Local

Contested races emerge in Ford County on Day 1 of filing period for March primary


PAXTON — On the first day candidates could file their paperwork to be listed on the March 19 primary election ballot, contested races were already taking shape in Ford County. Day 1 of the filing period came to a close Monday with contests lined up for the position of Ford County circuit clerk and seats in Districts 1 and 2 […]

‘Amusement tax’ eyed on ticket sales for concerts at The Cadillac


PAXTON — Paxton aldermen agreed Monday night to meet again sometime after the Thanksgiving holiday to further discuss a proposed 3% “amusement tax” that would be added to the price of admission to concerts and other so-called for-profit “amusements” hosted at local venues like The Cadillac. The proposed tax, which is expected to be up for approval at either December […]

Market Street Grill here to provide ‘a great experience and a great meal’


PAXTON — As general manager of the newly opened Market Street Grill in downtown Paxton, Ryan Galey takes a lot of pride in providing excellent food and service to his clientele, with the goal that doing so will bring people back again and again. Having spent the bulk of his adult life working in food service management, the 53-year-old Galey […]

Gibson City native tells tale of family’s 1867 immigration to Ford County

GIBSON CITY — Tom Dueringer of Smyrna, Tenn., formerly of the Gibson City area, presented the Ford County Historical Society with a gift on behalf of the Dueringer family — an 1860 version of a map of Illinois — during its Nov. 16 meeting at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City. Dueringer presented the gift to the group after […]

Local author and nurse embarks on literary journey

LODA — Valerie (Bachman) Wright, a 1995 graduate of Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School, recently published a book titled “NICU Nursing Stories: A Day in the Life of an NICU Nurse.” Wright graduated from Mennonite College of Nursing in 1999 and began her career as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she worked for 14 years. She […]

Kayden Snelling will ‘try to give back’ as Paxton Park District’s recreation director

PAXTON – Kayden Snelling has a noticeable desire to help people. Shortly before stepping inside the Paxton Civic Center for an interview with the Ford County Chronicle, Snelling noticed a patron with a cup of coffee sitting atop their vehicle and stopped them before they drove off and spilled their coffee. “I love helping people,” Snelling said. Snelling will have […]

Paxton Park District sets registration fee for GCMS students to join youth basketball

PAXTON — The Paxton Park District’s Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday, Nov. 14, to set the registration fee at $75 for Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school district students who participate in the park district’s youth basketball program this winter. Meanwhile, other participants not living in Paxton or attending Paxton-Buckley-Loda schools will pay $65. The additional $10 charged to GCMS students will […]

Paxton Police Blotter: Arrests made for traveling to meet minor, cannabis manufacturing, retail theft


PAXTON — The Paxton Police Department released the following list of recent activity: — Shawn D. Symons, 28, of Piper City, was arrested for violation of a no-contact order, obstructing justice/identification and threatening a public official during a traffic stop at 12:21 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, on northbound Interstate 57 near mile post 263, just north of Paxton. The traffic […]

1% sales tax to benefit Ford County schools may be put before voters


PAXTON — Ford County’s three public school districts are considering the possibility of asking voters next year to authorize the establishment of a 1% countywide sales tax that would be used to maintain and improve school facilities. Initial discussions about pursuing a referendum for a 1% county school facility tax — possibly in March’s primary or November’s general election — […]

‘WE SALUTE YOU!’: Tim Hess reflects on 25 years as PBL’s band director


PAXTON — About midway through Friday morning’s Veterans Day observance at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School, Tim Hess took a moment to reflect on the past 25 years as the school’s band director and to thank his fellow veterans, community leaders and especially his students for making him proud to call Paxton his “patriotic hometown.” Perhaps no other person in the gymnasium […]


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