By CHARLES MAGUMBA Freedom Project Following is a write-up by Charles Magumba on the feeding program that is developing into a one-stop support center for vulnerable children, including orphans and those struggling with general poverty in and around Iganga in Eastern Uganda. BACKGROUND I and Destiny established an organization called Freedom Project to provide spiritual and physical health to vulnerable […]
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Ford County property tax bills delayed yet again
PAXTON — The mailing of Ford County’s property tax bills to landowners has been delayed again — for the third time in four years. Ford County Clerk & Recorder Amy Frederick said Friday that the bills would not be mailed until after the tax cycle process reaches the treasurer’s office, which could be as much as a month away. Only […]

Paxton residents may want to opt out of electric aggregation program
PAXTON — Paxton residents who recently received a letter from Homefield Energy notifying them of the opportunity to opt out of the city’s newly reinstated electric aggregation program may want to do so — soon. Those who do not complete and return the opt-out form attached to Homefield Energy’s letter by Friday, June 16, will be paying more in electric […]

Chicago-style hot dogs among offerings at Lucky’s Place of Paxton
PAXTON — Victor Torres knows a thing or two about Chicago-style hot dogs, having worked decades ago as a teenager at his parents’ two Windy City restaurants. Living in Paxton for the past 15 years, the 53-year-old Torres has long wanted to bring the classic, all-beef hot dog to his fellow residents of the Ford County community of 4,450. Come […]

GCMS High School junior remembered as ‘amazing young man’
GIBSON CITY — The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school district is mourning the loss of a GCMS High School junior who died in a one-vehicle crash in rural Ford County on Tuesday, May 30. In a statement posted on the district’s Facebook page, Superintendent Jeremy Darnell announced with “great sadness” the untimely death of Colin Kristensen, 17, a member of the class […]

Paxton’s Collette Lee to appear on ‘Jeopardy!’
PAXTON — While growing up in Paxton, Collette Lee and her three siblings spent plenty of afternoons watching the game show “Jeopardy!” with their parents, Ellen and Tony. It was on at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays in those days — just in time for the elder Lees to arrive home from their respective jobs as attorneys and for their four […]

Paxton native Gina Miles living her dream after winning ‘The Voice’
LOS ANGELES — It was not easy and was at times scary, but Gina Miles rose to the occasion time and time again, outperforming her fellow contestants and impressing celebrity coaches and a national audience, to win Season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice.” Winning the reality-television singing competition earned the 19-year-old native of Paxton, whose legal name is Gina Galey, […]

Time to celebrate: Paxton LGBTQ Pride March set for June 11
PAXTON — Tyger McClure knew from an early age — about 7 years old, he recalled — that he was different from his peers growing up in the small town of Paxton. In high school, after rumors were started revealing he was gay, he was repeatedly bullied — and not just by his fellow students. “I had one (teacher) who […]

‘The Voice’ finalist Gina Miles: ‘I think I’ve learned to trust in my own ability’
LOS ANGELES — The nerves were real for Gina Miles last fall and winter, when she first sang in front of the panel of four celebrity coaches for Season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice.” Filmed in preparation for airing earlier this spring, the popular singing-competition reality TV series’ first four rounds of elimination — the blind auditions, battles, knockouts and […]

PBL’s Cahill earns state title at IESA Class 3A state track meet
EAST PEORIA – Jackson Cahill earned an IESA Class 3A state championship on Saturday. Cahill finished in first place in the discus with a throw of 116-0 at the 3A seventh-grade boys’ state meet. “It’s amazing. I didn’t expect to win. I don’t know if I was even ranked in the top five,” Cahill said. “I don’t know how to […]