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2025 Year in Review
Matt Boutcher: My Three Favorite Stories of 2025
[January 07, 2026]
This past year, I have written
articles about many great events in Logan County. Picking my top
three favorites is not easy, as I love this job and all of the
events I get to go to are special to me in one way or another. If I
had to pick three, however, this is what they would be.
The first would probably have to be the demolition derby at the
Logan County Fair. Something to understand about me is that I am a
city boy at my core. I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago (I
know, such a sin), so county fairs were never something I started
attending before I moved to Central Illinois about twelve years ago.
This years demolition derby was my first one, and it was definitely
one to remember. I also kept running into the winner of the open
wire class, Troy Rawlings, at other events with his derby car. It
was loud, there were tons of people, and by all metrics of the
things I find interesting, I should have hated it. I could not help
but be excited as I snapped pictures from the top row, trying to
keep track of who won what.
Demolition Derby a smashing end to the 2025 Logan County Fair
Demolition Derby at the Logan County Fair Part 1 Slideshow
Demolition Derby at the Logan County Fair Part 2 Slideshow
Demolition Derby at the Logan County Fair Part 3 Slideshow
Demolition Derby at the Logan County Fair Part 4 Slideshow
Demolition Derby at the Logan County Fair Part 5 Slideshow
Demolition Derby at the Logan County Fair Part 6 Slideshow
Demolition Derby Video Playlist
My second favorite story was an
interview with John and Erin Barrick of Barrick Enterprises. Erin
was set to take over running the business from her father. My
knowledge of trucks is minimal at best. I got to interview this
father-daughter duo at their shop on Chicago Street in Lincoln. They
were some of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of
interviewing. Also, when they learned of my severe lack of truck
knowledge, they helped teach me a few things. This article was also
notable to me because of how well it did.
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The month after I
wrote that, we had a meeting at the office where my editor Jeff
Wyles shared the metrics of how well it did. My wife and I were
mulling over whether or not to pitch the idea for the Saturday
Business Spotlight piece that our news outlet now publishes, and
this gave me the confidence I needed to make that pitch.
Erin Barrick: The (soon-to-be) New Face of Barrick Enterprises
The final story I
would have to pick is the Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC)
Recovery Walk. This year was my third year covering this event. When
I first started covering this in 2023, addiction recovery was not
something that I knew a lot about. I came to this event not only to
report, but also to learn, and I learned a lot. The event organizer,
Jeanette Davis, taught me a lot my first year. Personally, I like
knowing that there is a dedicated community of people in Logan
County who are working to not only help people who are addicted to
substances quit, but to continually support each other and try to
keep each other from falling into that lifestyle again. Davis and
Samantha Martinie, who also helps organize this annual event,
clearly have a deep passion for recovery, and it shows whenever I
get the chance to interview them.
2025 ROSC Walk 4 Recovery held at Scully Park
2025 ROSC Walk 4 Recovery Part 1 Slideshow
2025 ROSC Walk 4 Recovery Part 2 Slideshow
2025 ROSC Walk
4 Recovery - Speaking Names of Loved Ones Lost To Addiction or
Suicide Video
[Matt Boutcher]
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