Randolph County News

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale has delivered one of the most significant institutional turnarounds in its history — recording overall enrollment levels not seen in the last eight years — reaching above 12,000 students, with an incoming first-year class size not seen for 11 years. Fall 2026 semester enrollment grew to 12,066 students, […]

City officials hope to possibly make the event an annual affair! BY JIM BEERS             Tuesday September 1st was the first “End of Summer Hose Down”. This event couldn’t have come at a more convenient time with a late summer heat wave scorching the area. The event was well attended and a crowd favorite with

BY JIIM BEERS             The Chester Area Christian Food Pantry (CACFP) continues to host its monthly Mobile Markets which distribute food items to qualifying families. The July and August 2026 markets served approximately 225 families. The Mobile Markets take place each month on the 4th Wednesday at approximately 8 a.m. at the Cohen Recreation Complex

Please join us in congratulating our September Business of the Month: Pechacek Funeral Homes! Thank you for all you do for our community!

Monday night, members of Sparta Fire, alongside members of Tilden Fire Department, Marissa Fire Department, Unofficial Steeleville Fire Dept, Evansville Volunteer Fire Department and Baldwin Fire Department trained in water shuttle operations with multiple drop tanks as part of our ongoing pursuit of mutual aid cohesion four our serving areas.

You can be a part of history! The Chester Chamber of Commerce and the Chester Parks and Recreation Department are holding a community raffle to celebrate the demolition of the 1942 truss bridge, which was recently replaced by the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge. Ames Construction is giving one lucky person the opportunity to press