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Area News

County Residents Alerted After Anhydrous Leak

By Travis Volz An anhydrous leak near Stone Church last Wednesday led to a shelter in place order for residents in the vicinity. Firefighters from Okawville and St. Libory, the Freeburg Fire Department Hazmat Team, as well as Washington County Ambulance and the Washington County Emergency Management Agency responded to a call for an anhydrous…

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Okawville Man Charged in March High Speed Pursuit

By Travis Volz An Okawville man is facing multiple felony charges as the result of a high-speed chase that did damage to a home in Okawville earlier this year. Andrew Markus, 26, was indicted on felony charges of aggravated fleeing of police following pursuit that began in Addieville and went through Okawville on March 6.

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Top Of OHS Class of 2023

The top ten percent of the Okawville High class of 2023 are: 1st: Briley Rhodes and Grant Schleifer, tie for first; Kristen Althoff, Kylie Buehler, and Megan Rennegarbe, tie for third. Graduation was held Sunday afternoon. Photos and biographies of the 44 graduates, and college graduates, are in a special section.

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Local Historian Locates Madam Turchin’s Diary in Springfield

By Travis Volz Elaine Rucker of the Washington County Historical Society has some good news for local history buffs thanks to her tenacious research. Following the publication of the story of Madam Turchin and her role in the founding of the village of Radom, Rucker said that she has received news about Turchin’s diary. Rucker…

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OHS Music Students Travel to Tennessee

By Reed Recker Fifty-nine members of the Okawville High School Band and Chorus travelled to Tennessee from April 20th-23. The first destination was Nashville, Tennessee. The first major stop was the Country Music Hall Of Fame. The Okawville Concert Choir performed in the atrium before heading into the CMHOF museum. Afterwards, students got to have a private…

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Nashville Graduate Starts Music Therapy Practice

By Travis Volz A deep appreciation for the power of music has inspired a Hoyleton native to make a career out of music therapy. Christy Merrell, a 1991 graduate of Nashville High School, started Christy Merrell Music Therapy to share the therapeutic value of music. “I’ve always had a love of music and it’s ability…

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Team Building with Fun and Games at Okawville Junior High

Blake Carrico and Kaden Buehler By Travis Volz As a fun way to decompress after standardized testing, Okawville Junior High Students took part in team building events last Wednesday. Class sponsor Sarah Stine said she wanted to help kids unwind after spending the first four periods of testing. That was the genesis for the team…

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Dogwood Allie Dog Boarding Opens Near Hoyleton

By Travis Volz A Hoyleton woman is turning a lifetime love of dogs into a vocation with the opening of Dogwood Allie in Hoyleton. Allie Lietz recently started the pet boarding business near Hoyleton, which is a perfect career for a dog lover. “We always had dogs growing up, and it is a dream come…

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