Oakland Independent

01/02/2026

REMINDER: The Oakland Independent doesn't publish issues the week of Christmas or New Year's Day. The next issue will be published Jan. 8.

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11/22/2025

Subscription payments can now be made online once again! Just head to our website (www.oaklandindependentnews.com), click "Subscribe" and then follow the link provided. Payment methods accepted are credit cards, Google Pay and Square Pay.

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10/28/2025

Fall colors are starting to pop. Who has pictures from this past week in Oakland and Hindsboro that I can feature in color on the front page of this week's issue? Bonus points if the picture has people in it (but showing just scenery isn't a deal-breaker).

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR PHOTO by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the largest size possible, along with (a) the name of who took it, and (b) information on what's pictured, to [email protected]. Thank you!

09/15/2025

Here we go again. We send out 10 tubs of newspapers to other towns (not including the ones that go to Oakland and Hindsboro). I know of newspapers from three tubs that haven't gotten where they're supposed to go. If you haven't received your Sept. 11 newspaper yet (the front page had a story on state Sen. Chapin Rose's local visit), please comment.

My subscribers pay to receive these. I pay the USPS about $325 per week to deliver them. My mom spends about five hours per week just getting these ready to mail out in the ridiculous, meticulous way the USPS requires them to be sorted. It is beyond frustrating.

08/25/2025

I've heard from two people in Villa Grove and two people in Ashmore who haven't received their issue from last week (dated Aug. 21). Are any other subscribers missing that issue? Thank you.

05/18/2025

Since it sounds like most parents weren't able to get group photos of the Oakland High School Class of 2025 outside before their graduation ceremony this evening, I'd like to share the photos I took for the Oakland Independent. So many of these kids' parents have helped me out at the newspaper, and it's my honor to return the favor! Congratulations to the new graduates and their families! Please feel free to share this post.

05/14/2025

NOTICE: The School Calendar in last week's newspaper incorrectly reported that there's no school Friday, May 16. Students, please go to school that day!

04/27/2025

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and others with loved ones graduating from OHS and Lake Crest this year, take note! If you want to honor your graduate with an ad in our May 15 graduation issue, your order needs to be in by Friday, May 9.

* * * No online payments can be accepted, so please plan in advance to make sure I receive your ad and payment by the deadline. * * *

Details are in the accompanying graphic.

02/04/2025

* * * UPDATE: I received some great pictures, and they're on the front page of this week's issue. * * *

ORIGINAL POST: You all came through when I asked for snow pictures, so let's try this. Who has pictures of people enjoying the warm spell over the last few days in Oakland and Hindsboro? I'll share some in this week's Oakland Independent. If you can't post them in the comments (sometimes that won't work), please email them to [email protected]. Thank you!

01/30/2025

An application has been submitted for a wind farm that would build 51 turbines taller than the St. Louis Arch on the far northern edge of Coles County, 2 miles southwest of Hindsboro. Pick up a copy of the newspaper for an overview of the plans outlined in the 698-page document Coles Wind submitted to Coles County.

ALSO THIS WEEK:

• Spc. Clayton Pardi was one of about 140 Illinois National Guard members who deployed on federal orders to help with security at last week's inauguration of President Donald Trump.

• See who will represent their classes in the Lake Crest Spelling Bee on Friday.

• Members of the Oakland PTO Class of the Month, the third-grade class of Dede Childress, share some details about themselves with the community.

• Get caught up on Tri-County athletics, including the high school boys' basketball team's rise from a No. 12 seed in the 12-team LPC Tournament to a spot in the quarterfinals.

• Read a letter to the editor regarding the addition of a ramp to the Rutherford House.

* * * All of this and MORE can be found in this week's issue, available now at Casey's in Oakland. * * *

📪 It's cheaper to subscribe, and even better, you'll stay informed about important news in the community. Pay online today to get started: www.oaklandindependentnews.com/subscribe.📪

01/06/2025

***UPDATE*** I have more pictures than I can use! That's a good thing. Thank you all for sharing your photos!

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Outdated original post below:

We're back from our two-week break and working on the Jan. 9 issue. We hope to have room to include a few photos from readers showing how residents played (or worked) in Sunday's snow here in Oakland/Hindsboro. Please share yours!

NOTE: In the past, people haven't been able to add photos to the comments, so if that's the case now, please email your photo -- along with a description of who's in it, where they are, etc. -- to [email protected].