Southside Church is your Education Station for free back-to-school supplies! Since 2009, we have been distributing free school supplies to the children in our community and we're excited to do it again for our 14th year. Even though Southside Church is hosting it, we could not do what we do without God's help and the generosity of our community to partner with us. All of the community children are welcome and encouraged to join us during the two scheduled dates and times. We will be giving away a variety of items, depending on the grade, such as book bags, crayons, #2 pencils, mechanical pencils, glue bottles, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, colored pencils, markers, index cards, dry erase markers, highlighters, loose leaf paper, pencil sharpeners, pens, pink erasers, scissors, and storage bags. Please understand that we will not be able to give every single item that a student will need, but will help provide some of the necessary items to enable us to help more students overall. The supplies will be given on a first come, first served basis (while supplies last). No appointments are necessary. This event is not based on residency or income in any way. It is based on our love for God and for the children and families in our community. God has freely given to us and we want to share His love through this ministry. We will not ask for names, addresses, phone numbers, or income. The only questions that we will ask are what grade the student is going into to determine the supplies needed and if the student needs a book bag. If you have any questions, please contact Shannon (217-313-0342) or Carrie (217-556-4308) between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. only. If you need to leave a voicemail message, please clearly say your name and phone number so your call can be returned. You are also welcome to send a private Facebook message to our church's public page (www.facebook.com/southsidechurchlitchfield) or email us at southsidech@consolidated.net any time of the day. To better serve you, we ask that you not call our church's phone number. We look forward to serving the community! 

Tragedy strikes again on the state highways of Mongomery County, as a suspected drunken driving crash claims one life  This time the setting was Route 16, a quarter mile south of 5th Street in Witt. A 59-year-old Witt man, whose identity has not been released, was killed in a one vehicle crash Friday night, just before 7:30. State Police say 34-year-old Daniel Adams of Gillespie was at the wheel of a 2016 Dodge Black Van, when his vehicle left the road, struck an embankment and then slammed into a tree. He suffered non life threatening injuries. Adams has been cited for DUI and Driving Too Fast for Conditions.   The crash drew considerable police and first responder assets.   Among those on the scene were the Witt Volunteer Fire Department with three trucks, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Nokomis Ambulance, Arch Helicopter,Nokomis Ambulance, the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation, which shut down Route 16 for several hours during accident reconstruction.

On Friday, you may have heard about or seen reports of a man on a roof at Graham Correctional Center.  The Illinois Department of Corrections tells us that it was not an escape attempt.  Here's what unfolded around 5 p.m.  An individual in custody ran from an escorted line and climbed the chapel to the roof. Staff were able to deescalate the situation and the individual came down from his location. This was not an escape attempt.

In recent weeks, we’ve discussed the strain on the CEFS Meals on Wheels program with high gas prices and a struggling volunteer base in Litchfield in particular coming out of the first phases of COVID.  The program provides more than food.  Debbie Weber, the Meals on Wheels program manager for CEFS, says it’s an important opportunity for human contact and health and welfare checks.  She says the situation is the most difficult she's seen in 44 years with CEFS.  She notes available food delivery routes are as short as an hour long.  To find more about volunteer opportunities, call  217.342. 2193, ext 119 

Illinois 108 will be shut down from South Atwater Road to the Illinois 108/Illinois 4 Junction in Carlinville for approximately 4-5 hours.  IDOT anD the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Illinois State Police , District 18.  Traffic will be able to work around the crash scene via county road township roads.  The crash is involving two overturned commercial motor vehicles.  Thank you. 

There are still reminders of last month’s storms that left some Litchfield residents for a couple of days. In Raymond, a tree by Downtown’s railroad tracks bears witness to nature’s fury that day...... for residents still cleaning up from the storms... time is running out to get help from the village. Monday will be the final day that village crews will pick tree branches from the storm.  

In Taylor Springs, there's an important notice when it comes to Phase 1 of the water system rehabilitation.  Starting Wednesday (July 6th)  from 8am to 3pm, customers will experience periods without service.  The daily, sporadic outages will last through July 13th.  A boil order will be in effect for all residents, starting on Wednesday (July 6th) and lasting until further notice.  The Village of Taylor Springs understands this will be a great inconvenience, but they appreciate your understanding during this period.  If you have questions or concerns, contact Water Superintendent Kane Harrell at Village Hall at 217-532-3354.  .