One person was hospitalized after a three-car wreck earlier this week in Fairbury. Three people refused treatment, according to the Fairbury Police Department, following the accident at the intersection of Oak Street (Route 24) and Seventh Street. Authorities say the first car was stopped to turn north onto Seventh Street Tuesday evening when the at-fault party failed to reduce speed, hitting the car and causing a chain reaction crash.  One car was towed from the scene and a

Wallace John Ross, Jr., 96, of Fairbury, passed away at 3:30 pm, December 7, 2025, at Serenity Villa, Fairbury. Cremation has been accorded.  Wallace was born November 9, 1929, in Iron River, MI, the son of Wallace John Ross, Sr. and Odeth Mary (Fregetto) Ross. He first married Betty Mearl Williams on December 1950. She died September 1984. He then married Mary Lynn Hoffman on July 1999. She died July 2023. Surviving are his children, R. Michael (Karen) Ross of Monmouth, OR,

The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) held its December meeting at Seamless Getaways Quilting in Forrest. Owner Linda Lambert gave an informational presentation and tour. The December CLSC meeting included 17 members.

Sam Slagel shown with her parents at Prairie Central HS, photo provided. Prairie Central High School has announced Sam Slagel has signed her Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Concordia University Wisconsin. Sam has had a remarkable career as a member of the Prairie Central Softball Program. A three-year varsity starter at shortstop, she has been a cornerstone of the team’s success. Despite playing only three seasons, Sam shattered the career hom

Julie Kaye Timmons, 67 passed away on Tuesday December 2, 2025 at her home in Grapevine, Texas after a courageous two year battle with Glioblastoma. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church, Fairbury. Pastor Mendoza will be officiating. Inurnment will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 pm, also on Saturday at the Fairbury VFW. Julie Kaye Aberle was born March 14,1

Margaret Cairns was born in Fairbury and became a national leader in the temperance and women's suffrage movement. Her father, Reb. James Cairns, was minister at the First Baptist Church built in Fairbury in 1865. The WCTU (Women's Christian Temperance Union) was founded in Ohio in 1873 and became the largest group advocating for women's rights in the United States. Margaret Cairns–Munns (1870-1957) was born in Fairbury, and she became the National Treasurer of the WTCU from

Fairbury city officials have approved a resolution and land purchase agreement with the Prairie Central school district. This is for the lot between the high school and sewer plant which covers over seven acres. Attorneys for the both the city and school came to an agreement on contract language. “It has been looked over,” stated City Superintendent Brett Ashburn. “We don’t necessarily have plans for it immediately,” Mayor David Slagel told Fairbury News. “We have talked abou

130 Years Ago November 30, 1895 Rev. J. W. Porter has been re-engaged as pastor of the Christian Church at a salary of $900. The church has flourished under Rev. Porter, the present church building having been erected and 60 new members added. The awning in front of the Fairbury Steam Laundry gave way from the weight of snow, breaking considerable glass. Frank Culver, of Kalamazoo, Mich., with his corps of eight salesmen, is canvassing this vicinity in the interest of the Con

Fairbury’s Nov. 26 blood drive, held at the First United Methodist Church, collected 62 units. Kaitlyn Tabor and Brookelynn Lane-Barry were first-time donors. Donors reaching milestones were Will Barsema, Aaron Brock, and Craig Rudin, all two gallons. Aimee Boulware, five gallons; and Keith Parrish, 11 gallons. Also donating were Austin Fehr, Paul Fairley, Barbara Schlatter, June Yoder, Montie Gerber, Beau Popejoy, Michael Kessinger, John Teubel, Nancy Kahle, Michael Palen, C

Gift card winners at the November Fairbury Prairie Farmers 4-H Club meeting. The Fairbury Prairie Farmers 4-H Club held its November meeting on Monday, November 17 at the Fairbury United Methodist Church. Talks and demonstrations were given by Reese Meyer, Garrett Zehr, Kenton Zehr, and Cade Freed. The program for the evening was to make college care packages for those who were members of our 4-H club. 4-Hers and Cloverbuds wrote cards to the college students. The next meetin

Virginia Claudon doing her radio broadcast during WWII to offset the radio broadcasts of Tokyo Rose, photo via Library of Congress/Dale Maley for Fairbury News. During World War II, several English-speaking women were hired by the Japanese Empire to broadcast propaganda on the radio to American service members in the Pacific Theater and their families in North America. The goal was to demoralize Allied forces abroad and their families back home. These women were commonly refe

Aniya Jae Young, 19, Springfield and formerly of Fairbury, died at 2:55 pm Saturday, November 22, 2025 at her residence, Springfield, IL. Aniya’s funeral will be 10:00 am Saturday, November 29, 2025 at the First Baptist Church, Fairbury with Pastor Daryl Evans officiating.  Burial will be in Forrest Twp. Cemetery, Forrest. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm Friday and 9:00 to 9:45 am Saturday at the church.  Per Aniya sister Alia’s request, the family is suggesting rather tha

By 1915, most of Fairbury's Civil War veterans had died. Their grandsons living in Fairbury had no real idea of how terrible war can really be. These grandsons were very patriotic and were ready to enlist in any new wars. The United States also had no experience with managing a conscription or mandatory draft system. In the last great military conflict, the Civil War, the Union Army received less than 2% of its soldiers through the draft. By definition, a conscientious object

Monday's disaster planning meeting held at the Edelman warehouse in Fairbury, photo provided. A disaster could happen anywhere.  That’s why an emergency planning meeting was held earlier this week in Fairbury with more than 70 in attendance. “Our numbers keep growing,” said Fairbury ESDA Director Deb Moran, referring to the annual meeting. Those attending Monday’s event at the Edelman warehouse include Public Health, SECLAS, Fairbury Fire, the mayor, council members, city sta

130 Years Ago November 16, 1895 John Kuenzi is putting up a large two-story house on his place north of town. C. W. Keck has sold his barber business and shop to Jay Tayler, and will devote his time mostly to the insurance business. Mr. Keck has been in the shop 15 years, 12 years as proprietor. School Notes — Miss Dell Steen, in the absence of the teacher, taught the eighth grade Monday morning. Miss Steen is as able to wield the rod as any of the teachers who have had sever

The Fairbury Comprehensive Plan map which indicates a zoning change for the new school. The Fairbury City Council has approved an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan for the new elementary building planned in the Prairie Central school district. This changes zoning in the area from R2 to “A” Country Estates for when the new school annexes into the city. They came up with the smoothest transition for annexation, according to City Superintendent Brett Ashburn. The city a

Mary Etta Mullen, 78, Fairbury, died at 10:49 am Friday, November 14, 2025 at her residence, Fairbury. Mary Etta was born March 26, 1947 in Fairbury, IL the daughter of Norval and Wilma (Nussbaum) Knapp.  She married Daniel Mullen on November 25, 1970 in Peoria, IL.  He survives in Fairbury. She is also survived by two daughters, Kate (Jeff) Austman, Forrest, and Martie (Jeff) Reese, Edgerton, WI; two sons, Daniel O. Mullen Jr., Arrowsmith, and Claigh Turpin, Morton; ten gran

A fire southeast of Fairbury Monday afternoon destroyed several vehicles and equipment. The race shop was a total loss, according to Forrest Strawn Wing Fire Chief Bud Honegger, but no injuries were reported. The cause of Monday’s fire is undetermined and multiple departments responded as several onlookers parked on neighboring roads to witness the firefighting efforts. A large smoke plume was visible from several miles away. No further information has been released from the

I have now researched and written over 360 articles about Fairbury area history. I am running out of ideas for new history stories. A few weeks ago, I was driving from Germantown Hills back to Fairbury on Route 24. I was thinking of some new stories to write about while I was driving.   I then got the idea for another story about John Virgin, one of Fairbury's most prominent early citizens. I knew I had already written one story about him, but I figured I could write another

130 Years Ago November 9, 1895 Thomas Langabeer has resigned his position in Keck's barber shop. He has purchased a half interest in Hillyer's shop, and the firm will hereafter be known as Hillyer & Langabeer. Anchor Burns — The village of Anchor was almost destroyed by fire on Monday afternoon. The fire started in Dr. Banks' frame office, which was destroyed together with the following other buildings: E. B. Stewart's three story single brick, occupied by Worley & Hester, ge