News | The Journal-News

Saddle Gun, the only coardboard boat with a four-person crew, narrowly edged Boo Boo Boat in the closest finish in the Imagine Hillsboro Cardboard Boat Regatta Saturday, July 15, at Old Lake Hillsboro. Boo Boo Boat later got its revenge and went on to finish second in the event.

Two young ladies from Edwardsville, Lili Cruzin and Sophie Jacoby, paddled the fastest in a boat that lasted the longest to win the Imagine Hillsboro Cardboard Boat Regatta on Saturday, July 15, at … more

7/17/23

Nearly 90 tractors were on display this weekend for the annual Old Tyme Tractor Show, which returned to Lake Hillsboro Park July 15-16. The two-day event featured a variety of tractor and lawn and garden tractor games, a kids pedal tractor pull, kids’ pedal races, tractor train rides, food trucks and more. Pictured above, David and Maynard Hartke of Litchfield check out some of the Farmall tractors on display on Saturday afternoon.

At The Olde Tyme Tractor Show It's All Fun And Games

The Olde Tyme Tractor Show returned to Lake Hillsboro Park on July 15 and 16 for the 25th edition of the tribute to farm machinery of the past. This year, the Mid-State Tractor Collectors Club … more

7/17/23

Old Friends Will Lead Big Parade Together

Longtime friends Harold Green and Kenny Williams will co-lead the 2023 Old Settlers Days parade, a special honor during the City of Hillsboro’s bicentennial year. Green and Williams … more

by Tori O’Dell | 7/17/23

Soil And Water District Plans Meeting On Hillsboro Lakes

The City of Hillsboro, in partnership with the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District, has scheduled an informational meeting and tour regarding issues facing Lake Glenn Shoals and … more

7/17/23

Retired US Army Col. John S. Raschke will be in Hillsboro to discuss his memoir in July.

Memoir On Vietnam War Topic At Hillsboro Library

Author John S. Raschke, a retired US Army Colonel, will hold a meet-and-greet at Hillsboro Area Public Library at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, to discuss his recent book. A Tour in Chuong … more

7/17/23

Ruth McCario speaks to the crowd about the Celebrate Recovery program, sharing scriptures and information about the program. McCario and many others in attendance wore shirts that read “Hell lost another one” on the front and “I Am Free” on the back.

Celebrate Recovery Shares Two-Year Anniversary

For the past two years, the Celebrate Recovery program has been a place for people to find resources and relationships to recover from life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups. Celebrate Recovery … more

7/17/23

Litchfield Fire Department Captain Scott Haenel (left) was honored by his fellow firefighters with mementos of his 26 years of service to the department, first as a volunteer, then as a full-time firefighter starting in 2005. Pictured with Haenel is Litchfield firefighter Chris Bates.

Haenel Recognized By Firefighters

The members of the Litchfield Fire Department took time to honor the contributions of one of their own recently as they recognized the service of Captain Scott Haenel. A former high school … more

7/17/23

Above, the Rochester Junior High baseball team and Principal Kim Poole accept their AED machine from Prairie Heart Institute, the Prairie Heart Foundation and the McGraw family.

McGraw Family Donates AED Program To Rochester

The McGraw family (including Mike and Juliana McGraw, Jenna and Rich Beyers, Christa McGraw and Dona McGraw of Litchfield) has partnered with Prairie Heart Institute and the Prairie Heart Foundation … more

7/17/23

Main Street Closed Overnight Saturday

Main Street in downtown Hillsboro will be closed from Tilson Street north to Courthouse Square overnight Saturday for re-striping of parking spots and crosswalks, according to Mayor Don Downs. … more

7/13/23

“There’s a lot going on up on the hill” occupied by the Hillsboro High School campus. Current work over the summer includes moving utilities in preparation of construction of a building that will replace the old main building on campus (above). A new roadway to the bus parking lot–behind the ag building–is also under construction.

Hillsboro School Board Hears Summer Work Update

"There's a lot going on up on the hill," Hillsboro School District maintenance director Fred Butler told members of the school board at their meeting on Tuesday, July 11. Regarding the construction … more

By Mike Plunkett | 7/13/23

Employee Salaries On Agenda For County Board

Salaries dominated much of the discussion at the regular monthly meeting of the Montgomery County Board on Tuesday evening, July 11, at the Historic Courthouse in downtown Hillsboro. All board … more

By Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 7/13/23

Short Agenda For Nokomis

The Nokomis City Council breezed through a light agenda at its Monday, May 10, meeting. With few items on the agenda, and nothing controversial, the regular session lasted only 25 minutes. An … more

By Ben Schwarm | 7/13/23

Old Tyme Tractor Show To Raffle Bike

Hillsboro’s 25th annual Old Tyme Tractor Show is on Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, out at Lake Hillsboro Park in Hillsboro. Saturday’s activities begin at 11 a.m. with the … more

7/13/23

Historical Society Hosts Lincoln Speaker

The Historical Society of Montgomery County will be hosting historian Kevin Kaegey, of the Bond County Historical Society in Greenville. The event will take place on Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. at the … more

7/13/23

708 Board Names Members To New Wellness Committee

The 708 Board met on Monday, July 10, and was presented a list of names that have agreed to serve on the newly formed “Community Wellness Committee.” The 708 Board voted to appoint them … more

7/13/23

Advance Carnival Tickets On Sale For Old Settlers

With less than a month to go until this year’s Old Settlers celebration, advance carnival tickets are now available at three area locations. Early ticket sales are now ready at CNB Bank and … more

7/13/23

Kent “Skip” Klinefelter, owner and CEO of Linco-Precision, (in front, center) welcomes farmers and retailers from throughout the region to the company’s Summer Field Day. Attendees had the opportunity to see newly launched agriculture technology in action and talk to sales representatives during the educational event.

Linco-Precision Showcases Ag Tech

Kent “Skip” Klinefelter, owner and CEO of Linco-Precision, an agriculture technology solutions group with more than three decades of experience supplying and servicing precision farming … more

by Tori O’Dell | 7/10/23

Crowned at the Nokomis Homecoming on Friday, July 7, these four smiling faces will represent the city for the next year. From the left are 2023 Junior Miss Mila Heldebrandt, 2023 Miss Nokomis Audrey Sabol, 2023 Little Miss Autumn Kitchens, and 2023 Little Mister Keagan Scoles.

Sabol, Heldebrandt, Kitchens And Scoles Crowned

Audrey Sabol was crown 2023 Miss Nokomis Homecoming, Mila Heldebrandt was crowned Junior Miss, Autumn Kitchens was crowned Little Miss, and Keagan Scoles was crowned Little Mister at the Nokomis … more

7/10/23

It looked like Christmas in July as Santa’s helper Donald Baxter greeted children of all ages in this year’s Nokomis Homecoming parade on Saturday evening, July 8 through downtown Nokomis. The theme of this year’s parade was “Road Trip,” and Santa’s entry as a “World Traveler” earned him second place in the Local Adult division.

Nokomis Parade Brings Road Trip To Homecoming

“Road Trip” was the theme of this year’s Nokomis Homecoming parade that took center stage on Saturday evening, July 8. The parade stepped off at Fred B. Johnson Park through … more

7/10/23

Coffeen Alumni Share Memories At Reunion

There were 30 members and six guests in attendance for the 104th annual Coffeen Alumni Association meeting, which was held at the East Fork Community building in Coffeen on Saturday, May 27. … more

7/10/23