Blog

  • Paris High School Drama Presents: Little Shop of Horrors November 14-16, 2025

    Paris High School Drama Presents: Little Shop of Horrors November 14-16, 2025

    Get ready for a monstrously fun night at the Paris Center of Fine Arts as talented Paris High School students take the stage in this darkly hilarious musical comedy!

    Don’t miss Paris High School Drama’s thrilling production of Little Shop of Horrors! Enjoy a fun, darkly comedic musical filled with catchy songs, quirky characters, and a plant that’s hungry for more. Get your tickets now!

    Tickets are on sale now at $15 and can be purchased at Paris Center of Fine Arts’ website.

  • Warriors Advance to Elite 8

    Warriors Advance to Elite 8

    Following the Warriors victory at Nokomis, the Casey-Westfield football team is set to play at Sinclair-Vidoni Field in Casey, Illinois on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Their opponent in this Elite 8 game are the Calhoun High School Warriors.

    Tune in to WMMC 105.9 FM at 1:30pm for the Central State pre-game show and play-by-play commentary with Patrick Tullock!

  • Marshall Rotary Club Christmas Wreaths

    Marshall Rotary Club Christmas Wreaths

    The Marshall Rotary Club will sell Christmas Wreaths as part of its annual fundraising efforts. The cost to purchase a Christmas Wreath is $27. Ordered wreaths will arrive the weekend of November 21st.

    Proceeds from sale of the wreaths will be used to fund various community projects.

  • Lake Land College to host Blood Drive

    Lake Land College to host Blood Drive

    A blood drive will be held on Wednesday, November 12, from 10am to 2pm in the Foundation/Alumni Conference room at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois.

    For an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org

    You can save up to 15 minutes when you donate blood by using RapidPass. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass for more information


    Those who give blood will receive a $10 e-gift card, plus a chance at a $5k prize. For more information visit rcblood.org/harvest

  • Warriors Tailgate to be held at Nokomis before Round 2 Playoff Game

    Warriors Tailgate to be held at Nokomis before Round 2 Playoff Game

    The Casey-Westfield Warriors hit the road this Saturday, November 8, for Round 2 of the IHSA Football Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., with gates opening at 1:15 p.m. Fans may enter through either the North Entrance near the high school’s Circle Drive or the South Entrance at the back of the school. Per IHSA policy, admission is $9 (cash only) and gate passes are not accepted.

    Tailgate for Warriors Fans

    Visiting Warriors supporters will have a designated space to gather before the game. A tailgate will be held from 1 to 2pm. Meat and table service will be provided. Bring your own drinks and lawn chairs. Please bring a covered dish, dessert, chips and/or chips to share! Donations will be welcome to help cover expenses.

    Tailgating is permitted at the Nokomis Park House pavilions, as noted on the event map. This will serve as the central meeting spot for Warrior Nation to get fired up before kickoff. Fans are reminded that alcohol and tobacco are prohibited on all school property.

    Seating & Game Environment

    All seating is general admission. Home fans will sit on the south bleachers, while visiting fans— including the Warriors section—will be on the north side. Signs and banners are welcome as long as they follow IHSA guidelines. Noisemakers are allowed, except whistles, which are prohibited.

  • Local Schools Veterans Day Programs 2025

    Local Schools Veterans Day Programs 2025

    Local schools in Clark County will honor veterans with breakfasts and programs on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

    Marshall

    The fifth graders of North Elementary School will be presenting their Annual Veteran’s Day program at 1pm at the Forsythe Performing Arts Center/ Junior High Gym.

    All veterans are encouraged to attend, and the community is welcome. This special program is aimed at showing respect and gratitude for those people who have served our country and who have helped preserve the rights and freedoms we have today.

    The National Road Quilters’ Guild will also be there to present 5 veterans quilts.

    Monroe Elementary – Casey

    Monroe Elementary in Casey, Illinois will host its Veterans Day program on Tuesday, November 11, at 9am in the gym. After the program, veterans are invited to stay for breakfast in the cafeteria. Send RSVP to Brittany Kibler at the school.

    Martinsville High School

    • Breakfast 8am
    • Program 9am

    All veterans and their families are invited to breakfast at Martinsville High School on Tuesday, November 11 at 8am. The students of Martinsville will present a Veterans Day program at 9am. All families and the community are welcome to attend.

  • Willow Creek Church Bazaar to be held at Martinsville Community Center

    Willow Creek Church Bazaar to be held at Martinsville Community Center

    On Friday, November 7, the Willow Creek Church Bazaar will be held at Martinsville Township Community Center. From 9am to 6pm baked goods and crafts will be on sale.

    From 11am to 6pm a Soup Meal will be available including soup sandwich, a homemade dessert and drink. Cost of the meal is $10.

  • Changing Hands Resale Shoppe to hold 2nd Annual Toy & Christmas Décor Sale

    Changing Hands Resale Shoppe to hold 2nd Annual Toy & Christmas Décor Sale

    On Friday, November 7th from 3 to 7pm and Saturday, November 8th from 9am to noon, the Changing Hands will hold its second annual Toy and Christmas Decor Sale upstairs at the Martinsville Community Center.

    Changing Hands Store will be open regular hours.

    Enjoy early shopping at affordable prices.

    All proceeds support community projects.

  • Casey-Westfield Warriors advance to round 2

    Casey-Westfield Warriors advance to round 2

    The Casey-Westfield Warriors Football Team will play at Nokomis on Saturday, November 8, 2025. Tune in to 105.9 FM or stream here at 2:30pm for the Central State Pregame Show. Kickoff is at 3pm.

  • Lions end their season with a playoff loss to undefeated ALAH 27-14

    Lions end their season with a playoff loss to undefeated ALAH 27-14

    On Saturday, November 1st, the Marshall High School football team traveled to Wilson Field on the campus of Arthur High School to battle against the ALAH (Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond) Knights in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A playoffs. It marked Marshall’s first return to the state playoffs since the 2017 season, and they were looking for the school’s first playoff win since 2014. The Lions came into the game with a record of 5-4, while ALAH came in with an unblemished record of 9-0.

    “They didn’t let just anybody in that club
    Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood
    To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall
    Kings of the school man, we’re the boys of fall” *

    During this season of revitalization, the 2025 Marshall Lions put the city back on the gridiron map in the state of Illinois, exceeding all outsiders’ expectations by qualifying for the Illinois High School Association playoffs after beating Newton last week in the regular season finale for the first time in 8 years. It felt as if this year’s team turned back the clock for citizens who remember when Marshall made 12 consecutive trips to the football playoffs between 2000 and 2011, highlighted by a run to the Final Four in 2009 which had the Lions just one win away from a state championship appearance. Signs going up around town conjured up visions and memories of seasons gone by when Marshall High School football team members were indeed Kings of the school.

    Lucca Giannavola scored 2 touchdowns against ALAH.
    Lucca Giannavola scored 2 touchdowns against ALAH.

    On a chilly autumn afternoon in Arthur, the bell tolled midnight for these Lions, though, as they spotted ALAH 20 points in the first quarter before playing the Knights to a stalemate until halftime. In the second half of play, the Lions played Lions football, outscoring the Knights 14-7. However, the hole they dug in the first quarter when they didn’t come out of the gate with any sense of intensity or urgency to match the Knights was their undoing. The Lions didn’t even gain a first down until the second quarter, and you can’t give an undefeated team a 20-point lead and expect to win at their house. The Lions fought back in the second half and cut the deficit to two scores. After stopping ALAH on their next drive, Marshall had momentum on their side in the fourth quarter when a turnover inside the ALAH red zone flipped the momentum with a 14-point swing that put the Knights up 27-8. When the Lions scored again, they were 13 points down with 4:25 remaining in the game. On the subsequent onside kick, ALAH recovered and ran out the clock. In the end, Marshall fell to ALAH by the score of 27-14 to end the season with a record of 5-5. The most glaring statistic in this game was in rushing yards. ALAH gained 340 on the ground to Marshall’s 178.

    Marshall won the coin flip and chose to receive the ball. Intent on pounding the ball to wear the Knights down throughout the ballgame, the Lions went three-and-out on their first three possessions while the Knights marched down the field each time to score 20 points. Once the Lions offense got going, a turnover on downs in the red zone at the ALAH 13-yard line towards the end of the second quarter was the only bright spot of the first half for the Big Red. At the break, Marshall trailed 20-0.

    As rough as the first half went, the Lions were still in, and they came out for the second half looking like a different team. The defense was much more aggressive, and the Knights could not gain a first down. Marshall got the offense going in the Wildcat with Lucca Giannavola at the helm. A huge pass on the drive from Luke Brodie to Bryce Griguhn for 52 yards on a third-and-two brought the ball all the way to the ALAH 29. Another pass to Griguhn from Brodie got the Lions to the three-yard line with a first and goal. The Lions wasted no time, as Lucca Giannavola plunged into the end zone to score Marshall’s first touchdown of the game. A Liam Keim run over the left side into the end zone on the two-point conversion made the score ALAH 20, Marshall 8 with 4:12 to go in the third quarter.

    Kaiden Sanders breaks a tackle on a jet sweep burst.
    Kaiden Sanders breaks a tackle on a jet sweep burst.

    On the next possession for ALAH, the Lions defense played its best series of the game in stopping the Knights, and for the first time in the game Marshall had some momentum. After a punt put the Big Red at their own 39, they marched down the field as the game moved into the fourth quarter. With runs by Lucca Giannavola and Kaiden Sanders, combined with passes by Luke Brodie to Sanders and Liam Keim, Marshall found themselves at the ALAH 20 with a first-and-10. In one play, the game’s momentum flipped from Marshall’s side back to ALAH’s side with a turnover as the Lions were looking to go in and score to get within one score of tying the game up.

    After ALAH gained possession, the Knights ran the ball on the Lions, who looked deflated on the drive. With 6:28 left on the clock, ALAH scored to make it 27-8. The Lions, however, came right back and drove down the field, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Lucca Giannavola at the 4:30 mark to make it 27-14.

    The ensuing onside kick was recovered by ALAH, and after two first downs, the Knights ran out the clock on the Lions’ season. With the win, ALAH (10-0) moves on to the second round of the IHSA Class 2A playoffs where they will host Cumberland. The Little Illini Conference had a rough day with four of its five playoff teams falling in the first round Saturday (Paris, Olney, and Mount Carmel join Marshall on the sidelines).

    Lucca Giannavola rushed the ball 35 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Luke Brodie was 7 of 14 through the air for 155 yards. Liam Keim led the Lions in receiving with 3 catches for 49 yards. Bryce Griguhn had two catches for 66 yards, while Kaiden Sanders finished with two catches for 35 yards. Keim also scored a two-point conversion on the ground. Lucca Giannavola finished his career at Marshall High School with 2,746 career rushing yards on 248 carries, and he finished with 22 rushing touchdowns to go along with 2 receiving touchdowns.

    Lions cheerleaders kept the fans backing the Big Red all season.
    Lions cheerleaders kept the fans backing the Big Red all season.

    With this being the final game for the seniors who led this team to more wins this year than the school experienced during the previous three years combined, this group will be remembered for providing the spark which reignited Marshall Lions football. Coming into a program that had not won a game in over four years, these kids have much to be proud of as they pass the torch.

    Where this program goes from here is anybody’s guess. Leadership will be critical moving forward into 2026 to maintain the progress generated thus far. With team leaders Lucca Giannavola, Kaiden Sanders, and Liam Keim all graduating, who will step up and hold players accountable during the off-season in the weight room and during conditioning? Football is not an August to November sport; it is a yearlong commitment during which strength and conditioning are vital for the program’s continued success. The core is there in Luke Brodie, Silas Dean, Boston Rollings, Lachlan Smith, Josef Stafford, and Max Welch. Part of the maturation process of a high school athlete is becoming a leader, organizing the off-season program, leading the players through strength and conditioning, two-a-days, 7-on-7 tournaments, and during film study.

    The Lions have vacancies in many areas looking towards the future, predominantly in the receiving corps/tight ends and in the linebacker corps and defensive backfield. How Preston Welsh comes back from a season-ending injury earlier this season will be answered, while others will need to step up and become reliable receivers. Replacing multi-year starter Ricky Gibson at center will also help to solidify an offensive line that’s getting bigger and stronger each year.

    Although the game versus ALAH didn’t end with the result they wanted, the Marshall High School football program gave the school and the city a ride to remember in the fall of 2025. Along with a successful season in volleyball and a state finals run for the girls cross country squad, Lions sports continue to make strides towards success.

    Marshall's student section made the trip to Arthur to support the Lions.
    Marshall’s student section made the trip to Arthur to support the Lions.

    “And it’s knocking heads and talking trash
    It’s slinging mud and dirt and grass
    It’s I got your number; I got your back when your back’s against the wall
    You mess with one man you got us all
    The boys of fall”
    Lyrics from The Boys of Fall (sung by Kenny Chesney)