Illinois’ community colleges are doing far more than educating students. They are also powering the state’s economy in a big way.

According to a new report from the Illinois Community College Board, community colleges across Illinois generated an impressive $27.2 billion in total economic impact during the 2023–24 fiscal year. This supports more than 324,000 jobs statewide. The findings also highlight that these institutions are essential engines of growth, opportunity and workforce development.

The study, titled The Economic Value of the Community Colleges of Illinois, shows that the biggest impact comes from graduates themselves. The study proved that former students contribute an estimated $25 billion in added income to the state’s economy. This demonstrates how education continues to pay dividends long after students leave the classroom.

According to Josh Bullock, President of Lake Land College, “This study validates the work that community colleges do every day to create opportunity throughout our regions.” Bullock also said that they are committed to delivering value through partnerships that meet local business needs as well as programs that fit the lives of their students.

Across Illinois, community colleges contribute in multiple ways. Those ways vary from campus operations and construction projects to student spending in local communities.

The most lasting impact is preparing graduates for in-demand careers that strengthen industries and local economies.

More details on Lakeland College can be found at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/

Students of the Lake Land College Honors, alongside members of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors Society, were given recognition for their outstanding academic achievements at the annual Lake Land College Honors Banquet.

Jay Bliler of Taylorville, and Sarah Housh from Charleston were also recognized during the event as nominees for the Honors Student of the Year Award at the event as well.

During the event, Grayson Thomas from Paris was named Honors Student of the Year in recognition of his exceptional work in the Lake Land College Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program.

Other students honored at the event included student officers from the PTK Honors Society.  The student officers were honored for their service throughout the year. Among those honored were PTK Honors Society President Sarah Houshfrom Charleston, Vice President Kyra Hazelton from Effingham, Treasurer Morgan Livngston from Charleston, and Secretary Eric Stanley also from Charleston.

The following students were recognized for achieving Associate and Full-Level Honors: 

Full Level Honors went to Jay Bliler of Taylorville, Connor Garofano and Kailyn Tracy of Mattoon, Kyra Hazelton of Effingham, Sara Housh and Morgan Livingston from Charleston, and Grayson Thomas from Paris.

Associates Level Honors went to Naomi Comer of Casey and Jasmine Gast of Charleston.

All of the Lake Land College PTK students graduating this year were also recognized and received a special graduation stole during the event.

At right, Vice President for Student Services Heather Nohren presents the 2026 Lake Land College Honors Student of the Year Award to Grayson Thomas of Paris, during the annual Lake Land College Honors Banquet.

Pictured front row (left to right) are the 2026 Lake Land College Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) graduates: Jay Bliler, Taylorville; Sarah Housh, Charleston; Jasmine Gast, Charleston; Jade Garza, Humboldt; Kyra Hazelton, Effingham; Ellie Macklin, Mason; and Naomi Comer, Casey.

The 2026 Lake Land College Distinguished Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Officers are pictured from left to right: Eric Stanley, Charleston; Morgan Livingston, Charleston; Sarah Housh, Charleston; and Kyra Hazelton, Effingham.

For more information on the Lake Land College go online to https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/ 

Community members in Taylorville looking to lend a hand to home maintenance projects will have an opportunity to do so on Saturday, June 13.  That’s because the organization Missions for Taylorville is holding its next “workday.”  It’s a day when the group organizes efforts for volunteers to visit homes in need of maintenance to complete needed work.

Ed Legg is the director of Missions for Taylorville.  He says volunteers can sign up anytime before the event.  They are asked, however, to complete an application which explains their skills and capabilities in home maintenance. 

In most cases, the workday takes up the entire day.  Missions for Taylorville arranges logistics and other needs for the volunteer workers in advance so the workday itself progresses smoothly. 

With the workday set for June 13, homeowners interested in having maintenance on their homes must apply by May 22.  This allows time for Missions for Taylorville to assess the projects. 

Missions for Taylorville is entirely volunteer-run and always accepts monetary donations.

More information – along with volunteer and homeowner applications – from Missions for Taylorville is available at www.missionsfortaylorville.org and on their Facebook page.

Ed Legg appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

Testing is an important part of every spring and for Pana superintendent Jessica Miller, a chance to see how her students have improved from when school started in the fall to this spring. She says that every level is different and she looks for different things at the high school level than she does at the elementary levels from her students.

Another area that Pana School District has found success lately has been through STEM and that is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Pana was representing at the Rochester STEM Fair. 

While STEM plays a big part in school and education, school wouldn’t be school without literacy, and Miller says she’s always trying to figure out ways to improve literacy efforts at Pana School District. 

Miller says she is proud of the effort that her staff puts on behind the scenes and calls it a “Well oiled machine.”

Find out more about Pana CUSD #8 at www.panaschools.com.

Jessica Miller appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.

The public access routes to Ken Kenney’s located at Lake Shelbyville are set to see some changes.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is updating the public access to this location, commonly labeled as Site #46 on the USACE hunting and fishing maps.

The roadway that the public has been using as of late as a route to access the area is privately owned, and is not a designated public access route, according to the USACE.

This location, previously identified in USACE publications as a hunter and fisherman parking area, has been officially updated to clarify that the roadway is private property and that it is not open for public access.

USACE has since worked with private landowners in that region to secure a formal access easement for agency operational purposes. This easement is limited to use only by the USACE, and does not allocate for general public access.

To ensure clarity and respect private property rights, USACE has set plans to install signage in the coming days, as well as provide an update to official maps and publications reflecting this alteration.
Visitors to Lake Shelbyville are encouraged to utilize designated public access areas for recreational activities.

USACE says they are forever committed to maintaining strong partnerships with local landowners while continuing to provide safe and accessible recreation opportunities.

For additional information, contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at (217) 774-3951.

The Lincoln Land Honor Flight is set to take off on May 5th. The flight is set to depart from the Springfield Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport (SPI), serving 95 veterans. The conflicts the veterans have been involved in include 5 veterans from the Korean War, alongside 90 veterans from the Vietnam War era.

The upcoming Honor Flight, titled Mission #77, will include 54 Illinois hometown veterans from 54 different Illinois towns.

These veterans and the guardians assigned to them are scheduled to report to the SPI Airport on May 5th at 4:00 AM, to prepare for a journey to Washington aboard a Sun Country Airlines Boeing.

During the trip, Veterans will visit multiple historical landmarks and monuments. Monuments that are a big feature of the trip include the WWII and Vietnam memorials, along with Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns, and the Lincoln Memorial. Veterans are also set to visit the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. Other sites set to be seen are the US Marine Corps. Memorial and the US Air Force Memorial.

The cost to take this honor flight is absolutely nothing, as the entirety of the journey will be funded by generous donations from the general public.

The 95 participating heroes will return to Springfield International Airport at 9:30 pm on Tuesday, May 5th.

Friends of the participating veterans, family, and the Lincoln Land Honor Flight  (LLHF) veterans are encouraged to pack the airport to welcome home these heroes.

For many of the heroes attending this year's honor flight, this is the first time that they will experience a real and heartfelt welcome home.

Greeters are urged to arrive early so that they have enough time to show appreciation for these specific veterans for their services and sacrifices to our country.

Any veteran who has served at any point up to May 7, 1975, is eligible to qualify for the LLHF.

Parking will be free, and volunteers will be present in the parking lot to assist attendees with finding parking spaces. There will also be a shuttle bus provided to take guests directly to the airport terminal door.

The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, receiving no government funding, that strictly relies on donations to make sure these flights can be set into action.

For more details on the Lincoln Land Honor Flight, go to www.landoflincolnhonorflight.org/

The Illinois State Police held its first-ever Telecommunicators Graduation and Promotion Ceremony, swearing in 30 new telecommunicators and recognizing nine others for recent promotions.

Officials say telecommunicators play a critical role as the first point of contact during emergencies, providing a calm voice for callers in distress. ISP leadership noted the agency’s commitment to extensive training across all positions to ensure high-quality service for residents across Illinois, while also welcoming the newest telecommunicators and recognizing excellence within the department.

The ISP’s communication centers serve all 102 counties in Illinois and handle an average of 650,000 calls each year. Telecommunicators act as the first link in emergency response, connecting those in need with first responders heading to the scene. The agency currently employs 117 telecommunicators statewide.

The 30 graduates completed an intensive training program between November 2025 and February 2026. The program, conducted at six ISP communication centers, includes six to twelve months of classroom instruction along with hands-on, scenario-based training.

In addition to the graduates, nine telecommunicators were recognized for promotions to leadership roles, including Lead Workers, Supervisors, and Regional Managers.

ISP officials say the ceremony will now be held annually to recognize new telecommunicators and honor those advancing within the agency.
 

Community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the Lincoln Prairie Trail and how to support its upkeep.  It’s part of Celebrate Trails Day, an annual initiative by the national organization Rails to Trails Conservancy.  The day of action is set for Saturday, April 25.  Members of the Lincoln Prairie Trails Conservancy will be on hand at the Olde Towne Pub in Owaneco – which is just off the trail – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day.

Diana Vocks is a member of the Lincoln Prairie Trails Conservancy’s board.  She says there will be snacks, safety items for sale, and informational pamphlets. 

In addition to informing visitors about the trail, Vocks says the goal of that day is to encourage people to take advantage of the trail and other nature spots in the area.

Steve Dennis, chair of the Lincoln Prairie Trails Conservancy’s board, says the group’s mission is to repair, maintain, enhance, and promote the Lincoln Prairie Trail.  He adds that they are working on a project just off the trail at the Taylorville Lake entrance to restore some trees. 

The Conservancy is also working on new educational materials regarding the trees and other plants along the trail.  Visitors will be able to access this information digitally while on the trail.

These developments come a year after a project to replace the bridge over the South Fork Sangamon River.  Dennis says the work has paid off in attracting people to make use of the trail.

More information on the Lincoln Prairie Trails Conservancy is available at www.lincolnprairietrailsconservancy.com and on their Facebook page.

Steve Dennis and Diana Vocks appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show. 

Students from the Taylorville High School TommyTV and journalism programs are heading to state after strong performances at the IHSA Section 2 competition.

Several students earned top finishes across multiple categories to qualify for the state contest. In TV News, the team of Olivia Garren, Ty Winans, and Ella Hohenstein placed third to advance. In Radio News, senior Owen Busboom took second place, while junior Marlee Craggs finished third in copywriting.

Additional qualifiers include sophomore Jolee Johnson, who placed third in advertisement, and freshman Kailey Sampson, who earned a second-place finish in headline writing.
In Newspaper Design, junior Abigail Blount placed fifth.

The qualifying students will compete at the state competition on April 24th at Heartland Community College.

Leave it to beaver! Jack Flash Gas Station in Pana was visited early this morning by a beaver with an apparent need to go to the bathroom. 

Dylan Clark, from Hart Media Group, spoke with Marley, the Stores Assistant Manager, later in the morning to get more details.

According to Marley, the Stores Assistant Manager, a customer actually held the door open and allowed the beaver to walk right in. The free-roaming beaver b-lined it to the bathroom, and then was calmly and safely assisted back to the exit.

The beaver, forgetting how to get back out of the bathroom, was gifted a friendly walk to the door and a kind wish for a great day and safe travels!

As for the beaver, it's on to the next stop on his destination with high hopes of finding another gas station with staff that is just as friendly for his next restroom break.

Shout out to the beaver for enjoying the open world, and to his recognition of the proper bathroom to use.

No customers or staff were harmed by this situation. Pana Police Department confirms, no beavers were harmed in the duration of this morning’s festivities.

Tax day this year falls on April 15th and for Illinois families, it is another reminder of where they currently stand with tax related finances. While working families are tightening their belts and trying to make ends meet, Republicans say that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and House Democrats are piling on more tax hikes this legislative session.

As Governor Pritzker looks for ways to pay for a budget that spends $1 billion more than last year, House Democrats have filed a number of new taxes on families and businesses.
Those new tax bills include House Bill 4459 which covers campfire tax, House Bill 5112 covering bag tax, House Bill 4414 which covers ammo tax, House Bill 2996 outlining cell tower tax, and finally House Bill 4894 covering Digital Advertisement Tax.

These new taxes are being stacked on top of the tax burden that some Illinois families and businesses already face.

Statistics show that Illinois homeowners pay the highest property taxes in the country, and Wallet Hub states that Illinois has the highest overall tax rates in the nation.

Since taking office, Governor Pritzker has enacted 49 tax and fee hikes. Last year alone, Governor Pritzker signed a budget with $700 million in new taxes.

Illinois House Republicans held a Tax Day press conference at Capitol on Wednesday morning. During this Conference, Representative Tom Weber of Lake Villa, said that Illinoisans are suffering under ever increasing costs to live in Illinois.

Meanwhile, Representative Steve Reick of Woodstock, said that the issue Illinoisans have is not one of revenue. Instead, its an issue with priorities and spending. 

The final representative to speak was Representative Joe Sosnowski of Rockford. Sosnowski said that the governor is not winning any awards for running a good economy or a good state.

For more information regarding the new taxes, on the office of Governor Pritzker, and other legislative matters you can go online to ilga.gov.
 

Kiwanis members made welcome Lindsey Eyre at their Tuesday luncheon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge. Eyre is a Youth Resource Advocate with the Illinois Coalition for Community Services.

ICCS works to bring positive change to youth, families and communities providing encouragement and opportunities for growth.  Eyre informed the Kiwanis members that ICCS is committed to assisting communities with improved job options and reduced truancy and violence among youth.

The focus of ICCS is to help youth and young adults ages 11 – 24 lead more productive lives.  ICCS offers Community Youth Services to address some of the common challenges that affect youth.

Several youth based concerns are monitored by ICCS including youth unemployment rates, youth poverty and adolescent drug abuse.  In Taylorville the ICCS has partnered with the Christian County Health Department and the Christian County YMCA in an effort to reach those in need of assistance.

For more information regarding the Illinois Coalition for Community Services you can visit their web page at www.iccscares.org 

As a reminder the Taylorville Kiwanis Club will be hosting its annual “All you can eat” Pancake and Sausage breakfast fundraiser Saturday April 25th.  Serving will begin at 6:30am and continue until 11:00am at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  All proceeds are utilized to serve local youth activities. 

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

 For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com or email the club at TaylorvilleKiwanis@gmail.

Shelbyville Recently announced the WSVZ and Family Drug Student of the Month for April.

The students of the month are Freshman, Case Darnell, Sophomore, Hayden Mudgette, Junior, Avindeya Beck, and Senior, Elizabeth Kirkbride.

Pictured below are the recipients of this recognition along side of Trinity, the CPhtT of Familiy Drug (Left to Right)

Case Darnell (Far left), Hayden Mudgette (Left), Avindeya Beck (Middle), Elizabeth Kirkbride (Right), and Trinity, CPhtT of Family Drug (Far Right)

The Ramsey Community Unit School District #204 Board of Education will meet Thursday night for its regular monthly board meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the high school library.

Among the items on the agenda are approval of the March 19th meeting minutes, monthly financial reports, bills and payroll, and the possible destruction of closed session audio recordings older than 18 months.

Superintendent and building principals will also deliver reports, including updates on graduation, promotion, and baccalaureate plans, as well as a proposed amendment to the 2025-2026 budget.

New business items include consideration of a treasury bond for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, along with updated district policies on acceptable use for staff and students and a new artificial intelligence policy for the 2026-2027 school year.

Board members will also consider entering closed session to discuss personnel matters, including employment, compensation, performance, discipline, or dismissal of specific employees.

The meeting is open to the public.

The Taylorville School Board met last night for their monthly meeting to discuss various topics. During this meeting, Dr. Ronald Mizer was awarded the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Award. Other items up for discussion included talking points from the Illinos Association of School Boards, Presented by Board President, Ann Chandler, an NPT Update Presented by Board Member, Lori Wemple, as well as consideration and discussion regarding the approval of dismissing Taylorville High School’s Boys Basketball Coach, Ryan Brown.

The IASB recognized Dr. Mizer for his outstanding performance and dedication as a member of the Taylorville School Board. The IASB offers a number of awards and programs to recognize the dedicated work of school board members that strive for excellence in local school board governance.

The School Board also considered the approval of the Taylorville High School and junior high school student handbook and discipline updates, consideration and approval of breakfast and lunch fees, as well as the at-will employee salaries for the 2027 fiscal year. 

The board unanimously reached approval across all considerations aside from the discussion regarding Coach Ryan Brown. At which the board came to a 3-3 vote, with board member, Tonya Bowsher choosing to abstain. This resulted in the motion reaching failed status, allowing Coach Brown to remain employed with the Taylorville High School.

For more details on Coach Browns discussion, CLICK HERE.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12th. 

The Cowden-Herrick CUSD #3A Board of Education will meet on Thursday, April 16th, for its regular board meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Cowden Board Room.

Items on the consent agenda include approval of minutes from the previous meeting, current bills, the treasurer’s report, and approval of IHSA and IESA membership for the 2026-2027 school year.

Under new business, board members will consider purchasing shot clocks for the high school gym and review a resolution related to an installment purchase agreement for $415,700 in Taxable General Obligation Debt Certificates, Series 2026A. The board will also review a tentative amended budget for public review.

Superintendent Seth Schuler will also present a report during the meeting.
Following a closed session to discuss personnel matters, the board is expected to take action on staffing items, including hiring a junior high science teacher pending requirements, approving principals’ contracts, hiring summer custodial help, and accepting staff and coaching resignations.

The meeting is open to the public.

The Taylorville Finance committee and ordinance committee is set to meet on Wednesday evening at 6 PM at the Municipal building to discuss the following subject matters to either approve, deny, reject, review, table, or amend including but not limited to: Dimond Bros Insurance, Solar on Earth, Small Town Taylorville, the Purchase of BS&A Software FY26-27 Budget), Finance Options for street vehicles and fire equipment, the treasurers report, and any other matters which may properly come before the committee.

The ordinance committee will meet following the finance committee meeting.  Some of the topics at the ordinance committee to be discussed include: a BDD Application Review, Amend Golf Cart Ordinance, A Battery Energy storage System-Fire, an HBO update, and any other matters that get properly brought before the committee.

Both committees will also hear from any public comments.  These meetings are completely open and the public are encouraged to attend and participate. 

The Taylorville School Board Held their monthly meeting last night and discussed a consideration to terminate Taylorville High School’s Boys Basketball Coach, Ryan Brown. 

The results of Coach Brown being terminated reached a NO vote from the board. However the entire board didn’t agree with letting Coach Brown stay employed. Board Member, Tonya Bowsher, chose to abstain, while the rest of the board showed a 3 – 3 vote, meaning that considering one member also abstained, not enough people voted yes or no This caused the motion to fail to carry. Based on that result, Coach Brown gets to keep his position at Taylorville High School and will continue coaching boys basketball there.

The community showed strong support in keeping Coach Brown, but there were also a few members who were against Brown keeping his position.

Chuck Martin, 1976 THS graduate and former Taylorville athlete was in attendance. Martin spoke highly of Browns coaching career and stated that Brown was “born to coach”.

John Williams, one of the community members who filed a formal complaint, was also in attendance. Williams states that a friend of his, who is a father of a current THS player, told Williams that his son came home one day and had made a statement about Coach Brown. According to Williams, this statement he heard from his friend, stopped him “dead in his tracks”. After strong consideration, and meeting with other families in the community to discuss if something should be done. After that conversation with other families, Williams chose to make a formal complaint to the school board. 

Taylorville Mayor, Bruce Barry, was also at last nights school board meeting and gave a positive speech in support of Coach Brown. Barry spoke highly about Coach Brown both as a person and as a coach.

Zach Woodall, 2021 Graduate and former player for the Taylorville Tornadoes, says his brother wants to quit basketball, despite how passionate about the sport he is, due to alleged ridicule and negative talk from Coach Brown.

Also present was Coach Brown himself, who also had a chance to speak to the community and the board about this situation. In Coach Brown’s statement he said that he has always had an open door policy, and that he wasn’t even aware of some of the issues that have arose until this meeting was called. Brown promises that if there is ever a problem that he is aware of he will fix it.
    
 

Coach Brown is set to remain as the Taylorville High School Boys Basketball Coach.

The Christian County Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Planning Committee met today at 2 pm at the Taylorville Fire Department. 33 various officials from townships in Christian County appeared today to render new mitigation project plans to be added to Christian County’s request for state funding.

The Illinois Emergency Management Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is responsible for reviewing and granting funds based on requests sent in for each county in the state of Illinois. The varying counties mention projects that they have completed, projects that are currently ongoing, as well as projects that have not yet been started. That information will assist the IEMA-OHS in determining what types of grants to issue and to which counties.

Committee Organizer, Andrea Campbell, mentioned that in order to be approved for IEMA-OHS grants, the projects that each jurisdiction is requesting funding for must be hazard and emergency mitigation-related. Also, according to Campbell, the proposed projects must be only for the requesting jurisdiction.

The list of mitigation projects could potentially include installation of power generators to provide uninterrupted power to critical systems, or landscape barriers like living snow fences to keep emergency routes to critical facilities, such as schools or hospitals, safe and open.

The next Mitigation Meeting will review topics from today’s meeting. Also in the upcoming meeting, officials from Christian County towns, villages, or cities will hand in their lists of projects.

Stay tuned to taylorvilledailynews.com to find additional information following the next mitigation meeting.
 

As planting season begins across Illinois, farmers are heading to both the fields and the roadways. Safety experts state that, out of all other times of the year, now is the best time to really be staying alert both on the farm and on the road.

According to Country Financial, collisions involving farm equipment are the most common insurance claims among its farm clients during the spring planting months. In the previous year, from March through June, Country Financial received more than 180 collision claims. These included claims for accidents involving farm equipment with vehicles on public roads, as well as incidents where equipment collided with buildings or other machinery on the farms themselves.

Zack Hinthorn, an underwriter of agribusiness at Country Financial, points out that the planting window is short. Considering that a farm vehicle like a tractor or combine is crucial to the operation of the farm, farmers can’t afford setbacks caused by accidents involving their farm vehicles. So, as a resolution to potential setbacks, it is recommended that you take time to properly prepare before the rush, to help keep operations running smoothly.

To reduce risk during this busy season while driving or operating farm equipment, Hinthorn recommends that you practice increased visibility on the road with flashing lights, clean reflective tape, and clearly visible “Slow Moving Vehicle” emblems on your equipment.

It is also critical that you utilize proper signaling while entering or driving farming vehicles on main streets. This is critical as it can be hard for other drivers to anticipate the next move a farm vehicle will make.

Other recommendations from Hinthorn for farm equipment operators include always staying alert when driving, routine equipment inspection and maintenance to avoid any potential breakdowns, safe practices when handling chemicals, keeping up to date on insurance, and preventing theft by securing your equipment. Most importantly, always remember to prioritize your health.

Farm and agriculture safety tips for handling chemicals, machinery, utility vehicles, equipment, and more can be found at www.saif.com or www.cultivatesafety.org

The University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardeners are bringing back many of their offerings and services with the weather presenting more like summer.  They will have their bright orange tent at select farmer’s markets in Taylorville.  They are also bringing back the helpdesk and are shedding light on a plant photography course.

Their presence at farmer’s markets begins with appearances on May 9 and 23.  Master Gardeners Gwen Podeschi and Sandi Klein say while plants will not be on sale at the farmer’s market, they will have a host of gardening resources available. 

Starting in May, the helpdesk will be available to answer gardening questions Thursday mornings.  Community members can call or visit the Extension office at 1120 North Webster Street to get help.

The Extension will be hosting a course on plant photography.  It’s set for Thursday, June 18 from 6-8 p.m. at 2152 Illinois Route 16 in Pana. 

More information on these events and the University of Illinois Extension more broadly is available at extension.illinois.edu.

Sandi Klein and Gwen Podeschi appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show. 

Community members throughout central Illinois will be able to take part in a walking challenge in May, sponsored by Memorial Health.  The Mindful Miles Walking Challenge runs the entire month of May and functions similarly to past walking challenges the healthcare provider has organized.  This edition has different branding from previous years and is expanded to include all local chapters.

As the name suggests, the Mindful Miles Walking Challenge is focused not just on physical health but also on mental health.  Memorial Health’s Community Health Consultant Jay Boulanger says the initiative is designed to address multiple health needs identified by the communities they serve.

Taylorville Memorial Hospital will host a kick-off event for the challenge.  It’s set for Thursday, April 30 – which is the day before the challenge officially begins – from 5-7 p.m. at the hospital’s parking lot. 

As with Memorial Health’s previous walking challenges, participants will log their distances using the free Pacer app.  Those who walk 50 miles or more inside the month of May win a free T-shirt. 

More information on the Mindful Miles Walking Challenge – including details specific to your location – is available here.

Jay Boulanger appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Taylorville School Board is scheduled to meet this evening at 6:00 p.m.  After approval of the minutes, claims, and the treasurer’s report, the board will be presented with presentations by administrators on student handbooks, consideration of overnight trips, and personnel, followed by a discussion of new business.

Under new business, the board will hear from School Board President, Ann Chandler, who will talk about IASB Talking Points, and receive a NPT Update from Lori Wemple. The board will also partake in the consideration of the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) annual consolidated district plan.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests will also be addressed, along with plans to discuss the goals for Superintendent Brandi Bruley for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Other topics up for discussion involve the first reading of the Press Policy, consideration and approval of Taylorville High and Junior High School student handbook and discipline code updates, and the hiring, appointing, disciplining, compensating, performing, or dismissing specific employees and individuals independently contracting in a park, recreational, or educational setting.

For the last stretch of tonight’s Board Meeting, the board will hear from the Superintendent for her monthly update.

Head online to taylorvilledailynews.com for more information following the conclusion of the event.

Anyone looking for new plants for the upcoming season will have the opportunity to buy some at the University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardeners’ annual plant sale.  It’s scheduled for Saturday, May 2 starting at 9 a.m. at the Extension’s Christian County office.  Master Gardeners Gwen Podeschi and Sandi Klein say perennials make up most of the plants on offer.

The Master Gardeners dig out plants of their own and from other sources to sell.  They also accept donations from those who would like to contribute. 

Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the plants on sale or anything else related to gardening at the event. 

More information on the University of Illinois Extension is available at extension.illinois.edu.

Sandi Klein and Gwen Podeschi appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show. 

Ace Hardware in Shelbyville will see a whole new look soon, as the company has entered the very beginning stages of a renovation and relocation project, set to be finished by the end of this year. Store leadership expects to be up and running as a normal Ace Hardware location by that time as well.

Kelly Mars, Shelbyville Ace Hardware Manager, says that the construction crew has begun to get the ground leveled out to begin digging to lay plumbing. Once the plumbing and any underground work are complete, they will begin the concreting stage.

Mars also mentioned that the new location will be closer to Walmart, across from the Tractor Supply store up the road from Walmart, and that the project’s completion is expected to be done by the end of this year, with the store to open as soon as the project is completed.

Learn more about Ace Hardware in Shelbyville online by visiting www.acehardware.com.

You can also visit the store's current location at 2114 W Main St, Suite D, Shelbyville, IL 62565