Year in Review 2024
What was the big news in the first quarter of 2024 on LDN?

 

[January 06, 2025] 

At Lincoln Daily News, it is often said that from Christmas day to the first of February each year, Logan County goes into hibernation with little going on that is newsworthy or even deserving of a photo. That’s okay, because Logan County is one of the busiest communities one would ever hope to find 11 months of the year. After all that hustle and bustle, we all deserve a little down time.

However, 2024 was what we consider one of those “exception to the rule” years.

Some great things and some troublesome things happened in the first quarter of the year.

Great things first.

In January, City of Lincoln Alderman were introduced to a new member of the force. Diesel the K-9 officer was brought to city council, showing off his great look and fierce attitude.

The dog replaced Ace who had retired a few months earlier. Also introduced as part of the new 9-K duo was officer Chris Phillips. Diesel was fresh out of training, having never served on a police force and Officer Phillips, while a standing member of the LPD, was fresh out of his own training as a k-9 handler.

01/08/2024 - Lincoln Aldermen introduced to new K-9 Unit, Officer Chris Phillips and Diesel

A month later, another K-9 story was front and center in Lincoln Daily News, but this time it was a dog that was “old” given a new fresh start. Marilyn Wheat brought “Java the Mutt” to Guset House Coffee and Pastries as a gift to business owner Ethan Hoinacki.

Java was a dog statue covered entirely in coffee beans. He had several years earlier been part of a Main Street Lincoln project where that business owners took a dog and decorated it to reflect their business or their personality. Java had been taken by Einstein Coffee House on Sangamon Street.

Later the dog was sold as a fundraiser for MSL and Dan and Marilyn Wheat purchased him. Wheat said she had taken good care of Java, but early last year decided that she wanted to give him to Hoinacki.

Wheat had also shared that Java was created by Nathan Hall, and that young man was the brother of LDN’s own Stephanie Hall.

02/05/2024 - Java the Mutt finds a new home at Guest House

March was a roller coaster month in Logan County.

Some of the good things that happened included the announcement that the Lady Railers were the new State Girls Basketball Champions after a perfect season of 38-0.

Indeed the LDN sports staff had a busy season between boys and girls basketball, and the girls in particular were making big news in big ways, and writer Teena Lowery was literally wearing herself out trying to keep up with every piece of good news coming for the girls.

On the downside of the roller coaster, it was mid-March when Governor JB Pritzker announced plans that would lead to the closure of the Logan Correctional Center. That was a devastating blow to the community.

While the prison has not yet been closed, and probably won’t be for at least a few years, the prospects of losing a major employer in the county brought great concern to the city of Lincoln governance as well as many others.

03/15/2024 - Pritzker Announces Plan For Transformative Capital Investments in Illinois Department of Corrections Facilities

Elected Officials of Lincoln and Logan County Condemn Decision to Close Logan Correctional Center

The turmoil would continue on into the next quarter of the year.

Other events that were noteworthy in the first quarter of 2024 included the re-opening of the Country Aire Restaurant in Atlanta after being briefly closed for a massive remodel of the interior and a fresh look on the outside. LDN helped the Bekteshi family celebrate with a ribbon cut ceremony in February.

02/20/2024 - Community expresses excitement at the re-opening of Country Aire in Atlanta

Lincoln aldermen had to face the music regarding a renovation of Tremont Street, with an historic home on the street being a stumbling block for using Rebuild Illinois funds. This forced the council to look at new ways to finance the project that is slated to cost more than $1,000,000.

In late February, the council heard alternate plans that would address the issues with Tremont Street over two budget years.

03/01/2024 - Lincoln aldermen hear two plans for Tremont Street

While the loss of the Lincoln Christian University was quite a blow in the Lincoln and Logan County Community, there was excitement when it was announced that Open Arms Church that had previously purchased a portion of the campus including the Hargrove Chapel and McLaughlin Center would also purchase the balance of the campus.

03/05/2024 - Open Arms Church purchases balance of LCU Campus

Other good news came in March when it was announced that the copper placement on the Logan County Courthouse had been completed. While that did not constitute the end of construction and rehabilitation at the courthouse, it was good to see one portion of the project reach completion.

03/27/2024 - Copper placement on the Logan County Courthouse Dome now complete

The Lady Railers had made history throughout their basketball season and it was topped off in March when it was announced that Senior Kloe Froebe had been named the 2023-24 Gatorade Illinois Girls Basketball Player of the year.

03/15/2024 - LCHS Senior Kloe Froebe named 2023-24 Gatorade Illinois Girls Basketball Player of the Year

Froebe learns of her history making moment for LCHS sports

With the first quarter of the year gone, Logan County was getting back into the swing of things, and the hustle and bustle was well underway for a busy and productive 2024.

[Nila Smith]