Services

Everyone is warmly invited to attend Pleasant Hill Christian Church as they hold their 2024 Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Services. On Tuesday evening, Dec. 24, Pleasant Hill will celebrate the … more

12/19/24

Pictured above in the front row are Teresa Weger, Linda Curtin, Debbie Daniels, Marian Pierson, Cindy Cross-Parrott, Betty Stephens, Eric Kenney, Guest speaker, Scott Allen, Elma Logan, Barb Duncan, Sheryl Murray, Richard Saboda and Brenda Sexton. In the back row are Alan Weger, Dick Breckenridge, David Spinner, Becky Spinner, John Bucari and Greg Parrott. Not pictured is Joyce Shelton.

AFSCME Holds Annual Christmas Party

On Monday, December 9, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Sub-Chapter #87 Retirees members and retired seniors met at the Taylorville First United Methodist … more

by Joyce Shelton | 12/19/24

Raymond Board Holds Final 2024 Meeting

The most recent meeting of the Raymond Village Board was called to order at 7 p.m. on Monday evening, Dec. 16. Mayor Dennis Held was in attendance, as were Trustees Bruce Poggenpohl, Kendall Snyder … more

12/19/24

DRAGON BEAT • Cheerleaders Qualify for State Competition

Welcome to the last week of the 2024 Dragon Beat! Tomorrow, the end of the first semester, is a half-day filled with all sorts of fun for the Dragons. Student council has many holiday-themed … more

12/19/24

Pictured above, from the left, are Adrienne Simmons, LLCC Representative and LLCC-Litchfield Student Club members Rylie Jones, Charlotte Booth-Jones, Hannah Hawkins and Halley Werner-Long.

LLCC-Litchfield Holds Thanksgiving Drive

The LLCC-Litchfield Student Club sponsored a Thanksgiving food drive from Nov. 11 through Nov. 21 at the college, located at 1 Lincoln Land Drive in Litchfield. Club members collected more than 246 … more

12/19/24

Ten students at Litchfield High School were honored as Illinois State Scholars for the 2025-2026 year. Pictured above, from the left are Cassie Loveless, Olivia Reid, Jessie Zhang, Keaton Morgan, Kayden Bergman, Clayton Logsdon, Caitlyn Travis, Emma Bone, Ava Fetter and Claudia Deren.

Ten Panthers Named State Scholars

Litchfield High School Principal Hilary Wagenblast is pleased to announce that ten students from the Litchfield High School graduating class of 2025 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. … more

12/19/24

Santa To Be At Timber Creek December 21

Santa will be making an appearance at Timber Creek Village, located at 101 W. Sallee Ave in Litchfield, on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring their Christmas letters for … more

12/19/24

Pictured above, from the left in the back are Chris Sherer, Charlie Goad, Eric Simmons, Dustin Carlock, Adam Fath and Nathan Wolf. In the front are Ellie Lipe, Lucian Longwell, Danica Longwell, Tess Templeton, Heidi Templeton, Nora Carlock, Ava Fath, Rylee Fath, Gaige Hitson and Evelynn Franklin.

Beckemeyer Supports Firefighter Food Drive

Beckmeyer Elementary School students and their families helped to support the annual Christmas Basket food drive, hosted each year by the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department. During the month of … more

12/19/24

Pictured above are adult division winners. From the left are Abby O’ Malley, Jack Johnson and Kurt Hoehn.

Winners Named For Annual First Noelle 5K

Families, pets, community members and participants of all ages came together to remember the late Ayden O’Malley as part of the seventh annual First Noelle 5K, held in Nokomis on Saturday, Dec. … more

12/19/24

Short Meeting For Hillsboro Council

The last regular meeting for 2024 was one of the shorter ones for the Hillsboro City Council, even with a closed session involved, as the meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m. After the usual … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/19/24

There's Snow Place Like Snowkomis

Amidst less than ideal weather, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus still made their much celebrated annual visit to Nokomis on Saturday, Dec. 14 as part of this year's Snowkomis celebration. After leading … more

12/16/24

County CEO Students Plan Southern Showdown

Live music, a catered meal, and plenty of games for everyone are just the beginning of what the Montgomery County CEO students have in store for their class business project. “We wanted to … more

by Isaiah Atkins | 12/16/24

Hillsboro Firefighters Collect Food Tonight

Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department will sound the fire whistle at 6:30 p.m. on Monday night, Dec. 16, to mark the start of their annual door-to-door food pick-up. Residents that would like to … more

12/16/24

Pictured above, Montgomery County Farm Bureau President, Dennis Hand, at left, accepts a Certificate of Achievement of IAA District 14 Director, Ken Cripe, at right.

State Honors County Farm Bureau

Montgomery County Farm Bureau was recently recognized for outstanding programming during the 110th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB). At its annual meeting, IFB recognizes … more

12/16/24

County Teams Tip Off T. Party

The namesake of the T. Todt Shootout vs. Cancer would have been right at home at the Big House on West Main in Carlinville on Dec. 14, as the 16 teams, including all eight Montgomery County high … more

12/16/24

Stamp Out Cancer Plans 2025 Event

With an influx of new social media followers, Stamp Out Cancer organizers have announced the date and format of this year's event. The 14th annual Stamp Out Cancer event will be held Saturday, … more

12/16/24

McKay’s Makes $82,500 Donation To Make-A-Wish

McKay NAPA Auto Parts presented a check for $82,500 to Make-A-Wish Illinois as part of the company’s annual employee Christmas party. Funds are raised through assistance from The NAPA Network, … more

12/16/24