Melissa Cooper with CARE Charity speaks to the Fairbury City Council Wednesday night. Melissa Cooper with the local CARE Charity appeared before members of the Fairbury City Council Wednesday night seeking permission to hold a Fall Fling event featuring vendors, a car show, food trucks and kid activities. They would like to reserve North Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19. “We are always taking donations,” Cooper explained. Mayor David Slagel told Cooper Larry Ray, who ha

Students at Prairie Central High School in Fairbury will transition into a modified block schedule in the fall of 2027. “This is a process that has taken a long time,” PCHS Principal Wade Czerwonka told members of the PC Board of Education Tuesday night. Czerwonka refers to the new schedule as a positive for both students and teachers, saying the current system puts kids at a disadvantage when it comes to testing. He feels this would be a more natural pace for everyone involv

Residents of Fairbury and surrounding locations now have another option for local information and sports coverage, in addition to FairburyNews.net . Casson Media has purchased local radio station 93.7 FM, now known as Route 24 Radio, with the call letters of WPOK. The station is licensed to Pontiac and has a strong reach throughout all of Central Illinois. This is an expansion of the current Route 24 Radio online radio programming which adds the over-the-air component for sho

Many of us remember our grandparents having a hand-cranked Victrola record player in their homes. It is hard to imagine everyday life in America in the early 1920s. Radios were just being introduced, and there was no television or Internet. For home entertainment, many families read books, magazines, and local newspapers. Wealthier families might have an upright piano to play or sing along with. Card games and parlor games like checkers and dominoes were standard evening ente

130 Years Ago March 7, 1896 The framework of the new residence being built by J. K. Shook for C. W. Neitz on Ash Street is raised. The lady clerks of W. J. Bethard's east end emporium are taking their turns in enjoying their vacations nowadays. Grace Zehr was absent from her place last week, while this week Mattie Henry is absent. Miss Mayme Phillips closed a very successful term of school in district No. 6 last week. Belle Prairie — The Freeman land tenants are putting up "n

Joan M. Hall, 88, of Cropsey, passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Serenity Villa in Fairbury, IL. Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 9:30 – 11:00 am at the Cropsey Methodist Church. Funeral service will begin at 11:00 am at Cropsey Methodist Church with Pastor Wayne Giermann officiating. Lunch and fellowship will follow the service. Memorial donations may be made in Joan’s name to the Cropsey Fire Dept. and the

JoAnn “Annie” Holmes, 86, Fairbury, died at 12:20 pm Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury. Annie was born September 28, 1939, in Fairbury, IL the daughter of Russell and Bernice Haab Lindenbaum. She married Merle Holmes on December 12, 1970, in Pontiac, IL. He preceded her in death on September 21, 2019. Survivors include one sister, Jane Righter, Fairbury, one niece, Lori (Randy) Weber, one nephew, Jeff (Diana) Lindenbaum, great nieces an

Michael Paul Hammond, 58, of Henry, formerly of Fairbury, passed away at 7:36 am, March 4, 2026, at OSF St. Clare Medical Center, Princeton. There will be a graveside service held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury with Pastor Charles Mendoza officiating. Visitation will be noon to 12:45 pm Wednesday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church of Fairbury. Michael was born, January 11, 1

The Fairbury Area Chamber of Commerce was founded by four businessmen in 1951. The year 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of this organization. It is hard to imagine the mood and business climate in Fairbury in the early 1950s. The Korean War started in 1950, and people were hoping it would end soon. The war ended in 1953, ushering in a stretch of peace and prosperity. In the early 1950s, the economy was strong: factories were busy, farm prices were relatively good, and sma

The Fairbury water plant shown Wednesday evening. A quote has been approved by the Fairbury City Council to repair the bulk water service area at the city’s water treatment plant. Water Superintendent Mike Mellott recommended going with galvanized material because of its strength. “Both companies are quoting the same material,” Mellott explained. Mellott suggested the bulk water fill be shut down during winter or limited to the first shift to ensure it gets drained. While thi

130 Years Ago February 29, 1896 It is announced that J. A. Willhoite, of Colfax, has bought the interest of Wallace Hemphill in the drug firm of Payne & Hemphill. Fairbury Chapter, No. 198, O. E. S., conferred the degrees upon the following candidates on Tuesday evening: Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Thomas, Mrs. E. A. Agard, Mrs. Thomas Scouler, Jr., and H. B. Taylor. A banquet was served following the work. Married at the residence of the bride's parents, on Thursday evening, Februa

Donna Steffens Billington (93) passed away on March 2, 2026, while residing at Evenglow Senior Living, Pontiac, IL. Donna was born in Magnolia, IL. She was preceded in death by her twin brother, Donald and her older sister, Mariam Oelschlager. Donna married Robert Billington in August 1952. They enjoyed 72 years of marriage together before his death in 2024. Bob and Donna are survived by their daughter Kathy (Denny) Vaughan, and their son Don ( Marcy), four grandsons, and fi

Kurt D. Rieger, 58, Bloomington, died at 11:53 pm Thursday, February26, 2026 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. A private graveside service will be held at Forrest Twp. Cemetery at a later date. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Kurt Rieger family through the Venmo QR Code below. Kurt was born August 1, 1967, in Kankakee, IL. The son of Keith David and Beverly A. Shive Rieger. He married Cindy Coyer on Ma

Harume “Hodie” Creek, 67, Fairbury, died at 7:37 am Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at her residence, Fairbury. Her memorial visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Inurnment will be at a later date. The family suggests memorials be directed to SELCAS or the Prairie Central Sports Boosters. Hodie was born March 12, 1958, in Shelbyville, IL the daughter of Herbert Euel and Tsuruko Tamayose Zientara. Survivors include one

Raymond Leslie Bess (1924-2011) grew up in Fairbury and served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. While he was in the Navy, a military reporter interviewed him, and a 78 RPM vinyl record was made with this interview. One of these vinyl records was recently discovered, and the audio interview has now been permanently preserved as a digital file. The story of the Bess family began with the birth of John Henry Bess in 1868 at Lutesville in Bollinger County, M

The Oak Ridge Boys at the previous Fairbury Fair, file photo. The Fairbury Fair Board is thrilled to announce the grandstand concert lineup for the 2026 Fairbury Fair—a milestone 150th anniversary celebration. To mark this historic year, the board has gone above and beyond to deliver an unforgettable entertainment experience, featuring not one, but two nights of national acts in the grandstand. On Thursday, August 20, the fair welcomes acclaimed Christian artist Big Daddy W

Peter Laubenheimer was one of Fairbury's first business leaders. Unfortunately, he developed mental issues late in life, and his own daughter had to shoot him in self-defense. The story of the Laubenheimer family began with the birth of Philip Laubenheimer in 1803 in Germany. In 1824, Philip Laubenheimer married Gertrude Starck in Germany. Philip and Gertrude Starck had seven children. One of these children, Justus Peter Laubenheimer, was born in 1832 in Germany. In 1842,

Cub Scouts Pack 3170 is officially up and running in Fairbury, and local families are invited to join a growing program designed to support character development, outdoor adventure and community involvement for the area youth. Launched in 2025, Pack 3170 is building momentum as it enters into a full year of activities in 2026. The pack is led by Cubmaster Katie Burke and supported by a team of dedicated parent volunteers who are committed to providing a fun, structured, and m

PC Board President John Wilken, left, and member Ben Stoller shown Thursday in Fairbury. A building design has been approved by members of the Prairie Central Board of Education for the future elementary facility planned for a location along Seventh Street in Fairbury. Representatives from BLDD Architects and Vissering Construction were present at last Thursday’s regular board meeting to present information. “The entire process has been very educational,” observed PC Superint

130 Years Ago February 15, 1896 The G. W. Vickory family has moved here from Wolcott, Ind., and are occupying the Dever property. Miss Mayme Braun and Miss Louise Gillette spent Sunday in Chatsworth, guests of Miss Orra Smith and Miss Bessie Brown. The people who have been wanting snow are being satisfied. It started snowing Wednesday, and by Thursday morning was over five inches deep. There was no wind with it and the sleighing is fine. Cropsey — The two-inch lumber has been