County rejects big pay hike for officials
‘It’s a real slap in the face’ By David Porter Three elected officials in Douglas County are poised to receive a 5.99 percent salary increase annually for the next four years, but they didn’t seem happy about it. They had asked for a 26 percent bump to their $85,000 salaries. The issue was salary parity.…
Read MoreDonna Taylor
DONNA JEAN (PERKINS) TAYLOR, 86, of Mattoon, IL formerly of Oakland, IL and Arcola, IL passed away at 4:45 A.M. on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon, IL. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 15, 2026 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221, East Main Street in Arcola, IL. …
Read MoreJudy Maggio
Judith Ann Maggio (Stephenson), 86, of Tuscola passed away at 3:20 a.m. Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Carriage Crossing in Arcola, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, Tuscola, IL with a Celebration of Life Service immediately following the visitation.…
Read MoreMary Ellen Traxler
Mary Ellen Traxler, 73, of Arthur, died at 12:07 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Sullivan Healthcare and Senior Living in Sullivan. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur, with Pastor John Maples officiating. Burial will follow in the Arthur…
Read MoreAtwood-Hammond Grade School Scholastic Bowl Team Win Regionals
Atwood-Hammond Grade School Scholastic Bowl Team. Front row, left to right: Layne Tiffan, Callahan Schlabach, Lyndon Cowgill, Adlee Berry, Ceres Norton and Alexandria Stodden. Back row: Coach Mrs. Chrissy Patterson, Ethan Johnson and Iris Caldwell. By Doris Elmore Kudos are extended to the Atwood-Hammond Grade School Scholastic Bowl team for being Regional Champions at the…
Read MoreOver $2.5 million dollars in Piatt County goes unclaimed
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ staff will be at the Bement Public Library on Thursday, June 18, 2026 to help reunite citizens with missing money property through the I-Cash program. In Piatt County, an estimated 19,700 people and businesses have unclaimed cash or property held by the treasurer’s office. The value exceeds $2,500,000.00.…
Read MoreARTHUR QUILT SHOW
QUILT SHOW WINNERS. Taking home the Best of Show was Mary Traxler of Hammond with her “Applique Affair” quilt at the 35th Annual Arthur Quilt Show held April 30-May 2 at the Otto Center. The quilt is a pattern by Edyta Sitar and was quilted by Elaina Grathwohl from Mt. Pulaski. Traxler completed the applique…
Read MoreCERRO GORDO PROM
CERRO GORDO HIGH SCHOOL 2026 Junior-Senior Prom was held at Building 1225 in Sullivan on Saturday May 2. Pictured is newly crowned Prom Queen Gabby Meinders and Prom King Landon Calhoun. Additional members of the court included seniors Lauren Bogle, Hunter Malone, Maddie Gant, Cole Giberson, and Kaydon Waterhouse. Junior court members were Jessa Cross,…
Read MoreMacon County Fireworks Permit applications available at County Clerk’s office
Applications for Macon County Fireworks permits, for locations outside of incorporated areas of Macon County, are available in the Macon County Clerk’s Office at the Macon County Office Building 141 S. Main, Room 104, Decatur. All county fireworks permits must be approved by a local fire protection district chief for the location where the fireworks…
Read MoreWilliams, Butcher help ALAH hold off Arcola 4-2
Sitting down on the job??? No, actually Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond starting pitcher Marcus Otto just made a put out on a comebacker by Argenta-Oreana’s first batter in the Knights’ home game on Tuesday, April 28. Marcus pitched an outstanding game going five innings in the complete game, giving up no hits or walks and…
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