Local News in Ford County
Community news from our local sources
Ford County 120 storiesWiden to Greater Champaign
76 fuel station coming to Paxton
PAXTON — Two raised signs — one 80 and the other 25 feet high — could soon be put around the Interstate 57 interchange in Paxton to advertise the 76-brand fuel station and still-undisclosed fast-food restaurant set to open there. The Paxton Planning and Zoning Commission has…
Photo gallery: PBL vs. GCMS football (Sept. 18, 2026)
Here are some sights from Friday’s game, which PBL won 24-6 … The post Photo gallery: PBL vs. GCMS football (Sept. 18, 2026) first appeared on Ford County Chronicle .
Felony theft charge filed vs. former PBL Choral Boosters treasurer
PAXTON — Ford County’s prosecutor filed a felony theft charge Friday against the former treasurer of a fundraising group for Paxton-Buckley-Loda schools’ choral program who was arrested last month for allegedly stealing $21,000 from its bank account. State’s Attorney Andrew…
Obituary: Raymond Thompson
Raymond “Murph” L. Thompson, 86 of Loda, died Monday, July 6, 2026, at his home on Bayles Lake. A graveside service will be held at Drummer Township Cemetery, Gibson City on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Thompson was born on July 10, 1939, in Gibson City, the son of…
Pastor Steve Jones: Be Encouraged!
In my most recent article from Psalm 74, we looked at the reality that, for God’s covenant people, God sometimes doesn’t seem near. In this Psalm, we’re looking at a time in redemptive history when the people of God have been taken captive to Babylon and the temple in Jerusalem…
PBL JH baseball wins 12-0 over Champaign Jefferson in first round of regionals
PAXTON – The Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High School baseball team won 12-0 over Champaign Jefferson in the first round of the IESA Class 3A regionals on Thursday. Timber Withers tossed a one-hit shutout through the four-inning contest, striking out eight batters and walking four.…
Photo gallery: Rantoul/PBL at Fisher/GCMS soccer (Sept. 17, 2026)
Here are some sights from Thursday’s match, which Rantoul/PBL won 4-2 … The post Photo gallery: Rantoul/PBL at Fisher/GCMS soccer (Sept. 17, 2026) first appeared on Ford County Chronicle .
PBL school district projecting deficit of nearly $1M
PAXTON — Following a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 16, the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school board voted unanimously to approve the school district’s budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, showing a projected deficit of nearly $1 million. The $986,433 in red ink is up from a negative…
Enrollment rises at PBL, reversing downward trend
PAXTON — The Paxton-Buckley Loda school district’s student enrollment was up slightly to start the 2026-27 school year. As of the sixth day of classes, there were 1,233 students enrolled in the district’s three schools — up by six from the sixth-day enrollment total from a year…
Resident: Retention basin on PBL property overflowing during heavy rains, flooding neighborhood
PAXTON — A woman who lives near Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High School told school board members on Wednesday, Sept. 16, that a retention basin north of the school has been overflowing during heavy rains, repeatedly flooding her property and others in her neighborhood. Catherine…
To protect students, PBL schools to require ID from visitors, mandated reporter training for subs, volunteers
PAXTON — To protect the safety of its students, the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school district will begin requiring all substitute teachers and volunteers to complete mandated-reporter training for the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and all visitors to provide…
GCMS boys golf loses outing by five strokes to Iroquois West
ONARGA – The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley boys golf team lost 157-162 to Iroquois West on Wednesday. Dayne White and Ian Rotramel tied for second with scores of 38 apiece while Carson Young tied for fifth with a score of 41. Jason Christensen tied for ninth with a score of 45 while…