Why would someone in an Illinois State Police crime lab saw off a small section of a shotgun that was allegedly used by a Lacon man to kill his estranged girlfriend in Sparland last spring?

That was one of the questions not fully answered Tuesday by lengthy testimony and cross-examination of a crime scene investigator in the trial of Tony Smith, who faces four counts of first-degree murder in the slaying of Judith Berchtold on April 11.

Former Illinois Valley Central graduate and current New York Yankee prospect Zach McAllister took a step closer to the big leagues when the Yankees invited him to spring training.

The Chillicothe Park District included much more in its plans for Santa Fe Park than a water playground to the tune of $700,000 in costs if built according to plans drawn by Farnsworth Group.

Jury to hear Berchtold’s actual 911 call of April 11

Former Chillicothean Judith Berchtold’s own voice will help prove the guilt of the estranged boyfriend accused of brutally killing her in a highway intersection near her Sparland home last spring, the Marshall County prosecutor told jurors Monday.

Officials cut OT

A delay of state aid payments could possibly leave Illinois Valley Central School District 321 with an estimated $712,000 budget deficit at the end of this fiscal year.

Need some information about the local candidates in tomorrow's election?

Bruce Thiemann, Valerie Moehle Umholtz and John Vespa

Kate Gorman, Verne Dentino and Mike Risinger

Mike McCoy and Vincent Wieland

Carl Ray and DK Hirner

Sales to assist local, international groups in need

As a former youth pastor, the challenge of helping those within the community or those around the world tugged Brent Ressler in opposite directions.

“Why does it have to be an ‘or?’ Why can’t it be an ‘and?’” he asked.

Now he has an idea to do both.

Offers Charley Biggs’ Chicken n’ Sauce!

When someone says their business has almost tripled, especially in these rough economic times, they must be doing something right.

Park’s location not official yet

After years of longing by Chillicothe children, and some adults, the Chillicothe Park District is making the dream of a skatepark a reality.

Chillicothe residents without a means of transportation may be in luck, depending on the results of Peoria County’s rural transportation survey.

Area residents will have the opportunity to learn more about local businesses, as well as a number of business-related topics at the 2010 Business Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Pearce Community Center, 610 W. Cedar St.