Mary Morgan Ryan was announced as the new superintendent of schools for Paris Union School District in late April. On Monday, July 8, Morgan Ryan participated in her first Board of Education meeting …
Paris High School’s AP classes have grown not only in numbers but also in the number of advanced placement classes available for students.
Assistant Principal Denise Young provided a …
HUME—This village of Hume received a substantial donation from the congregants of the former Hume United Methodist Church during its regular, monthly meeting July 8.
After holding their …
A press release from the Edgar County Coroner revealed two fatalities resulting from a head-on collision near Redmon on Saturday, July 6; an additional report three days later uncovered a deceased …
Helping Hands Soup Kitchen is on a mission to feed the people of Paris
For the first time in a long time, Paris has its soup kitchen back with the help of Vicky Dick, Sue Sheeran, and a handful of community groups, grants and several churches in Paris. Together, the …
Summer is a busy season. Perhaps nobody knows this better than the emergency personnel, EMS, fire, law enforcement and the coroner’s office, of Edgar County.
In the past three weeks, The …
HRC, ROSC and other organizations focusing on community well-being are entering into a new fiscal year in the month of July, and with the new year comes a new budget.
“We just passed a new …
Directly across from the All-Abilities Playground at the West Lake, erosion damage is taking its toll and causing concern for the Paris City Council.
Chris Redman, the city’s …
WOODYARD – A two-vehicle accident on the northern edge of Edgar County resulted in multiple injuries on Wednesday, July 10.
The Chrisman Fire Department, Neal EMS and Horizon Health …
CHRISMAN – Fiber optic internet is a technological leap in internet speed and bandwidth compared to rural internet, and in recent weeks, crews have been hard at work installing the cables …
On Monday, July 9, 911 dispatchers were contacted at 2:59 p.m. and asked to provide a wellness check at a West Madison Street residence.
The caller told operators they were calling from the …
METCALF—The Village of Metcalf will celebrate its sesquicentennial on Saturday, July 20 with a full day of fun activities including local vendors and food trucks.
The main event begins at …
The world sometimes needs a little bit of help to get it back on its feet, even with the simplest of gestures. April Burns has led with this example showing those around her that a small gesture of …
A press release from the Edgar County Coroner has revealed that two fatalities resulted from a head-on collision near Redmon on Saturday, July 6.
“Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett has …
CHRISMAN – When lifelong Chrisman resident Mike Henry started browsing local auction listings, he had no idea he would discover a historical document connecting his hometown with a past U.S. …
“I don’t like to see anybody suffering. I don’t like to see animals suffering. I’ll just help who I can help,” a talented Midwestern artist said.
It is the …
Mike Step became a Rotarian in 1995, almost 30 years ago.
Since joining, he has served as a secretary, a vice governor, a district governor and president of a local chapter, not once but twice, …
Wandering Spirits mobile dry bar opens to serve the Edgar County area
Wandering Spirits mobile dry bar opened this summer. Owners Kali Martin and Whitney Sprinkle feel it is important that potential customers understand the purpose of a dry hire bar.
“A dry …
The second party involved in a shocking Kansas shooting Friday, June 28 appeared for a pre-trial release hearing Monday, July 1. The shooting, which ended with what has been reported as a …
Paris residents near the corner of Madison and Campbell Street were startled by what was described as a loud explosion around 5 p.m. on Friday, July 5. Moments later, a nearby home was engulfed in …
Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett has released details on a Paris man found dead at his residence on Friday, July 5.
Emergency dispatchers were called at 9:57 a.m. on Friday, July 5, with an …
A youth-run marketplace filled with handmade goods, startup businesses and local services is debuting during the Edgar County 4H Fair this summer.
The vendor fair is called “The …
The second party involved in a shocking Kansas shooting Friday, June 28 appeared for a pre-trial release hearing Monday, July 1. The shooting, which ended with what has been reported as a …
Grace Lutheran Church, with the help of Leigh Ann Willmoth, came together to make a considerable donation to the Edgar County Animal Shelter.
On Friday, June 28, Willmoth, along with the Grace …
The Paris 95 Board of Education has endured its fair share of financial hardship over the last 12 months – and the district’s budget reflects it.
A budget amendment hearing for the …
Nicki Hanks never would have imagined herself working for Edgar County Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC), or preparing to step into the role of the county coordinator six years ago, but she …
The Paris City Council meeting on June 24 was short and sweet, with the majority of the conversation centering on praise for the city’s employees and their dedication to the community.
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The Kansas Board of Education approved the student handbook Wednesday, June 26, in its regular meeting, with three changes.
They added state mandated changes in physical education policies, OKed …
Originally from Terre Haute, currently residing in Marshall, Kelsie O’Rourke, 28, finished her Master’s program last year, majoring in Mental Health Counseling. She works part-time doing …
Human trafficking has always been a problem in the United States, and as each year goes by it gets worse and worse.
Police officer, Doug Cochran, of the Kansas Police Department was the guest …
Staring at the sunset is typically ill-advised, but keeping an eye on Sunset Park is a good idea as observed by members of the Paris Park Board. The best way of monitoring the park is up for debate.
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CASEY— On Jan. 12, 1981, Charles Lamb was born in Paris. According to his friends and family, Lamb was an outdoorsman and hero, a family man with a signature smile who enjoyed fishing and …
KANSAS – Residents of the small, sleepy town of Kansas reported hearing gunshots, sirens and the whirring rotors of a helicopter on Friday, June 28.
Shortly after 2 p.m., “six to …
A fatal, two-vehicle accident at the intersection of State Route 1 and 1400 North resulted in a mass mobilization of emergency responders and the closure of the highway late Thursday, June 27.
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Paris High School is one step closer to transportation independence following a special meeting on Wednesday, May 29, held by the Paris 95 Board of Education. The district hired a familiar face as …
An art exhibit titled “Works by the Wabash Valley Art Guild” runs until July 12 at the Link Art Gallery, where 65 works by near-local artists can be found.
The exhibit includes …
CHRISMAN— Down two commissioners, the city of Chrisman proceeded with its June 19 council meeting, the same evening of the community’s zip code day celebration.
The daylong event was …
Publisher’s Note: This article references courtroom testimony and accounts of sexual exploitation, sexual acts and assault carried out against a minor. Reader discretion is advised.
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Edgar County, alongside much of the Midwest, received its first true taste of annual summer thunderstorms on Tuesday, June 25. A large storm front swept across the area, leaving downed trees, power …
CHRISMAN —Zip Code Day went off without a flaw Wednesday, June 19, and was such a success that locals want to duplicate it several more times for the summer.
Kids activities ran from 11 …
The Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD) met in the early morning of June 18 in their regular, monthly meeting where they discussed hiring an additional dentist from Champaign.
If …
Edgar and Clark County residents now have immediate access to a variety of health and human services close to home, all by dialing three numbers.
The 211 hotline is a free information and …
Making an impact
On a bright summer day that would typically lend itself to a trip to the lake or an ice cream run, April Burns spent Saturday, June 15 doing something quite different. Burns, accompanied by a trio of …
Life in rural Edgar County comes with plenty of perks, but consistent access to high-speed internet is rarely one of them. As of Thursday, June 13, the State of Illinois is one step closer to …
HUME — With summer in full swing, preparations for the next school year are fully underway for Community Unit School District 1. Members of the school board met on the evening of Monday, June …
REDMON—On Mother’s Day, a truck driver named Sam brought a surprise to Ruth Erwin at Redmond Pit Stop. He wrote a poem to celebrate her passion and the dedication she displays at the …
The fifth annual “Unofficial Fourth of July Parade” is July 4.
All vehicles including tractors, side-by-sides, four-wheelers, motorcycles, etc. are welcome. Participants must display …
Keen observers may have noticed some new hardware at Sylvian Park in Paris. The last of three new pieces of playground equipment was installed at the park last week thanks to a collaboration between …
The Paris High School Board talked back and forth on next year’s fees, and took multiple votes, until they came to a consensus for the 2024-25 school year charges, when they met in their …
Three Paris 95 employees took one final bow after a career of distinguished service on Monday, June 10, during a Paris 95 Board of Education meeting.
Cheryl Mihalko, Kim Woods and Mindy Wooten …
The regular, bi-weekly city council meeting for the city of Paris June 10, was short and sweet with prompt approval of resolutions, disbursement of funds and the official approval for the …
Straight out of high school, Lauren McQueen took a job at Outback Steakhouse, a position she had for six years until she decided she wanted a change.
“I woke up one day and realized that I …
The Prairie Press was honored as the best large-circulation, non-daily newspaper in its class at the 2024 Illinois Press Association awards, held on Thursday, June 6 in downstate Bloomington.
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HUME— The village of Hume met Monday evening June 10, for two separate meetings. During a brief, five-minute budget hearing village trustees detailed the town’s projected yearly budget …
The Shrine Barbecue on Saturday, June 8, was a relaxed celebration during the last days of spring, before the summer heat kicks into action.
Former Shrine kid Dustin Pruett, the honorary grand …
In the early morning of July 6, Athena Terrian and her family will be jetting off to Oahu, Hawaii thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children.
Athena and her family …
Members of the Paris 95 Board of Education felt an all-too-familiar dread during a Monday, June 10 meeting. Another grant awarded to the district has been audited, and Paris 95 may be on the hook for …
Patience is a virtue – a virtue the Edgar County Board, the Edgar County Sheriff’s Department and construction consultants on the multi-year, multi-million dollar Edgar County Public …
On Saturday, June 15, the first annual Our Walk for Menopause Awareness takes place at West Twin Lakes Park. Check-in is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. with the walk beginning at 10:30 a.m.
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CHRISMAN – A familiar face returned to the Chrisman City Council during its Monday, May 3 meeting.
Danny Owen, former Mayor of Chrisman, was sworn into the council once more, this time as …
CHRISMAN – Inside the walls of the Chrisman Public Library, library director Cheri Oates, her staff and the library’s board are on a mission to keep kids learning through literature. …
CHRISMAN – Like many kids her age, seven-year-old Mikayla Hoult (soon to be eight) enjoys music, softball, dance and counting down the days to her next birthday. She may seem like a typical …
Growing up in the middle of Illinois, Victoria Leitch always knew she wanted to do something with her life, but what she was going to do was never perfectly clear. Ten years ago she never would have …
A conversation with a former co-worker sparked a new path for Paris native Sydney Melton, a track that led her inside the doors of The Prairie Press and to a desk in the back newsroom, where she …
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that the northbound lanes of Gilbert Street (Illinois 1/U.S. 150) over the Vermilion River in Danville will close June 10.
The lane closures …
Among updates on volleyball court creations, street closures and proposed expenditures for the city council to entertain in a future meeting, members of the Paris city council heard community news …
The Prospect Community Foundation (PCF) is a non-profit corporation created in 2021 with a mission to advance community health and wellness through philanthropy and support of the communities where …
An informational tea will be held Monday, at 6 p.m. June 10 at the 1870 House & Gardens, 423 W. Court St., Paris, for any young lady interested in becoming a contestant in the 2024 Miss Edgar …
Deborah Curtis, who recently completed 6½ years as president of Indiana State University (ISU), began her journey in Paris.
Curtis came to Paris as a newlywed with then-new Paris Tiger …
KANSAS—Kansas School District #3 has announced their fourth quarter award recipients and end of year award winners.
Perfect Attendance was awarded to Lady Macabebe, Landon McIntyre, Waylon …
CHRISMAN – Picturesque summer skies were obscured by thick, ominous plumes of black smoke over Chrisman on Monday, June 3 when a garage caught fire southwest of town. The fire was first …
CHRISMAN — Zip Code Day is coming to Chrisman, an event that occurs for most people just once in a lifetime.
Kids activities will run from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and other activities will run from …
Patience is an admirable trait, both for golfers on the green and park board members looking to update the green.
Once again, the Twin Lakes Park mini golf course was a topic of extensive …
The Paris Council began its regular meeting Tuesday, May 28, by vacating an alley in town, to allow use of a parking lot in a public hearing held 10 minutes before the regular meeting. The alley in …
Paris firefighters, first responders and local police officers responded to reports of smoke and flames at the local Hardees on S. Main, just after 11 a.m. on June 3.
The restaurant was swiftly …
New information has emerged regarding an investigation into the misuse of grant funding at Paris Union School District 95 following a civil suit against the district.
A heavily redacted subpoena …
“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.”
Those words, …
MARSHALL—After nearly 20 years of service, Lion’s Den Pizzeria in Marshall, Ill. announced its permanent closure this week in a social media post. The last day of business was Friday, May …
The wait is up for the Shriners Barbecue Weekend, an early June tradition each year with live entertainment and great food.
The three-day weekend is June 7, 8 and 9, with the annual Shriners …
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A local personality, known as the singing janitor, has been catapulted to national stardom on the stage of a TV talent competition. Richard Goodall, a Terre Haute native, …
New information has emerged regarding the misuse of grant funding at Paris Union School District 95 following a civil suit against the district. A heavily redacted subpoena sent to the …
In a post-COVID and increasingly digitized society, many social spaces are falling into decline, disuse, or both. Paris boasts 12 unique parks, and the city’s Park Board is doing its best to …
This week, Horizon Health joined healthcare providers across the country to celebrate a special milestone – the 50th annual iteration of EMS Week. EMS Week serves as a celebration of the …
JOEY TIBBS IS PUTTING HIS HANDS AND PASSIONS TO WORK CRAFTING WOODEN SIGNS WITH MEANING
Joey Tibbs, a Paris native, started 22 Rounds to have a second income, on top of another job and an already busy family life.
Tibbs was working part-time as a merchandiser for Nestle on weekends …
After years of planning and design work, the Edgar County Public Safety Center (ECPSC), the successor to the current county jail, is officially approved and moving toward construction. However, the …
For years, the indoor pool located at 109 E Madison Street in Paris has sat almost entirely silent and still. This week, that changed.
After some initial preparation in April, demolition work is …
CLINTON, Ind.— The Clintonian, owned by Heartland Media Group, has closed its doors and ended publication permanently. In recent years, the newspaper has decreased its number of publication …
HUME — When Morgan Wilhoit graduated from Shiloh High School in 2013, she headed to the University of Illinois to pursue a bachelor’s in Elementary Education believing she knew what her …
This week, Horizon Health joined healthcare providers across the country to celebrate a special milestone – the 50th annual iteration of EMS Week. EMS Week serves as a celebration of the …
CHRISMAN—The Chrisman School Board met Monday, May 20, in its regular meeting, where maintenance projects were front and center.
In New Business, they decided that work on the Centennial …
HUME— The school year might be rolling to a close but the work for Community Unit School District 1 (CUSD#1) is still plentiful. Members of the board gathered Monday, May 21 for its regular, …
NEWMAN — The small town of Newman has experienced its first murder in more than 60 years.
During the early morning hours of Monday, May 20, law enforcement responded to reports of a …
Childcare – or the lack of it – is a major concern among local industries and businesses but PEDCO is prepared to tackle the problem, according to the group’s president Bob Colvin.
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HUME— The village of Hume held a meeting Monday, May 13, discussing various aspects of the town’s plans for the next fiscal year. When it came to the payment of past bills, members of the …
“Some people don’t deserve to be in college, and you’re one of them,” the professor said.
For Billie Jean Galbreath Blair, the recipient of the stabbing remark, her …
Publisher’s Note: This article includes courtroom testimony and evidence referencing sexual exploitation carried out against minors. Reader discretion is advised.
A Chrisman resident …
