News | The Journal-News

Tarr Found Guilty Of Murder, Attempted Murder

After a day and a half of jury selection, two and a half days of testimony from 22 witnesses and impassioned opening and closing statements from the prosecution and defense, the trial of Robert J. … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/29/24

Artist Abbi McKinnie of Taylorville stands before the completed version of her biggest project yet, the mural that is now on display at Doyle Public Library in Raymond. McKinnie showed off the mural on Tuesday, April 23.

Taylorville Artist Finishes Mural In Raymond

Doyle Public Library in Raymond has a new mural on display thanks to the artistic talents of Abbi McKinnie of Taylorville. McKinnie, who is originally from Morrisonville, can often be found at the … more

4/29/24

Shop Hillsboro Event Returns This Saturday

Spring into Hillsboro with the first official Shop Hillsboro event of 2024 and the opening of the Imagine Hillsboro Farmers Market on Saturday, May 4. Imagine Hillsboro, The Journal-News and the City … more

4/29/24

The Montgomery County Drug Court team honored the program’s newest graduates on Friday afternoon, April 19. In front, from the left are Timothy Davidson, Mitchell Hancock, Thomas Light and Geoffrey Wagner. In back, from the left, are Wes Poggenpohl, Judge Chris Matoush, Brian Bach, Jill Wright, Cheryl Merano, Amber Mifflin and retired Judge Jim Roberts. Journal-News/Cayden Huber

Drug Court Celebrates Four New Graduates

Retired Judge Jim Roberts, who spent many years as part of the Montgomery County Drug Court Program welcomed graduates, participants, friends and family to the 2024 Drug Court graduation ceremony … more

4/29/24

Stinson, Jonas Crowned At Nokomis Spring Prom

Nokomis High School seniors Lucas Stinson and Reaghan Jonas were crowned 2024 NHS Prom King and Queen at this year’s “Evening in the Garden” dance on Saturday evening, April 27, at … more

4/29/24

Litchfield High School seniors Kirsten Gudausky and Cy Cress, pictured above, were crowned 2024 Litchfield High School Prom Queen and King at this year’s dance on Saturday evening, April 27, at the Kilton Fine Arts Center. See page 8A for a complete court photo.

Cy Cress, Kirsten Gudausky Reign At LHS Prom

Litchfield High School juniors and seniors enjoyed this year’s Prom festivities on Saturday evening, April 27, at the Kilton Fine Arts Center, located inside the Unit Office in Litchfield. This … more

4/29/24

Fire Departments Receive Small Equipment Grants

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) recently announced the recipients of the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $4 million was awarded to 165 fire departments/districts … more

4/29/24

Pictured above are IHSA umpire Louis Lang of Coffeen (left) and Greenville High School Athletic Director Joe Alstat prior to the Comets’ game at Busch Stadium on April 6.

Lang Umpires Comets Game At Busch Stadium

On April 6, Coffeen resident and IHSA umpire Louis Lang had the honor and privilege of umpiring a high school baseball game at Busch Stadium. Greenville High School Athletic Director Joe Alstat … more

4/29/24

Registration is open for the 2024 Montgomery County Pageant, with a deadline set for Wednesday, May 8. Pictured above are 2023 Little Miss Montgomery County Fair Karsyn Jones, 2023 Miss Montgomery County Fair Alexis Lessman and 2023 Junior Miss Montgomery County Fair Nataleigh Jackson.

Register Now For 2024 County Fair Pageant

Plans are underway for this year's 2024 Montgomery County Fair, which will be held Wednesday, June 19 through Sunday, July 23 at the fair grounds in Butler. The Montgomery County Pageant is currently … more

4/29/24

Hillsboro Health Welcomes New Chief Financial Officer

Hillsboro Health is excited to announce the appointment of Chief Financial Officer Alex Nazarian, MHA, MBA, CPA, to its administration team. With an expansive background in financial management and … more

4/29/24

Imagine Hillsboro Volunteers Spring Into Clean

Representatives of Imagine Hillsboro’s Volunteer Committee donated their time and muscles to Hillsboro Area Public Library during Hillsboro’s spring clean-up on Saturday morning, April … more

4/29/24

Art In The Park Extends Registration Deadline

The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce’s annual Art in the Park Festival will be returnning to Litchfield on Sunday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The theme of this year’s festival is … more

4/29/24

Pictured above, in front, from the left, are Litchfield City Council member Jake Fleming and Jason Plumer of First Baptist Church in Litchfield. In the middle row, from the left, are Lauren Plummer, executive director of Litchfield Chamber of Commerce and Meghan Bilyeu, owner of Fit-2-Go. In the back is Danell Fogle, owner of The Briar Rose.

Together Litchfield Can Surveys Businesses

Members of the Together Litchfield Can (TLC) Business Development committee walked around downtown Litchfield on Tuesday, April 23, with information about current facade programs and a survey asking … more

4/29/24

Eleven Litchfield students attended the Regional Science Olympiad competition on Saturday, March 2, in Belleville. Pictured above, from the left, are Lahna Kruse, Emma Wilson, Zach Leitschuh, Jackson Painter, Dominic Ellinger, Madi Mix, Camden Quarton, Cal Frerichs, Liam White, Conner Favre and Isaiah Burdell.

Litchfield Students Compete In Science Olympiad

Eleven students representing Litchfield High School attended the Science Olympiad Regional competition in Belleville on Saturday, March 2. That team consisted of Lahna Kruse, Emma Wilson, Zach … more

4/29/24

Tarr Murder Trial Begins At Montgomery County Courthouse

Two years, four months and 29 days after the death of Leslie Reeves and near death of Christopher Smith on Thanksgiving Day, 2021, in Farmersville, eight women and six men took their spot in the jury … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/25/24

Architect Sheds Light On LHS Gym

Jamie Cosgriff of Graham and Hyde Architects was on hand at the Panhandle School Board meeting on Monday, April 22, to discuss the possibility of renovating the current Lincolnwood High School Gym or … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/25/24

Pictured above, Mitchell Cunningham as Nick Bottom, at left, and Samuel Dilley as Nostradamus, are ready to produce a musical.

Something Rotten! Opens Tonight At HHS

There's Something Rotten! in the Hillsboro High School gym as this year's operetta performance opens tonight, Thursday, April 25, with the Hillsboro Rotary Club dinner theater. Additional … more

4/25/24

Nokomis Council Sets Temporary Housing Limit

The Nokomis City council met for its regular meeting on Monday, April 22, at City Hall. Commissioners approved an ordinance to limit the amount of time someone may live in temporary housing such as a … more

by Ben Schwarm | 4/25/24

Work Begins On Site Of Sinkhole

Excavators can be seen on the site of a large sinkhole on Wednesday afternoon, April 24, on the property of Arlen and Pat Kasten, located on Illinois 185 between Coffeen and Hillsboro. The highway … more

4/25/24

City Of Litchfield Awarded $650,000 State Grant

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the recipients for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Housing … more

4/25/24