Record Herald News

08/13/2026

08/04/2026

Record Herald News merges with The County Chronicle

Starting this week, the Record Herald News is now part of The County Chronicle. The merger adds coverage for Atwood, Bement, Cerro Gordo, and Mt. Zion.

The Record Herald News (RHN) was already part of the Better Newspapers group of publications and included the B Section but had its own front section until this week. The Chronicle is now the successor newspaper to the RHN as well as the Arthur Graphic Clarion, Arcola Record-Herald, and The Journal (Tuscola and Villa Grove).

“Successor newspaper is a legal term for purposes of public notices,” Regional Editor David Porter explained. “Start-up newspapers must publish a year before becoming legal newspapers while successor newspapers pick up the legal status from their consolidated papers.”

Porter continued, “There have been a lot of newspaper consolidations across the country in recent years as costs increase and reader dynamics change, but it’s not a new phenomenon. The oldest paper in our lineage, the Arcola Record-Herald, was itself a century-old combination of The Arcola Record, The Arcola Herald, and The Arcolian. Its history dates back to 1866 with roots even further back as The Arcola Record sprang from the old Douglas County Shield in Tuscola.”

RHN was created in 2021 when the Southern Piatt Record-Herald merged with the Mt. Zion Region News. The Southern Piatt Record-Herald was a merger between the Atwood Herald and the News-Record, which was a combination of the Cerro Gordo News and Bement Record.

“We wish we could produce a separate newspaper for each community,” Porter said, “but it just isn’t fiscally possible. On the plus side, subscribers receive a bigger newspaper with information from a broader geographic area, thus our motto: Connecting Our Communities.”

He added, “As always, we welcome submissions from all of the communities we serve. We’re always looking for photos, stories, and events to share. All of our contact names, numbers, and email addresses are in the masthead, which is on page 4 this week.”

Subscribers to Record Herald News will receive The County Chronicle in the mail starting this week.

Please visit our website www.thecounty-chronicle.com

07/31/2026

Weather permitting, beginning Tuesday, August 4, 2026, we will be sealcoating various roads. Expect road closures and delays. Please do not drive on wet oil or blow grass onto the roadways.

07/28/2026

This week's RHN and B Section front pages.
Website is updated and online edition will be available on Wednesday morning.

07/22/2026

Weather permitting, the following road closure will occur Friday, July 24, 2026, from 4:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. for bridge construction purposes.
Rea’s Bridge Road (CH24) between Rea’s Ridge Court and Sangamon Road.

07/21/2026

This week's RHN and B Section front pages.
Also in this week's edition are the group photos of the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants.
Website is updated and online edition will be available on Wednesday morning.