News | The Journal-News

Litchfield To Host Back To School Bash Saturday

Litchfield is hosting their “Back to School Bash” on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Litchfield Community Center located at 1100 South State Street. The event is being … more

7/25/24

Pictured above, from the left are Dick Breckenridge, John Rauschke, Gwen and Ricky Reed, Eric Kenney, Yvonne Stuchell and Richard Sleboda.

AFSMCE Members Receive Quilts Of Valor For Service

by Joyce Shelton On Monday, July 8, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Sub-Chapter #87 retirees, members and retired seniors met at the Taylorville First … more

7/25/24

Lance Irving, of the Sand County Foundation, gives a 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award Finalist award to Richard Lyons, of Montgomery County, Sunday night July 14. The top 3 finalists for the award were honored during the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts

Lyons A Finalist For Conservation Award

Three Central Illinois farm families were honored for their conservation agriculture efforts as the Sand County Foundation took advantage of a gathering of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and … more

7/25/24

Nokomis Youth Invited To Hollywood Star Dance

The Nokomis High School cheerleaders are excited to host the ‘Back to School Hollywood Star Dance,’ on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Nokomis. All … more

7/25/24

Free Methodist Church Hosts Summer VBS Program

The Hillsboro Free Methodist Church hosted its annual Vacation Bible School program, nightly July 22 through July 26. This year’s theme was The Great Jungle Journey, where kids set off on an … more

7/25/24

Litchfield Chamber Hosts Pageants This Saturday

The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for this year’s pageant, which will be held on Saturday, July 27, beginning at 7 p.m. in Simmons Gym at Litchfield High School. Admission is $5 … more

7/25/24

Blank As Guest Speaker At July Lunch And Learn

This month’s Lunch and Learn educational session hosted by the Litchfield Chamber will feature guest speaker John Blank with Shelter Insurance-John Blank Agency. The session will take place at … more

7/25/24

Brave first responders from all over the county and beyond battled a giant flame at the Envotech Landfill in Litchfield on Friday evening, July 19.

Fire Departments Snuff Out Landfill Fire

The Litchfield Fire Department was dispatched by Montgomery County 911 at 9:59 p.m. on Friday, July 19, to an outside fire at the Envotech Landfill in Litchfield. Upon arrival, On-Duty Captain Mike … more

7/22/24

Construction Continues On New Hillsboro High School

Although school doesn’t start for faculty and students for nearly a month, construction crews have been hard at work all summer on the new high school facility. Pictured above, work continues … more

7/22/24

Litchfield Police Officer Eric Lamb (right) received the American Police Hall Merit Award for Excellent Arrest from Chief Kenny Ryker on Thursday, July 18, in recognition of an arrest of a habitual burglar and Lamb’s continued efforts to reduce property crime in the city.

Litchfield Police Officers Honored By American Police Hall Of Fame

Two police officers were honored during the Litchfield City Council meeting on Thursday, July 18, with Merit Awards for Excellent Arrest by the American Police Hall of Fame, an award issued to law … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 7/22/24

While Korte Company started in Highland, one of their first construction jobs was just south of Donnellson, building a shed for the late Ernie and Ruth Trobaugh. Pictured above, in the front are brothers Dave, Ralph and Larry Korte. In the back are Charles and Ann Leonard, farm owner Hal Langham, Cheri and Brad Ozee and Gary Korte.

Korte’s Success Rooted In 65 Year Old Shed

There’s an old saying that for want of a nail, a shoe was lost. Over the past 65 years, Highland native Ralph Korte has wanted nails, and despite the old nursery rhyme, he hasn’t lost … more

by Isaiah Atkins | 7/22/24

Nokomis Schools Continue Summer Project Schedule

Vice President Steve Janssen, standing in for the absent Chad Ruppert, called the Nokomis CUSD 22 School Board to order at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16. In addition to Janssen, Superintendent … more

by Randy Rieke | 7/22/24

Hedderman Hired As Coffeen Police Officer

A new part-time police officer was hired by the City of Coffeen when the Coffeen City Council met on Monday evening, July 15. Pictured above, Coffeen Mayor Robert Wessell swears in Harley Hedderman, … more

7/22/24

Local 4-H members were honored on Tuesday evening, June 25, at the University of Illinois Extension office in Hillsboro for their general show projects. Pictured above are some of the Best of Show award winners. In front, from the left are Anna Mulch, Caleb Mulch, Jase Cooper, Abigail Monk and Emily Monk. In back are Travis Broers, Landon Hilgendorf, Kohen Stolte, Amanda Niemann, Bond Knodle and Lauryn Miller.

County 4-H Members Continue To Make The Best Better

The motto of the 4-H program is to “make the best better,” and Montgomery County 4-H members had a chance to showcase their hard work and dedication during this year’s shows in … more

7/22/24

Hillsboro Health To Host Community Blood Drive

Hillsboro Health (formerly Hillsboro Area Hospital) will host a community blood drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 10 a.m. to 3 … more

7/22/24

Jeanette Ackerman, Hearts United administrator, and Evelyn Schuette, president of the Hearts United Board, stand by the new lockers for homeless people in front of the Hearts United Building.

Hearts United Opens New Lockers For Homeless

Hearts United, located in Litchfield, has just opened their new lockers for the Homeless. Administrator Jeanette Ackerman has been one of the leading forces for the project, as well as the rest of … more

7/22/24

Five Compete For Old Settlers Queen Title

Five beautiful young ladies from the community are competing for this year’s title of Old Settlers Queen. The candidates have been hard at work this summer selling raffle tickets, which helps … more

7/22/24

Natural Resource Committee To Apply For Grant

Hillsboro’s Natural Resources Committee, a group which makes recommendations to the Hillsboro City Council regarding the parks and lakes, held their every-other-month meeting Wednesday evening, … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 7/22/24

The Witt Fire Department was dispatched to a large residential fire on Friday, July 19, around 2 p.m. Mutual aid was sent from across the county to help battle the blaze.

Witt Fire Department Battles Large Blaze

At 2:09 p.m. on Friday, July 19, the Witt Fire Department (WFD) was dispatched to a residential structure fire with reported flames showing. Automatic mutual aid was also dispatched shortly after … more

7/22/24

Hillsboro Local Jason Hayes Retires From Navy

Jason Hayes, son of Ken and Maureen Hayes, retired from the Navy after 21 years of service on July 12, 2024. Jason is the second oldest of two other brothers, Robby and Bryan. He grew up in the … more

7/22/24