A familiar and steady presence at Delavan basketball games for more than three decades was recognized Friday night, as Delavan Schools honored Ric Hartzler for 35 years of dedicated service at the scoring table for both Delavan Junior High and Delavan High School basketball.

During a halftime ceremony at the Delavan vs. Illini Bluffs varsity matchup, Athletic Director Ryon Kramer presented Hartzler with a commemorative plaque celebrating his long-standing commitment to Panther athletics. The recognition drew warm applause from players, coaches, and community members who have long associated Hartzler with the rhythm and reliability of game night in Jake Poppenga Gymnasium.

Hartzler began working the clock and assisting with official scoring in the early 1990s, becoming a fixture at junior high and high school contests. His consistency, calm under pressure, and deep knowledge of the game made him a trusted partner for coaches and officials across generations.

After 35 seasons behind the table, Hartzler is retiring from his duties on the clock, closing a chapter marked by thousands of quarters timed, fouls logged, and memories made.

Delavan Schools expressed gratitude for his decades of service, noting that volunteers like Hartzler help sustain the traditions and spirit of Panther athletics.

Hartzler’s recognition adds to a season of celebrating the people who help shape Delavan sports—on the court, on the sidelines, and behind the scenes.

Trio’s Pizzeria served its final customers on Friday, February 6, 2026, closing the chapter on a short but memorable run in downtown Delavan. The restaurant, which opened in December 2024, announced earlier in the day that Friday would be its last night in operation.

In a message to customers, the Trio’s team shared, “Tonight will be our last night here at Trio’s. We have some pizza doughs left, flat breads, wings, and appetizers etc. Please come out for one last night with us as we prepare to lock the doors one last time.” The post drew an immediate response from residents, many of whom stopped in for a final meal or left messages of support online.

Trio’s quickly became a familiar stop for families, students, and Friday‑night regulars, offering a menu that blended classic pizzeria staples with local favorites. Its location in the heart of downtown made it a convenient gathering spot and a welcome addition to the city’s small‑business landscape.

The owners did not publicly share the reason for the closure, but thanked the community for its support throughout their time in Delavan.

As the lights went out for the final time Friday night, customers lingered to say their goodbyes—some taking home one last pizza, others simply stopping in to express appreciation. For many, Trio’s leaves behind more than a menu; it leaves behind a year’s worth of shared meals, celebrations, and memories.

The storefront now joins a growing list of downtown spaces awaiting their next chapter as Delavan continues to reshape and revitalize its business district.

Encompass Grain and Rail Co-op has begun work to remove the unused railroad tracks running north of 5th Street, including the sections that pass beneath the 4th Street and 3rd Street bridges. The project marks the end of a rail service era tied to the Delavan grain elevator and opens the door for a new public greenway planned by the City of Delavan.

The rail corridor, owned by the City and leased to Encompass for the movement of grain by railcar, has been inactive following recent changes in rail operator requirements. According to city officials, rail carriers now require a significantly higher number of cars to justify a stop at a specific elevator—thresholds that smaller facilities like Delavan’s cannot meet. In addition, the rail line north of 5th Street would have required substantial repairs to remain safe and operational.

Faced with those combined challenges, Encompass agreed to vacate the lease and remove the tracks at its own expense. Crews began dismantling the line this week, with work progressing northward just past 3rd Street.

City leaders say the cleared corridor will eventually become a greenway and walking path connecting Veterans’ Park—formerly known as City Park—to Lake Park. The project is intended to create a continuous pedestrian route between two of Delavan’s most used public spaces.

No timeline has been released for the construction of the greenway, and planning discussions are expected to continue as the rail removal progresses.

Long before the grid of streets, the brick storefronts, or even the first family homes, the earliest shape of the Delavan settlement rose on a patch of high prairie at what is now the southeast corner of Chestnut and Third Streets. In May 1837, an advance party of carpenters and builders—led by W. W. Crossman—arrived to begin the work of turning a speculative Rhode Island venture into a functioning Illinois colony.

Their first task was survival. A small cabin went up quickly to serve as temporary shelter. But the real symbol of the settlement’s ambition was the structure that followed: the Colony House, a three-story frame building designed to house incoming settlers until they could build homes of their own. In a community founded on temperance principles and collective effort, the Colony House was meant to be both a landing place and a promise.

Constructing such a building on the open prairie was no small feat. Much of the lumber came from the East—some of it shipped from Providence, carried down the Atlantic coast, through the Gulf of Mexico, and then up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Pekin. From there, the final 18 miles were made the hard way: by ox cart and wagon over rough prairie trails.

Other shipments originated in Pittsburgh, floated down the Ohio River before joining the same long route north. The heaviest timbers, however, were cut closer to home along the Mackinaw River, five miles to the north, and hauled across the prairie to the building site.

By early fall, two rooms of the Colony House were complete—just enough for Mrs. Crossman, the first woman to join the settlement, to arrive on October 1 after waiting out the earliest construction period in Tremont. Two more rooms were finished before winter, and the remainder of the building was completed the following spring.

Even in those earliest months, the settlers’ priorities extended beyond shelter. True to the ideals of the Delavan Association, cultural and educational needs were considered essential. Construction soon began on a schoolhouse, which served not only as a place of learning but also as a general meeting hall and a site for church services. It remained the community’s educational center until 1860.

Despite the ambitious vision of its organizers, the colony grew more slowly than expected. Few of the association’s enrolled members ultimately made the move west. Only five houses were built by the association itself, and the challenges of frontier life—limited transportation, distant markets, and difficult roads—kept growth modest.

Wagons and carts were the only means of travel, and the nearest village, Dillon, lay seven miles away. Pekin served as the primary outlet for produce, while the Orndorff settlement provided the nearest neighbors—and the nearest source of butter and eggs.

Twenty years after the land sale in Providence, the population of Delavan stood at just 150. By the time the community incorporated as a village in 1865, it had grown to nearly 500.

Tazewell County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds John C. Ackerman spent “Help America Vote Day” inside a Pekin Community High School classroom, using a hands on lesson to show students how local elections are secured — and why their participation matters.

The visit was part of an ongoing civic education partnership with the office of State Representative Travis Weaver. Students cast ballots to choose what the official State of Illinois color should be, a lighthearted vote designed to introduce them to the mechanics of real world elections. As they marked and submitted their ballots, Ackerman explained the security features built into Tazewell County’s paper ballots and the tabulators used in every election.

Ackerman also used the opportunity to connect the classroom exercise to the national purpose of “Help America Vote Day,” established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to encourage Americans to register, vote, and serve as poll workers. He noted that Tazewell County relies on more than 500 Election Judges each election cycle and has developed streamlined procedures to ensure results are calculated quickly while maintaining strict accuracy.

“Our office takes great pride in our transparency, outreach, and leadership of elections within the State of Illinois,” Ackerman said in a statement marking the day. Tazewell County remains the only county in Illinois to receive the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Clearinghouse Award for “Excellence in Election Administration,” earning the national recognition in both 2024 and 2025.

During the PCHS visit, Ackerman encouraged eligible students to register to vote and highlighted the important role young people can play as Election Judges — a paid position that helps staff polling places and support secure, efficient elections.

He also emphasized that the Clerk’s Office welcomes residents with questions about election safeguards. “It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Tazewell County in this vital role,” Ackerman said. “We invite anyone with concerns about how our elections are protected to stop by our office anytime and allow us to showcase our policies and procedures.”

For students at PCHS, the day offered a close up look at how local democracy functions — and a reminder that the next generation of voters and poll workers is already taking shape.

A winter storm may have delayed the celebration, but it certainly didn’t diminish the spirit. After a major December snow event forced the postponement of Delavan FCCLA’s annual Pink Out Night, the community packed Jake Poppenga Gymnasium on January 26, 2026, turning the rescheduled varsity basketball matchup against the El Paso/Gridley Titans into a powerful show of solidarity for metastatic breast cancer awareness.

A Sea of Pink for a Purpose

Well before tipoff, the gym was awash in pink—shirts, hoodies, ribbons, and even the uniforms of the Delavan Varsity Panthers, who took the floor in special pink-themed warmups. FCCLA members had pre-sold Pink Out t shirts in the weeks leading up to the event, and the crowd embraced the theme wholeheartedly.

The organization also hosted a bustling raffle table, offering baskets filled with treats, gift cards, and donated items from local supporters. Every ticket sold helped raise funds for metastatic breast cancer research and support services, a cause the chapter has championed for years.

A Halftime Tribute That Moved the Crowd

The most poignant moment of the night came at halftime. As the crowd rose to its feet, players from both the Panthers and the Titans walked into the stands carrying pink roses. One by one, they presented them to breast cancer survivors seated throughout the gym.

The gesture drew emotional applause—an unmistakable reminder that the evening’s purpose extended far beyond the scoreboard.

Community Strength on Full Display

Despite the rescheduled date and winter’s disruptions, the turnout rivaled any major home game. Families, alumni, and supporters from both communities filled the bleachers, creating an atmosphere that blended school pride with heartfelt advocacy.

FCCLA members circulated through the crowd, sharing information about metastatic breast cancer and thanking attendees for their support. By the end of the night, the chapter had raised meaningful funds and—just as importantly—renewed awareness of a disease that affects families across central Illinois and beyond.

More Than a Game

While the Panthers and Titans battled on the court, the true victory belonged to the survivors honored, the students who organized the event, and the community that showed up in force. Delavan’s Pink Out Night once again proved that when the town rallies behind a cause, it does so with unmistakable heart.

The Delavan community will gather Friday, February 13, to celebrate one of its most accomplished and influential basketball leaders. Former Delavan boys’ basketball coach Ryon Kramer will be honored at halftime of the varsity matchup between Delavan and Illini Bluffs in recognition of his 2025 induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will take place at Jake Poppenga Gymnasium, with varsity tipoff set for 6:30 p.m.

Kramer’s coaching career in Delavan spans nearly 25 years and includes standout success at both the junior high and high school levels. Across three seasons at Delavan Junior High and 21 seasons as head coach at Delavan High School, he compiled a combined 482–260 record.

At the junior high level, Kramer led the Panthers’ seventh- and eighth grade teams to a dominant 100–28 mark, helping establish a competitive foundation for the program.

His impact grew even larger at the high school level, where he amassed a 382–232 record and guided Delavan to four IHSA Regional Championships in 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2017. His teams recorded 11 seasons with 20 or more wins, highlighted by a standout 28–4 campaign in 2007–08, one of the best in program history.

In addition to his Hall of Fame coaching legacy, Kramer currently serves as assistant principal and Athletic Director for Delavan Schools, continuing his long-standing commitment to the district and its students.

The Delavan School District encourages alumni, former players, and community members to attend Friday night’s game to help celebrate Coach Kramer’s enduring impact on Delavan athletics.

The Mighty Panthers Speech Team capped their regular season with a strong runner up finish at the Lincoln High School Speech Tournament on Saturday, January 24, adding another impressive performance to an already standout year.

Delavan brought home three event championships and a total of 20 individual awards, underscoring both the team’s depth and its competitive edge heading into the postseason.

Leading the way were the Panthers’ three first place medalists:

Gwen Tierney, champion in Varsity Humorous Interpretation

Jaylyn Diekhoff, champion in Varsity Prose

Hayden Koehler, champion in JV Poetry

In addition to those top finishes, the Panthers earned 17 more individual awards across multiple categories, reflecting consistent strength throughout the roster.

Saturday’s tournament marked the final regular season meet for Delavan, who now turn their attention to the IHSA postseason. The Panthers will open regional competition on February 7 at Pekin High School, where they’ll look to carry their momentum into the post season.

You can’t explore Delavan’s early history for long without meeting the man whose name the town bears—though he never set foot here. The story begins in September 1836, when a group of Rhode Island settlers, led by Jonas R. Gale, traveled west in search of new opportunities on the Illinois prairie. During that journey, they selected a tract of land in southern Tazewell County as the site for a future community. Back in Rhode Island, the newly formed Delavan Association—named in honor of Edward Cornelius Delavan, the prominent New York temperance advocate—organized a formal bid for the land. Their purchase was completed on November 24, 1836, and the settlement that would become Delavan was officially founded the following year, in 1837.

Many readers already know the familiar milestones of Delavan’s early years—the first marriage, the first house, the first businesses—details preserved in state and local archives. What the records don’t describe, however, is how his prominence and philosophy shaped how the town’s founders chose his name to signal their moral aspirations.

Edward Cornelius Delavan did not begin his public life as a temperance crusader. In fact, his early wealth came from the very industry he would later renounce. As a young businessman in New York, Delavan invested in wine importation and liquor distribution, building a substantial fortune in the alcohol trade. That financial success eventually funded his philanthropic work, including the temperance campaigns that made him a national figure—and ultimately inspired the founders of Delavan, Illinois, to name their new prairie town in his honor.

“It is my opinion could the real truth be known, the whole community, with the exception of those whose appetite has already become depraved by indulgence, would abandon forever the use of intoxicating drinks,” Edward Cornelius Delavan wrote in his book Adulterations of Liquors,. Edward C. Delavan was a religious man who notably attacked the usage of wine for communion as he believed biblical wine was unfermented grape juice. The prior quote led into one of his twelve-page publication dictating his disdain for alcohol, its consumption, and how it hasn’t a place in religious proceeding despite there being conflicting ideologies on this matter. His conflict with wine actually led to him leaving the Presbyterian church in favor of joining the Episcopal church.

He was against alcohol ingestion in any scenario. This husband and father of five took it upon himself to take on the New York State Temperance Society to adopt the same zero-tolerance view he held but upon failing to do so on multiple occasions it prompted him to leave the society. Though parting from the society didn’t part him from his pursuit of achieving temperance.

The Delavan Association founded the town in the pursuit of creating a dry space. That’s right, Delavan began as an alcohol free town! The dramatic irony of which does not go unnoticed seeing as most of Delavan’s most successful and well-known businesses present-day are its bars. Just a mere two years after Gale surveying the area that would become Delavan, Illinois, Delavan sailed to Europe to preach temperance across the continent. He returned home to New York where in 1845 he erected Delavan House, one of the country’s first temperance hotels. “The hotel, however, lost money, and, much to Delavan’s annoyance, the manager used a loophole in the lease to introduce liquor.”

Though we may know him as the namesake of our town, Edward Cornelius Delavan’s biggest legacy is his relentless propaganda campaign. He wrote publication after publication and claimed to have personally financed “the publication and distribution of over 36 million anti-alcohol tracts and magazine issues”. His propaganda and lobbying directly lead to New York legislature enacting local option prohibition in 1846 which voters across the state voted to make 80% of the state’s towns dry – while this only lasted in most of them for a year, it was a sizable show of power and impressive victory for Delavan whether you agree with his beliefs or not.