Sometime soon after Ed Hanson was appointed as director of the Paxton Emergency Response Service in June 2007, I mistakenly printed his name incorrectly, calling him Ed “Hancock.” I can’t remember if he pointed it out — or if instead I saw it and told him I did it — but I nevertheless made sure I owned my mistake and,... READ MORE >
NORMAL — Earthrise Energy announced Thursday its establishment of a $22,200 grant to fund four scholarships for students pursuing a certificate in renewable energy skills at Heartland Community College in Normal. The Arlington, Va.- based company launched its RISE Grant program to help fund local initiatives that champion excellence in education, protect the environment and support the communities where Earthrise... READ MORE >
PAXTON — After hearing assurances from the owners of an eyesore downtown building that they are committed to making further improvements to that building and two others they own in the Market Street business district, the Paxton City Council agreed to use tax-increment financing (TIF) district revenue to support a small part of the planned work. During an adjourned meeting... READ MORE >
GIBSON CITY — An attorney for a Mahomet-based contractor hired in 2022 to install a spray-foam roof at Gibson City Hall has threatened to sue the Ford County Chronicle for libel and slander if it does not immediately retract a story it published about the firm’s owner’s unfulfilled promises to the city council to replace that roof — which is... READ MORE >
PAXTON — In her 67 years on earth — all in Paxton — Teri Hancock dedicated her time and efforts to her hometown. As the founder of the Paxton Revitalization Initiative for Downtown Enhancement, more commonly known as the acronym PRIDE, Mrs. Hancock worked for four decades to organize annual holiday events in Paxton and add Christmas decorations to the... READ MORE >
PAXTON — The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce recently purchased 10 benches and donated them to the city of Paxton for installation downtown and at city parks. “Whether you are enjoying a cup of coffee or shopping downtown or maybe even taking the family out to explore our parks and new park equipment, we hope you enjoy a place to... READ MORE >
GIBSON CITY — An attorney for a Mahomet-based contractor hired in 2022 to install a spray-foam roof at Gibson City Hall has threatened to sue the Ford County Chronicle for libel and slander if it does not immediately retract a story it published about the firm’s owner’s unfulfilled promises to the city council to replace that roof — which is... READ MORE >
GIBSON CITY — The newly formed Gibson City chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) will complete its first “community build” on Saturday, April 27, when volunteers from the public will help the chapter’s “core team” build up to 20 beds for children in need in Gibson City and the surrounding area.. In preparation, the first “core team build” was... READ MORE >
PAXTON — A week after its administrator unexpectedly resigned, the Ford County Public Health Department already has named a replacement. The board of health approved the promotion of Seth Russell to the position of interim administrator on Tuesday, April 16, pending the Illinois Department of Public Health’s approval. Then on Friday, April 19 — exactly one week after Donald “Donny”... READ MORE >
PAXTON — A proposal to reimburse the owner of a downtown building $6,000 for the replacement of the tattered awning above its front entrance was met with hesitancy by aldermen during last week’s monthly meeting of the city council. Even though all seven aldermen present appeared in favor of using funds generated from the city’s tax-increment financing (TIF) district to... READ MORE >
