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2026 Knox County Fair Queens, from left, Miss Knox County Fair Queen Lillian Rogers, Junior Miss Knox County Fair Queen Mila Nolan, and Little Miss Knox County Fair Queen Ensley Ball, at WGIL on July 6, 2026. (WGIL) The 2026 Knox County Fair Queens were crowned June 27 at The Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg — and on opening day of the 175th Knox County Fair, they joined Galesburg’s Morning News to talk about what the title means and what they are looking forward to this week in Knoxville.

The 2026 Knox County Fair Queens joined Galesburg’s Morning News on Monday, July 6, 2026 — opening day of the 175th Knox County Fair. Lillian Rogers of Gilson was crowned Miss Knox County Fair Queen, Mila Nolan of Knoxville was crowned Junior Miss Knox County Fair Queen, and Ensley Ball of Knoxville was crowned Little Miss Knox County Fair Queen — all at The Orpheum Theatre on June 27.

Mr. Philip C. Gottenborg, 73, passed away peacefully at 12:20 p.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Born on June 9, 1953, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Phil was the son of Richard E. and Lois I. (Carter) Gottenborg Sr. He grew up with a strong work ethic and graduated from Galesburg High School in 1971.

The Galesburg City Council has cancelled its Monday, July 6, 2026 meeting. City Manager Eric Hanson said the cancellation is due to several council members being out of town following the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and the fact that no business required immediate action. “We canceled primarily because we have several people who are out of town on vacation with the 4th holiday on the weekend and the fact that we didn’t have anything that couldn’t wait until the next meeting,” Hanson said.

Evan Massey is a retired Galesburg High School girls basketball coach, one of the most successful in Illinois history. He writes local history features and a weekly Time Capsule column for WGIL. This Week in Galesburg History brought a new Knox coach, a traitor, a Silver Streak pioneer, and protestors on Henderson St. This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 25 years ago, and 10 years ago this week?

Mrs. Joan M. “Ginger” Thurman, 91, of Abingdon, Illinois, passed away peacefully at 7:52 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Knox County Nursing Home. Born on December 7, 1934, in Galesburg, Illinois, Ginger was the daughter of Lawrence and Josephine (Guardalabene) Cotton. She was raised in Galesburg and graduated from Galesburg High School with the Class of 1952. On August 27, 1955, she married the love of her life, Clarence O. “Doodles” Thurman, in Galesburg.

Jerry L. Brock, 86, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away on Friday, July 3, 2026, at his home. Jerry was born July 26, 1939, at Monmouth Hospital, the son of Forest O. “Bud” and Maude (Hewitt) Brock. In his early years he lived in Seaton, Illinois, later moving to Monmouth, where he finished grade school and graduated from Monmouth High School in 1957. He later attended Monmouth College. Jerry married the love of his life, Martha L. Ross, on June 17, 1961, in Monmouth. Together they raised two children.

Mary E. Johnson, 87, passed away on June 28, 2026, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. She was born on September 9, 1938, at St. Mary Hospital in Galesburg, to parents Bernard and Helen (FeField) Irons. She married Vernon E. Johnson in 1961. They were married for 54 years before Vern’s passing. Mary graduated from Corpus Christi High School and then from Moorse Beauty School in Galesburg in 1956.

Michael “Frank” Robbins, 76, of Oquawka, Illinois, died surrounded by his family at 4:22 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Frank was born August 2, 1949, in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of Melvin Herbert and Ruby Marie (Morris) Robbins. Frank graduated from Union High School in 1967.

The Knox County Fair turns 175 this year — and it’s going out with a bang. Literally. Knox County Fair Board members Josh Smith, Ted Inness, Mallory Tolley, and Darcy Thorpe joined Galesburg In Focus on July 4 to preview the 175th Knox County Fair, opening Monday, July 6, in Knoxville.