Category: Local

Middletown Prairie parents received an email Wednesday afternoon that two students at Middletown Prairie Elementary have tested positive for COVID-19 after the first day of school. “We are coordinating our efforts with Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive students to prevent further… Read more

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — As the state’s rolling COVID-19 test positivity rate increased again Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker and representatives of the University of Illinois announced a testing breakthrough which they said could eventually allow for greater suppression of new cases of the virus. The state’s flagship public university was granted U.S.… Read more

By FRED KRONER fred@mahometnews.com Mahomet-Seymour opened the junior high baseball season on Monday with a 12-4 win at Tolono Unity in Brian Bajer’s debut as the M-S head coach. The teams were locked in a scoreless battle until the Bulldogs plated four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Peyton Cox, the first of… Read more

By FRED KRONER fred@mahometnews.com Athletic Director Matt Hensley didn’t need to look far to find the next Mahomet-Seymour High School boys’ track and field coach. He was already in the building. In fact, the new coach already has a long history with the Bulldogs’ program. Keith Pogue served as the head coach for 13 years,… Read more

Champaign’s Mayor Deb Feinen issued to emergency orders Tuesday in efforts to curb an uptick in COVID-19 cases as students return to the University of Illinois.  “According to the modeling data provided by University of Illinois researchers, the next several weeks will be critical to making sure the spread of the Coronavirus doesn’t get out… Read more

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department has issued a COVID-19 Face Coverings and Gathering Restrictions Ordinance to protect the citizens and visitors within Champaign County from contracting SARS-Co V-2 (COVID-19) disease by preventing its transmission, and to promote public health.  Unlike the Illinois Department of Public Health emergency rule, which just applies to businesses and was… Read more

By FRED KRONER fred@mahometnews.com Nine years ago, a summer meal program was implemented for residents of the Candlewood neighborhood in east Mahomet. While the COVID-19 pandemic has altered many of life’s routines as we used to know them, the Candlewood summer meal program – after undergoing a restructuring in format – continued to thrive in… Read more

School begins tomorrow.  Seeing the challenges that lie ahead for school administrators, staff, students and parents, a group of approximately 20 people gathered at Lincoln Trail Elementary on Aug. 11 to pray over the upcoming school year. The event was originally scheduled for the night before, but a derecho passed through the area a couple… Read more

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) launched a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) travel map to help inform residents of potential risks associated with traveling during the pandemic today.  The map indicates countries and U.S. states with increased risk of COVID-19 based on case rates. “Travel may increase the chance of becoming infected and spreading… Read more

By FRED KRONER fred@mahomet.news.com Nick Berger needed a 2-hole playoff to win the Lake of the Woods club championship on Saturday. Berger and Ryan Coleman each finished their 18-hole rounds with 71s. Tying for third place were Grant Kinkelaar and Troy Gagne with 74s. Coleman (67) was the winner of the Net Division. Following him… Read more