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Students Start Sliding Into Summer

With less than a week left of school, Beckemeyer Elementary School students started the summer celebration a little early with an Inflatables Day on Wednesday, May 15. It was originally scheduled for …

Animal Control, ARPA Funding On County Agenda

There was lots on the agenda as members of the Montgomery County Board met for two hours on Tuesday evening, May 21. All board members were present for the regular monthly meeting at the Historic …

Nokomis To Receive Nearly $10 Million In Funding

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim announced the investment of nearly $205 million through water infrastructure loans to local governments and water …

Property Tax Bills Will Go Out In May

Montgomery County Treasurer Nikki Lohman’s office will mail the 2023 real estate tax bills on or before Friday, May 24. The first installment of property taxes will be due on Friday, July 12, …
Journal-News Sports

Record Year Continues For Litchfield Track

The Litchfield Middle School track program is no stranger to success at the state level, but even with their lofty standards, the 2024 campaign will be one that stands out. The Panthers, who …

Toppers Go Off Against Cavies

by Ron Deabenderfer It’s a neat event to witness when a team comes together, when an athletic group that had struggled for the past two seasons finally has a we-did-it-right moment. That …

Dragons Send 18 To State Meet

Eighteen Hillsboro Junior High athletes qualified for 14 events at the IESA Class 3A State Track Meet, which will be held at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria on May 17-18. The Dragons, who are …
Obituaries
Linda Plegge, 75 Linda Plegge, 75, died at 8:53 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Alton Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were held at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto on Saturday, May 4. Pastor Kale Hanson and …
Judith D. Windhorst, 73 Judith ‘Judy’ D. Windhorst, 73, of Mount Vernon, died at 1:12 p.m. on Monday, May 13, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon. Visitation will be held Friday, May 17, from 9 …
Wanda L. Baker, 94 Wanda Lee Baker, 94, of Litchfield, died on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 11:54 p.m., at Litchfield Health & Rehab Center in Litchfield. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, May …
Madeleine P. Dammann, 88 Madeleine Plott Dammann, 88, of Waynesville, NC died peacefully in her sleep at Spicewood Cottages in Clyde, NC, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 17, …
Cloyde ‘C.O.’ Snider, 83 Cloyde ‘C.O.’ Snider, 83, of Donnellson, died on Monday, May 13, 2024, at his home. A private family service will be held at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded. Mr. Snider …
Local News
From The Opinion Page

RAMBLINGS • Wisdom Brings Self-Forgiveness

I began this Tuesday morning, April 2; the first draft seemed cluttered, so this one is a rewrite. That’s rare for me; for almost all of my writing life, I’ve been a write it and turn it …

GRANDMA'S DIARIES • Lots Of April Showers In Spring 1957

April, 1957 lives up to the adage, "April showers bring May flowers." As you can see from Grandma's weather notes, hardly a day goes by during the month when there is no rain. Snow also falls during …
Letters To The Editor
LETTER TO THE EDITOR • An Apology From PawsCare

Dear Editor, Paws Care would like to apologize to anyone impacted by our decision to temporarily suspend the Spay/Neuter Voucher program including vouchers issued but not yet used. …

Letter To The Editor

Dear Editor, My brother and I are responsible for taking care of farmland in Audubon and Rountree townships. The Audubon farm has been in the Graden family for 170 years and the Rountree farm has …