Concord
Concord, IL · Local Life
everafterinthewoods.com
This Historic Illinois Forest Hike Tells A Powerful Story Of Resilience
I’ll admit that I wasn’t prepared for what I found when I first visited a certain forest in southern Illinois. The name itself hints at something profound, but standing beneath those towering trees, feeling the quiet weight of history all around me, I understood that this place holds stories that deserve to be heard.
advantagenews.com
Route 66 Centennial features movie debut
In what's considered the 'mother road' stretching across the United States, Route 66, the iconic highway, turns 100 this year. The historic Route spans over 300 miles in Illinois, from Chicago through St. Louis, and small towns along the route are making plans to take advantage of the historic milestone.
The State Journal-Register
Longtime Mel-O-Cream owner and operator dies at 96
SPRINGFIELD -- Kelly Grant Jr., who owned and operated Springfield-based Mel-O-Cream Donuts for more than six and a half decades, died at his home Feb. 5. He was 96. Grant and another owner, David Waltrip, retired in 2019 when Mel-O-Cream Donuts International, Inc. was purchased by Eric Larson and his sons, Chad and Chris. Eric Larson had worked for Mel-O-Cream since 2004. Grant took over from his father, Kelly Grant Sr., who in 1932 used a $300 bonus for serving in World War I as a down payment for a retail location at 219 E. Jefferson St. More: Downtown Springfield restaurant voted as most romantic in the city Mel-O-Cream has five locations in Springfield and one in Lincoln. Grant oversaw its wholesale outreach, which included donuts being supplied to supermarket chains and convenience stores. The company offers its product in various forms, such as frozen dough that is shipped to grocery stores to be thawed and baked. Other forms include pre-fried products and thaw-and-sell products. In 1997, a new 27-acre facility was built off West Wabash Avenue. At the time of the sale, Grant told The State Journal-Register that he wanted the Mel-O-Cream tradition to continue. "I wanted it to
illinoistimes.com
Sax and romance, ISO style
Valentine’s Day weekend provided local music lovers with an appropriately bright and romantic concert from the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, continuing its season at its temporary home at the First United Methodist Church. Jazzy dance numbers, a sweeping Russian symphony and a matched pair of soloists all contributed to a lushly burnished and enjoyable evening for the Feb. 13 “Love Notes” performance.
News8000com WKBT News 8
Boneless wings lawsuit thrown out
nprillinois.org
Jeff C. Williams joins NPR Illinois as Community Voices co-host and editor
Community Voices is welcoming a familiar voice to a brand-new role. Jeff C. Williams — longtime musician, artist, and community connector — is stepping in as the show’s newest co-host alongside Randy Eccles on 91.9 UIS. Jeff isn’t new to the microphone. In the 1990s, his band...
nprillinois.org
Rock band Shinedown to perform at the Illinois State Fair
The Illinois State Fair has announced that multi-platinum rock powerhouse Shinedown will take the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage on Sunday, August 23, 2026, delivering a night of chart-topping hits and electrifying live energy. With a career defined by record-breaking success and creative impact, Shinedown has firmly cemented its place in...