Oconee
Oconee, IL · Arts & Culture
wdbr.com
WAND’s Jacob Gordon joins the ‘Wake Up’ team
DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – WAND News anchor Jacob Gordon will move to weekday mornings starting Oct. 19. Gordon has been the weekend evening anchor for WAND News since 2023. He will join Coles County native Lacey Spence at the anchor desk on Wake Up. Meteorologist Nick Patrick, a Taylorville native, will continue to provide bus stop forecasts in the mornings and track severe weather. WAND News weekend morning anchor Caroline Reese will also contribute several days a week.
Journal Star
2026 IHSA golf state finals: Top boys and girls teams, players after first round
Here are the results for the first round of the 2026 Illinois High School Association boys and girls golf state finals, held Friday at courses in Bloomington-Normal and Decatur. The top eight teams and top 40 golfers not from those teams advance to Day 2 in each of the Class 1A, Class 2A and Class 3A boys finals and the Class 1A and 2A girls finals. These players return Saturday for another round, after which the top three teams in each finals will earn state trophies, while the top 10 golfers in each event earn state medals. The Peoria area is represented by 27 individuals and seven teams across the finals. You can find that list here . Peoria-area golfers and teams are in bold. Class 1A boys At Prairie Vista Golf Course, Bloomington Advancing teams: Red Bud 308; Niles Northridge Prep 309; Pittsfield 310; Illini West 312 (Nolan Murphy 71; Bryton Gavillet 76; Bryson Grotts 77; Jack Duffy 88; Troy Wear 90; Liam Lohmeyer DQ); Teutopolis 314; Byron 324; Delavan 328 (Grady Burrell 76; Caden Rassi 82; Trace Kight-Garlisch 81; Drake Neuendorf 89; Izayah Sipka 93; Hudson Briggs 101); Erie 331. Non-advancing area teams: Brimfield 350 (Will Snyder 80;
wlds.com
Green Building demolished, Greenfield Public Library to reopen soon
Demolition is complete on the Green Building in Greenfield, allowing work to begin toward reopening the nearby public library. The building, located west of the Greenfield Public Library, was successfully demolished Tuesday, October sixth. According to River County News, Greenfield officials learned in August that one of the building’s exterior...
wdbr.com
Mobile comedy venue ‘Rolling Laughs’ rolls to success in first season
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – It’s already the end of the season for a new comedy venue in Springfield. “Rolling Laughs” was the idea of comedian Cassandra Simpson — a mobile stage made out of an old camper. It was busy during its first summer traveling to a number of locations around the area, featuring comedians and entertainers at a number of spots, and even events for kids.
newschannel20.com
Entries sought for 5th Annual “Building with Brick - The Art of LEGO” exhibit at the Jacksonville Area Museum
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) - If you build it, many will come: One of the most popular winter attractions in Jacksonville turns five years old this year, and plans are to make the event even bigger and better for participants and the public. The Jacksonville Area Museum is seeking entries for...
Yahoo!
nprillinois.org
Misery brings Stephen King’s psychological thriller to the stage in Springfield
The Spencer Theater Company is bringing Stephen King’s Misery to the Hoogland Center for the Arts this October. Director John Sivak and actor Justine Moser, who portrays Annie Wilkes, join Community Voices to talk about bringing the psychological thriller from the page and screen to the stage, developing its complex characters and creating tension in a production that never leaves Annie’s house. Misery runs Oct. 9-11 and Oct. 16-18.
timestribunenews.com
Miners’ Day in Mount Olive on Oct. 11
By Tribune Staff • The Union Miners Cemetery Perpetual Care Committee and the Friends of Mother Jones Museum announced that Miners’ Day will be observed on Oct. 11, 2026, at noon in Union Miners’ Cemetery in Mt. Olive, IL. The remembrance is in recognition of the seven coal miners who were killed during an Oct. 12, 1898 gun battle between locked-out coal miners and company guards. The region’s coal companies had agreed to a contract with members of the United Mine Workers of America; however, the Chicago/Virden Coal Company refused to honor it and locked its workers out. What followed was the recruitment of replacement workers in Alabama; specifically, the advertisement says the company needed “175 colored miners” to go to work in Virden. These men were duped. They took their families and possessions with them. Company guards knew the train was soon arriving, and more locked-out workers were gathering. As the train arrived, gunfire broke out. In that era, the guards’ weapons were superior to any of the miners who happened to be armed.
newschannel20.com
Old State Capitol State Historic Site to host Portraits of American Diplomacy
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois will host “Portraits of American Diplomacy,” a special America 250 program, on Oct. 23 at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site in Springfield. The free public program will include...
taylorvilledailynews.com
“Truly Amazing” – Reaction from Chili Pepper Pageant Winners
There’s a new court of Chili Pepper Pageant royalty for the 2026/27 cycle. The winners were announced as part of Chillifest’s regular pageant, which took place on Saturday. Winners were crowned for Miss, Teen Miss, Junior Miss, Little Miss, and Little Mister. Charlotte Stickel was named Miss Chili...
illinoistimes.com
A Q&A with Avery Kern
Avery Kern is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter. Springfield-based musician Micah Walk sat down with the Pawnee native to discuss her newly released debut album, Scenic Route. I don’t want to make this the focus of this interview, but I have a unique interest in your career because you’re a former guitar...
FOX2now.com
taylorvilledailynews.com
The 2026 Taylorville Chilli Pepper Pageant Winners
The Taylorville Chilli Pepper Pageants has announced the winners of Miss, Teen Miss, Junior Miss, Little Miss, and Little Mr. Chili Pepper for the 2026 Chilli Pepper Pageant. The 2026 Miss Chilli Pepper Crown went to Charolette Stickel, who also won this year’s Miss Congeniality. First Runner Up went to Julie Wayman, Second Runner Up and People’s Choice went to Madelyn Seaton, and The winner of the Most 50/50 Tickets Sold was Charlee Craggs. Photographed Below are Wayman, Stickel, Seaton, and Craggs, in order from left to right. Photo Courtesy of s.k. walker photography & images. Photo Taken by Sharon Walker.
wdbr.com
Dolly Parton-created Christmas performance comes to UIS
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Here’s another way the legacy of late country music legend Dolly Parton will, potentially, live on forever. According to a news release, the University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center says “Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol” will perform at the center Monday, December 21, at 7:30 p.m. as part of its 2026 national tour. Tickets will go on sale to the public Friday, October 9, at 10:00 a.m. “FRIENDS” members will have early access to tickets at their selected, reserved seats starting Wednesday, October 7.