Oakland Independent

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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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].

12/02/2024

What important information about your community are you missing out on by not reading the Oakland Independent? It's LOCAL NEWS you won't find ANYWHERE else.

Take a look at the most recent front page to get a glimpse of what you can find out. And that's just the front page! Inside, you'll find even more news, sports and entertainment all about our community. You can still pick this issue up at Casey's until 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4.

It's cheaper to subscribe -- just $50 per year for those in Coles, Douglas and Edgar counties. If you already subscribe, consider giving a subscription as a Christmas gift. Pay online now: www.oaklandindependentnews.com

Your support of community journalism makes this coverage possible. Thank you.

11/15/2024

🚨 NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS 🚨

The USPS has lost all copies of the Nov. 7 issue of the Oakland Independent that were mailed to subscribers outside of Oakland and Hindsboro. I haven't received an apology, and I haven't received an update today.

I have uploaded that issue so anybody can read it online for free. To access the digital version (which looks just like the printed version), please see https://www.flipsnack.com/oaklandindependent/oakland-independent-november-7-2024/full-view.html .

The Oakland Independent -- the reigning Illinois Press Association Newspaper of the Year among small nondailies -- covers Oakland and Hindsboro, Illinois. Subsc

09/13/2024

As a Lake Crest sixth-grader in 1983, Jesse Brock made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and after decades of hard work and sacrifice, he's become one of the most highly regarded bluegrass musicians in the world. We'll tell you about the Hindsboro native's outstanding career and how you can catch him in a nearby show this weekend. ALSO THIS WEEK:

• The Oakland City Council approved buying six generators -- five mostly covered by grant funds. In addition, the council heard that its purchase of parts of the former Nutrien Ag Solutions property is complete, an alderman wants to sell the tool trailer, an employee said the backhoe's street sweeper attachment isn't sufficient and more.

• Two Oakland aldermen and the mayor who weren't at last month's council meeting expressed concerns about the purchase of a new truck in their absence, after all had reportedly agreed to fix the old one.

• Work on a 14-mile stretch of Illinois Route 133 -- running from about Isabel to Paris -- will require daily single-lane closures from this week through next summer.

• We've been wondering, so we asked IDOT and found out that planning is underway for a project to upgrade Illinois Route 133 from Arcola to Oakland, possibly in 2026.

• A free community cleanup day will provide dumpsters at the Oakland Lake Park on Saturday.

• After 707 days without a victory, the Tri-County high school football team ended an emotional week with a 39-30 triumph over Cerro Gordo-Bement.

• Some people just don't appreciate the reading of good poetry, writes funnyman Don Douglas regarding his teacher's reaction to his classroom performance.

* * * All of this and MORE is in this week's issue, which can be found at Casey's (look under the register by the door). * * *

🕶 Have you been meaning to subscribe? All the cool kids are doing it! Better start now and stop missing out on all of this LOCAL NEWS you won't find ANYWHERE ELSE. Rates start at just $50 a year. You can pay online at www.oaklandindependentnews.com (click "Subscribe"). 🕶