The Marshall-Putnam County Fair is taking applications for its annual beauty pageant in July.

The projects across the 14th Congressional District, which would come under federal Community Project Funding initiative, range from protecting clean drinking water to strengthening access to quality health care in rural communities to public transit systems.

The event will feature youth entrepreneurs from Ottawa Central, Waltham, Dimmick and Peru grade schools with businesses offering baked goods, 3D-printed items, handmade bracelets, slime, handmade crafts and more.

AARP will offer a driver safety refresher course April 27-28 at Putnam County Community Center, designed to help drivers 50 and older maintain driving competency and stay safe on the road.

Putnam County High School will host a free college fair Tuesday, April 28, bringing admissions representatives from dozens of selective universities directly to area students and families.

A tornado warning was issued at 7:45 p.m. Friday for Bureau and Putnam counties, though officials in both had no immediate confirmation of a touchdown. A rotating cloud may have set off the alert.

Putnam County High School’s Interact Club will host a spring blood drive on April 24 in partnership with Putnam County Rotary and the American Red Cross.

All community members are welcome to donate. Donors will receive a $15 e-gift card.

La Salle, Bureau and Marshall-Putnam counties 4-H members demonstrated public speaking skilss during the 4-H Public Speaking Contest at Illinois Valley Community College.

A Granville man charged in the Monday robbery of Granville National Bank has a court-appointed lawyer and an April 13 detention hearing in Urbana.

Democratic congressional members from Illinois are questioning President Donald Trump’s fitness for office and calling his threats to destroy Iran as a country "dangerous."

The Granville National Bank was robbed Monday afternoon, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed.

The Hennepin Park District will sponsor activities over spring break, including an Easter Egg Hunt and Kids Bingo.

Putnam County Community Theatre has announced audition dates open to incoming third through eighth-grade students for its “Aladdin Jr.” Summer Theatre Camp.

Those running to represent Illinois in the next Congress will be part of one of the most consequential midterm elections in decades

The seat has been held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood of Naperville since 2019. Underwood is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The polls have closed. Here are live March 2026 primary election results for La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. Tallies will be updated as county clerks update their websites.

Polling places in the Illinois Valley were full on Tuesday morning – with election judges, that is. Voters, on the other hand, were pretty scarce.

The Illinois Valley is full of historic homes and the history behind them. Finding a home built prior to the Civil War is rarer than you think in Northern Illinois. Here are some of the oldest homes in Putnam County procured by photo editor Scott Anderson.

Authorities in the Illinois Valley are breathing easier after close-shave storms Tuesday caused only minor damage. The relief was greatest in Putnam County, where two tornado warnings were sounded but with no injury or damage.

At the time of the alert, a severe thunderstorm with radar-indicated rotation was located over Lake Wildwood, about 8 miles northeast of Lacon, and moving east at 35 mph.

A tornado watch means weather conditions in the area could result in tornadoes.

Beginning around 4 p.m. Tuesday night, the Illinois Valley has high potential for severe scattered thunderstorms with damaging hail and wind, and torrential rainfall that could cause flash floods.

During National School Social Work Week, school social workers in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties were recognized through a variety of activities and initiatives designed to celebrate their contributions and raise awareness of their impact.

Voluntary Action Center’s executive director announced plans to retire effective later this year, with a search for his replacement underway.

Smoke and charred timber burned from a large brush fire that broke out near the 12000 block of West Bottom Road on Monday, March 2, 2026 near Granville. The fire was elevated to the second alarm as the flames spread further west. Over 150 acres of timber burned along the Illinois River during the incident.

The Putnam County Public Library District invites the public to a free screening of “Blue Carbon” on Thursday, March 12, at 4 p.m. at the Condit Branch.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville Branch invites the public to attend a free art workshop, “Crayon Chic: Wearable Art,” on Tuesday, March 10, at 4 p.m.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville Branch invites the public to attend a free screening of “Her War, Her Story: Women of World War II” on Tuesday, March 10, at 1 p.m.

The Putnam County Public Library District invites the public to a free screening of “Triangle Fire” on Wednesday, March 11, at 5 p.m. at the McNabb Branch.

The Putnam County Public Library District has been awarded a Project Next Generation Grant from the Illinois State Library of $33,892.

The Putnam County Public Library District will screen of “American Stories: A Reading Road Trip” at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 at the McNabb branch.

The Putnam County Public Library District invites the public to a free indie lens pop-up screening of “The Inquisitor” at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at the Condit branch.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville branch will hold a free art workshop, Book Page Butterflies, at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 3.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville branch will hold a free screening of “After Selma: The Fight for the Right to Vote Continues” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 3.

The funding request from the tourism bureau is not in the village of Plainfield's 2026 budget and currently not included in its 2027 draft budget.

Both Republicans running to represent Illinois’ 14th Congressional District cited financial issues among their top concerns – but the specifics varied greatly.

Putnam County Junior High has announced its 2nd quarter honor roll for the 2025-2026 school year.

The La Salle Lincoln seventh grade boys basketball team will play in the IESA Class 3A third-place game Thursday, while Putnam County saw its season end in the 2A quarterfinals Saturday.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s McNabb Branch invites the public to “Splash of Color: Watercolor Workshop,” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Condit Branch will screen “Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, has introduced legislation that, if passed, could make it easier for local farmers to sell their products to directly to consumers. The proposed bills already have bipartisan support.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville Branch will host a hands-on craft workshop at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 to design and decorate their own tote bag.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville Branch will hold a free screening of “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10.

The Putnam County Public Library District will partner with Neighborhood Forest to hold its third annual tree giveaway as part of its “America250: Our Shared History” program.

The Putnam County Coroner’s Office has identified the person who died in a grain bin incident Monday in rural Granville as Gary Bruch, 69, of Magnolia, Coroner Bob Cofoid said in a news release.

Learn about the history of the Winter Olympics with a live-stream program 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 at the Hennepin library.

Two OSF HealthCare lifeflight helicopters landed on a farm in the 13000 block of County Road 950 North just south of Granville after two people fell into a grain bin on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. Emergency responders worked to extract the victims from the hazardous situation. Residents are advised to avoid the area during emergency operations.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s McNabb Branch will host “Bird Snack Station” at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville Branch will host a free craft workshop at 4 p.m. Tuesday.