As the regular season hits the second half and the postseason gets closer, many Times-area girls basketball teams and players are trending up in Brian Hoxsey's girls basketball notebook.

Oglesby native and vocalist Erin Shields will hold a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at Illinois Valley Community College.

Marshall-Putnam 4-H hosted a holiday centerpiece workshop on Dec. 20 for local families.

Hunter Handyman Services in La Salle is celebrating five years of serving the Illinois Valley area.

Illinois Valley Community College celebrated its first dental hygiene graduating class with a white coat ceremony Dec. 12.

The Illinois Master Naturalists are hosting their first Nature Journaling Workshop of the year from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan 31, at the Tiskilwa Public Library.

Applications for the Delyte K. and Robert I. Zearing Scholarship are now available for Bureau County high school graduates planning to attend the University of Illinois.

The Streator Public Library will host a variety of programs for children, teens and adults from Jan. 19-24.

NCI ARTworks will host an exhibition opening for international contemporary artist Ken Knight from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at its gallery in Peru.

Henry-Senachwine High School students raised $8,327 through their recent HOPE Week fundraising campaign, supporting two charitable causes.