The Litch?eld Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Lauren Plummer, gave notice to the Chamber board of her resignation on Thursday, October 16, 2025. She has accepted a position with a local business and her last day with the Chamber will be tomorrow, Friday, October 31, 2025.

 

“I'm sad to be leaving my position as your Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, but I am excited to begin a new journey in my career. These past two and a half years have been nothing short of amazing and it has been my extreme pleasure to work with each and every one of you and grow in a professional way that I will never take for granted. The work that has been done during my time as Executive Director excites me for the momentum of the Chamber into the future and beyond. I truly believe in the potential of the Chamber and what is to come. It is my goal to make sure the transition to your next Executive Director is a smooth and easy one." - Lauren Plummer

 

The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce will be posting the position for an Executive Director through local ads as well as Facebook. Applicants may submit a resume to info@litchfieldchamber.com. 

 

The Chamber office in the Carnegie building will not be open until such time that a new Executive Director has been hired and office hours established. We will continue to update members through email & social media of news, events, etc., and request that communication be directed to our email or phone at (217) 324-2533.

It will be a good time but a haunting weekend for Hillsboro as the Abbey on Broad wraps its time as a venue open to the public.   . The Abbey will have indoor dining Friday and Saturday from 5pm-8pm. They are expecting larger than usual number of diners this weekend. They suggest making reservations, especially on Saturday, which is their Farewell/Halloween party featuring music by one of The Abbey’s favorite bands, RetroRockit. As always, all tables will be reserved for our dining guests during serving times. To make reservations, you may send an email to kelly@theabbeyonbroad.com or send a text to 217-710-0001. 

Dohrn is set to shut down their Litchfield Trucking facility next month.  The terminal will close November 21st with most of the operations and big rigs moving to St Louis.  Recently, Dohrn reported they doubled their capacity in Missouri with the new 86 door facility.   Dohrn says the expansion across the Mississippi River means more drivers, more trucks, and  faster service, greater flexibility, and stronger coverage across the region.    The company also recently added a Kansas City location.   Smaller cities like Springfield and Cape Girardeau also seeing expanded operations.  The company has also focused on expanding in the Chicago region.  There's no word on how many drivers were impacted or will stay on board with the company. 

 

He might be in the Sunshine State but former Hillsboro Police Sgt Kelly Brewer does not have a sunny disposition after a Florida circuit judge sentenced him to the maximum term for lewd and lascivious conduct.   Brewer  was  found guilty last month of intentionally touching the victim, who was between the ages of 12 and 16.  He received a prison term of 15 years.  He will have to register as a sex offender.  

He received with credit for 34 days time served.  Under his sentence, he can have no contact with the victim or the paternal side of the victims family

 Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) and Chapter, an independent Medicare adviser, are partnering to offer current and newly eligible Medicare patients free, unbiased consultations on choosing a Medicare plan that best fits their health care needs.

 

Chapter advisers provide expert, up-to-date information about Medicare Supplement (aka Medigap), Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans. They are trained to assist existing Medicare patients aged 65 or older maintain or change plans during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) beginning Oct. 15 and continuing through Dec. 7. They also offer guidance year-round to patients who become Medicare-eligible on their 65^th birthday.

 

HSHS is committed to ensuring patients and all members of the community have access to compassionate, high-quality health care through all stages of life.

 

“Choosing a Medicare plan can be overwhelming, with many factors to consider,” said Jeffery Sterling, HSHS Vice President of Managed Care. “By leveraging Chapter's technology and expertise, HSHS aims to provide our patients with the information they need to find the best fit for their needs.”

 

“Chapter utilizes a state-of-the-art platform to guide patients through the Medicare plan selection process,” said Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz, CEO of Chapter. “HSHS’ Mission to provide compassionate, high-quality health care aligns with our own vision at Chapter. Together, we can help individuals navigate the confusing world of Medicare, ensuring they get the right coverage.”

 

HSHS patients interested in receiving personalized Medicare guidance can book an appointment online at askchapter.org/hshs or by phone at 855-636-0583. Those interested in learning more about Chapter’s approach to Medicare advice can visit askchapter.org.

Good news from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.  They had been seeking 45-year-old Jonathan Mollett in the Washboard Trail area since Saturday.  He was located Monday evening.  The Sheriff's office released a statement.

 

Missing person has been located safely.

A huge thank you to the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, Litchfield Fire Department, Montgomery County EMA, and all the first responders who volunteered their time and resources to help in the search. We are also so grateful for the outpouring of support from the community—your help truly made a difference.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Litchfield Announces Boil Order Lifted, Continues Free Chlorine Treatment
Litchfield, IL — The City of Litchfield is pleased to announce that the system-wide boil order has been officially lifted. Water samples collected and analyzed have come back clear, confirming that the system now meets all state and federal safety standards.
Residents and businesses may immediately resume normal water use without boiling.  While this marks an important step forward, the City is continuing to take proactive measures to strengthen our water system. At this time, the Water Treatment Facility will remain on Free Chlorine disinfection while necessary repairs are made. This approach also allows the City to continue a Free Burn of the distribution system, a proven method recommended by industry experts to restore and enhance system performance.
During this period, residents may notice a stronger chlorine odor or taste in the water.  This is normal and expected. While it may be noticeable, it is not harmful. In fact, the Free Burn provides important benefits:
? Enhanced Safety: Free chlorine ensures maximum disinfection throughout the
system.
? System Cleansing: It helps remove biofilm and buildup inside water lines,
improving long-term water quality.
? Future Reliability: Remaining on Free Chlorine allows the City to complete
repairs at the plant while maintaining safe and stable water conditions.
We understand the challenges this boil order has created and thank the community for its patience, cooperation, and understanding during this time. City crews, alongside the Illinois Rural Water Association, Illinois EPA, and other industry partners, worked around the clock to restore and protect the water system.
The City of Litchfield will continue to provide updates as additional work at the Water Treatment Facility progresses. For questions or concerns, residents may contact City Hall at 217-324-8151 or follow updates on the City’s official website and social media pages.