Area Breaking News
Brownstown Jr. High Eighth Graders Promoted
BY MARK HOSKINS The eighth graders at Brownstown Jr. High will be taking the next step on their journey toward adulthood. During a ceremony last Thursday, The eighth graders were promoted as they move on to high school. Principal Jeff Wooters welcomed the crowd gathered in the gym and spoke a few words of association…
Read MoreMemorial Trees Planted for Arbor Day
BY MARK HOSKINS Members of the Altamont Garden Club, the Altamont Tree Committee, and members of the Altamont High School FFA planted several trees for Arbor Day in Union Cemetery. On Friday, April 27, a crowd gathered at Union Cemetery to plant trees in memory of three past Garden Club members. In memory of Margaret…
Read MoreBoard of Education Approvals Personnel Changes
BY MARK HOSKINS The St. Elmo Community Unit School District #202 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, April 16. Among several items, the board approved several changes to personnel. First, the board accepted the resignation of Carly Dorr as the Jr. High Cheerleading Co-sponsor. The board also adopted a resolution authorizing the…
Read MoreCounty Declared ‘Sanctuary’ for Gun Owners
BY MARK HOSKINS Last Monday saw a packed house during the county board meeting in Effingham. A ground-breaking resolution was passed by the county board, as the strongly republican county sent a message to Springfield. The Effingham County board voted 8-1 to pass a resolution making the county a ‘sanctuary county’ for gun owners. This…
Read MoreIllinois Gubernatorial Race Comes to Altamont
Rarely does a small town like Altamont get the honor of a visit by a sitting governor. Even more rare is when a small town gets the sitting governor and the top republic challenger for the gubernatorial race in the same room. On Sunday, March 4, the Effingham County Republican party hosted the 45th…
Read MoreState Police Seize 432 Pounds of Cannabis During I-70 Traffic Stops
Illinois State Police seized 432 pounds of illicit cannabis from two traffic stops on Interstate 70 in our area last week. On Tuesday, March 6, an Illinois State Police Trooper initiated a traffic stop on I-70 just west of Effingham at approximately 8:11 a.m..…
Read MoreSchool Board Approves IASB to Conduct Superintendent Search
With the recent resignation of Altamont superintendent Jeff Fritchtnitch, the Altamont Community Unit School District Number 10 has begun their search for a new superintendent. At their school board meeting last Monday, Feb. 12, the board voted 5-2 to approve the hiring of the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) to lead the search…
Read MoreWWII Vet Lowe Honored by American Legion
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Weakly-Rowland American Legion Post No. 420 in St. Elmo honored a member of the greatest generation when they unveiled a plaque honoring Richard M. Lowe for his service in World War II. “Heroes are those who gave their life for this country. I’m not one of those yet,…
Read MoreDieterich Bank Invests in St. Elmo with New Building
Having served the community of St. Elmo since 2015 in a temporary building, Dieterich Bank finally has a permanent branch location here in St. Elmo. The new branch is officially open as of Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The brand new building is located at 423 E. Cumberland Road, right next to the Dollar…
Read MoreCity and School Mourn Death of Administrator Arnold
The Altamont School district lost a key member and a friend last weekend with the untimely death of high school assistant principal and athletic director Todd Arnold. Arnold, 53, was killed just after midnight Sunday morning, Jan. 28 when he was struck by a train in Effingham. According to Effingham Police Chief Jeffrey Fuesting,…
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