The Journal-News

A rooster tail of dirt flies up from the rear tire of Jhak Walker’s bike as he takes a corner at the MXC Series race in Prophetstown on Sunday, Nov. 22. Walker would finish first in the Open B class at the hare scrambles in northwestern Illinois.

Jhak Wins, Jhadyn Makes Pro A Debut As Walkers Hit Midwest X Country Series Finale

A delay pushed back the Midwest X Country (MXC) Series finale to Sunday, Nov. 22, which meant that Jhadyn and Jhak Walker of Morrisonville were able to get one more ride in at the course in … more

11/30/20

Hunting season is in full swing in Illinois, including Montgomery County, where John Fenton took this monster buck in South Litchfield near Walshville on Friday, Nov. 13. Fenton’s buck, which weighed 241 pounds field dressed, was one of 814 deer that have been harvested in Montgomery County during archery season this year, which continues through Jan. 17. In the first weekend of shotgun season hunters harvested 540 deer in Montgomery County, up 20 from last year’s first weekend.

Early Deer Numbers Up In County

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 47,147 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season Nov. 20-22 compared with 50,173 deer taken during the first firearm … more

11/30/20

Travis Lentz of Walshville picked up another win on Sunday, Nov. 15, as he earned first in the 65cc class at the WFO Productions hare scramble in Keithsburg.

Motorcycle Racers Top Podium At Keithsburg

It was a cool and windy day at Sandy Oaks MX in Keithsburg as WFO Promotions closed out its 2020 hare scramble series on Nov. 15. More than 200 racers attended the event, including several from the … more

11/23/20

It was 1,600 miles worth of memories that will last forever for the Walker and Thomas race teams as they traveled to Turkey, TX for the NEPG Championship Series Caprock Canyon Nationals. From the left are Camden Thomas, Jhadyn Walker, Jhak Walker, Derek Thomas and Jeremy Walker.

Walkers Strike Gold In Texas Enduro Race

It was the ninth and final round of the AMA National Enduro Promotions Group (NEPG) Championship Series, and three members of the Walker family were there, despite a 1,650 mile round trip from … more

11/19/20

Jhorjie Walker of Morrisonville gets some help from big brother Jhadyn during the 50cc race at the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders Charity Hare Scramble on Sunday, Nov. 8, in White City. It would be a good day for the Walkers, with Jhorjie finishing seventh and Jhadyn finishing third in the A team race with teammate Skyler Harless. Jhenner (first in 50cc), Jhordyn (11th in 50cc) and Jhak (1st in B team with Gavin Minnaert) also raced on Sunday.

Hare Scrambles For The Holidays

With 128 entries and 192 riders on Sunday, Nov. 8, the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders Charity Hare Scramble didn’t just mean a lot of racers had a good time, it meant a lot of kids were going to … more

11/12/20

First Noelle 5K Keeps Ayden In Our Hearts

It’s the third year for the First Noelle 5K, an event held in memory of Ayden O’Malley, who continues to live on in the hearts of her family, friends and community. The annual 5K will … more

11/12/20

Derek Birkenkamp of Litchfield picked up 213 points in six rounds in the 30+ A class at the Fly Racing Showdown Series at Lincoln Trail Motorsports, giving him the top spot in the 45-rider division by 31 points over Jacob Godar of Springfield.

Sky's The Limit For Fly Series Racers

The series finale of the Fly Racing Showdown Series happened on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Lincoln Trail Motorsports, with several area riders hitting the track. Huntley Durbin of Hillsboro would finish … more

11/9/20

Local Racers Close Out 2020 At Tri-City, Fayette County

It was two nights in two towns in two cars, with two solid outcomes for the Lynch Motorsports team as they closed out the 2020 season. Nathan Lynch took the 14N for a spin at the B-Mod Bash on … more

11/9/20

I-70 Baseball Coaches Clinic Hosts All-Star Virtual Lineup

The I-70 Baseball Coaches Clinic at Greenville High School is going virtual this year, which is probably a good thing, because few venues in the world could contain the level of talent the speaker … more

11/9/20

These aren’t the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but they were pretty close on Nov. 1. No, the only thing this quartet is leaving in their wake is the competition as, from the left, Travis Lentz, Zach Duff, Chase Saathoff and Cooper Duff rode in the Canton Grand Prix, sponsored by the Canton Motorcycle Club last Sunday.

Quartet Put On Grand Show

A new month meant a new opportunity to race for four Hillsboro area riders on Sunday, Nov. 1, including one who was slightly out of his element. Hillsboro 15-year-old Chase Saathoff is a rising … more

11/5/20

Nathan Lynch and the 14N made the trip to Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA on Saturday, Oct. 31, for Shiverfest.

Lynch Races In Donnellson, But Not That Donnellson

Donnellson, IL isn’t much of a drive for the Lynch Motorsports team, but Donnellson, IA? That was a little more of a haul for Nathan Lynch and the 14N on Saturday, Oct. 31 as the crew headed to … more

11/5/20

Cousins Gideon Cruthis (left) and Case Cruthis (right) wrapped up their run in the Crossroads Racing Series on Saturday, Oct. 31, with a trip to Bloomfield, IN. Both boys would do well, with Case winning the Four Stroke class and Gideon finishing second in the Auto Inject class.

Nobody Missing At The Crossroads On October 31

It was time to wrap things up at the Crossroads Racing Series and the Lentz, Duff and Cruthis racing teams were there in full force on Oct. 31, for round eight of the series at Rapers Farm in … more

11/5/20

Williamson, 3X Scared Slideways

Jason Williamson and the 3X Hillsboro Hustler RC cars were at Slideways Raceway in Brownstown on Saturday, Oct. 31, for the track’s Scared Slideways 75 Halloween special. Williamson would … more

11/5/20

Jeremy Walker, along with sons, Jhak and Jhadyn, competed in the Gobbler Getter National in Stanton, AL, on Sunday, Nov. 1, round eight of the NEPG series. Both Jhak and Jhadyn finished second in their divisions and are in the top five in the series point standings.

Walkers Ride The Pines In Alabama

Red clay dirt, long leaf pines and 1,200 mile round trip awaited the Walker family this past weekend as the Morrisonville motorcyclists traveled to Stanton, AL, for the National Enduro Championship … more

11/5/20

With some help from family friends Brad Saxby (left) and Alex Joyce (right), AJ Sypherd havested his first deer with a bow and arrow, a doe, and his first buck with in five minutes of each other on Sunday, Nov. 1, on the Saxby’s land in Litchfield.

First Two Deer Worth The Wait For Sypherd

AJ Sypherd waited more than a year to harvest his first deer with a bow, but his second? That took decisively less time. Sypherd, a freshman at Litchfield High School and the son of Rose and the … more

11/5/20

With a family tree that reads like a Litchfield history book, Webster Grove's Maddie Buske is writing her own chapter with her performance on the mound for the Statesmen, who play for a state title in Springfield, MO on Oct. 30.

Buske A Star For Statesmen

High school softball is mainly a spring sport in Illinois, but in Missouri, players are wrapping up their seasons this Friday and Saturday with the championship games in classes one through five of … more

10/29/20

Morrisonville's Jhak Walker was one of the seven riders from the Journal-News coverage area to compete in the Grand National Cross Country Series race at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, IN, on Oct. 24-25. Walker had a great deal of success, running fifth in Super Mini and 13th overall in youth bike.

District 17 Racers Have Grand Ride

The Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series is anything but your typical weekend race. With 13 rounds traversing eight states, it’s not unusual to see as many as 2,400 riders hit the tracks … more

10/29/20

Area Racers Compete In Fly Racing Series

The Fly Racing Showdown Series held its 10th and 11th rounds of the season on Oct. 17 and 18, with several area riders competing at Lincoln Trail Motorsports Park in Casey. On Saturday, Oct. 17, … more

10/26/20

Former Lincolnwood teacher and athletic director Verne Pinkston received the Class 1A/2A Friends of Athletics Award from Division 6 of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association.

Lincolnwood’s Pinkston A Friend Of Athletics

A familiar face to Lincolnwood fans added another accolade to his trophy case this week as Verne Pinkston received the Class 1A/2A Friends of Athletics Award from Division 6 of the Illinois Athletic … more

10/26/20

Brian Hendricks of Hillsboro, pictured with his father, Brian, Sr., took first place with his 1965 Pontiac GTO in the JK Harbaugh Car Show and Parade, held Sunday, Oct. 18, at Victory Lane Ford in Litchfield. The show was held to benefit Jeff Harbaugh, who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in July of this year and has been undergoing treatment.

Community Shows And Shines For JK

The community showed up to support one of its own once again on Sunday, Oct. 18, as dozens turned out for the JK Harbaugh Car Show and Parade at Victory Lane Ford in Litchfield. Of the nearly 40 … more

10/22/20