Author Archives: Mark Wells
LOCAL AND NATIONAL SPORTS FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 26TH
ON THE SCHEDULE TODAY AT FCHS: NO EVENTS SCHEDULED DUE TO THE WEATHER Mules Fresh/Soph Basketball vs. Harrisburg at the Hamilton County Fresh/Soph Tournament has been postponed to Wednesday, January 2...
Jan 26, 2026
Ronal "Ron" Lawrence Gambrel, age 79, of Flora (formerly of Fairfield)
Ronal "Ron" Lawrence Gambrel, age 79, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Friday, January 23, 2026, at his home. He was born January 20, 1947, in Mt. Carmel, the son of Ronal Jule and Alberta (Yoho) Gambr...
Jan 24, 2026
Winter Storm Info
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for southern Illinois and many surrounding areas through the weekend. In our area the Winter Storm Warning runs through 6 p.m. Sunday. A Cold Weather Advisory is al...
Jan 24, 2026
Unemployment Rates Rise Across Southeastern Illinois As Job Losses Outpace Gains
Unemployment rates for November show mixed results across Southeastern Illinois. According to the latest data, total nonfarm payrolls in the region fell by 375 jobs in November 2025 compared to the pr...
Jan 24, 2026
Certified Livestock Manager Training Workshop Set for Febraury in Effingham
Farm operators and staff looking to strengthen their livestock operations can get certified this February at the Certified Livestock Manager Training, or CLMT, workshop in Effingham. Hosted by ...
Jan 24, 2026
Illinois Basin Safety Awareness Day To Promote Oilfield Safety in Carmi
The Illinois Petroleum Resources Board and the Indiana Oil & Gas Association are teaming up to host the Illinois Basin Safety Awareness Day on Thursday, February 26th, at the 404 Seed Station in C...
Jan 24, 2026
Illinois Department of Revenue To Begin Accepting Tax Returns Monday
The Illinois Department of Revenue has announced it will begin accepting 2026 individual income tax returns on Monday, January 26, the same day the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) opens the federal fil...
Jan 24, 2026
Southern Illinois Outperforms Major Metropolitan Areas in Economic and Workforce Strength, National Report Finds
Southern Illinois is quietly surpassing many of the nation's largest metropolitan areas in economic strength and workforce performance, according to a new national report. The 2025 Leading Metr...
Jan 24, 2026
Blue Point Free Will Baptist Church Blood Drive
Blue Point Free Will Baptist Church will host a community blood drive on Tuesday, February 17th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will take place at The Link Gymnasium, located at 1141 County Ro...
Jan 24, 2026
Richard Leroy Cook, age 86, of Flora
Richard Leroy Cook, age 86, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Thursday afternoon, January 22, 2026, at Clay County Hospital. He was born on February 25, 1939, in Stanford Township, Clay County, the son ...
Jan 24, 2026