News | The Journal-News

William Furry's book, The Preacher's Tale, is available from Amazon.

An appreciative audience learned a lot about the Rev. Francis Springer, an early Lutheran pastor and educator in Hillsboro, during a program hosted by the Historical Society of Montgomery County on … more

by Nancy Slepicka | 10/13/26

EV Car Show Joins Harvest Market

New to this year’s Imagine Hillsboro Harvest Market in downtown Hillsboro was an EV car show, held around the Historic Courthouse on Saturday, Oct. 10. The show featured nearly ten cars and was … more

10/13/26

NPL Holding Event To Assist In Receiving Unclaimed Cash

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ staff will be at the Nokomis Public Library (NPL), located at 100 N. Spruce St., on Friday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help reunite citizens with … more

10/13/26

The Chalk of the Town contest at Imagine Hillsboro's Harvest Market had a dozen entries in this year's artistic competition, including a free sample square, where anyone was allowed to draw, color or sign their names freely. Pictured in the left of the photo is Nola Young, who would go on to win in the adult category.

Chalk Of The Town Brightens Up Downtown Hillsboro's Harvest Market

The annual Chalk of the Town artistic competition drew almost a dozen contestants at Imagine Hillsboro's Harvest Market on Saturday, Oct. 10. The competition lasted four hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. … more

10/13/26

Litchfield Receives Over $100,000 In FEMA Grants This Fall

During the last week of September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded more than $56.5 million in grant funding to fire departments, first responder organizations and other … more

10/13/26

Hillsboro Plans Annual Trick Or Treat Trail Event

Looking for some spooktacular good fun this Halloween season? Imagine Hillsboro and The Journal-News are teaming up to host the 14th annual Trick or Treat Trail on Friday afternoon, Oct. 30. … more

10/13/26

Celebrating 100 years of Route 66, the Litchfield community joined more than a dozen others as part of a festival in the last 100 miles of Route 66 on Saturday, Oct. 10. Spread throughout central Illinois, visitors could collect brightly colored trading cards at stops along the Mother Road. In Litchfield, classic cars could be seen around town, including at the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center, pictured above. The event also featured local vendors, a car show, Route 66 exhibits and more.

Visitors Get Their Kicks On Route 66

10/13/26

In the men’s division, Ridge Snoddy (middle) completed the Shake the Lakes 5K run with a time of 22 minutes and 38 seconds, taking home the gold medal. Kurt Hoehn (left) completed the race with a time of 24:28, taking second place, and Ian Starkweather (right) took third place with a time of 26:22.

Shake The Lakes Run Returns To Hillsboro

Imagine Hillsboro’s annual Shake the Lakes 5K and one-mile Fun Run/Walk returned to Hillsboro on Saturday, Oct. 10. With a crisp autumn temperature of 66 degrees and the sun still low in the … more

10/13/26

Magnus and Friends battled The Farm Crew in the fourth race of the fifth annual bed races on Saturday, Oct. 10, following the Harvest Market. Magnus and Friends would go on to defeat The Farm Crew, earning the first place prize of $100. The Farm Crew took second place, winning $75. Pictured above, pushing the bed on the left was The Farm Crew; from the left are Emma Dixon and Hannah Deming pushing the front of the bed with Cole Deming and Kurt Dixon pushing from the back and Jason Anderson as the bed rider. Pushing the bed on the right was Magnus and Friends; Sawyer Hindle and Tytin Wells steered the front of the bed with Magnus Wells and Gabriel Wells pushing the bed from the back and Mia Wells as the bed rider.

Toppers Tackle Two Teams At Annual Bed Races

While only three teams competed in the fifth annual Bed Races that took place in downtown Hillsboro on Saturday, Oct. 10, during the annual Harvest Market, the rivalries between the three teams was … more

by Cameron Streitmatter | 10/13/26

Retired Seniors Group Plans October Bake Sale

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) will be holding a bake sale on Friday, Oct. 23, in the lobby of Hillsboro Constitution Bank, located at 230 S. Main St., from 9 a.m. until sold out. … more

10/13/26

Operation ELF Applications Now Available In Litchfield

Applications for Operation ELF are now available at Hearts United, located at 110 N. Jackson St., and the Litchfield Public Library, located at 1205 S. State St., both in Litchfield. Applications are … more

10/13/26

Rural Development Grant Applications Open

Online applications for the Rural Development Grant Program are now available at www.ilfb.org/rdgrants. Online applications will be accepted from Thursday, Oct. 1 through Tuesday, Dec. 1. … more

10/13/26

County LEPC Members Meet This September

The Montgomery County Illinois Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) met on Friday, Sept. 4, at 10 a.m. in the Cloud Room at Hillsboro Health. Mandy Sebeschak called the meeting to order at 10:04 … more

10/13/26

Breast Cancer Awareness Bake Sale To Be Held At Tremont Ridge

Join the residents of Tremont Ridge Assisted Living in their annual bake sale in support of breast cancer awareness on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bake sale will feature a variety of … more

10/13/26

Litchfield Family Practice Center held a celebration for Laurie Fischer, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, as Fischer retires after 44 years with the organization. Pictured above are Laurie Fischer, at left and Dr. Dan Wujek.

Fischer Retires After 44 Year Career At Litchfield Practice

Laurie Fischer retired after 44 years with Litchfield Family Practice Center (LFPC) this fall, and a celebration was held on Wednesday, Sept. 30. “For more than four decades, Laurie has been a … more

10/13/26

LLCC Offering FAFSA Completion Event Oct. 28

Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) in Litchfield will host a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion event on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to assist students and parents filling out the … more

10/13/26

Red Rooster To Host Adoption Event Oct. 24

Montgomery County Animal Control is teaming up with Red Rooster for an adoption event on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the outdoor patio of Red Rooster, weather permitting. All … more

10/13/26

Irving Methodist Church To Host Halloween Party Oct. 30

The Irving Community Halloween Party will be held on Friday, Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the Irving Methodist Church located at 124 S. Spruce Street rather than the Century House this year due to … more

10/13/26

Elijah Jagosh, pictured with his parents, John Jagosh and Sierra Tolliver, excitedly holds out an apple for David Baker, pastor of Life Community Church, to slice. The candy apple stand was one of the many fall festivities the Hillsboro-based church provided as part of their Kids Zone activities. The Kids Zone was part of this year’s Imagine Hillsboro Harvest Market on Saturday, Oct. 10, in downtown Hillsboro.

Kids Zone Delights Youngsters At Harvest Market

10/13/26

Together Litchfield Can Plans November Meeting

Together Litchfield Can (TLC) will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m., at the Litchfield Library, located at 1205 S. State St. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting to … more

10/13/26