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🌱 How Monticello helped reshape Illinois high school football playoffs for 2026
What's up Monticello! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How Monticello helped reshape Illinois high school football playoffs for 2026
Also on today's calendar: (SOLD OUT) Winter Solstice Yoga and 5 more events.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Monticello? Post it to Monticello photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Monticello.
- Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 37 and low of 34 degrees.
- Thursday: Windy; rain and a t-storm, temps: high: 51, low: 15. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Much colder, with a high of 30 and low of 25 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• IHSA football playoffs expanding starting in 2026 (news-gazette.com) — Monticello High School played a key role in a newly approved IHSA plan that will expand Illinois football playoffs to 384 teams and start the 2026 season a week earlier. Athletic director Dan Sheehan confirmed the change, which adds first-round byes and moves the 2026 opener up to Friday, Aug. 21, reshaping future seasons for Sages fans. 
📸 Around Monticello
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
Monticello
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Intro to Hand Sewing
Allerton Park & Retreat Center, 515 Old Timber Rd, Monticello
6:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
BKB B FR Home Mt. Zion High School
Monticello CUSD 25 , 1 Sage Drive , Monticello
6:00 pm -
BKB G V Home Warrensburg-Latham High School
Monticello CUSD 25 , 1 Sage Dr , Monticello
7:00 pm -
BKB B MS Home Tri-Valley Middle School
Monticello CUSD 25 , 2015 E Washington , Monticello
10:00 am -
BKB B JV Home Sullivan High School
Monticello CUSD 25 , 1 Sage Dr , Monticello
3:00 pm -
BKB B V Home Sullivan High School
Monticello CUSD 25 , 1 Sage Dr , Monticello
4:30 pm -
(SOLD OUT) Winter Solstice Yoga
Allerton Park & Retreat Center , 515 Old Timber Rd , Monticello
5:00 pm -
City of Monticello City Council Meeting
LIVINGSTON CENTER , 224 E Livingston St , Monticello
7:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Monday December 22
📣 Monticello Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
-
MMS Choir Concert
White Heath Elem School White Heath, IL 61884
7:30 pm -
Sangamon Valley/Tri-City at Cerro Gordo/Bement
State Bank of Bement- Cerro Gordo , 101 Madison St , Cerro Gordo
7:00 pm -
Holiday GLOW presented by U of I Community Credit Union
Allerton Park & Retreat Center , 515 Old Timber Rd , Monticello
5:00 pm -
9:30 pm Comedian Paul Farahvar New Years Eve Show!
Yellow & Co. , 1830 Patton Dr #2 , Mahomet
9:30 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Saturday December 20
Wednesday December 31
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- H&R Block posted a job opening for Bookkeeper - Franchise Location in Monticello. Apply here.
- Nutrien, Ltd. posted a job opening for Custom Applicator in Cerro Gordo. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Monticello here.
🗞 Nearby News
Champaign
- Champaign Co. Film Office talks enhancements to Illinois Film Production Tax Credit (wandtv.com)
- 32 American Indian students enrolled in Champaign County districts in 2024-25 school year (chambanasun.com)
- Champaign police seek help identifying church burglary suspects (newschannel20.com)
Urbana
Ok Monticello! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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