News | The Journal-News

Help Celebrate Litchfield Museum’s Tenth Birthday

Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center is inviting the public to help them mark their 10th anniversary with a celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. The festivities will … more

5/30/23

Nearly 90 pickleball players from three states joined the fun in Hillsboro for the Central Park Slam Pickleball Tournament Sept. 8-10.

Pickleball Tourney Draws Nearly 90

The MoCo Pickleball Club hosted the Central Park Slam Pickleball Tournament Sept. 8-10, drawing 88 players from three states. All players received a MoCo Pickleball cooling towel, paddle over … more

9/14/23

Lake Drawdown Begins This Month In Hillsboro

Parks and Public Properties Commissioner Fred Butler advised those who have docks on the shores of the old city lake in Hillsboro that the water level there will drop significantly in the near future … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/21/23

Litchfield Board Continues Search For Next Super

Members of the Litchfield School Board met on Thursday evening, Nov. 30, with representatives of the Illinois Association of School Boards as they continue their search for a new superintendent. … more

12/4/23

Litchfield Woman Wins $250,000 Lottery Ticket

Litchfield’s Lisa Tyrrell has always been optimistic and considers herself a dreamer. After winning $250,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket, her dreams can become a reality. “I scratched … more

2/29/24

Flannery Termination Tabled Until Next Litchfield Meeting

After meeting in closed session for an hour and 22 minutes on Thursday, April 4, the members of the Litchfield City Council determined that more time was needed to act on the … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/8/24

Members of Boy Scout Troop 89 of Litchfield posted the colors at the start of Litchfield’s Memorial Day service, which was held on Monday morning, May 29, at Litchfield Veterans Memorial Garden in downtown Litchfield.

Litchfield Remembers The Fallen

A large turnout attended the Litchfield Memorial Day service held at the Veterans Memorial Garden in Library Park Monday morning. Roy Schieferdecker, commander of American Legion Kniery-Knagg … more

5/30/23

Hillsboro Zoning Board Approves Haven Of Hope

For the first time in a long time (perhaps ever), a decision by the Hillsboro Zoning Board of Appeals was met with enthusiastic applause Monday evening, Sept. 11. Members present (Chairman Gene … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/14/23

New Exhibit Opens At Montgomery County Museum

The Montgomery County Museum has now officially opened its second exhibit of the year featuring “Main Street Merchants of Montgomery County.” The exhibit was officially unveiled as part … more

12/4/23

Litchfield Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the late hours of Sunday, Feb. 25. The fire was believed to be electrical in nature at this time.

Litchfield Trailer Home Catches Fire On Sunday

The Litchfield Fire Department was dispatched for the report of a residential structure fire in the 800 block of S. Franklin St. The call was received on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 11:57 p.m. Montgomery … more

2/29/24

The confetti flew as Team Um-Believable was crowned champions at the 13th Stamp Out Cancer event, held Saturday, April 6, at The Event Center of Montgomery County in Taylor Springs. Pictured above, Zach Wygal of Stamp Out Cancer, at right, presents the trophy to Denny and Tina Umberger of Nokomis for raising over $63,000 for the Montgomery County Cancer Association. This year’s four fundraising teams raised over $136,000 for the MCCA, bringing the Stamp Out Cancer total to over $1 million donated since its inception.

Simply Um-Believable

“$1 million. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” said Zach Wygal of Stamp Out Cancer. “Going into this Stamp Out Cancer season, we knew it was a possibility. At the … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 4/8/24

To conclude the ceremony, members of the Waples-Bauer American Legion Post #94 offered a 21-gun salute to fallen soldiers, as part of the Nokomis community Memorial Day service on Monday morning, May 29, at Memorial Park.

Nokomis Remembers Fallen Soldiers

“We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 5/30/23

Montgomery County State’s Attorney Andrew Affrunti, at right, introduced new assistant state’s attorney Clark Johnson, at left, during the board meeting on Tuesday evening, Aug. 8. Johnson is originally from the Farmersville area.

Short Agenda For Montgomery County Board Meeting In August

It was a short night for members of the Montgomery County Board, who met in open session for just 59 minutes at their regular August meeting on Tuesday evening, Aug. 8, at the Historic Courthouse in … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 8/10/23

Hillsboro School Board Approves Budget For School Year

Members of the Hillsboro School Board approved a $29.4 million budget for fiscal year 2024 during their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the unit office. The action came after a budget hearing that … more

by Mike Plunkett | 9/14/23

McCann Fires Attorneys At Trial’s Scheduled Start

Monday, Nov. 27, was supposed to have been the first day in the weeklong federal corruption trial of former Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, who allegedly misused more than $200,000 in campaign … more

by Hannah Meisel Capitol News Illinois | 12/4/23

Steve Schmidt of Love Packages in Butler is dwarfed by just one of several stacks of shrink-wrapped skids ready for shipping.

A Simple Message, ‘Waste Not’ Inspires Global Ministry

In March, eleven 20-foot containers loaded to the gills left Love Packages in Butler. The cargo: boxes of Christian literature in English. From Butler the containers went to the rail yard in St … more

by Nancy Slepicka | 4/8/24

Eric Kohnen of Poettker Construction led a tour of the Litchfield Early Childhood Center prior to the regular monthly board meeting of the Litchfield School Board on Tuesday evening, April 16. The facility, which was formerly JD Colt Elementary School, will be open this fall for pre-kindergarten through first grade students. Journal-News/Mary Herschelman

Litchfield Board Tours Early Childhood Center

"It's really getting there," said Litchfield Superintendent Dr. Greggory Fuerstenau. He and Eric Kohnen of Poettker Construction led a tour of the Litchfield Early Childhood Education Center prior to … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 4/18/24

Frank Newberry carried the American Flag to lead the march from Irving United Methodist Church to the Irving Cemetery, a job he has performed for over fifty years.

Irving Celebrates Memorial Day

“Freedom, is certainly not free, Freedom is like a garden plot; it must constantly be weeded and nurtured”, said Linda Denton, speaker at this year’s Irving Memorial March held … more

5/30/23

These smiling faces won first, second or third place ribbons in this year’s Old Settlers pigtail, ponytail and braid competition. It was held Sunday, Aug. 6, as part of the Country Fair at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Lots Of Smiles In Old Settlers Ponytail Contest

Whether it was a ponytail, pigtails or a braid, there were lots of smiles and lots of ribbons in this year’s Old Settlers competition, held Sunday, Aug. 6, as part of the Country Fair at St. … more

8/10/23

Animal Control, Budget Deficit On County Agenda

Animal control facility policies, a budget deficit and special use funds were the topic of discussion at the regular monthly board meeting for members of the … more

by Mary (Galer) Herschelman | 9/14/23