Area News
Progress Initiative To Host Christmas Porch Contest
The West Washington County Progress Initiative will host a “Home For The Holidays” Christmas Porch Decorating Contest Friday, December 4. A map will be created for people to drive around Okawville to see the decorated porches. Everyone will receive ballots to vote for their favorite entry. The winners will receive prizes. The event will also…
Read MoreNew Vote-By-Mail Technology for Vision-Impaired Voters
Washington County Clerk Nancy Heseman’s office announced that visually impaired voters in Washington County will be able to vote by mail without assistance in the 2020 election thanks to a system that allows them to use audio instructions to navigate and mark their ballots. The system, known as Accessible Vote by Mail, is similar to…
Read MoreAddieville Man Killed in Crash in Bond County
An Addieville man was killed in a car accident in Bond County on Thursday, Oct. 15. John P. Jackson III, 27, who had multiple home address listings, including one in Addieville, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by Bond County Coroner John Jackson. According to the coroner’s report, Jackson was traveling southbound…
Read MoreElection Judges To Get “Hazardous Duty” Bonus
The County Board approved hazard duty bonus of an extra $50 each for the 100 election judges and other workers due to COVID-19 at the November 3 election. The normal pay for election judges is $100, plus $20 if they attended the training. County Clerks Office employees will receive time and a half for working after…
Read MoreBallot Drop Box Available at County Courthouse
Washington County Clerk Nancy Heseman announced that voters can now drop off ballots at a new ballot drop box in front of the county courthouse. As a result of the COVID pandemic, Illinois election officials have encouraged early voting and vote by mail in this year’s election. Heseman said that her office checks the box…
Read MoreArtists “Empty Bowl” Program On Hiatus Due To COVID
Doug Holtgrewe’s 14 years of creating ceramic bowls for the Empty Bowls program in Elmira, NY is on a physical hiatus this year due to COVID-19. The former Elmira College art and art history professor, other artists and students make at least 300 unique bowls each year for the event that raises money to…
Read MoreStudents Share How Covid Has Changed College Life
Abby Riechmann transferred from Kaskaskia College to the University of Missouri expecting the college experience. “I wanted to go to football games, tailgate parties, join a sorority, and experience the student night life,” said the sophomore. COVID restrictions changed everything. What Riechmann got was a lot of time in her apartment and movie night with…
Read MoreFire Department Grilling Ribs Sunday
The date of the Okawville Fire Department will be grilling ribs was wrong in the newpaper. The event will be this Sunday, October 11.
Read MoreUber Expands Service to Washington County
Uber announced it plans to expand its rides platforms to Washington County and southwest Illinois starting Wednesday, October 7. With this expansion, the company will offer residents access to reliable and affordable transportation options and prospective drivers the ability to flexibly earn extra money on their own schedule. Powered by Uber’s innovative technology, encouraging shared…
Read MoreDown Syndrome Awareness Month
In this week’s issue, read stories of local families touched by Down Syndrome and their heartwarming stories as we share about the Engele family of Nashville and the Lehde family of Sparta. What Is Down Syndrome In every cell in the human body is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. The nucleus of each…
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