SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday he is “given up” on an adequate coronavirus response from the federal government and announced an expansion of emergency child care during his daily COVID-19 briefing Sunday in Chicago.
Updated Wednesday, April 1
Despite the unsettling times, members of the Gifford and Rantoul communities are doing their best to put smiles on people’s faces.
RANTOUL — Although the entire state went on a soft lockdown March 21, restaurants have been scrambling to stay open since March 16. That is when the Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all restaurants and bars to close except for dine-in and carry-out only.
POTOMAC — The Potomac Food Pantry will still hold its distribution at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at the old ambulance building, with a few modifications due to the stay-in-place order. It will be a drive-up pickup arrangement. Patrons will give their names and remain in their vehicle. The …
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Area students may be spending more time at home, but they aren’t getting a break from their studies due to the COVID-19-induced schools shutdown. They’re still learning.
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RANTOUL — Officials at two Rantoul golf courses that were told by the state they could be reopen in the midst of the COVID-19 scare have now been told they have to shut down again — dampening the mood of area players.
WATSEKA — A man in his 50s is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Iroquois County.
CHAMPAIGN — The number of persons diagnosed with COVID-19 in Illinois continues to rise. As of today, there are 10 confirmed cases in Champaign County.
On Saturday, March 28, ChambanaMoms.com, You’re Welcome CU, and Visit Champaign County will host Takeout & A Toast for Champaign County virtually though Facebook.
RANTOUL — Schae Rutledge has been named Rantoul Exchange Club student of the month for March.
RANTOUL — PRO Ambulance personnel have responded to a “handful” of calls where the patients’ symptoms have mirrored those of COVID-19 in the past couple of weeks, Director Bob Holloway said, but to date none of those have tested positive for the virus.
Note: This column will have more news telling what is not happening in our area right now, due to you-know-what (if the word isn’t mentioned, maybe it will go away?!). Please note the e-mail address at the end of the column if there is something about which you’d like to notify our community…
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RANTOUL — Like students everywhere, Lincoln’s Challenge Academy cadets will not be continuing classes/duties until at least the end of March. Whether cadets will have to wait to resume classes the next semester remains to be seen.
The Fisher High School scholastic bowl team is regional champion.
RANTOUL — An event to honor the Tuskegee Airmen in Rantoul this month has been postponed over concerns regarding the coronavirus.
FISHER — The Fisher Village Board voted to contribute $2,000 toward the membership of the Fisher Area Business Association in the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.
LUDLOW — The village of Ludlow might be preparing to borrow money at just the right time for its new water main project.
RANTOUL — In an effort to improve student ownership of the school, Rantoul Township High School administrators are forming a 67-student leadership team drawn from this year’s freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
ROYAL — Top Quality Roofing was selected to install the new roof on South Elementary this summer.
RANTOUL — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Gifford will sponsor a food distribution Saturday, March 28, at Community Service Center, 520 E. Wabash Ave., Rantoul.
POTOMAC — Two Potomac-Armstrong basketball players were recently honored with an invitation to the All-State Junior High Classic, held at Lincoln College.
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RANTOUL — Rantoul village officials would still like to name a street Tuskegee Drive, but the original location was scrapped for now.
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DEWEY — If America grinds to a halt because of the coronavirus, farmers could see lower corn prices, a University of Illinois agricultural economist told farmers in Dewey.
Keith C. Kesler, 95, of rural Urbana died Sunday, March 15, 2020, at Country Health Care & Rehab in Gifford.
James “Paul” Lafary, 102, of Paxton, formerly of Rantoul, died at 3:24 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2020, at Accolade of Paxton Senior Living.
RANTOUL — Rantoul Public Library will be closed from March 17 until at least March 30.
In the light of Gov. JB Pritzker’s order that all Illinois schools will be closed from March 17 through the end of the month, Rantoul City Schools and Rantoul Township High School will work together to provide meals for school children starting March 23.
RANTOUL — Effective Saturday morning, the village of Rantoul will be closing Forum Fitness Center and Rantoul Youth Center until further notice due to concerns over the coronavirus.
URBANA — A Rantoul man and Gifford woman who were in a stolen car that had a gun and other people’s debit cards and checks have been charged with a number of crimes.
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all schools in the state to close from March 17 to the end of the month.
RANTOUL — An event to honor the Tuskegee Airmen in Rantoul this month has been postponed over concerns regarding the coronavirus.
Local long-term-care facilities for senior citizens are taking precautions to prevent the coronavirus from affecting their residents.
URBANA — The polling place at Rantoul’s Eagle’s View Supportive Living and Memory Care is one of three area long-term-care facilities in Champaign County that will not be used as a polling place for Tuesday’s primary election.
URBANA — A new Champaign County treasurer was set to be on the job Wednesday morning.
RANTOUL — A health fair sponsored by the village of Rantoul will focus on more than physical health.
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THOMASBORO — Retired Champaign County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Shumate is back on the job as Thomasboro chief of police.
Former Rantoul village trustee Gary Wilson, who mounted an unsuccessful run for mayor two years ago, was returned to the village board Tuesday night.
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RANTOUL — Officer Jerry King spoke to the assembled multitude at The Linden Banquet Center about life as a police officer. Much of the time, his son, Raylan, showed the cranky side of a 2-year-old who was in need of a nap.
The 2018 Farm Leader of the Year banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign on Monday, March 25, 2019.
Fisher's homecoming pep rally at Kellar Field in Fisher on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018.
The 2018 Commencement at Rantoul High School in Rantoul on Friday, May 25, 2018.
Images from a rehearsal of She Loves Me, the musical that inspired the films "The Shop Around The Corner" and "You've Got Mail" in the Tryon Festival Theatre of Krannert Center. Peformances open Thursday, April 26, 2018.
The Rantoul Christmas Parade, Friday, December 1, 2017 in downtown Rantoul.
The Champaign Center Partnership presents the 17th Annual Christie Clinic Parade of Lights, this years theme "Miracle on Neil Street" features family friendly fun with carriage rides, visits with Santa, the Parade of Lights and the lighting of the downtown Christmas Tree. Saturday, November …
The Fisher Homecoming Parade in downtown Fisher on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017
The Power Wheels Demolition Derby at the Fisher Fair on Thursday, July 13, 2017.
At the Fisher Fair Queen and Little Miss pageant at the Fisher Fair on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Follow us on Instagram here
Rantoul High School's commencement ceremony at the school in Rantoul on Friday, May 26, 2017.
