A tornado warning that triggered the emergency sirens in Pontiac was a prelude to the Livingston County Board meeting on Thursday, June 11. That proved to be the excitement of the evening as the actual meeting was rather basic. There were eight action items that were addressed. Of these, four were approved unanimously. Items approved with no dissent from the Finance Committee came a Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Amendment, and the authorization of a loan to the veterans Assistanc

PCHS Girls Basketball Coaches Mike Wolf and Emily Bull visit the Route 24 Radio Morning Show Monday. The Prairie Central Hawks and Roanoke-Benson High School Rockets girls basketball teams take the court for a special “Court of Dreams” matchup on the big stage this month at Grainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and we will bring it to you live on the radio. The game will serve as our very first high school sports broadcast on the new 93.7 FM, Route 24 Radio, on June 22 at 10

A crash around the Saunemin and Dwight areas on Route 47 Monday forced authorities to shut down the highway for several hours between 2000 North and 2200 North roads. Police had suggested motorists seek an alternate route but the road has since reopened. State Police responded to the scene of the two-vehicle crash which occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Two occupants were transported to the hospital with injuries, though no further details were released.

State Police responded to the intersection of McLean County Road 3360 East and U.S. Highway 24 last week after a trailer apparently detached from a truck-tractor. Authorities reported no damage to the two black tankers which were in the roadway. There were no injuries. No further information is available, according to police.

Livingston County property tax bills have been mailed to property owners in the county. The first payment installment is due July 10 with the second installment due September 10 this year. Checks should be made payable to the Livingston County Collector with a tax stub required at the time of payment. Taxes can be paid online at www.livingstoncountyiltax.us, by phone at 815-365-3816 or at a participating bank. They can also be paid by mail at P.O. Box 50 in Pontiac 61764 or i

A 25-year-old Downs man was arrested after fleeing a traffic stop in Bloomington and three firearms were seized. Bloomington Police received reports of a motorcycle being driven recklessly last week in the area of Veterans Parkway and Empire Street. Police observed the motorcyclist pass by performing a wheelie and the motorcycle reportedly fled the scene at a high rate of speed while committing additional traffic violations. The motorcycle was eventually discovered at a resid

Concerns were raised in Pontiac about vehicles parking on both sides of South Street. Street safety was a topic of discussion during Monday’s regular meeting of the Pontiac City Council. Third Ward Alderman Gerald Causer shared constituent concerns with the council about South Street being narrow and dangerous for children as cars are often parked on both sides of the street. “The kids are in the street all day long,” Causer said. He feels if cars are parked on one side of th

The Pontiac Elks has presented the city with a $7,500 check toward the upcoming Independence Day fireworks celebration, set for June 27. “We are excited to partner with the city again this year for Independence Day fireworks,” said Pontiac Elks Lodge 1019 Exalted Ruler Bruce Mustread who appeared before the Pontiac City Council Monday evening. Mustread is happy the organization can participate and provide funds to make it a great event for the big 250th celebration for Americ

A suspect has been arrested by Bloomington Police following a shots fired incident from last week. Jeremiah McCottrell, 24, of Normal was arrested for aggravated discharge of a firearm/occupied vehicle, felon possession of a weapon and having no FOID card. Officers were dispatched to the area of Jefferson and Gridley streets in Bloomington after several people reported hearing gunshots in the area. Police located spent shell casings in a nearby parking lot and it was determin

Photo via SauneminIllinois.org. The Village of Saunemin will be hosting their annual Saunemin Days on Saturday, June 27 from 1 to 9 pm in downtown Saunemin. Bring your family and friends to this fun event for all ages. Food and drink will be available from Whats 4 Eatz food truck and Saunemin Tap. Kids activites will begin at 1 pm with bounce houses, kids games, and the Oly Farms Petting Zoo from 1 to 4 pm sponsored by the Bank of Graymont. A car and motorcycle show wi

Chenoa Police Chief Travis Cornwall at Tuesday's Chenoa City Council meeting. Iron Cave Golf is moving to a new location at The Finish Line Bar in downtown Chenoa. Bobbie and Brian Ludwig presented their TIF District application Tuesday evening to the Chenoa City Council to assist with the rebuild of their Indoor Golf Simulator business. The council approved streets commissioner Zach Lopeman's request to utilize Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds to contract a street sweeper to clea

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $5 million is available in tourism funding through three grant programs: the Route 66 Grant Program ($2 million), the International Tourism Grant Program ($1 million), and the Tourism Marketing Partnership Grant Program ($2 million). Eligible entities can apply for grants to promote and preserve the historic Route 66 corridor through the Route 66 Grant Program, grants to pro

McLean County Coroner Dr. Kathleen Yoder has released more on a single-vehicle accident which occurred on U.S. Route 136 under the I-55 overpass at McLean early Monday. Luke W. Peterson, 13, of Springfield was pronounced dead at 1:12 a.m. Monday at Carle BroMenn Medical Center. The preliminary cause of death is multiple blunt injuries due to a sport utility vehicle crash, reportedly sustained as a passenger in the SUV which left the road and crashed. The incident remains

Speaker Mick Peterson shared a message of respect, gratitude and hope during the Pontiac Memorial Day service Monday morning at Southside Cemetery. He said these are the virtues to take home and practice every day while teaching them to our children and grandchildren. Peterson reminded the crowd that respect is shown locally with flags hanging on the Mill Street bridge, flowers tossed into the Vermilion River, people wearing poppies and flags placed on the gravesites of veter

Chenoa is looking for volunteers to help put up flags for Memorial Day weekend. Anyone can show up at 8 a.m. Saturday to help put flags out as around 225 will be put up. The Boy Scouts will help put tombstone flags out also. Chenoa Cemetery will be lit up from dusk until midnight both Saturday and Sunday nights. Volunteers can help take down flags at 2 p.m. Monday.

Area Memorial Day services have been announced for Monday. Fairbury’s annual service is set for 10:45 a.m. with Gerry Brandt giving the address, the two auxiliaries will place wreaths and the Prairie Central band will play the National Anthem. The combined color guard of the VFW and American Legion will have the 21-gun salute. PC buglers will have Taps and a lunch will be served at the VFW in Fairbury after the event which everyone is welcome to attend. In Chenoa, services st

The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 law enforcement agencies throughout the state are teaming up to remind the public to buckle up and drive sober over the Memorial Day weekend. The effort coincides with the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign running through May 26. ​ “Wearing a seat belt should be second nature for every driver and every passenger,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and

Traffic lanes which have been closed for construction will reopen where possible for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend to minimize travel disruptions. The Illinois Department of Transportation says non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. Friday (May 22) to 11:59 p.m. Monday (May 25). These area lane closures will remain in place during the holiday weekend: Old Route 66 at Illinois 116 over the Vermilion River in Pontiac where lane reductions continue. Interstate

More has been released on a collision with multiple fatalities that occurred earlier in the week near Cooksville. The McLean County Coroner’s Office reports Beth Brucker, 58, of Ellsworth and Hui-Lan Chen Chiang, 82, of Millbrae, California were pronounced dead at the scene. Brucker was the driver and sole occupant of a mid-size SUV while Chiang was the rear occupant of a passenger van. Both reportedly died from multiple blunt injuries due to the SUV and min-van collision. A

No injuries were reported after a shed fire southeast of Forrest Tuesday evening. The steel structure suffered water damage from firefighting efforts and damage to the contents inside. Responding departments came from Strawn, Fairbury, Cullom, Saunemin, Pontiac, Forrest, Chatsworth, Piper City, Cropsey and Sibley. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.