Harvest House, a local non-profit organization, recently found a new way to fight food insecurity in Paris and Edgar County: a blessing box. The box, an accessible container filled with food and …
Jim Mathis, a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club, who passed earlier this year, received recognition at a recent meeting.
Dennis Thiel recalled how Mathis served as secretary for the Kiwanis …
Salvation Army bell ringers carry on a timeless tradition in Edgar County by ringing bells and raising funds for their neighbors.
During the Nov. 13 city council meeting members of the city board approved $12,000 in TIFF funding for the Paris Carnegie Library, according to library director Ceili Boylan the timing of the extra …
Crestwood Elementary School students and staff can enter the Christmas season knowing they made the nice list, at least according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Recently released ISBE …
Bee Well of Edgar County has been offering the community a preview of the holiday season on the eve of Thanksgiving for several years now. Known as “Dashing Through the Lights”, the …
Paris High School is buzzing with excitement as it prepares for its upcoming drama production of “Puffs,” a whimsical and spellbinding journey into the world of wizardry.
Set to …
The Crestwood cafeteria filled with excitement during an after-school program as Kelsey Aikman, of the Aikman Wildlife Adventure, brought the outdoors inside with five different animals.
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A road improvement east of Paris roughly 13 years in the making is approved and slated for 2024. After the north side of the intersection of Vermilion Road (2000 E) and US-150 received some updates …
A $375,000 property tax levy was the center of attention during a truth in taxation hearing and subsequent Edgar County board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The levy, which is not to exceed $0.20 per …
Paris Elks Lodge #812 held its annual night of giving Tuesday, Nov. 21, giving more than $14,000 to various community organizations.
Among the recipients are Altrusa, Edgar County Animal …
The Paris American Legion Post 211 hosted a memorial program the morning of Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, at the War Memorial on the Edgar County Courthouse Square.
Legion commander, Paul …
Attorney for the City of Paris, Richard Kash, opened the Monday, Nov. 13 city council meeting with a prayer of thanks for the men and women who serve the needs of the community.
“Today we …
BROCTON – The Brocton Village Board meeting Wednesday, Nov. 8., was filled with conflicting opinions once again as community members struggled to make decisions about the future of a beloved …
CHRISMAN - The Chrisman Area Community Club (CAC) is celebrating local businesses and offering the community a chance to win an array of prizes on Saturday, Nov. 25.
“The club is an …
Christmas in Paris gives locals a reason to stay “gnome for the holidays”
The Edgar County Courthouse Square is preparing to transform for an annual event that brings families and friends together to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas in Paris (CIP).
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COVID-19 is rearing its ugly head once again in Edgar County. While the virus’ grip on society has loosened since the pandemic, it is still a threat, especially considering recent findings from …
The Edgar County Board’s building and grounds committee met with multiple design and construction representatives on Nov. 7 to discuss the most recent changes to plans for a new jail.
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A comprehensive vision for the future of Paris is a work in progress following a Tuesday, Nov. 7 meeting of stakeholders at Paris City Hall.
While it is the third meeting of the core group, …
There is no living person who remembers the Paris Rotary Club’s charter on Oct. 30, 1922, but one member can recall several happenings in the Paris Rotary Club over the past seven decades, Dr. …
Wineology mixes interest, education and enjoyment
A longtime dream is coming true for Paris resident and oenophile Jeni Lueken, with her new business, Wineology.
With her travels across the U.S. and many countries, she realized just how vastly …
Amidst a slew of spooky Halloween happenings throughout Edgar County, Paris’ Hampton Inn found a fun, festive way to celebrate the season and give back to local charities – an employee …
Chicago – In advance of Veterans Day, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is encouraging veterans, service members and their families to participate in a free military rights webinar to …
The Carolyn Wenz Elementary School cafeteria was filled with elected officials, law enforcement, mental health specialists and concerned citizens during a Neighborhood Watch meeting Thursday evening, …
Meaningful programs and ceremonies are planned for Veterans Day to commemorate the service of all U.S. veterans. Paris and surrounding Edgar County towns have planned special events for this …
I Heart Cookies, a cookie trailer based in Wichita, Kan., loves traveling the country looking for small towns to swoop into and set up their trailer to sell the decadent desserts.
Today the …
Emotions were high in the courtroom when Preston Wallace appeared for sentencing.
The Tuesday, Oct. 31, sentencing followed his previous guilty plea to a Class 3 felony involuntary manslaughter …
MARSHALL- A group of neighbors is lighting up their trees with glowing pumpkins to bring joy to local children, but the communal decorating effort is bringing smiles to the faces of just as many …
Michael Warner is a senior member of the Paris Fire Department, having joined the department Nov. 18, 2001.
He is in the senior man on the C-2 shift and is in charge if the captain is gone.
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Discover Downstate Illinois challenged Midwest natives to find the best locally-owned coffee shop. In a post on Sept. 21, the tourism bureau asked followers to share the names of their favorite small …
Ray Sollars has responded to countless calls during his more than 40-year career as a police officer, but a response Oct. 3, 2022, identified him as a hero.
“I was sitting in the Nazarene …
Many people collect objects that are, or were once, common, but Naomi Gates has gone a different route with Heaven’s Retired Angels.
Her collection began in 1999 when her daughter, …
Everyone needs to exercise care against scams, but this is particularly true for senior citizens.
“They especially focus on the elderly, those who live alone and are widows or …
Sept. 30 should have been a day of unrestrained excitement for Michael Nugent-Dolan. He was turning 13 years old and entering his teenage years. Michael received gifts and was surrounded by family, …
CHRISMAN — There was a time infrastructure issues were arising so fast the Chrisman City Council seemed almost overwhelmed.
The city’s aging system still has problems, but …
Only a few short months after installing Flock cameras throughout Paris, local law enforcement is already putting them to good use. The Flock cameras, a form of automatic license plate readers …
When Paris Fire Captain Steve Gallagher arrives on scene, he approaches each incident with the same mindset.
“I always say that we did not cause the problem that we are dispatched to, we …
The wish of a friend and neighbor lost to COVID in 2021 has been fulfilled with the restoration of a familiar landmark just across the state line in Libertyville, Ind.
For a generation of Paris …
Knowing how to prepare for and respond during an emergency is a skill every individual needs to have. Unfortunately, learning about natural disasters and survival skills is not always viewed as an …
The Paris Union School District 95 school board honored Debbie Graves on her retirement after 26 years of working for the district.
Board president Kevin Knoepfel presented the recently retired …
Santa Claus will have a new home when he is in Paris this year to visit his young friends.
“It’s about time we got a new Santa Claus House,” said Commissioner Harry Hughes …
HUME — Not much has happened in the month since representatives of Conxxus told the Hume Village Board the company is coming into the community with fiber optic internet service.
That …
Meet a Paris Firefighter
Captain Zack Janis, a senior member of the Paris Fire Department, has worked his way up through ranks after joining the department in October 2006 as a firefighter.
He knows exactly when the …
Stem Cell donation was first used in 1979 to save the life of young Laura Graves. The success of the treatment led Robert and Sherry Graves founding a national registry of willing volunteers to …
The Edgar County Highway Department has new equipment, but it will likely be another year before it is in service.
Highway engineer Aaron Lawson advised county board members during the Tuesday, …
Forty-seven years ago, Jack Runyan had an epiphany while waiting to tee off at what is now Eagle Ridge Golf Course.
“I’m waiting in line to tee off and I flipped around and seen so …
Vietnam War veteran Paul Fred Keehner Jr. has a message for other veterans — participate in an honor flight.
“The honor flight was well worth going,” said Keehner. “Any …
BROCTON — The status of a barn dominated discussion at the Brocton Village Board meeting Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Village president Chad Dudley suggested it is time to charge a rental fee for …
Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett has ruled the manner of death for Shawnna L. Cunningham as a suicide. The cause of death is a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The 44-year-old was found …
At the end of July, a tractor run was held in the northern part of Edgar County. Nineteen tractors joined forces with side-by-sides and various rural vehicles to drive down country roads, all with …
The shadowy and enigmatic roads surrounding Chrisman present a unique and eerie undertaking.
The Chrisman High School sophomore class is hosting a Ghost Rally at dusk Saturday, Oct. 14. The …
A local Christmas tradition stretching back to period following World War I is getting brushed off for a return to its roots.
Scott Barrett, chairman of the Community Nurse Christmas Basket, …
Paris Union School District 95 is implementing a number of changes as part of the corrective action plan it submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education in July.
The plan followed an audit …
Robert “Doc” Sprague has called Paris home for nearly a century.
Sprague was born Jan. 14, 1927, in Paris and grew up here. He graduated from Paris High School and went to the …
The Lakers baseball team was in Panama City, Fla., for a tournament during June and one of the coaches became a hero to two girls.
After the last game June 17, the players and coaches went to …
The Paris Police Department is investigating an accidental shooting that occurred over the weekend. Police Chief Terry Rogers said the department responded to the incident at approximately 4:24 a.m. …
With four new members (Andreanna Smith, Kelly Toon, Susan Barnes and Samantha Gonzalez) named to the Paris Park Board in August, the group is sporting a new look. The revamped board named new …
PERK (People Encouraging Remarkable Kids) started nine years ago to provide one-on-one mentoring to assist youth in developing positive social and behavioral skills, increased …
Like other firefighters, Charles Thorpe Jr. has the heart of a servant.
“I joined the fire service to help people and protect the community in their time of need,” said Thorpe.
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Steve Gallagher's career inspired a search for trinkets and collectibles
Steve Gallagher, a captain with the Paris Fire Department, combines his career with a side passion for collecting.
Firefighting is more than a 28-year career for Gallagher, it is a family …
Repairing historic structures while maintaining the building’s integrity is often a challenge.
That is the reality facing those tasked with repairing damage to the clocktower of the Edgar …
Paris residents failing to keep their property neat and orderly will find themselves subject to a new cleanup ordinance.
The Paris City Council passed a greenery nuisance order at the Monday, …
Plans by the Decatur-Eastern Railroad to close the crossing on the Horace-Brocton Road at Horace have changed.
The railroad originally announced a closing from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. The …
Two Paris residents are in the Edgar County Jail on Class X felony methamphetamine charges.
Following a Paris Police Department narcotics investigation, law enforcement served a search warrant …
The Link Art Gallery annual Fall Juried Exhibition is Oct. 6-Nov. 10 and entries are needed.
Artists who are at least 18 and live within 100 miles of Paris are encouraged to submit pieces. All …
HUME — The staff at Shiloh Community Unit School District 1 beamed with pride for their students on Monday, Sept. 18, as the board held its monthly meeting.
Bren Rhode brought …
KANSAS — Finishing a roof project at the Kansas Treatment and Learning Center (TLC) and some new windows dominated activity for the Kansas Community Unit School District 3 school board.
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Paris Police Chief Terry Rogers has a blunt message for those who think the new Safe-T Act is a license for criminal behavior.
“You can go to jail. You will go to jail,” said Rogers.
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Overcoming obstacles is something both the Jr. Miss and Miss Crown winners of the 2023 Honeybee Queen Pageant had to do before they received their titles on Sept. 17.
Karma Richarson, who was …
The Edgar County Highway Department has announced the Decatur-Eastern Railroad is closing it’s crossing on the Horace-Brocton Road for repairs.
The crossing on County Highway 8 is west of …
CHRISMAN — City commissioner Michael Jordan is looking for money to address some problem trees in Chrisman.
“Since my budget is shot for trees, I brought it back to the board,” …
For a long time, the Honeybee Train was run by the Honeybee Antique Association, but since the group disbanded the train has been missing from the celebration.
The FFA and agriculture classes at …
Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett has released preliminary information on the death of a Kansas woman.
Barrett said the body of Shawnna L. Cunningham, 44, was found inside her Kansas home by a …
BROCTON — Lee R. Beckman, of Milano & Grunloh Engineering at Effingham, provided a rough time frame for the Brocton village board to spend a $1 million grant.
“You got your water …
A new law for an Affordable Housing Tax Incentive Program will not be used in Edgar County in the foreseeable future.
Supervisor of Assessments Deena Hasler met with county board members during …
HUME — Residents of Hume may have the option of choosing between two fiber optic internet providers.
Representatives of Conxxus attended the village board meeting Monday, Sept. 11, to …
Whether with a rifle or a bow, in a tree stand or a blind, understanding the principles of hunter safety is crucial for any sportsman. Jack Hoffman, a long-time resident of Paris and a hunter safety …
Edgar County Board members were tasked with deciding when the time is right to sell municipal bonds to fund a new jail.
An ordinance for issuing up to $8 million in general obligation bonds was …
Edgar County residents are buzzing with excitement for the 25th Honeybee Celebration
This year the Honeybee turns 25 years old and plans to make the celebration a memorable time for everyone in the community are underway.
“The Honeybee is really a celebration of …
During an open session on Sept. 11, 2023, Paris Union School District 95 board president Kevin Knoepfel issued a statement regarding the district’s corrective action plan and the current …
The September Bee Well of Edgar County meeting was a mix of good and bad news.
Mary Liz Wright discussed issues with the community garden projects during the Sept. 7 meeting. On the positive …
Michael and Opal Hobson took their desire to obtain the Twin Lakes Park concession license to the Paris City Council.
They first approached the Paris Park Board Aug. 29 and were told the city …
CHRISMAN — “Can you tell everyone we still need a water commissioner?” Chrisman Mayor Dan Moore asked following the Tuesday, Sept. 5, city council meeting.
The council has …
Car lovers support cause
The East Side Motor Club held its annual scholarship drive car show Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Twin Lakes Cruisers Pavilion in the West Lake.
More than 40 cars were on display while music of the …
KANSAS — Residents in the village of Kansas will see larger amounts due on their October water bills.
The village board approved an immediate 50% increase in the water rate during the …
The REC enters new phase in capital campaign approving pool
The Rec Center's new slogan for its capital and sustainment campaign, "Dive In For the Future," is fitting. After the campaign's efforts reached a new milestone last week, staff, patrons and all of …
One of the two men accused of the Aug. 15 altercation behind Carolyn Wenz School that included the discharge of a firearm is prison bound.
Alex M. Noble and Tyge A. Hissem were arrested and …
Kiwanis Club of Paris members are busy as bees preparing for the annual Honeybee Festival Sept. 22-23.
The main feature for the Kiwanis Club is the popular pancake tent. Tickets for the pancake …
A change is coming to the corner of Shaw and Jasper.
The Paris City Council meeting Monday, Aug. 28, approved a $17,962 TIF grant to Don Robinson to develop the property. Tax Increment Financing …
“BritBeat,” a multimedia show featuring the music of The Beatles kicks off the regular season of the Paris Center of Fine Arts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at the theater located on the …
The Paris Carnegie Library has been working with the Paris Park Board and the Friends of the Library Organization for more than a decade to bring the classic works of Shakespeare to Paris.
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CHRISMAN — The Chrisman Days Celebration is following a familiar and comfortable format next weekend.
“After last year, it’s nice to have a break,” said Chrisman Fire …
It’s the difference between night and day.
Edgar County Board members Andy Patrick and Russ Lawton with Edgar County Clerk and Recorder August Griffin got a full inspection of what has …
The Link Art Gallery’s next exhibit is a retrospective of Hannah Newgent Eads' work.
The exhibit begins with an opening reception 5 p.m. Sep. 1 beginning at 5 p.m. and ends Sep. 29.
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Local emergency personnel responded to reports of a gas leak at 223 W. Wood Street, Paris, on Monday, Aug. 28.
The leak, initially reported around 11:45 a.m., occurred after an excavator working …
The removal of three large maple trees adjacent to the Edgar County Courthouse prompted some discussion among county board members about next steps.
“What I have heard from people is now …
CHRISMAN — The Chrisman Days Festival is Sept. 8 and 9, and city officials are getting ready for the event.
Mayor Dan Moore told city council members during the Monday, Aug. 22, city …
BROCTON — The popular image of mead is Viking warriors quaffing flagons of the honey-based spirit from drinking horns in raucous celebrations.
Maybe, but mead also has a more refined side. …
NEW GOSHEN, Ind. — Wabash Valley Resources’ plan to convert the former SG Solutions gasification plant in West Terre Haute, Ind., to the production of anhydrous ammonia is not setting …
