Tuesday, November 4, 2025 a tree planting will be held at 8:30 am at the Martinsville Recreation Complex.
Classes from Martinsville Schools will attend and local arborist Stephen Johnson will be there to teach about native species and care techniques.
Volunteers are needed to help plant 45 trees throughout the park and along community trails. This event is made possible through the TreesForever organization.
Lunch and Drinks will be provided, please contact City Hall at 217-382-4323 to sign up.
This week WMMC will broadcast Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins on Thursday and Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders on Sunday! Tune in or listen online for great NFL Week 9 coverage on WMMC 105.9 FM!
Don’t miss LIVE coverage of the Marshall Lions and Casey-Westfield Warriors playoffs games on Saturday! Both games will be broadcast live on WMMC Radio 105.9 FM!
This weekend, we’re turning back the clocks and turning up the hits! Join host Dan Crews for the Rock-N-Roll Masterclass on Saturday morning, from 9 to 11am on Magic Hits 105.9 FM!
This will be a shortened two-hour Masterclass from 9 to 11 a.m. It’ll be an early dismissal due to the Fighting Illini football game beginning at 11.
Horizon Health will offer discounted health screenings at its Paris Clinic location on Friday, November 7, from 7 to 9 am.
Leighsa Cornwell, RN, CDCES, certified diabetes care and education specialist, will provide blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid panel (HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) screenings. The cost for all three screenings is $25. For an additional $10, an A1c test can be added, which measures average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Cash, debit/credit card, and checks are accepted. Insurance will not be billed.
For blood sugar tests, patients are asked to fast eight hours prior to the screening. The test involves a fingerstick and results will be available before you leave.
Appointments are required. Call 217-466-4228.
On Tuesday, October 28th, the Marshall High School volleyball team traveled to St. Joseph-Ogden High School to play in the IHSA Class 2A regional semifinal round against Westville High School. The Lions entered postseason play with a record of 22-7, while the Tigers entered with a record of 26-8. These same two teams played one another during the regular season three weeks ago at Marshall, and the Lions came away from that competitive match with a straight set win (25-19, 25-19).
In the regional semifinal, the Lions fell behind early in the opening set by as many as 8 points while Westville jumped out to a 13-5 lead midway through the set. Marshall, which struggled with opponents this season who attacked from both wings that led to a majority of their losses, had trouble defending the outside hitters of Westville at critical times. The only individual points for the Lions in the early going were kills by McKenzie Davis, Avery Cornwell, and Harper Richardson.
With the Lions down 13-5, they mounted a charge by outscoring the Tigers 7-1 to get back into the match with the score 14-12 in favor of Westville. The run began when McKenzie Davis and Harper Richardson combined on a big block at the net. Anna Daugherty followed up by serving an ace. Ella Mattas connected on two kills, then McKenzie Davis and Ella Mattas combined on another block for a point to bring the Lions within two as Westville called timeout.
Down the stretch in the first set, Harper Richardson won a point with a tip, Avery Cornwell scored another kill, and Lilly Ross smashed two kills, but Westville pulled away to win the opener by the score of 25-17.
The second set of this regional semifinal started the same way as the first set, as Westville raced out to a 13-6 lead before Marshall decided it was not going to go down without a fight. Trailing by seven points, Marshall began dialing in hits and blocks, with Addy Ross leading the way with some huge blocks on the right side. Ali Sheets saved three points with magnificent digs along the back row, and Lilly Ross and Harper Richardson scored on tips and kills to bring the Lions back to tie the set at 18. On the next point, Ella Mattas served an ace, then Harper Richardson scored a kill, and suddenly Marshall had life. Lilly Ross snapped a kill for the Lions to maintain their two-point lead at 21-19, then after Westville got a point to make it 21-20, two straight kills by Harper Richardson gave the Lions some breathing room at 23-20. The Tigers hit the next point out of bounds to give Marshall set point at 24-20, and two side outs later, Marshall won the second set 25-21 to send the match to a third and deciding set.
A kill by Ella Mattas and a tip over the net for a point by Addy Ross helped Marshall move out to a 6-3 lead early in the final set. Westville quickly tied it up at 6, then the Tigers moved ahead 8-6 before Marshall’s Lilly Ross and Harper Richardson combined on a block to get the Lions within one at 8-7. On the next point, Harper Richardson won the point with a tip, then she laced a kill down the line to put the Lions up 9-8 as Westville called timeout.
The teams battled back and forth until Westville inched ahead to make the score 15-13 before Marshall’s Ella Mattas scored a kill to get the Lions within one at 15-14. The next few points of the match will be questioned, for what appeared to be a double hit at the net committed by a Westville player wasn’t called (similar to a ball that landed on Westville’s side of the floor but was ruled otherwise), and the Tigers went on to take a 19-14 lead which for all intents and purposes took the wind out of the sails for the Big Red. Westville kept Marshall at a comfortable distance thereafter and won the third set 25-17, winning the match two sets to one. Westville advances to the regional championship match and a date with Tolono Unity, which defeated host school St. Joe-Ogden two sets to one in the earlier semifinal. Marshall ends its season with a record of 22-8.
In the state of Illinois, there are 466 high school volleyball teams. In a one-and-done state tournament at the conclusion of the regular season, only eight teams end their season with a win. Those teams are each of the four class state champions and each of the third-place teams. Each of the other 458 schools end their season with a loss. Although the Lions’ season ended earlier than they wanted, they can take much pride in what they accomplished this season as they took their fans and fellow classmates on a great ride. Marshall’s 22 wins on the season equals the second-most in school history (trailing only the 2011-2012 squad which won 24 matches).
Lilly Ross finished the season as the top freshman in the entire state of Illinois regardless of enrollment classification in hitting. Harper Richardson finished seventh among all juniors. Both athletes return next year to run it back. Yes, the team must say farewell to graduating seniors Avery Cornwell, Anna Daugherty, Ella Mattas, and Addy Ross, but the Lions program has plenty of athletes to reload rather than rebuild. Ali Sheets looks to be the heir apparent at libero, and Aubree Shaffer and Olivia Strohm will look for quality playing time at outside hitter and middle blocker, respectively. Lauren Richards and Lexi Mason will be important to develop as role players in setting and serving. Those players, along with returning varsity players Harper Richardson, Lilly Ross, McKenzie Davis, Ellie Delp, and Nya Engledow, have what it takes to lead the program for another successful run as Marshall seeks its first regional title in school history.
After a wonderful and memorable season for Marshall volleyball which began back in August, there is no rest for the weary – basketball practice starts Monday. Let’s go!
On Friday, October 24th, the Marshall High School football team traveled to Chizevsky Field in Newton to take on the Newton Community High School Eagles in the 2025 regular season finale. The Lions came into the game with a record of 4-4, needing a win against the Eagles (3-5) to become playoff eligible for the first time since 2017. In the previous nine meetings between these two squads, Newton had won all nine games dating back ten years (the two schools did not play during 2020 due to the COVID pandemic). With the Lions playing for what all intents and purposes mounted to a playoff game to get into the playoffs, this game meant much more to Marshall, while Newton was playing on Senior Night and wanted nothing more than to play the role of spoiler.
One more game.
At each game during the season, it became a tradition where a couple assistant coaches stopped by to say hello before the game. Before the Newton game, the coaches said that Marshall had its best week of practice of the whole season, and both said the theme tonight was this: One More Game. Before the arrival of head coach Steve Weber, it’s no secret that Marshall football had a stretch of seasons where the Lions finished winless, and when Weber took over as head coach, the Marshall gridiron program had not won a football game in over four years. In coach Weber’s first year, the Big Red won a game at Olney. That year also happened to be the same year that the current senior class football players were sophomores. Last year, the Lions won two games, and this season they had won four games, putting the team just one win away from making the IHSA state playoffs for the first time since 2017. With one game standing between the playoffs and the season being over, the one thing on the minds of the Lions coaches was One More Game. All they wanted was to get this year’s seniors into the playoffs so they can play one more time after leading the renaissance of Lions football.
And what a night in Newton it was… After a rough start in spotting the Eagles 7 points with just a minute and 31 seconds off the clock, Marshall went on a drive via runs by Lucca Giannavola, Liam Keim, and Kaiden Sanders to get the Lions into the Newton red zone and down to the Eagles 10. Marshall wasted no time thereafter, scoring a touchdown when Lucca Giannavola rushed into the end zone from 10 yards out. Following a Giannavola rush up the middle for the two-point conversion, Marshall led 8-7 with 3:49 to go in the first quarter.
On the ensuing drive for Newton, the Eagles marched down the field, mixing it up on the ground and through the air to score a touchdown and two-point conversion to take a 15-8 lead over the Lions with 7:15 to go before halftime. Without any scoring in the half down the stretch, the teams went to their locker rooms with Marshall trailing by seven.
The second half was an entirely different story for the Lions, who played lights out on defense throughout the final 24 minutes. Newton took the second half kickoff down into the red zone, but Marshall’s defense stiffened and stopped the Eagles on fourth down at the Lions 8.
The Lions offense methodically marched down the field on runs by Lucca Giannavola, Luke Brodie, Liam Keim, Kaiden Sanders, and Silas Dean as the Lions offensive line dominated in the trenches. The drive culminated in Lucca Giannavola’s 4-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion. With 1:44 to go in the third quarter, Marshall had the lead at 16-15 as those who took the hour-long drive to Newton roared in the bleachers.
On the kickoff following the Marshall touchdown, the ball caromed off a Newton player up front, and Marshall’s Wyatt Geltz pounced on the loose ball to give the Lions a huge swing of momentum. The complexion of the game changed immediately after Geltz’s fumble recovery. Even though the succeeding drive stalled in Newton territory, the Lions showed they were in it to win it.
Newton took the ball after a Marshall punt all the way down inside the Lions 10-yard line in the waning moment of the third quarter. There, the Lions defense played perhaps the best series of the season in keeping the Eagles out of the end zone. On fourth down, a pass down the left sideline was broken up, and the Lions took over on downs at their own seven.
A couple Lucca Giannavola runs on the subsequent drive took the ball out to the Marshall 19 where the Big Red had a first and 10. On the next play, Marshall quarterback Luke Brodie handed the ball off to Kaiden Sanders on a jet sweep around the left side. Sanders broke one tackle and ran into the clear down the left sideline for an 81-yard Marshall touchdown. The two-point conversion was good when Lucca Giannavola threw the ball to Liam Keim at the right pylon, and Marshall now led Newton 24-15 with about a minute to go in the third.
With Newton attempting a comeback on their next drive, Marshall’s nickel defense was up to the challenge. The Lions interior line of Boston Rollings, Lachlan Smith, along with Fisher Bishop and Hank Orman, collapsed the pocket, while Josef Stafford and Bryer Jansen were chasing Newton’s quarterback to hurry passes. Marshall’s defensive backs were also rock solid covering the Eagles 5-receiver sets.
It seemed after Kaiden Sanders’ touchdown that the Lions played faster without the pressure of the scoreboard. Coming down the stretch, Marshall kept getting stops, and another Lucca Giannavola rushing touchdown, this one from one yard out, followed by a two-point conversion run around the left side by Liam Keim, put the Lions ahead 32-15 with 3:11 to go in the game. At this juncture, Marshall’s players and fans began to realize that One More Game was coming to fruition,. and there was an audible buzz along the sideline and in the stands.
Once the Lions defense stopped one last gasp by Newton, the Marshall offense took the ball over on downs with a minute to go on the clock. Two kneel-downs by Luke Brodie later, the clock ticked down to zeroes, and the Marshall sideline erupted with a huge win over Newton by the score of 32-15. With the win, Marshall became the fifth team in the Little Illini Conference to become playoff eligible, which for an eight-team conference is remarkable.
Lucca Giannavola led the Lions in rushing with 173 yards on 30 carries and 3 touchdowns. Kaiden Sanders ran the ball twice for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Liam Keim scored two two-point conversions (one rushing and one receiving). Luke Brodie was 7 for 11 in passing for 66 yards. Kaiden Sanders and Liam Keim led the Lions in receiving with two apiece. On the defensive side of the ball, Lucca Giannavola had 11 tackles, while Gavyn Boden, Liam Keim, Silas Dean, and Tevin Cribelar each finished with four.
Marshall (5-4) will play its next game in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A state playoffs this coming Saturday, November 1st when the Lions travel to Arthur to take on the undefeated ALAH Knights. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Wilson Field, which is located at Arthur High School. Tickets for the game are $8.00 (IHSA pricing) and will only be sold at the gate (cash only). With limited seating at Wilson Field, Lions spectators may want to prepare by packing lawn chairs in their vehicles. Let’s support these athletes by going to Arthur and bringing home a playoff victory.
One. More. Game.
On Thursday, October 23rd, the Marshall Lions volleyball team welcomed the Lawrenceville High School Indians to McNary Gymnasium on Senior Night for Marshall seniors Avery Cornwell, Anna Daugherty, Ella Mattas, and Addy Ross. In front of the largest crowd of the 2025 season, which also had the biggest turnout of Marshall students on hand, along with the greatest pep band in Lincoln Land, the senior student athletes were honored with their parents between the junior varsity and varsity matches. These four special seniors have led a resurgence on the volleyball court for Marshall, and along with juniors Harper Richardson, Ellie Delp, and McKenzie Davis, sophomore Ali Sheets, and freshman Lilly Ross in the primary rotation, this year’s team came into the regular season finale with a record of 21-7.
Standing in the Lions’ way were the Indians from Lawrenceville, who have hovered near the .500 mark all season and came in with a record of 16-19. If the campaign for Lawrenceville were to be described in a few words, it would be a story of good Indians, bad Indians. When they’ve been good, they’ve been really good, registering big wins over Casey-Westfield, Robinson, and LIC conference leader Mount Carmel along the way using their outside striking advantage. It certainly got Marshall’s attention when Lawrenceville defeated Mount Carmel last weekend. The Lions expected a battle in a sea of red inside The Mac.
In an absolute electrifying atmosphere inside the venerable old gymnasium on the campus of Marshall High School, the Lions and Indians put on a classic volleyball thriller which for those in attendance will not soon be forgotten. In a back-and-forth affair, each set went down to the wire. The first set was tied at 23 before Lawrenceville scored two straight points to win the set 25-23. Lawrenceville had two match points in the second set, but both times Marshall dug deep and tied it back up. The second set went to overtime with the score tied at 25. This time, the Lions won the next two points, with Ellie Delp scoring a kill on set point to give Marshall the second set by the score of 27-25, sending the match to a third and deciding set.
After watching their junior varsity squad play in a multitude of three-set matches this season, the varsity squad said, “Why not? It’s Senior Night – let’s play a three-setter, too.” And what a third set it was… The Lions got down by as many as six points in the final set, the latest juncture being with the score 18-12. The Big Red never gave up and marched closer to get within two points at 23-21. Lawrenceville won the next point to go ahead 24-21, but the Lions would not let the Indians get the match winner as Marshall fended off three match points with a kill by Ella Mattas and an ace served by Harper Richardson. With the Lions down 25-24, a tip winner by McKenzie Davis pulled the Lions into a tie at 25 as the home crowd went wild. McNary Gymnasium was simply deafening at this point. The Lions won the next point to go ahead 26-25 when Ella Mattas smashed a kill from the left side to put the Lions one point away from a remarkable comeback win. Avery Cornwell served the next point, and the ball went back and forth over the net with fantastic saves and hits on both sides of the net as the crowd held its collective breath. Lawrenceville finally set up for a kill, but the strike was long, and Marshall began the celebration in winning the final set by the score of 27-25, taking the match two sets to one over Lawrenceville.
After the teams met to congratulate one another after the hard-fought match at center court, the Marshall student section stormed the floor, and the Lions gave their seniors a night to remember. Marshall gets to celebrate for a day, then they turn their attention to the state tournament regional at St. Joseph-Ogden, where on Tuesday night they play Westville in the IHSA Class 2A semifinal round at 7:00 PM. The Lions finish the regular season with a record of 22-7.
Look for the play-by-play match report this weekend in the Marshall Lions Volleyball Facebook page for both the varsity thriller as well as the junior varsity’s straight set victory over Lawrenceville in the final JV match of the season. Photos of both matches will also be uploaded to the Facebook page.
Enjoy Spook-tacular family fun! Below are details for community Halloween activities around Clark County Communities!
