News | The Journal-News

Browns Awarded At Farm Bureau Meeting

The outstanding efforts of young Illinois farmers and leaders took center stage Sunday morning during the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Annual Meeting, held Dec. 7 to 10, in Chicago. Ethan and … more

12/12/24

LANCER LINES • Lancers Take Court In T. Todt Shootout

Happy Thursday, Lancers! I hope that we all had a wonderful time at the Homecoming on Saturday! Lancers have been quite busy this week, as they are preparing for our finals which are next week. … more

by Abilene Norris at Lincolnwood | 12/12/24

DRAGON BEAT • HJHS Holiday Spirit Week Coming Up

Welcome back to another week of the Dragon Beat! Next week kicks off the last week of the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year. To celebrate leaving for Christmas break, HJHS Student … more

by Audrey Billington at HJHS | 12/12/24

Pictured above, from the left, back row are Gerhard Netemeyer, Peyton Brewer and Sebastian Jeffries. In the middle row are Nathan Matoush, Emily Lanter, Brennan Harston and Andrea Huber. In the front are Addison Lowe, Reagan Lentz, Lauren Storm and Jadienlynn Summers.

HHS Students Named State Scholars

Patricia Heyen, principal at Hillsboro High School announced that 11 students from the Hillsboro High School’s graduating class of 2025 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. … more

12/12/24

Students Named As Sweet Spot Scholars

After a classroom lesson with Mrs. Jen Anderson on scholarship types, applications and what it takes to get a scholarship, 8th grade students at Hillsboro Junior High School worked in Mrs. … more

12/12/24

New Winter Weather Rule Now Under Effect

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is reminding consumers that Illinois’ winter weather rule will take effect from Dec. 1 to March 31. The winter weather rule prohibits utilities from … more

12/12/24

Orders for 2024 Grace license plates are due Dec. 31. The late Grace Herschelman, at left, is pictured above with St. Louis chef Rick Lewis. He owns the restaurant Grace Meat+Three, where this license plate is displayed on the wall.

Panther Student Council Will Offer Grace Plates

For the eighth year, members of the Litchfield High School Student Council are selling temporary license plates to raise money for an ongoing research study for INAD (infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy) … more

12/12/24

Pictured above are Lauryn Miller and Kenny Vallelonga, two of the performers in the 22nd annual Christmas Homecoming Concert on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church.

Homecoming Concert Takes Stage

Over 24 performers will be singing some favorite Christmas songs at this year’s Christmas Homecoming Concert. This will be the 22nd such concert put on at the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church to … more

12/12/24

Cast members, in front, from the left are Breeawna Reincke and Paxton Chesney. In the second row are Nova Raison, Marisa Shipman and Addie Dyas. In the third row are Randy Lueschke, Canaan Gorsage, Abigail Gorsage, Brenda Hamm, Patty Holshouser, Donald Sturgeon, Rachel Sturgeon, Mandy Myers, Barb Sands and Lisa Shipman. In the fourth row are C.J. Dyas, Janis Collins, Elijah Gorsage, Aly Leisure, Peyton Myers and Paulo Camargo. In back are Lee Fenton, Avery Maddaleno, Tati Camargo, Kathy Beckom, Brenda Goehlich, Chrissy Leisure, Patricia Oakley and Steph Dyas. Not present for the photo were Anthony Cushing, Shane Griffin, Tracy Churchwell and Macy Shipman.

Hillsboro Church Hosts Christmas Play

Members of the Hillsboro Free Methodist Church invite the community to attend their annual Christmas musical this holiday season. Church members will perform “The Christmas Post” on … more

12/12/24

Hillsboro Church Holds Variety Of Christmas Events

The Hillsboro Methodist Church will be hosting a variety of Christmas events throughout the month of December. On Sunday, Dec. 15, the church will host a Christmas cantata at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. … more

12/12/24

Pictured above are Hillsboro High School students who have achieved All-State in band and choir. In front, from the left, are Jaxon Wittenmeyer, Peyton Brewer, Aly Leisure, Kamdyn Putnam, Ryleigh Van Doren and Mitchell Cunningham. In the back, from the left, are Owen Earnest, Mark Mattson, Samuel Dilley, Jackson Cunningham and Joe Lanter. Not pictured is Lauren Storm.

Toppers Earn All-State Accolades

Hillsboro High School students will soon have the ability to participate in All-State at the Illinois Music Education Conference (IMEC), that will take place from Jan. 29 through Feb.1 in Peoria. Top … more

12/12/24

Ministerial Fellowship Kicks Off Tree Of Lights Campaign

The Greater Hillsboro Ministerial Fellowship is asking for donations that will help with financial assistance for those with emergency needs throughout the year. A special page in this edition … more

12/9/24

Illinois Extension Hosts Virtual Walking Club

Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Extension educators Susan Glassman and Lisa Peterson will be holding a virtual walk and talk throughout the early weeks of 2025. Each week, the virtual … more

12/9/24

St. Francis Hospital Plans Live Nativity On Thursday

HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield is inviting the community to view a live recreation of the night of Jesus’ birth at a drive-thru Nativity scene on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. … more

12/9/24

"For unto us a child is born." Volunteers helped to set up the stable and other set pieces on Saturday morning, Dec. 7, to get ready for this years' 38th annual Live Nativity at the Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro. This year's event will be held Dec. 19 through Dec. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each night.

Calvary Baptist To Host 38th Annual Live Nativity

Sicilian donkeys and other stable animals will be alongside Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men and angels at Calvary Baptist Church’s 38th annual Outdoor Living Nativity scene. The … more

12/9/24

Pictured above, from the left, The Grinch, Rudolph, Mrs. Claus, Santa, Danell Fogle, Parker Grosenheider and Caitlyn Travis stand by at the tree lighting held at The Briar Rose. See page 7A for more.

Litchfield Volunteers Deck The Halls

For the second year in a row, Litchfield Community Partners (LCP) is hosting Christmas festivities throughout the holiday season. As part of the festivities, The Briar Rose holds a Christmas tree … more

12/9/24

Litchfield Discusses Downtown Plans

Plans to reinvigorate downtown Litchfield continue as the Litchfield City Council approved four items pertaining to redevelopment of properties in the downtown area. In November 2023, the city … more

12/9/24

Pictured above, in front, from the left are Hannah Tarter, Lily Broers, Quincee Riebe, Brooklyn Marley, Maddison DeWerff, Lizzy Hill, Charley Herschelman, Grace King, Ilexia Doyen and Kennadie Johanssen. In back are Cloey Dirks, Camryn Engelman, Fallon Knodle, Natalie Brownback, Kyle, Mary, Alivia Sabol, Carsyn Bertolino, Mackenzie Mehochko, Kinley Stolte and Becca Hill.

Nokomis Volleyball Donates To INAD Research

As part of the Montgomery County Invitational Grace-Filled Tourney, the Nokomis High School volleyball team collected sponsorship donations in memory of Grace Herschelman. They presented a check to … more

12/9/24

Litchfield Hosts “Deck The City Halls” Contest

The City of Litchfield is holding a “Deck the City Halls” coloring contest for children through the age of 12. Coloring pages can be picked up at the Litchfield Water Department, located … more

12/9/24

Nokomis, County EMA Evacuate Senior Living

At 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, Nokomis Area Fire Protection District Chief Michael Smalley received word that a problem identified in the heating system at Nokomis Health Care and Senior Living … more

12/9/24