• Tourism activities resume in 2021 after a year of stasis in 2020

• Logan County schools and students make strides in education in 2021

• Changes in ownership, new businesses and notable accomplishments as community moves forward in 2021

Local government, citizens and a well known organization make strides to improve our community

After only about 90 minutes on the city's west side, a pick-up truck filled to the brim with trash bags full of garbage arrived to unload into the Area Disposal dumpster downtown on Saturday. The truck was just one of several loads that would go into the dumpster on the townwide clean-up day in Lincoln. All the trash collected in this particular load came from the area of Woodlawn Road between Lincoln Parkway and the I-55 overpass.

In all, 85 volunteers dedicated two hours of the morning to clean up the town. The volunteers were divided into four groups and went out to the corners of the city to clean up the right of ways.

Turner reported afterward, in the two hours 202 bags of trash were collected.

• Spring Clean-up Day makes a big difference in our community

• Spring Clean-up Day - Volunteers prepare for a morning of cleaning up around town - slideshow

• Spring Clean-up Day - Putting in the work and reaping the reward - slideshow

On Sunday, May 16th, Habitat for Humanity of Logan County turned over the keys to home build number 25 in Logan County. Nicole White is the recipient of the new home and will reside in her new home in Lincoln with her young children Zachary and Sophia.

From the left Bob Chamberlain with Habitat for Humanity of Logan County, White, and Lincolnland Technical Education Center Building and Trades instructor John Ford.

• Logan County community comes together to celebrate Habitat for Humanity home number 25

The long line of cartons containing junk televisions is just a small sampling of the thousands of pieces collected Saturday at a free recycling event at the Logan County Fairground.

The county-sponsored free recycling day started at 10 a.m. with some drivers waiting as long as two hours to get rid of their unwanted junk electronics. At 1 p.m., it was announced that the limit had been reached and there could be no more items left at the fairground. With dozens of cars still in line, those waiting were directed to the city of Lincoln Public Works building where the overflow was collected for later pick up.
 

This week an all-girl group of carpenters from Lincoln Chrisitan Church had the pleasure of having Karen E. Laine as their worksite mentor. Laine co-stars with her daughter Mina Starsiak on HGTV's "Good Bones."

Todd Henry (right) of Lincoln has worked with the Workcamp group for more than 20 years. This is the first year that the group has been able to come to Logan County. Home improvement projects took place in several towns in the county, with youth from churches throughout the midwest providing the workforce.

• HGTV celebrity appreciates the good in youth Workcamps

• Young women learn tricks of the trade from celebrity expert - Album

• Workcamp for Lincoln VIP tour

• Part one – Coffee break at Guest House

• Part two – VIP tour visits Emden

• Part three – Tour guests enjoy meeting Karen E. Laine at a home in Lincoln

• More from the Thursday VIP tour - slideshow

• Some favorite top photos of 2021 - Album

• Another group of favorite pictures from 2021 - Album

Local events return in 2021 (the first six months)

• 2021 OACF Easter Egg Hunt

  • An egg-cellent day for a run in the park - slideshow

  • Local children enjoy gathering eggs and special prizes - slideshow

• ALMH Market gets a good start for the 2021 season

  • Shoppers flock to the market for opening day - slideshow

  • Vendors enjoy a good first day of the market - slideshow

• First Third Friday event in Lincoln for 2021 brings out a huge crowd

  • Lots to do on Friday night at 3rd Fridays Downtown - slideshow

  • Vendors enjoy a busy night at 3rd Fridays Downtown - slideshow

• 2021 Route 66 Garage Sales

  • Route 66 Garage Sales off to a great start on Friday

  • Humane Society of Logan County - slideshow

  • Oasis Senior Center - slideshow

  • Postville Park Vendor Sale - slideshow

  • VFW Home Based Business sale - slideshow

• Landmark Juneteenth celebrated in Logan County

  • Juneteenth celebrated in Lincoln - slideshow

• A great day in the park with OACF all-free fun day

  • OACF Family Fun Day 2021 - slideshow

• JANUARY 28
  IHSA News & Announcements Archive
  IHSA Board Announces Sports Schedule For Remainder Of 2020-21

• February 18
  Taken from the 2021 Education Magazine
  How the return of sports brings a sense of normalcy to everyone and the benefit to the students
  by Teena Lower

• Late and abbreviated 2020-21 spring basketball season still proves to be remarkable

• 2021-22 School year begins with plenty happening in local sports

• June 18
  Lincoln Junior High Ball Diamond gets major renovation

On Saturday morning, a dream more than 15 years in the making came true at the Lincoln Junior High School Ralph Gale Baseball Field. Thanks to a grant funding the project, the field is now the first turf field in Logan County.

A ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony were held before the new diamond's inaugural game with LJHS competing against Chester-East Lincoln. LJHS Board President Steven Rohrer was joined by Woody and Sue Jones in snipping the ribbon. The trio was surrounded by LJHS staff and school board members, representatives from the city of Lincoln and the CEL and LJHS baseball teams.

Jones, who donated the scoreboard, was honored with the first pitch for the game.

• August 16
  Lincoln Junior High School celebrates grand opening of the first turf baseball field in Logan County

• The first day of play at the new Ralph Gale Field - slideshow

• Logan County lives up to its reputation of helping others in 2021

Community comes together for local veteran home

• April 26
  Community celebrates first tiny home for veterans with a signing event and groundbreaking
  
  Two by Fours for Hope signing event - slideshow
  
  Two by Fours for Hope tiny home groundbreaking - slideshow

• April 29
  Central Illinois Veterans Commission and Tiny Home Project rapidly gaining momentum
  
  Anonymous donors challenge the community to raise $30,000 for Veteran Tiny Home projects

• July 24
  First Tiny Home For an At-Risk Veteran under construction in Lincoln

• July 26
  Veteran tiny home goes from a slab to a house in one weekend
  
  From 2X4's comes a new start - slideshow
  
  Getting ready to raise the walls - slideshow
  
  From a plan to reality - slideshow
  
  From a house to a home - slideshow

• August 2
  Central Illinois Veteran Commission and 2X4’s of Hope celebrate first home built for a veteran in Logan County
  
  A touching ceremony for Scott Jackson - slideshow
  
  Scott Jackson enters his new home for the first time - slideshow

• City of Lincoln deals with small yet significant issues throughout 2021

• Logan County Native Sally Turner accepts appointment to Illinois State Senate

• City expresses concern over diminishing Enterprise Zone

• City of Lincoln permits e-scooters and golf carts

• Logan County ends the year in good financial shape

• Communities, churches and an organization celebrate anniversaries

• City of Lincoln lends support to the restoration of Allen Chapel Church

• City sticks with Area Disposal

• 2021 Education takes a swerve

• City sticks with Area Disposal

• City hears plans for Lincoln Developmental Center property
  Considers request for street closure on LDC campus

• County changes district borders, elects all county board positions in reapportionment; assessor and zoning department heads change, Siltman retires

• Lincoln city governance sees much turnover in 2021

September 18, 2021 - An aerial view of the new solar energy farm south of Lincoln along Route 66 is moving along nicely. The lines of white dots in the fields are the legs the solar panels will be mounted.

Thanks to Rick Kidd of the Heritage in Flight Museum for providing this excellent view of the farm.

Photo by Rick Kidd

• Logan County negotiates wind and solar farm, and mining projects

  • July 2021- Logan County Board approves zoning request to mine
    Conditional use permitting on hold

• Logan County Courthouse restoration begins