The Journal-News

Kevin Prickett takes aim at a clay target during the Litchfield Sportsman's Club's 100 bird trap derby on Sunday, Aug. 16. Prickett is the vice president of the club, which has more than 200 members from throughout the area.

Litchfield Sportsman's Club Keeps Area Shooters On Target

You can hear that you’re in the right place before you can ever see it. The muffled sounds of gunfire echoing from off in the trees, just off Old Litchfield Trail. For almost 100 years the … more

8/17/20

Off-road motorcycle racing is definitely a family affair for many local racers. Above is Jhenner Walker of Morrisonville, one of seven members of his family who race nearly every weekend all over the Midwest.

Local Racers See Great Outdoors On Two Wheels

For many, nothing beats a nice relaxing motorcycle ride in the summer. For others, that ride needs to wind through the rugged terrain of timbers and hills throughout the Midwest to make it … more

8/13/20

White City Hill Climb To Take Place Saturday

It’s time to climb, or almost, as the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders prepare for this year’s White City Hill Climb on Aug. 15. Gates open at noon, with sign up set for 3 to 5:30 p.m. and … more

8/13/20

Hemken Doubles Up At Tri-City, Charleston Races

The weekend couldn’t have been much better for Sorento racer Eldon Hemken as he picked up two victories in two nights. Hemken started fourth in his heat race at Tri-City Speedway on Friday, … more

8/13/20

Dustin Bryant, shown here at Havana's Central Illinois Dragway, took second place in the pro class at Beacon Dragway in Paducha, KY, on Aug. 8.

Both Bryants Make Final At Beacon Dragway

It was a long but worthwhile trip to Paducah, KY on Aug. 8, for Litchfield racers Phil and Dustin Bryant. The father and son made the 400-plus mile round trip to Beacon Dragway on Saturday and … more

8/13/20

Saathoff Snags Wins At Belleville

After a strong showing at the AMA Amateur Nationals that yielded two firsts and a pair of runner-up finishes for the three-day event, Chase Saathoff was back on the number six Husqvarna on Friday, … more

8/13/20

Litchfield quarter midget racer Bodee Everett picked up a win in the Christian County Quarter Midget Association points race on Sunday, Aug. 9.

Everett Picks Up Feature Win At Christian County

It was a productive weekend for the Everett Racing crew, even if their plans were changed by Mother Nature. Bristol and Bodee Everett were planing to race at the Metro St. Louis Quarter Midget … more

8/13/20

Five From County Race At Mighty Macon Speedway

Four Hillsboro racers were at the Mighty Macon Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 8, for the track’s regular racing series. In the Pro Late Model series, Brady Lynch was fast all night as he earned … more

8/13/20

Hearn Takes Top Four At Midwest Super Series Stop

The Hearn Motorsports family was in Byron on Aug. 8-9 for the Midwest Junior Super Series stop at the Byron Dragway. Timothy Hearn raced in the 10-to-12 year-old division on Saturday and made it … more

8/13/20

A handwritten note along the side of an 80-year-old photograph provided a glimpse of just how good the 1940 Brown Shoe Company Air Steppers were in their day. The photograph, credited to Cassens, ran on the pages of the Litchfield News-Herald after the Air Steppers finished second to the Caterpillar Diselettes in the 1940 state tournament. In front, from the left, are Emmilene Owens, Arlene “Lefty” DeMonbron, Virginia “Lefty” Odle, Agnes “Mike” Kreevich (of Mt. Olive), Ruth “Shorty” Carwile, Jackie Elam and Forbes (of Morrisonville). In the back are Ross Moehle, Terry Wand, Valerie Barbre (of Granite City), Liz Unser (of Morrisonville), Frank Wey, Marge Dunn, Oltman (of Mt. Olive), Mildred Scheffel and manager Joe Abell.

Brown Shoe Softball Team Was A Step Above The Rest

In 1940, the headlines on the front page revolved around the German bombings of Britain and President Franklin Roosevelt being elected for a third term. But further back in the pages of … more

8/6/20

The team of Josh and Ashley Billington and Lauren and Michael Fuller (pictured above) took first in the Roy L. Hertel Foundation for Better Communities Golf Tournament, held on Sunday, Aug. 2, at Indian Springs Golf Course. The foursome won the 24-team tournament on a scorecard playoff after tying the second place team of Nathan McDice, Doug Graham, Steve Poffinbarger and Wyatt Pence.

Weather Doesn’t Rain On Hertel Tourney Parade

Wet weather on Aug. 1 forced the first Roy L. Hertel Foundation For Better Communities golf tournament to be pushed back a day, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the teams who signed up to … more

8/6/20

Ex-Topper Wille Puts Trust In Coaches, Bound For Lyon

For two years, Ray Wille was a Highlander. Now, the Hillsboro High School grad will be a Scot. Wille, who played football for MacMurray College the last two … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 8/3/20

County Golfers Compete In Drysdale Tournament

Twelve young golfers from Montgomery County, plus two Morrisonville golfers who play for the Lincolnwood co-op team, participated in this year’s Drysdale Junior Golf Tournament in Springfield, … more

8/3/20

Fall Sports Back On The Schedule For IESA

The IESA Board of Directors once again held a special meeting to discuss the status of fall sports and all IESA activities for the 2020-21 school year. The meeting was convened as a result of the … more

8/3/20

Hemken Runs Sixth At Spoon River Speedway

It was far from an ideal weekend for racing for Sorento’s Eldon Hemken as rain cancelled his plans to go to Farmer City Raceway on July 31. Fortunately, the WHO2 driver would get some action in … more

8/3/20

Hillsboro racer Chase Saathoff took home two national championships and two runner-up finishes from the 2020 AMA Flat Track Grand Championships, held June 20 through June 25 in Plymouth, IN, and Ashland, OH.

Saathoff Scores Two National Titles

Wet weather threw a wrench into the plans of the 2020 AMA Flat Track Grand Championships, but Mother Nature couldn’t keep Hillsboro racer Chase Saathoff from claiming his place on the podium at … more

7/30/20

Jason Williamson’s 3X Hillsboro Hustler RC cars were in action at the Ford County Shootout in Gibson City on Saturday, July 25, going up against 150 other entries. While Williamson was in Gibson City, other members of his family were racing at Macon Speedway with the Lynch Motorsports crew.

Big County Crew Races At Macon

Montgomery County was well represented at Macon Speedway on Saturday, July 25, as six racers competed in four different classes at the sixth annual KerbyStrong 100. Hillsboro’s Brady Lynch … more

7/30/20

Hearn Second Once Again

For the second weekend in a row, Litchfield racer Timothy Hearn came away with a trophy and some prize money from the Central Illinois Dragway in Havana. Racing in the junior dragster class, … more

7/30/20

Eickhoff 11th At AJGA Championship In Dallas

Hillsboro grad and incoming University of Minnesota freshman Alex Eickhoff finished 11th overall in the American Junior Golf Association Under Armour/Jordan Spieth Championship on July 20-23, in … more

7/27/20

Kyle Cameron of Hillsboro poses with three of the four winners of the Dusty Cameron Memorial Battle Royale held July 18. From the left are previous winner Tyler Bodine, Cameron, previous winner Steven Bishop and this year’s winner, Kyle Fields. Not pictured is previous winner Truk Thompson.

Wrestling Event Honors Cameron

Kyle Fields was the winner of the fourth annual Dusty Cameron Battle Royale at this year’s Wrestling for a Cure event, held July 18, at the 8th Street Gym in Springfield, to raise money for St. … more

7/23/20