BSA Troop 178 Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction

MORTON, IL – January 6, 2025

Scouts BSA Troop 178’s annual spaghetti dinner and silent auction fundraiser will be held on Jan. 25, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Morton United Methodist Church, 420 N. Tennessee Ave., Morton. Tickets are available at the door: $10 per person for adults, $7 for seniors (60+) and children, $33 for a family of up to five.

News|Local News

Village Office Closed

MCLEAN, IL – August 12, 2024

The Village of McLean's office will be closed on Monday, August 12, 2024. The office will reopen at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

News|Local News

Corbin Rios, Caden Kindred, Easton Nowaskie, and Kyler Simpson transplant begonia plugs.

Olympia FFA Annual Plant Sale

STANFORD, IL – April 18, 2024

The Olympia Future Farmers of America (FFA) is set to host their yearly plant sale on the Saturdays of May 4 and May 11, from 9 AM to 1 PM, at the high school’s greenhouse.

News|Local News

Special Board Meeting Scheduled

McLEAN, IL – April 9, 2024

A special meeting of the Village Board of Trustees has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 10 at 6:00 pm at the Village Office.

News|Local News

Hydrant Flushing Scheduled

McLEAN, IL – March 31, 2024

Beginning on Monday, April 1, 2024, the Village will commence the flushing of water mains through fire hydrants. Residents may experience reduced water pressure, discoloration, and potential cloudiness in the water. The process is expected to take up to two weeks to finish.

Business|Spotlight

Funks Grove Country Store: Antiques, Primitives

By Taylor Huffington
McLEAN, IL – October 31, 2021

The Funks Grove Country Store is a store that offers a wide range of antiques spanning decades. The owners of this store are Judi Braid, who I interviewed for this spotlight, and Rey Jannush. In 2018 the two decided to partner up and run the antique store together. When speaking to Judi she said that they “both love antiques and creating, so that was probably the big draw to do it together.”

Business|Spotlight

Gordy’s Garage

By Taylor Huffington
McLEAN, IL – October 3, 2021

Gordy’s Garage is a local small engine repair shop ran by Mike Fuller. The shop is located in McLean and is specialized in repairing all kinds of small engines. Some examples are lawn mowers, chain saws, weed eaters, and other similar items. Essentially anything that has a small engine on it can be repaired by Mike.

Business|Spotlight

Funk’s Grove Maple Sirup

By Erin Dederich
McLEAN, IL – September 26, 2021

Funks Grove Maple Sirup is located in the heart of Central Illinois. This is a rural area of homes, fields, creeks, trees, animals, and plenty of nature. Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup is owned by the Funk family. They have been running this historic business since 1824.

Business|Spotlight

McLean Depot Train Shop

By Taylor Huffington
MCLEAN, IL – September 19, 2021

Tom Ludlam is the owner of the McLean Depot Train Shop and has been for 11 years. After he retired from the army, he had an opportunity where he could use the Depot building for a train shop, something he had “in the back of [his] mind to be an interesting thing to do for many years”, so he took the chance. The Depot is owned by the village, but he runs it and the Train Shop together. He loves being his own boss and working in a hobby he has an interest in.

Business|Spotlight

Breezy Bluff Riding Academy

By Chloe Scroggins
McLEAN, IL – April 11, 2021

Breezy Bluff Riding Academy started in 1983 with 4 neighborhood kids as the customers with only word of mouth to grow the business. The business has grown to 35 to 50 students per week. Betty Broadfield is the owner of the business and she has been instructing since the business began. She is the author of any material provided with the lessons given. At the academy, they teach western to eastern on the flat style, and to use verbal cues and natural aids while riding. The youngest riders are 4 years old, and their oldest student is in her 70s. They can take riders up to 285 pounds, which is more than other stables typically take. They have been in business for almost four decades and Breezy Bluff Riding Academy still has a perfect safety record. Betty would want a potential customer to know that one phrase that describes her company is “safety first”.

Lifestyle|Do It Yourself

DIY Fire Pit

By Tonia Loy
PEORIA, IL – January 2, 2022

With summertime approaching, there is nothing more fun than sitting around a fire pit with your friends or family! Well, maybe a tropical trip! Fire pits are a great way to add some fun to a yard! With a little hard work and some elbow grease, you’ll have one in no time. We put one in at our last home and loved it, I can’t wait to do it again!

Lifestyle|Arts and Crafts

How to Make a Dreamcatcher

By Tonia Loy
PEORIA, IL – August 29, 2021

In Native American culture, dream catchers were believed to catch and trap bad dreams, whilst allowing good dream to pass through the spider-web design, and drift into the heads of the children that lie sleeping below them. Nowadays, dreamcatchers come in many shapes and sizes, and are an incredibly popular bedroom decor choice! If you’re ready for some sweet dreams, why not learn how to make a dreamcatcher?

Lifestyle|Food

Baked to Perfection Ziti

By Tonia Loy
PEORIA, IL – August 22, 2021

The key to creating a perfect Baked Ziti is to keep it from drying out. This classic Italian baked pasta dish is made by layering penne noodles, sauce and cheese. Once it is prepared correctly, however, it will become the only way you make it.

Lifestyle|Do It Yourself

Small Raised Paver Patio

By Tonia Loy
PEORIA, IL – August 15, 2021

Sometimes you are in the middle of a project and realize you need something else! This happened to me when I was creating my back garden scape. I placed my new Adirondack chairs in there place. They were a perfect fit, if the ground didn’t slope down in the back! I knew I needed to make an elevated bed for them. I had recently found a ton of old pavers in the yard and knew this was the spot for them.

Lifestyle|Arts and Crafts

Pour Painting

By Tonia Loy
PEORIA, IL – August 8, 2021

Our neighbors introduced my son and I to pour painting! It was so much fun! He is still talking about it.

Entertainment|Movies

Grief Reimagined: Technology’s Role in Mourning?

Eternal You

By Chris Jones
WASHINGTON, IL – January 21, 2025

The way artificial intelligence is reshaping our world feels less like a sci-fi fantasy and more like a reality that challenges what it means to be human. Directed by Moritz Riesewieck and Hans Block, ETERNAL YOU takes viewers on an exploratory journey into the heart of AI, unraveling its ability to redefine life, death, and connection in ways that are as intriguing as they are unsettling. This documentary doesn’t just observe the evolution of technology—it dissects its influence on the most personal aspects of our lives.

Entertainment|Movies

When Chaos Reigns, Connections Matter Most

Miracle Mile (Special Edition) (Blu-ray)

By Chris Jones
WASHINGTON, IL – January 21, 2025

Some films manage to fully immerse you from the first scene, pulling you into a world where time feels like a ticking bomb. This movie is a brilliant example of how a simple premise, combined with creative direction, can evolve into something genuinely captivating. With its blend of high stakes and raw emotion, it crafts a story about human resilience, love, and the choices we make when the clock is against us. I can’t, for my life, understand how this didn’t become the cult classic it deserves to be!

Entertainment|Movies

Where Nostalgia Meets the Weight of Growing Up

Rocky's

By Chris Jones
WASHINGTON, IL – January 21, 2025

Revisiting the past often feels like flipping through an old scrapbook—you’re hit with flashes of joy, pain, and everything in between. ROCKY’S captures this experience with sincerity, telling a story about the bonds we forge and how life inevitably reshapes them. Set against the backdrop of a neighborhood deli, the film invites viewers to reflect on how the people and places from our past continue to define us, even when we’ve moved on.

Entertainment|Movies

Chaos and Comedy Collide in a Claustrophobic Conflict

Zombie Strain

By Chris Jones
WASHINGTON, IL – January 21, 2025

Few films balance ridiculousness as effectively as ZOMBIE STRAIN. This independent production, directed by Michael Seabolt, turns its modest budget into an advantage. Instead of relying on flashy effects or large-scale set pieces, it focuses on character-driven storytelling and inventive plotting. The result is a darkly comedic exploration of survival that leans as much on interpersonal drama as on its apocalyptic setting. And this is very much an indie horror flick, but I’ll be damned if there wasn’t some magnetic pull here that I can’t explain!

Entertainment|Movies

A Shocking Tale of Obsession and Betrayal

Grafted

By Chris Jones
WASHINGTON, IL – January 20, 2025

A new voice in the genre emerges with a film that isn’t afraid to take risks. Combining body horror with critiques of expected “norms,” it crafts a narrative as bold as imperfect. The result is a unique viewing experience that occasionally falters but remains deeply engaging for those willing to embrace its ambitious storytelling.

Agriculture|Farm News

Caring for Your Garden in the Summer Heat

By Chloe Scroggins
DANVERS, IL – July 17, 2022

Temperatures are looking to rise again this week, making now a great time to talk about how to help care for your garden crops in the hot and dry times of summer. Late July through August can tend to be very hot and it is important that you are taking proper care of your crops to get them through when they are ready to be picked from the garden. Some plants can tolerate the heat better than others. When you consider that most plants are made up of 85 to 90 percent of water, it makes more sense why plants need extra attention in the heat.

Agriculture|Farm News

The Importance of Crop Scouting a Field

By Chloe Scroggins
DANVERS, IL – July 10, 2022

Crop scouting is when fields are evaluated for pest and disease problems, or for checking in on growth progress. Scouting is important because if a problem of any kind is found in the field, it can be solved or managed as quickly as possible. This process is critical for farmers to grow their best crops and have the highest yields possible, which allows them to make the most profit. Crop scouting is a critical tool to protect a farmer’s investment in each field.

Agriculture|Farm News

Agriculture and the Fourth of July

By Chloe Scroggins
DANVERS, IL – July 3, 2022

Like many holidays, the Fourth of July is connected to agriculture! In the spirit of celebrating our Independence Day this weekend, we can look at a quote about agriculture from Thomas Jefferson. The Founding Father and former president stated, “Agriculture.. is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to wealth, good morals, and happiness…”. Jefferson proclaimed the importance of agriculture in our country in a letter he wrote to George Washington.

Agriculture|Farm News

Dairy Farms in Central Illinois

By Chloe Scroggins
DANVERS, IL – June 26, 2022

All dairy products like milk and cheese start by the production and care of dairy cows on a dairy farm. Dairy farming is when farmers raise mother animals and use their milk to feed humans. Other dairy products than milk and cheese include butter, yogurt, ice cream and more. Byproducts from dairy farms are even used for nonfood purposes. Byproducts allow for an operation to produce more goods and be useful for as much as they possibly can.

Agriculture|Farm News

Standards Apply for Organic Farming

By Chloe Scroggins
DANVERS, IL – June 19, 2022

When you look through a produce section at the grocery store, you will likely find both organic and nonorganic items for sale. To be labeled organic, foods must meet United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards. Companies or farmers can not just label something “organic” without meeting these standards. The USDA sets organic standards for crops and livestock, as well as the handling process.

Sports|High School Sports

Taylor Nowaskie receiving her award as the State Farm Female Scholar Athlete of the year

All-Conference Athletes Named

By Erin Dederich
STANFORD, IL – June 26, 2022

All Conference selections for the high school spring sports were just published! Many Olympia athletes earned conference and state rankings. Congrats to all athletes!

Sports|High School Sports

Recent Grads Become College Athletes

By Erin Dederich
STANFORD, IL – June 12, 2022

Many recent Olympia High School grads are going on to pursue athletics in college. From a class of only 86 students, 5 females and 4 males will be continuing their athletic careers. Most of them will be staying right here in Illinois, with just a few moving over to the bordering states.

Sports|High School Sports

Olympia High School Weekly Sports Recap

By Erin Dederich
STANFORD, IL – May 29, 2022

The sports season for OHS in the 2021-2022 school year concluded on Friday. Friday was the state track & field meet for our boys' team. The boys competed in the prelims on Friday but did not end up making it to the finals on Saturday. The qualifying 3200-meter team consisted of Anthony Ragland, Cooper Phillips, Owen Dare, and Brad Schardan. Owen and Brad wanted to save their energy for the 800 so the alternates, Logan Demling and Caden Clark ran instead. The team ran an 8:42.37 relay. Then, Brad Schardan ran the 800-meters at a personal best time of 2:00.20. Owen Dare was right behind him with a time of 2:00.26. Then, Keagan Uphoff did the 300-meter hurdles and had a time of 44.40. With Keagan being just a sophomore, he has a lot more potential to advance further in the coming years. He is off to a great start and ready for more!

Sports|High School Sports

OHS Boys Track & Field athletes (L-R): Brad Schardan, Owen Dare, Anthony Ragland, and Cooper Phillips.

Olympia High School Weekly Sports Recap

By Erin Dederich
STANFORD, IL – May 22, 2022

This was regional week for the softball and baseball teams! To begin, the baseball team played Clinton on Monday night, coming away with a 3-2 win. This advanced them to play Pontiac on Thursday. The Spartans were not as good as Pontiac’s baseball team and lost 1-14. Pontiac is now going to the regional championship game on Monday vs Tremont. Olympia High School hosted all these regional baseball games. The high school baseball season has now ended and the boys are ready to play travel ball. The baseball program is grateful for finally having a full season that was very fun and memorable, too!

Sports|High School Sports

Olympia High School Weekly Sports Recap

By Taylor Huffington
STANFORD, IL – May 15, 2022

Post-season for Olympia High School athletics is coming into full gear. Just this week Girls Track and Field competed in their IHSA Sectional Meet. Anna Beiber qualified for State at the meet with a time of 2:21.68, just 2 seconds under the state qualifying time. Melissa Bieber just barely missed the qualifying time by .29 seconds with a 47.98 in the 300 hurdles, which is less than a second off the school record. Boys Track and Field will compete in their Sectional this coming week on the 18th.