The Taylorville Park Board met for a special meeting on Thursday. During the meeting they heard some updates on natural gas prices from Dale Snyder of Seven Utilities Management.

Snyder began his update by explaining how our electricity is powered in the state of Illinois. According to Snyder, most of Illinois is powered by nuclear power, and around 40% of Illinois is energized by natural gas.

Snyder also spoke to the park board about the price differences of natural gas between 2008 and today. During the update from Seven Utilities Management, some reasoning as to why natural gas prices were so high in 2008 compared to now was explained by Snyder. As per Snyder’s update, that price hike in ’08 was due to oil prices, and weather events making it harder to acquire the resources needed. Snyder also provided a chart to reference the pricing differences between 2007 and today. The chart referenced is pictured below

Keep following along with taylorvilledailynews.com for updates after park board meetings, city council meetings, county board meetings, and more. 

The Taylorville YMCA is inviting local students to celebrate the return to the classroom with its Back to School Party tonight. The event is scheduled for this evening, August 7th, from 6 until 9 p.m.

The party will feature music, games, and bright energy under the neon lights, giving students a chance to enjoy one last summer celebration before heading back to school. The event is open to students in grades second through fourth. Admission is five dollars for YMCA members and ten dollars for non-members. Food will also be available for purchase, with pizza costing two dollars and popcorn available for one dollar.

The YMCA’s Back to School Party is designed to give students an opportunity to have fun, meet up with friends, and celebrate the upcoming school year in a high-energy atmosphere.

For families looking for a fun way to celebrate the end of summer and the start of a new school year, the YMCA Back to School Party offers an evening of music, games, and neon-themed fun!

The Shelby County Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) Council, is offering free laundry services to area residents through its Free Laundry Days program. The program is held on the second Thursday of each month, from 9 a.m. until noon, or until available funds run out.

Free Laundry Days take place at Shelbyville Wash 'N' Fold, located at 202 North Cedar Street in Shelbyville. The next Free Laundry Day is scheduled for Thursday, August 13th, and is being sponsored by a local family from Shelby County.

Additional dates have also been scheduled through May of 2027. The September 10th event will be sponsored by HSHS Home Care and Hospice. The Shelby County Democratic Central Committee is listed as the sponsor for the October 8th and November 12th events. Sponsors for the remaining dates are still to be determined. Those dates include December 10th, January 14th, February 11th, March 11th, April 8th, and May 13th.

The Free Laundry Days program is receiving funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. For more information, or to learn about the program, contact Landriah at 217-254-4826, or by email at landriah@ahourhouserecovery.org.

Get all your local news alerts and weather updates for free at taylorvilledailynews.com.

The Christian County Health Department is recognizing one of its own as its August Public Health Hero.

This month, the department is honoring Dottie, a dedicated WIC Clerk, for her commitment to helping local families and supporting the health and well-being of the community. WIC is a special supplemental nutrition assistance program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). 

Dottie is often one of the first friendly faces families meet when they visit the Christian County Health Department’s WIC office. The department says whether she’s helping parents navigate WIC benefits, answering questions with patience and kindness, or simply making sure families feel welcomed and supported, Dottie goes above and beyond each day.

Her compassion, positive attitude, and dedication to serving the community have made a lasting difference for local families.

The health department says Dottie’s work is an important part of helping families access the resources and support they need, while creating a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through the WIC office doors.

The Christian County Health Department is thanking Dottie for all she does to support the health and well-being of residents throughout Christian County. The department says it is grateful to have her as part of its team and is proud to recognize her as the August Public Health Hero.

Pictured below is Dottie, the Christian County Health Department Hero of the Month:

Further information on the Christian County Health Department is available online at www.cchdil.org.

Keep following along with taylorvilledailynews.com for all of your local news, sports, weather, and much more.

Pana Pride is preparing for a busy fall with a number of events for community members to participate in.  They are all annual calendar items Pana natives are familiar with, and organizers hope to see at least as much success this year as with prior occasions.

First on the calendar is their fundraiser cookout on Saturday, September 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pana Save-A-lot.  Melissa Miller, President of Pana Pride, says these fundraisers have been successful in the past. 

Pana Pride’s “Pana Market” allows vendors to set up and sell their goods.  This year’s edition is set for Saturday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pana High School.

After that is the holiday lights show at Kitchell Park.  “December to Remember” is the name of that timeframe, and Pana Pride is already accepting display donations.

More information on Pana Pride is available at www.panapride.org.

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

The Taylorville Food Pantry was the recipient of a large stock of leftover produce after Saturday’s Back 2 School Health and Resource Fair at the Christian County YMCA.  The fair – which Taylorville Memorial Hospital organized in collaboration with the Y – had food, school supplies, and more for visitors. 

Amy Hagen, a co-coordinator of the Taylorville Food Pantry, says Jay Boulanger of TMH informed her of the surplus of food. 

Pam Moses, another co-coordinator, adds that what they received is similar to donations that come in from local gardeners who wish to support the food pantry.

The Taylorville Food Pantry is located at 1429 East Main Cross.  They are open Tuesdays from 8:30-10 a.m., Thursdays from 5:30-7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30-9:30 a.m.  More information is available at www.taylorvillefoodpantry.com or by calling them at (217) 820-2651.

Amy Hagen and Pam Moses appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Taylorville Square saw the opening of a new store called the June Tyler on Tuesday, August 4th. Hart Media Group paid a visit to the new shop and spoke with the store’s owner, Samantha Adermann, who is also the wife of Taylorville Fire Chief Matthew Adermann. Adermann said, opening day was a blast. 

According to Adermann, she was happy to see all the new customers coming in and enjoys being a part of the Taylorville Square’s group of businesses. Adermann also hid some “Golden Tickets” around the neighboring businesses to help draw customers into those stores as well. The tickets were redeemable for a custom gift bag from June Tyler.

Adermann also said the store’s name, June Tyler, comes from a heartfelt place. June comes from the owner’s daughter’s name, and Tyler comes from both Chief Adermann and Samantha’s  son’s middle name which is Tyler. Adermann also explained that they sell quite a large selection of different items, from women’s clothes, home goods, tumblers, and even jewelry. The store also has fitting rooms for those who want to try on clothing before purchase.

When asked about what sorts of challenges that needed to be overcome leading up to opening day, Adermann said that they didn’t have many, as the store that was there prior, Uprooted, was owned by Adermann’s stepsister, Jessica. Aderman said, the help from her stepsister kept the preparations going smoothly up to opening day.

The store has plenty of products to browse and even offers fitting rooms. Samantha Aderman invites the community to stop in, browse around, and see what they have to offer!

The photos below show some of the products available for purchase:

HOME GOOD SECTION - JUNE TYLER STORE

CLOTHING SELECTION - JUNE TYLER STORE

FITTING ROOMS - JUNE TYLER STORE

The June Tyler Store Owner - Samantha Adermann

For more details on The June Tyler, visit their website at www.thejunetyler.com and continue to get all your local news, weather, sports, and more, at taylorvilledailynews.com.

At Monday night’s Taylorville City Council Meeting, there was some discussion on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry and the council held a discussion and made a motion to add Chapter 17 to Title 10 of the Taylorville City Code.  This would provide a special use permit and regulations for BESS. Taylorville City Attorney, Rocci Romano, had some comments for the council.

According to Romano, the Taylorville Fire Department Chief Matthew Adermann has had contacts with some officials involved with the ordinance, and the only concern from them was the fencing requirement. Romano said that Chief Aderman has added some verbiage to the ordinance to reflect those concerns.

 Romano also stated that Chief Adermann added into the ordinance that the special use permit would carry a fee of 500 dollars. After City Attorney Romano finished with his comment, the council began the vote to approve this ordinance. Alderwoman Megan Bryant voted no, rendering the ordinance with a 8-1 approval. 

Another big topic of discussion was a motion to approve a proposal from Benton Engineering to provide grant activity delivery services for the city’s route 48 water main improvement project, in accordance with the Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO) Community Development Block Grant Program. 

More details on the DCEO discussion will be posted to taylorvilledailynews.com on Friday. 

Check taylorvilledailynews.com at the end of the week for details on other city council discussions and keep following along every day for all of your local news, weather, sports, and more!

Braxton D. Williamson was recently arrested on aggravated battery charges against a victim who was only 15 months old. The battery ended up with the victim receiving great bodily harm.

On July 31st, at approximately 8:45 PM, the Christian County 911 Dispatch received a report of an infant who had fallen and sustained significant injuries. A medical examination that took place sparked an investigation. 

Evidence derived from further investigation state that Williamson is now under reasonable suspicion to be officially charged with aggravated battery, a Class X Felony. Hart Media Group Spoke with Chief Deputy Jim Baker of the Christian County Sheriff’s Office regarding this matter. According to Chief Deputy Baker, the investigation returned that showed this baby’s injuries could not have sustained from a fall.

Chief Deputy Baker also stated that this discovery by medical professionals stating that those injuries don’t align with that of a fall, is what kicked off the investigation. By the end of the short investigation leading up to Williamson’s charges. Chief Deputy Baker also stated that further investigation is still ongoing to uncover more details and that nothing else can be released at this time. 

Williamson had his first court appearance Thursday in Christian County Court. For the results of Thursday’s court appearance CLICK HERE.

Once the next round of information has been released, Hart Media will do a follow up interview with Chief Deputy Baker and will have another story to follow. Stay tuned to taylorvilledailynews.com to catch those updates. 

The Social Security Administration reminds the public of available monthly benefits to those for whom a parent has died and who meet eligibility rules.  The benefits are meant to support those who are experiencing the emotional challenges of this situation and may also face new financial hurdles.  Jack Myers, a public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration, says the payments are generally only available for minors, with a few exceptions. 

The amount a beneficiary may receive depends on how much the deceased parent paid into Social Security and what other benefits the family is already collecting. 

Those paying into Social Security can use the agency’s website, www.ssa.gov, to determine how much their children would receive if they die. 

The application for survivor benefits cannot be completed online; it must be done either over the phone or at a field office. 

More information on the Social Security Administration is available at www.ssa.gov.

Jack Myers appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Taylorville Food Pantry is taking steps to keep Cyclospora-ridden lettuce out of its stock.  The parasite causes Cyclosporiasis, of which there has been a significant outbreak throughout North America.  The vast majority of cases have been reported in Michigan, where two people have died from the condition.

Amy Hagen, a co-coordinator of the Taylorville Food Pantry, says they have been in communication with food banks in the region to receive the latest information. 

Pam Moses, another co-coordinator, adds that they look for verification from their food sources that the lettuce is safe. 

The Taylorville Food Pantry is located at 1429 East Main Cross.  They are open Tuesdays from 8:30-10 a.m., Thursdays from 5:30-7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30-9:30 a.m.  More information is available at www.taylorvillefoodpantry.com or by calling them at (217) 820-2651.

Amy Hagen and Pam Moses appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show. 

Taylorville City Council swore in a new firefighter to the Taylorville Fire Department on Monday.

At the first of 2 monthly city council meetings, Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry swore in Dillon Glasscock to the department. Glasscock took his oath of office and is now a proud member of the Taylorville Fire Department.

Pictured Below is the newly sworn firefighter, Dillon Glasscock: 

Mayor Barry also recognized the Christian County Fair pageant queens, Miss Christian County Alivia Kent, Junior Miss Christian County Thea Shanks, and Little Miss Christian County Blakley Fisher. Mayor Barry spoke on the achievements made by each pageant queen, what they enjoy doing with their time, and what plans they may have for their futures.

Mayor Barry also dedicated August 4th as Alivia Kent Day, August 5th as Thea Shanks Day, and August 6th as Blakely Fisher Day in honor of the three new crown holders. 

Pictured below are all three pageant queens receiving honors from Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry:

Junior Miss Christian County Thea Shanks (LEFT) Little Miss Christian County Blakely Fisher (MIDDLE) and Miss Christian County Alivia Kent (Right).

Miss Christian County: Alivia Kent receiving honors from Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry.

Junior Miss Christian County: Thea Shanks receiving honors from Mayor Barry.

Little Miss Christian County: Blakely Fisher receiving her honor certificate from Mayor Barry.

Keep following along with taylorvilledailynews.com for more updates from the Taylorville City Council meetings. 

The next city council meeting will be held on Monday, August 17th.

Central Commodity FS and Gateway FS are now one company.  The two entities’ merger – the plans of which were finalized in March – took effect August 1.  Executives hope the merger will improve their ability to serve customers in all parts of the state.  General Manager Mark Bauman says the merger brings together two units which had already been providing similar services.

Bauman says one challenge the merger will pose is unifying its employee base around common efforts, considering the geographical separation between them. 

More information on Gateway FS is available at www.fscooperatives.com/gatewayfs.

Mark Bauman appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

The Village of Kincaid has issued a boil order for 5 residences west of James Street, in the direction of Bullpitt.

Health officials at the Christian County Health Department urge residents within the effected area to boil any and all water used for consumption at a rolling boil for no less than 5 minutes before using the water for drinking OR cooking.

The Village of Kincaid will notify residents when the boil order has been lifted. 

Follow along with taylorvilledailynews.com for an update once the order has been lifted.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is reminding the public that parking restrictions will be in place at the Sheriff's Office during the upcoming Old Settlers celebration.

This parking restriction has been put in place to ensure emergency vehicles and first responders have uninterrupted access to the facility. The Old Settlers Days Festival in Hillsboro began Saturday August 1st and ran through Sunday, Then reopened again today, Wednesday August 5th, and will go through tomorrow.

Starting this morning, the east parking lot at the Sheriff's Office will be closed to the public. Additional restrictions will take effect tomorrow afternoon when the North Main Street entrance to the Sheriff's Office will also be closed.

Officials are asking residents and visitors not to park in any blocked, barricaded, or otherwise restricted areas. Vehicles left in those locations may be towed at the owner's expense if they interfere with emergency access.

A limited number of parking spaces will remain available on the west side of the Sheriff's Office property and can only be accessed from Hamilton Street. Those spaces are reserved exclusively for individuals conducting business with the Sheriff's Office and are not intended for festival parking.

The Sheriff's Office says the temporary parking restrictions are necessary to ensure deputies, emergency responders, and other public safety personnel can quickly respond to calls throughout the Old Settlers festivities.

Officials thank the public for their patience and cooperation and encourage everyone attending the festival to use designated public parking areas while helping keep emergency access routes clear.

For all of your local news, weather, sports, and much more, visit taylorvilledailynews.com.
 

The Christian County YMCA’s fall soccer program is set to begin soon.  They are expecting high enrollment and are happy with the numbers so far with respect to sign-ups.  Executive Director Bruce Blanshan says the program is drawing interest even from outside the county. 

Blanshan says the “World Cup bump” he predicted earlier in the summer appears to be materializing. 

More information on the Christian County YMCA is available at www.ccymca.org.

Bruce Blanshan appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Taylorville Park Board is set to hold a special meeting on Thursday at 11:30 AM.

In this special meeting, the park board will hear from Seven Utilities Manager, Dale Snyder, they will hear the Midwest Environmental report from July 31st.

The board will also have a discussion regarding Landmark Aquatic and discuss board committees and trustees’ communication.

The meeting will then go into executive session before officially adjourning. 

Keep following along with taylorvilledailynews.com for updates after the meeting.

Below is a copy of the meeting agenda.

The City of Taylorville is preparing for possible legal roadblocks associated with the recently passed ban on Kratom.  The city council voted in favor of a ban on synthetic and natural forms of the substance at their Monday meeting.  The city-level ordinance follows a tabled vote by the Christian County Board in July.  That motion came as a result of a proposal the Christian County Health Department passed two months prior.

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry says the concerns on the ban’s validity are associated with what can and cannot be enacted at city level. 

More information on the City of Taylorville is available at www.taylorville.net. 

Mayor Bruce Barry appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show prior to Monday’s city council meeting. 

The Christian County Health Department (CCHD) has confirmed a second mosquito sample has tested positive for West Nile virus this season.

The latest positive sample was collected on August 3 in Morrisonville and tested by Environmental Health staff on August 4 at the CCHD’s laboratory. The positive result confirms West Nile virus is continuing to circulate in the county.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), a county is considered positive for West Nile virus when the virus is detected in a mosquito, bird, horse, or human. Currently, the health department has not announced any human cases in Christian County.

Health officials say mosquito surveillance and testing will continue throughout the county for the remainder of the season. Residents are encouraged to do their part by removing standing water around their homes, where mosquitoes can breed. Common sources include bird baths, buckets, flowerpots, old tires, and clogged gutters.

People can also reduce their risk of mosquito bites by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors during dawn and dusk, and making sure window and door screens are in good repair.

Anyone with questions about West Nile virus or other disease vectors can contact the Christian County Health Department at 217-824-4113.

Information on the Illinois Department of Public Health can be found online at dph.illinois.gov.

Get all your local news online at taylorvilledailynews.com. 

The Social Security Administration says issues related to numbers and cards are the most common reasons for visits to their offices.  As such, the agency wants to inform the public about the logistics for such visits and whether these transitions can instead take place online.  Jack Myers, a public affairs specialist at the Social Security Administration, says document requirements often mandate an office visit. 

Those who use the agency’s website to arrange an in-person appointment will receive an appointment number.  This can be used to expedite the process at the office. 

More information on the Social Security Administration is available at www.ssa.gov.

Jack Myers appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Christian County YMCA will soon begin its school programs for the academic year.  These are designed to serve as a place for kids to be when they are not at from school.  The Y can accommodate students before and after the school day, as well as on days when school is not in session.  Executive Director Bruce Blanshan says the support they provide includes transportation, healthy snacks, and more.

Blanshan says attendance at these programs has increased in the last few years. 

More information on the Christian County YMCA is available at www.ccymca.org.

Bruce Blanshan appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Taylorville City Council met Monday night for its first of 2 regular monthly meetings to discuss banning the sale of an opioid like chemical known as kratom.

The ordinance on banning kratom mostly covers the sales instead of ordinances banning possession of kratom. City Attorney Rocci Romano stated that an existing ordinance covers age restriction on the purchase of kratom to 18 years old, and for some states it is restricted to 21 years old.

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry was able to ban the sale of both synthetic and natural kratom in Taylorville, with majority support from the council.  In the clip below, Romano explains the kratom ordinance. 

The motion eventually went through the voting cycle, and was passed 6-3 with Steve Dorchinez, Jim Olive, and Amy Hagan voting “No.” Kratom is now banned in the City of Taylorville, both synthetic and natural.

Keep following along with taylorvilledailynews.com for more stories to come out of Monday’s council meeting.

The Taylorville Community Credit Union (TCCU) announced that they are preparing to open the doors to its new Taylorville facility on Wednesday, August 5th. This marks the completion of months of planning, development, and construction.

According to TCCU President Will Perkins, the new building project took years to plan. Perkins also stated that before breaking ground on a design, the design team wanted to figure out what their members would want to see. Perkins also mentioned that thankfully, during construction there wasn’t much as far as setbacks go.

The new 6,303-square-foot building, located at 820 North Webster Street, has been designed to provide members with expanded services and greater convenience. According to TCCU President Will Perkins, the modern facility features an onsite ATM, private member service offices for opening accounts and conducting financial business, personalized drive-up service, and improved accessibility. The new location also additional workspace for staff and a community room that will be used for training sessions, meetings, and other events.

Perkins says the project was the result of a collaborative effort between the credit union's Board of Directors, management team, design and building partner Keeley Construction, and the City of Taylorville to ensure a brighter future for both members of the credit union as well as employees. Perkins also said that the biggest challenge with the project’s completion was himself. Perkins delayed the start of the project so that they can come up with a bigger end term goal before beginning construction.   

While the new branch officially opens for business on August 5, the credit union also plans to celebrate with a combined grand opening and Member Appreciation event in early September. Additional details on that event are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned to taylorvilledailynews.com  for all of your local news, weather, sports, and more! Additional information on TCCU can be found at www.tccu.org.

A round of potentially strong to severe thunderstorms could impact much of west-central Illinois Wednesday afternoon and evening.

The National Weather Service says the area is under a Marginal Risk, or Level 1 out of 5, for severe weather. While widespread severe storms are not expected, a few storms could become strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, hail larger than one inch in diameter, and even an isolated tornado. Heavy downpours may also lead to localized flooding in some areas.

Forecasters say not everyone will experience severe weather, but conditions could change quickly if storms develop. Residents are encouraged to stay weather aware throughout Wednesday afternoon and evening and have multiple ways to receive watches and warnings, including weather radios, smartphone alerts, or local media.

If a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Warning is issued for your area, move indoors immediately and stay away from windows until the storm passes. Drivers should also use caution, as heavy rain and strong winds can quickly create hazardous travel conditions. Be sure to always keep a charged smartphone, battery backups, and if possible, a battery powered FM radio and keep it tuned to WTIM 96.1 FM, Your Only Local News Radio, to stay up to date during severe storms.

We'll continue to monitor the latest forecast and provide updates if conditions change at taylorvilledailynews.com.

The Illinois State Police is continuing its efforts to crack down on aggressive driving and road rage across the state as officials work to reduce crashes and violent confrontations on Illinois roadways.

State police say Illinois has seen the same rise in road rage incidents that has affected much of the country in recent years. Those incidents have ranged from aggressive driving and traffic disputes to crashes, confrontations, and even shootings on Chicago-area expressways.

To help improve safety, the Illinois State Police is dedicating additional enforcement resources to areas where road rage incidents are most common. Troopers are conducting targeted patrols and special enforcement details aimed at identifying and stopping dangerous drivers before situations escalate.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly says the agency has already conducted saturation patrols and special enforcement operations on Chicago expressways using troopers from across the state. Kelly says those efforts will continue, with a focus on drivers who show what he called "no respect for the law or their fellow human beings."

State police are also reminding motorists that everyone can help reduce the risk of road rage. Drivers are encouraged to remain calm behind the wheel, avoid engaging with aggressive motorists, give others plenty of space, and report dangerous driving when it can be done safely.

Officials say staying patient and avoiding confrontation can go a long way toward keeping Illinois roads safe for everyone.

Get all of your local news, weather, sports, and more for FREE at taylorvilledailynews.com.