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JCJ News

OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Persuing Pain

For nearly 20 years I have been going to Missouri to hunt during the first week of November. My schedule has always been the same. Arrive one morning, hang a tree stand late that morning, and hunt that afternoon. I like for my first hunt to be in the afternoon so that everything is situated…

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RIDGE RUNNER CHRONICLES: Is This the Future of College Football?

I don’t follow college football anymore. With the new portal rules, the influx of big money (thanks to NIL and alums who are way too rich) and the confusing and ongoing ramifications of the House v NCAA settlement, it just adds to the list of things that get me confused; college football is becoming much…

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Forest Advocates Applaud Durbin Proposal to Protect Key Areas of Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest

Illinois conservation organizations are applauding new legislation introduced Wednesday by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to provide increased protection to three of the largest uninterrupted areas of southern Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. The proposal would establish the Camp Burke Branch, Camp Hutchins and Ripple Hollow Special Management Areas, protecting them from any commercial extraction activity…

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Illinois Soybean Association Elects New Board Leadership

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) elected new leadership during its annual public meeting on July 22 in Champaign, Ill. At the meeting, Bryan Severs was elected Chairman of ISA, replacing outgoing Chairman, Ron Kindred. Severs is a third-generation farmer in Vermillion County, where his family raises corn, soybeans and cattle. He has served as ISA’s…

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Twelve Promoted Through Helmkamp Construction’s New Field Leadership Structure

Helmkamp Construction Company is proud to announce a strategic enhancement to its operational leadership structure as General Superintendent Brandon Howard unveils a new superintendent framework designed to foster professional growth and success among field management. This updated structure reflects Helmkamp’s continued commitment to investing in its people and building clear pathways for career advancement. The…

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Let’s Cook! – August 7, 2025

A few years ago, I printed an easy to make lemonade recipe, and I’d like to share it again. This recipe came from Linda Nollau, who inherited the recipe from Esther Nollau who cooked for many years at a restaurant.

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Davidsmeyer stands up for Second Amendment rights, denounces Pritzker’s failures on public safety

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed another unconstitutional gun restriction into law this week. On Monday, Gov. Pritzker signed the so-called “Safe Gun Storage Act” into law. Senate Bill 8 imposes new mandates requiring gun owners to store firearms in locked containers when in the presence of minors, prohibited persons, or “at-risk” individuals. The bill is…

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West Nile Virus found in Greene County

By Carmen Ensinger River County News The Greene County Health Department has confirmed two positive mosquito pools for West Nile Virus (WNV) located in Greene County. The WNV is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has contracted the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Some of the more common WNV symptoms include…

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Army Corps of Engineers celebrates World Ranger Day

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will recognize World Ranger Day July 31. This annual worldwide celebration commemorates rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and celebrates the work rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural resources. USACE park rangers play a crucial role in safeguarding the environment, ensuring visitor…

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