Western Illinois Today

Honorary State FFA Degree Presented To Swanson

Local State Rep. Dan Swanson awarded an honorary state FFA degree from Illinois FFA. He knows all about the impact of FFA, growing up in the Alwood School District. Swanson was awarded the honorary state FFA degree on Tuesday in…

Haley Case Decided In Mercer County Circuit Court

A Viola man placed on 30-months’ probation and sentenced to 180 days in the Mercer County Jail with credit for time served after pleading guilty to a Class 2 felony of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. 46-year-old James Eric Haley must…

Sherrard Moving Forward With Alternative School For Jr. High & High School Students

The Sherrard School Board has approved establishing an alternative school for the 2022-2023 school year for junior high and high school level students. Sherrard High School principal Tim Wernentin says they’ll use a conference room that contains two offices and…

2022 MERCO Trail Stickers Now On Sale

Mercer County side-by-side stickers now on sale for the 2022 season. Kasi Henshaw says the Visit MerCo office is located at 129 West Main Street in Aledo. The phone number is 309-507-2687. So far 60 stickers have been sold this…

Family Crisis Center Has New Executive Director

There’s a new executive director at the Mercer County Family Crisis Center. Kim Harrison replaces Marla Reynolds. Harrison addressed the Aledo City Council last night about an annual $5,000 contribution from the city.  She began her new role March 7.

Sherrard High School Team Wins BHC Welding Competition

Black Hawk College recently hosted the 4th Annual T-Joint Fillet Weld Invitational at the college’s Welding and Skilled Trades Center in downtown Kewanee. The goal is to provide a competitive welding contest in a state-of-the-art welding facility that gives high…

Ameren Assistance Programs Available

If you have experienced a hardship that has put you behind in paying your power bill, Ameren Illinois wants you to know there are options available. Several assistance programs are offered, but a spokesperson for the utility says you should…

Mercer County Unemployment Rate Above Statewide Average

The Mercer County unemployment rate at 6.0 percent. The figure is for January and compares to 7.6 percent from one year ago, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Unemployment is also down from year over…