Lake Land College's 'Hire a Laker' Campaign has already found success in its first week, connecting a local employer to a recent graduating Lake Land Student. The initiative set off to provide area businesses with the opportunity to hire a Lake Land College graduate to aid in the beginnings of their work career and identify businesses that have a history of hiring Lakers.

Stephanie Anderson, Internship and Employment Coordinator with Career Services at Lake Land recognizes the tough job market and how Hire a Laker is a step in the right direction for students.

Anderson explains that there is a submission form online for employers to seek out the qualified individuals they need. Lake Land works on the social media and website end to recognize and highlight students looking for positions.

The quick response to the Hire a Laker Campaign was not expected says Anderson as one employer already took the opportunity to hire a Laker in the first week of the program's opening.

Visit www.lakelandcollege.edu/news/introducing-the-hire-a-laker-campaign for more information for students and employers.

Stephanie Anderson appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.

Localized special education programming for Nokomis, Pana, and Taylorville Schools is coming this year. The NPT Special Education Cooperative began their mission in 2020 to provide area students with specialized forms of in-school care such as psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, and real-life social exercises.

The FACES Program as described by Executive Director of the NPT Special Education Cooperative, Kelly Suey, comes to Nokomis, Pana, and Taylorville after the districts left behind the Mid-State Special Education program last year.
Suey says that the change was needed to bring focus and quality care to students who just need a little extra attention.

Suey Describes the two classes within the FACES Program. RISE stands for Reaching Independence Through Support and Education. And REACH, Recognizing Extraordinary Abilities in Children. Testing, assessments, and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) dictate the path a student can follow.

With the incoming of the FACES Program and growth in the students with disabilities community, NPT has formed the Special Olympics Team "Dynamite" for all area people with disabilities ages two to adult. Saturday, September, 21st will be the first event for the group at Lake Land College in Mattoon.

To learn more about the Special Olympics opportunities call 217-562-9346.

Kelly Suey appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is gearing up to help children prepare for the return to the classroom with their ‘Back to School Bash’ on Saturday, August 3rd. The ‘Back to School Bash’ will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Union Square Park in Springfield, next to the Lincoln Presidential Museum.

ALPLM’s ‘Back to School Bash’ will be free to the public, featuring crafts, games, and activities for the kids to enjoy. Children will get the opportunity to interact with animals from the Henson Robinson Zoo, explore a musical playground, and experience the Tornado Machine. Free haircuts will be available to children in attendance. Two food trucks will also be on-hand with snacks and drinks for the family to enjoy.

The ‘Back to School Bash’ isn’t just for the kids, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum says the event is also designed with parents in mind. Materials will be available from the Department of Natural Resources, FBI, and National Weather Service. Parents can also learn about the resources offered by the Lincoln Public Library.

Christina Shutt, Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, knows it can be hard for children to make the switch from vacation to the classroom. She thinks the ‘Back to School Bash’ makes that transistion a little easier while providing hands-on activities for kids to begin focusing on learning.

In the case of rain on Saturday, the event will be held inside the presidential library. For more information on the upcoming ‘Back to School Bash,’ visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov. You can also follow the ALPLM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about extensive renovations at the Christian County Y-M-C-A at its Tuesday meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

Tanner Jones is the Program and Aquatic Director at the Christian County Y-M-C-A, and shared with Kiwanis members the extensive renovation taking place at the Y as the result of their recent Capital Campaign.   Jones said the organization has raised some $1.2 million toward its $1.465 million dollar goal, and with the monies raised so far, renovations are taking place in many areas of the building.

The Y's Aquatic Center will be closed from August 9th thru September 13th for renovation.

Jones added the Y's gym will be closed until late September while extensive work is done there, including painting, flooring, bleachers, and a new scoreboard among other things.  

Jones told the Kiwanis Club that spring soccer saw over 150 children participate, with fall soccer signups happening soon.   Jones also said he's hopeful to boost numbers for the Y's Teen Center giving a place for kids to go on Friday and Saturday nights.

Jones concluded by saying all renovations at the Christian County Y-M-C-A are expected to be completed by October First.

The public is invited to listen next Tuesday from 9 til noon and one til 5, for the annual Kiwanis Radiothon to be heard on WRAN groovy 97-point-3.   Eric Kahle chaired the Radiothon this year, securing sponsorships from local businesses and then lining up Kiwanis members to be guest D-J's reading the sponsor ads live.   WRAN gives half the total advertising sales from the Kiwanis effort, back to the club to use for local projects for children and youth.   This year, the club will receive 13-hundred 25-dollars from WRAN.  In its over 20 years on the air, the Kiwanis Radiothon has raised nearly 25-thousand dollars, in conjunction with the Miller Media Group.

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.     

Former U-S Congressman and Taylorville native Rodney Davis has been appointed head of Government Affairs for the United States Chamber of Commerce.

In a statement posted on their web site, the U-S-C-C says Davis will 
lead the Chamber’s engagement on Capitol Hill and with the administration, working to advance pro-growth policies.

Chamber President and C-E-O Suzanne Clark said in the statement that his deep relationships, policy expertise, and proven track record as a consensus builder will be invaluable as their organization advocates for businesses. 

Davis served as a five-term Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 13th district, was Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and a Deputy Whip.

Prior to being elected to the U.S. House in 2012, Davis served as projects director for Congressman John Shimkus for 16 years,  He’ll join the Chamber in August, following the departure of Evan Jenkins from the post earlier this year.

A Taylorville High School Graduate has received a $1,000 scholarship to go towards agriscience or food nutrition programming. Cole Repscher, received the 2024 John H. Butterfield agriscience and Nutrition Scholarship. 

Repscher is the son of Matt and Melissa Repscher and is a junior at Iowa State University majoring in agronomics.  He grew up on his family farm and was awarded a scholarship for his academics and dedication to local agriculture. 

The John H. Butterfield Agriscience and Nutrition Scholarship is awarded to a student who has graduated from a central Illinois high school, with priority given to a Christian County resident and has completed the first year in an agriscience or food nutrition program at a two- or four-year college or university.  

John H. Butterfield had a lifetime interest in soil science and plant nutrition.  It led him around the world to observe and learn about farming practices in other countries.  Raised in Christian County, he worked as an appraiser for the Farm Credit Administration before returning to the family farm in 1940.  

For more information about educational grants and scholarships available through the Taylorville Memorial Foundation, visit memorial.health/tmf. 

A Central Illinoisan is an Olympic Champion.  Lauren Doyle, from Boody, is a Bronze Medal winner in Rugby for the Paris Olympics. Doyle has gone to the Olympics in 2016, 2020, and 2024.  This is the first medal that she has won. 

Doyle, 33, is 5’6” and went to school at Eastern Illinois University. She is the daughter of Phillip and Jenneth Doyle and played volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track at Meridian High School.  She made her women’s sevens debut at the 2012 Dubai Sevens, and her hobbies include watching the Food Network, cooking, watching Netflix, and taking care of her two dogs: Rio and Rocky. 

Doyle is a three-time Olympian and this is her first medal. Her team finished sixth in Tokyo and 5th in Rio De Janeiro. The US beat Australia 14-12 in an upset victory on Tuesday to win gold.  

Photo courtesy of Lauren Doyle Facebook page. 

The web site “Agriculture Dive” is reporting that the parent company of G-S-I, which has factories in Taylorville and Assumption, has entered into an agreement to sell that division.  

Their article states agricultural machinery manufacturer Agco has entered into an agreement to sell the majority of its grain and protein business, as part of the tractor maker’s overall restructuring to focus on precision technology.

American Industrial Partners will pay $700 million in cash to acquire Agco’s grain storage equipment and solutions in addition to livestock management systems primarily tailored to poultry, swine and egg production. 

The deal is expected to close at the end of the year and involves the divestiture of brands including GSI, Automated Production, Cumberland, Cimbria and Tecno. The sale does not include Agco’s grain and proteins business in China.

If you run a small business, you understand how important your customer is, but you might not realize how important social media is for your business.  Valerie Belusko, University of Illinois Extension Community and Economic Development Educator, says that it’s very easy to overlook key media strategies.  She offers some tips to add to your social media checklist. 

Belusko says first if you don’t have a social media management platform to stop and get one. Managing social media platforms can become exhausting, but there are many companies that help like Buffer, Hootsuite, and Sendible.  These companies help streamline marketing efforts by helping you log into all of them in one spot.  You can easily schedule bulk posts, track statistics, and insights, and create brand recognition across multiple platforms.

As always, Belusko encourages you to look at what competitors are doing on social media.  Even if you operate in a rural area with limited local competition, studying similar businesses outside your region can provide valuable insights. You can look for design elements, content quality, and audience levels.  This will help refine social media strategy for the better. 

If you are making videos, Belusko says to invest in quality microphones if you are going to be recording any verbal communications. Even if you record great audio, you can add more to it with subtitles, and if you can take multiple takes to get the perfect video you want to attract customers. 

Remember that building a strong social media presence takes time and consistent effort.  Don’t give up after a couple of months of posts.  Keep your business active on social media, ensuring your information and business hours are up-to-date, and communicate with your audience regularly to grow your business.  

For more information about personal, organizational, and community resilience techniques contact Valerie Belusko at 217-532-3941 or email her at valerieb@illinois.edu. Belusko serves Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery Counties.  
 

The Taylorville Municipal Band will feature their annual Children’s Concert on Wednesday, July 31 at 7:00 PM at the Christian County Historical Society. As always, the concert is free and open to the public. All children present will receive instruments and will get to participate in the concert performance.

For this concert, audience members will hear Fantasy Adventure at the Movies arranged by Michael Brown; Selections from Moana arranged by Jay Bocook; The Lion King by Elton John and arranged by John Higgins; Bruno Mars Greatest Hits arranged by Victor Lopez; Star Wars - The Marches by John Williams and arranged by Jerry Brubaker; The Music of Disneyland arranged by Jerry Brubaker; Selections from Sing arranged by Michael Brown; and others. The Municipal Band String Ensemble will also be performing Touch a Hand, Make a Friend as recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys. 

The Taylorville Municipal Band will give its final concert performance of the 2024 season on Wednesday, August 7 at the Christian County Historical Society. You can follow the Taylorville Municipal Band on Facebook.

Holly Wagahoft, surgical RN at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, is the nonprofit hospital’s Colleague of the Month for July.  Wagahoft’s attention to detail is notable.  Her nominator says that she goes through patient charts with a fine-tooth comb.  She also says that Wagahoft will resolve problems when they arise. 

Her nominator continued praising Wagahoft for her safety, quality, integrity, and stewardship.  She says that Wagahoft’s warmth and ease with patients and their families is appreciated along with her willingness to pay close attention to paperwork and take care of any issues. 

Wagahoft has worked for Taylorville Memorial Hospital since 2006.  Regional Radio News salutes Holly Wagahoft as the July Colleague of the Month.

A new concern over rising maternal mortality rates continues to be an alarm for soon-to-be mothers and healthcare professionals. A new bill that was signed into law has been headlined by State Senator Lakesia Collins.  The new law will expand coverage for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care provided by midwives.  

Under the new law, private insurers are required to cover all pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care provided by perinatal doulas and midwives including home births, home visits, and support during labor. Insurance companies will also have to cover home visits by board-certified lactation consultants including the cost of breast pumps, breastfeeding supplies, and feeding aids. 

The measure will also provide coverage for abortion care without cost-sharing limitations and adds coverage for certified midwife services for residents with Medicaid starting Jan 1, 2025.  The law allows policy limits to cover up to $8,000 for home visits by a perinatal doula. 

House Bill 5142 was signed into law on Monday and takes effect on January 1st, 2026. 

Meet Brandi Bruley, the new Superintendent of Taylorville School District. Superintendent Bruley comes to Taylorville School District after 15 years as Principal of North Elementary School, serving as Director of Curriculum for the Illinois State Board of Education, and previously worked as Superintendent at Waverly Community Schools.

Bruley says she is inheriting great things in Taylorville School District with the strong Tommy TV broadcast class, dedicated Future Farmers of America, hardworking performers and athletes, and passionate educators. 

To find direction and a framework for the future of the Taylorville School Board and District Bruley says the past months have been spent meeting with the board members and hearing what is working and what is not.

A hot topic for Taylorville High School is the building renovations. Superintendent Bruley says that the board receives weekly reports from their architects. Currently, foundation work is being completed along with floors, and ceilings for the band room, and sewer installation. Bruley says the expected finish date is at the end of February.

Bruley hopes to further develop literacy in Taylorville students as the Illinois Association of School Boards has identified academic areas where schools can improve.

Public input and opinions from parents are an important factor to Superintendent Brandi Bruley and as a former educator, principal, and administrator, a student-first approach will be taken to make decisions.

Superintendent Bruley signed a five-year contract with the district in December of 2023.

Registration for the 2024-2025 School year can be found at www.tcusd3.org/page/online-registration.

Brandi Bruley appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

The Regional Radio listening area was hit by severe weather between 7 and 9 o'clock Monday night, causing the National Weather Service to issue at least 3 tornado warnings and numerous severe thunderstorm warnings over that 2 hour period.

Thankfully, according to Christian County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Stoner, there was no reported damage.

Stoner gave credit to the many fire and police departments thru-out Christian County that act as storm spotters being his eyes and ears anytime severe weather comes thru.

At least 3 major thunderstorms with rotation, moved thru the area Monday night causing the numerous warnings.  Fortunately, there were no tornado touchdowns and apparently no injuries.

 One of Shelbyville's most prominent events, the Tom Short 5K Trail Run and Mile Walk appears Saturday, August 3rd for the 22nd straight year. Monday, July 29th is the final day for registration which can be found online at runsignup.com/Race/IL/Shelbyville/TomShort5k. This registration ensures attendees a Tom Short 5K t-shirt, day-of registration will be available but at a bit more cost and with less chance of getting a shirt.

Molly Pruemer with the 5K says she and the community look forward to the run every year and that attendees can expect a beautiful and challenging race course.

Pruemer says post-race refreshments and a music-filled atmosphere will greet the finishers at the end of the race.

Tom Short was a lifelong runner and known Shelbyville businessman and Pruemer says it has been an honor to commemorate him for 22 years.

Visit runsignup.com/Race/IL/Shelbyville/TomShort5k for registration and information.

Molly Pruemer appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show, live from our studios in downtown Shelbyville.

Make on Main in Shelbyville has provided the community with art classes, bridal parties, corporate events, and team-building activities since 2020. Amber Wehrle with Make on Main says they try to promote as many types of art forms as possible by hearing the needs of the community and finding the proper specialists to create the class.

Make on Main is creating a space for area citizens and young people to make, learn and grow. Wehrle explains that art can take people on many different journeys.

Make on Main has ventured to the Villas of Hollybrook in Shelbyville to spread the creativity even further.

Visit Make on Main on their Facebook Page for more information.

Amber Wehrle appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show live from our studios in downtown Shelbyville.

Frustrations continue between Red Bland baseball and The Taylorville Park District as Red Bland continues to fight to play at Jaynes Park. Josh Assad, board member says it’s simple, one way or the other Red Bland will play in 2025, it’s just a matter of where. 

Marlane Miller, President of the Taylorville Park Board says that Red Bland agreed to play at Jayne’s Park until the issues were fixed.  She says that the Red Bland board agreed to come back to Manners Park when it was safe to do so.

Red Bland has played baseball in Taylorville since the 1940s. He says baseball is important for the kids: it teaches them life skills and gets them out of the house. 

Heather Boblitt, also spoke to Regional Radio News and says that above all else it’s the joy she sees in the kids playing ball that keeps her fighting for them.

Miller says the park is safe.  

Assad says he appreciates the support, but he feels it’s time for the community to take action.

Miller says that if Red Bland wants to come back, they have to play at Manner’s Park as their main place to play. Miller also stressed that she is willing to talk to anyone about the issue, but had a problem where someone called cursing at her and she says that will not be tolerated. As far as the Park district as a whole is concerned though, they consider the issue closed. 

With summer in full swing, it's time to put on flip-flops, crocs, and other comfortable shoes, but sometimes seasonal wear can cause issues with injuries and foot pain during this time of the year especially with something called plantar fasciitis.  According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common occurrences of pain in the bottom of your foot, specifically your heel.  This pain occurs when the plantar fascia, a strong band of tissue supporting your foot's arch becomes irritated.  Ashley Gunlock, a physical therapist with OSF Healthcare spoke about what plantar fasciitis really is. 

Plantar fasciitis is common affecting one in ten people at some point in their life.  About two million people seek treatment for pain and discomfort. The most common symptom is a sharp pain in your heel.  Besides morning pain, Gunlock says it can occur after long periods of rest as well as after exercise or other activity.  

Plantar fasciitis is common among athletes, but can affect everyone.  Gunlock says she treats many factory workers for example, who stand or walk for several hours at a time. 

If you are experiencing foot pain, Gunlock says to not walk barefoot.  Examine your shoes for signs of wear and tear and make sure sandals or flip flops have arch support.  Gunlock says the reason that shoes are helpful for people is because they unload the compression to the heel.  Shoes with thick soles and extra cushioning can reduce pain while standing and walking. 

Some things you can try at home to help relieve the pain is to massage the bottom of your foot, roll your foot over a cold-water bottle, or stretching the foot.  If none of that provides relief, it's probably time to seek a referral to a physical therapist.  Surgery might also be necessary for people if other factors are at play such as bone spurs. 

By taking preventative steps, Gunlock says patients can get back on their feet sooner rather than later.  For more information on plantar fasciitis, click here.  

The 2024 Findlay Walleye Festival is underway now through Saturday July 27th, starting off a weekend full of fun for the family with plenty of food, vendors, live music, and more. This marks the 36th year of the Findlay Walleye Festival with the goal of bringing family and friends together to enjoy their small community. 

Cruisin' 98.3 WSVZ was live to broadcast the opening night of the festival that began with the start of the Walleye Tent. Brian Cole, a volunteer assisting in the marketing of the Findlay Walleye Festival, talked about Friday night and the newest addition to the festival, the 'kids zone.'

Cole went on to talk about a special event being held at the festival alongside the Findlay Police Department, this event will be free of charge.

Brian Cole shares what to look forward to on Saturday from the 2024 Findlay Walleye Festival.

Cruisin' 98.3 was live for the start of the 2024 Findlay Walleye Festival. Additional information on the festival is available at the Findlay Walleye Festival Facebook page.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) has launched a new initiative, "Picturing Lincoln," making over 1,000 high-resolution photos, many previously unseen online, accessible to a global audience. Thousands more images, including posters and paintings related to President Lincoln, will be added in the coming months. The initial collection features 129 pictures of Lincoln, 178 of Lincoln's Tomb, rare photos of Lincoln's grandchildren, and images related to his assassination, funeral, and the execution of his conspirators.

Christina Shutt, ALPLM Executive Director says, Abraham Lincoln's legacy belongs to the world, so the whole world should be able to see these images. Shutt praised the ALPLM team for their efforts in making these images available, highlighting the historical significance they carry.

Jade Kastel, ALPLM's Director of Library Services, is thankful for the team's work, citing the project's role in deepening the understanding of Lincoln's legacy. The collection also includes photos of Robert Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s only surviving son, and his descendants, offering a unique glimpse into their lives.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum aims to inspire civic engagement and share the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln through a combination of scholarship and high-tech presentations, supported by their extensive historical collection.

For more information, visit PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov. Follow ALPLM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Taylorville High School Senior,  Sophie Robinson held the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce's first Youth Leaders Series Program to spread the word of "Canva" a useful graphic design tool. Robinson said the series got started when a community member asked for her help using the Canva website, upon finding success with the website with that citizen the idea was birthed to get community members involved for a class and for more future Youth Leadership Series classes.

Robinson is familiar with the marketing and media world as she started up her very own photography business, Sophie Robinson Media. Robinson says she has been focused on sports portraits.

As for post-high school plans, Robinson looks to continue into college with a focus in marketing and communications.

Linda Allen, Executive Director of the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce says this first series program has sparked ideas for future classes and has set the tone for the community youth leaders looking to have their own program.

Sophie Robinson, Linda Allen, and Krystal Baker appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show.

The state organization representing gas stations and convenience stores has a new leader.

The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association announced it has hired Nate Harris as its new CEO, based out of its Springfield office. Harris, of Springfield, replaces Josh Sharp. Sharp led the IFRA for five years before taking a new advocacy leadership role with another organization in early July. Before he was CEO of the IFRA, Sharp led lobbying efforts for the Illinois Press Association on behalf of the state’s newspapers.

Harris comes to the IFRA from the Health Care Council of Illinois, where he had served as legislative director helping advocate for skilled nursing facilities. Before then, he worked for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus in several political and state legislative roles.

He graduated from Augustana College and Loyola University of Chicago Law School. Harris is a native of Western Springs near Chicago, and lives in the capital city with his wife, son, and two dogs.

IFRA represents more than 500 gas stations, convenience stores and other members of the petroleum distribution industry. Harris said he is looking forward to build on the groundwork laid by Sharp to effectively advocate for IFRA members and their customers, which included a branding transition from the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association and Illinois Association of Convenience Stores to the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association.

“I look forward to meeting the IFRA members and learning about their unique business challenges,” Harris said. “The opportunity to advocate for the association in this political and economic environment is one I look forward to taking on with the current IFRA team.”

IFRA Board President John McGovern said Harris’ appointment comes at an important time of transition for the organization.

“Josh has done a great job leading our team and has become a friend over the last five years,” said McGovern. “We are sorry to see him leave but we look forward to working with Nate as we build our relationship.

“Nate is an experienced, confident leader and strong communicator who will help us best position our voice to influence public policy decisions that directly affect our store operations, our workers and our customers. We are eager to work with him to lead this organization at a critical time for our businesses and the state of Illinois.”

For more on the IFRA, visit: https://www.fuelingillinois.com/.

The Social Security Administration is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Supplemental Security Income Program. That's 50 years of connecting approximately 7.5 million low-income people and 1 million children with disabilities to the monthly benefit they need for necessities like rent, food, clothing, and medicine.

Jack Myers, Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration explains the SSI Program's goal is to air aged, blind, and individuals with disabilities with very limited income and resources.

For the future of the SSI Program, Myers says that SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley announced new ways to remove barriers for people looking to receive SSI.

Myers takes the opportunity to warn of scams specifically targeting the SSA as fraudsters continue to come after citizens' information and money.

More information about SSI can be found at www.ssa.gov/ssi.

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

The Shelby County 4-H Fair capped off festivities on Wednesday night after a full day of showing and judging at the Shelby County Fairgrounds, with their 4-H Livestock Sale. On Wednesday, 4-H members were judged on a wide variety of events including: beef cattle, poultry, cats, small pets and caged animals, collectibles, and much more.

Live from the Shelby County 4-H Fair, Cruisin' 98.3 WSVZ spoke with Sarina Voegel, a 4-Her for the last 9 years, about her hog showings and the preparation that goes into a prize winning pig.

Sophie Trainor, has been a member of 4-H for the last 11 years with this Shelby County 4-H Fair being the last of her tenure. Sophie spoke about the impact that 4-H has made in her life.

4-Her Tripp Higgins shared a message to all those that participated in the 2024 Shelby County 4-H Fair.

Cruisin' 98.3 WSVZ broadcast live from the Shelby County 4-H Fair for the duration of the event. Regional Radio News would like to congratulate all those that participated in this year's fair. For more information, visit the Shelby County 4-H Facebook page.

Lake Land College Career Services is launching the Hire a Laker campaign, an opportunity for local businesses to collaborate with the College and promote their companies to job-seeking students.

Under the Hire a Laker campaign, the College is spotlighting local organizations with a history of hiring Lake Land alumni. Participating organizations will be featured on the Lake Land College Career Services webpage and social media platforms. Companies interested in joining the campaign can visit the Lake Land College Career Services webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/Hire-a-Laker and complete the submission form.

Stephanie Anderson, Internship and Employment Coordinator says that she is very excited to have the connections with local businesses and that Lake Land can spotlight their values through this campaign.  She calls it a win/win for students, companies, and the community.

Lake Land College Career Services is a resource for local businesses to meet employment needs and find qualified workers for their organizations. Career Services supports employers by sharing job openings on Lake Land’s campus and social media pages, sending job opportunities to relevant departments and arranging on-campus recruitment sessions and job fairs. More information about Career Services, upcoming job fairs and on-campus recruiting opportunities is available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/Career-Services/Services-for-Employers/. 

For more information about the Hire a Laker campaign or other opportunities with Lake Land Career Services, contact Anderson at 217-234-5457 or sfreeman41846@LakeLandCollege.edu. 

The Pana Elementary School system is experiencing a major shift heading into the 2024-2025 school year as Lincoln Elementary and Washington Elementary combine into one school in a new, state-of-the-art building called Pana Elementary School. 

Adam Metzger will be the Principal of Pana Elementary School after serving for two years as Principal at Lincoln Elementary. Metzger says the efforts to combine the two schools has been a multi-decade project but Metzger could not be happier with the finished product for the young learners.

As for the building itself, Principal Metzger was blown away by the layout and color schemes that will brighten up kids' mornings and provide an excellent place to work. Pana Elementary School will also be equipped with a stem lab, personal pieces of technology, and a sensory room.

Metzger says the merger will provide many opportunities for students and educators to be creative in their learning, expand their learning possibilities to other grade levels, and create a centralized area for education in Pana.

Registration for the upcoming school year is open and can be applied for at www.panaschools.com/article, or call 217- 562-1510 for more information.

Adam Metzger appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.

Over 100 real estate items and property will be offered along with 11 mobile home items through a sealed bid auction sale. This will be done in Christian County as they have completed their tax deed proceedings for delinquent properties in 2020 and mobile homes for 2021. 

All sealed bids must be in the Christian County Treasurer’s Office located in the Christian County Courthouse at 101 South Main Street in Taylorville no later than the close of business on August 9th, 2024.

Christian County hopes that these new owners will both maintain the property, mobile homes, and keep taxes paid.  By eliminating abandoned properties, the appearance of the neighborhood should improve and the values of property should increase. 

The required minimum bid on real estate is $837 and on mobile homes is $915. Again, all items will be sold to the highest sealed bid received on or before August 9th, of this year. You can find complete bidder’s packets and sale catalogs at the Christian County Treasurer’s Office or by visiting www.iltaxsale.com. 

For further sale information, contact the Auction Sale Department of the Christian County Tax Agent’s Office at 1-800-248-2850 or 618-656-5744. Office hours are 8 AM until 5 PM Monday through Friday.

The Shelby County 4-H Fair continued on Monday and the fairgrounds filled with 4-Her's showing projects, animals, and passion for agriculture. Monday's events featured the photography contest, veteran science showing, and the horse and pony show. 

Joining the live broadcast on Cruisn' 98.3 WSVZ was Adriana Brown, a 4-Her in her second year. Brown explained that her 4-H journey began when her school librarian motivated her to join. 

4-Her Matthew Horseman was influenced by his sister to join 4-H and now enjoys participating in the dog show. 

The Shelby County 4-H Fair continues into Wednesday, July 24th and Crusin 98.3 WSVZ will be live at the fairgrounds for the duration. Find more information at www.lakeshelbyville.com/events/4HFair.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from a 5th grade long distance runner at its Tuesday meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

Claire Sutton of Taylorville is the granddaughter of Kiwanis member Tim Sutton and spoke about her experiences being a long-distance runner at such a young age.  She told club members she's been running since the age of 2 thanks to encouragement from her parents who are also runners.  

She recently met the USA runners that qualified for next week's Paris Olympic Games, and attended those trials.   She's encouraging her friends to get into long distance running as well.  Her fastest mile has been 6 minutes 20 seconds, and she's ran 250 miles this summer as part of an area youth running club.

Claire's goal upon completing her high school and college education is to be a pediatrician.

Claire's father Chad told Kiwanis members that Taylorville High School has graduated several long distance runners that are now competing at major universities.

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.

The Christian County Economic Development Corporation is sporting a new website and a new member to the team, both looking to advance the promotion of business incentives, workforce, and lifestyle that Christian County has to offer.

Matt Hart, Executive Director of the CCEDC directs citizens to christiancountyedc.com, where growing or prospective businesses can find all the information needed to jump-start whatever project is next.

The website includes pictures and videos, maps displaying development districts, and information for featured properties and Christian County lifestyle.

Also new to the CCEDC is Avery Bourne, the Director of Communications, a former Illinois state Representative, and a resident of Morisonville.

Visit christiancountyedc.com to check out the new website and to find more information.

Matt Hart appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

 Current President Joe Biden announced that he will not be seeking re-election on Sunday, forcing the democratic party and its supporters to make quick decisions on their next pick for the presidential seat. Now with the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, adding pressure to party leaders on who to endorse moving forward.

Dr. Kent Redfield, Professor Emeritus of Political Science from the University of Illinois gives a breakdown of just how unprecedented the situation is for democrats with the election looming and a short time frame to name a candidate.

Illinois State Senator Steve McClure says Governor J.B Pritzker will be working to have his name in the conversation for a Vice President to current Vice President Kamala Harris, who rose to the top quickly after the announcement was made.

Senator McClure says that President Biden did not leave the race without a fight and criticizes the timing of the decision as the primary for the democrat seat had already been selected.

Illinois State Senator Steve McClure and Dr. Kent Redfield appeared as separate guests on the WTIM Morning Show.

The 100th annual Christian County Ag Fair was a huge success culminating with an almost sold-out country music concert, a demolition derby that saw a record number of cars, and great numbers of people at various events throughout the week.  Craig Paulek, President of the fair board, says that the Rodney Atkins concert was perfect.

The only hiccup came on the night of the pageant.  Due to some weather, the pageant was forced to move its venue—which is not easy.

Paulek says that he received lots of positive feedback for the 100th Christian County Ag Fair. 

Paulek says above all else, “Thank You.”

For complete coverage of the Christian County Ag Fair click here.

A wild and chaotic Taylorville Park Board meeting took place leaving more questions than answers following a heated debate between the Park and the Red Bland Little League board. Joshua Assad, and the Red Bland Little League Park Board, came to the meeting to bring resolutions to issues that the park had asked them to fix.  Assad had proof that the Christian County Fairgrounds would let them use parking for Jayne's Park—which was a concern last season.  

Park Board member Tanya Reno informed Assad that it was play at Manner's Park or nothing.  

The Park Board says that one of the big reasons why they have to play at Manner's Park is due to the tremendous amount of money that the Board had already put into fixing Manner's Park and making sure it's safe.  The Red Bland board says that they would love to play at Manner's Park but the parents don't want to due to health concerns.  Another concern was concessions and who was going to pay the fees to the Health Department.  This is a relatively new fee and something that hadn't been an issue in previous years.  The Park Board said they just would no longer sell concessions if that was the case. That is when things got heated.  The Park Board doubled down and reiterated that Red Bland would play at Manners Park or nowhere else. 

Red Bland left the meeting very frustrated and informed the board that that would most likely be the end of Red Bland Little League due to the board refusing to let them play at Jayne's Park, and the Red Bland board being told by multiple parents that they didn't feel comfortable letting their kids play at Manner's Park. Regional Radio News awaits confirmation on what Red Bland Little League will do next. 

In other meeting notes, the Park Board joined Small Town Taylorville's General Business sponsorship for $30 a month.  They are not leaving the Chamber of Commerce and will be members to both. The Air conditioning unit at the pool went out.  The park authorized a new AC unit to be bought to replace it. 

The next park board meeting is set for August 26th. 

Saturday capped off this year’s Christian County Ag Fair with several events, including Young America Day that featured the annual “Tot-Rod” Pedal Pull sponsored and held by Central Commodity F-S.

Aarika May, Marketing Manager with C-C-F-S tells Regional Radio News there were over 40 kids ranging from ages 3 to 12 who pedaled hard and pedaled fast in hopes to earn a trophy.

Here are the age divisions and winners:

Ages 3-4: 1st place - Max Stolte, 2nd place - Karmella Lawrence, 3rd place - Miles Nichols

Ages 5-6: 1st place - Keegan Scoles, 2nd place - Pete Eisenbarth, 3rd place - Lainie Skinner

Ages 7-8: 1st place - James Eisenbarth, 2nd place - Gemma Sapetti, 3rd place - Grayson Stolte

Ages 9-10: 1st place - Kaylee Micenheimer, 2nd place - Rhodes Etheridge, 3rd place - Abriyah Stolte

Ages 11 -12: 1st place -  Nikyla Loren, 2nd place - Andrew Dilley, 3rd place - Layla Richardson

Central Commodity F-S thanks the Tot-Rod Pedal Pull Team that helped with the event this year.

Frustration is growing in Springfield over property taxes and recent tax shifts, tax hikes, and new mandates to drive property taxes even higher across Illinois communities. According to a recent study by Wallet Hub, Illinois has the second-highest property tax burden in the country.  Illinois has a statewide 2.23% property tax rate burden when all 102 counties are combined.  State Representative Mike Coffey says that Illinoisans have one of the highest overall tax burdens and Democrats aren't doing anything to help that. 

Representative Coffey says that numerous proposals he has supported would freeze, suspend, or outright reduce property taxes, various sales taxes, income taxes, and fuel taxes. 

Some tax relief measures supported by Representative Coffey include increasing the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption from $5,000 to $8,000, no longer requiring disabled veterans to submit an annual application for the homestead exemption, putting limits on the assessment numbers, and capping the increase in a total homeowner's year to year property tax bill to no more than 5% unless the home has substantial improvements.  

New tax hikes are expected to bring in an estimated $750 million in new revenue.

The Taylorville Municipal Band will be back at the Christian County Historical Society for their concert on Wednesday, July 24 at 7:00 PM. Audience members will want to pull out their best concert t-shirt and vintage lighter as the Municipal Band puts on a Rock Show. 

Musical selections will include Rock N Roll Explosion arranged by Jerry Nowak; The Beatles: Love by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, arranged by Jay Bocook; Bohemian Rhapsody by Freddie Mercury, arranges by Philip Sparke; The Doobie Brothers in Concert arranged by Bob Lowden; Classic Rock N Roll arranged by John Higgins; Led Zeppelin On Tour arranged by Patrick Roszell; Pop and Rock Legends: Chicago arranged by John Wasson; Earth, Wind and Fire Medley arranged by Mark Ninmer; and Africa by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, arranged by Jerry Davis. 

The annual Taylorville Municipal Band Children’s Concert will be on Wednesday, July 31. All children in attendance will receive musical instruments and get to participate in the concert performance. You can follow the Taylorville Municipal Band on Facebook.

The 36th annual Findlay Walleye Festival appears Friday and Saturday, July 26th and 27th bringing all the kid's activities, musical performances, and of course the walleye sandwiches. Brian Cole, Marketing Manager for Findlay's Walleye Festival is excited for the numerous bands that will be performing throughout the two-day event.

The Walleye Festival parade will take place on Saturday, July 27th with lineup starting at 8:30 a.m. and beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Find all the event information and times at www.lakeshelbyville.com/events/walleye.

Brian Cole appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show, live from our studios in downtown Shelbyville.

The Christian County Sheriff's Office is making the public aware of multiple stolen vehicles reported and found, mostly due to victims leaving their car keys or fobs inside their cars. Chief Deputy Jim Baker of the CCSO says the current hot spots are between Mt. Auburn and Decatur where in both locations stolen vehicles have been found.

Chief Deputy Baker states that juveniles could be the culprits of the stolen vehicles. The reasoning behind Mt. Auburn being the target area, Chief Deputy Baker believes it could be due to Mt. Auburn not having a local police department and with the thinly stretched CCSO Deputies.

The vehicles are said to be found with no damage in the interior of the stolen cars, Chief Deputy Baker says the assailants are not hot wiring the vehicles.

For more information, contact the CCSO at 217-824-4961.

Chief Deputy Jim Baker appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

The Taylorville Park Board is set to meet this evening at 7 PM for their regular monthly board meeting at the Manners Park Dining Hall.  Some of the business that will be discussed include moving the park’s member affiliation from the Chamber of Commerce to Small Town Taylorville.  A Memorial Hospital Employee special event will be talked about and Red Bland Little League will be discussed about future courses of action and where they will play next year.  There will be reports from the maintenance superintendent, recreation director, and office administrator.  

Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more following the conclusion of the event.
 

BREAKING NEWS:  President Biden released a letter at 1:52 Sunday afternoon announcing he will not seek re-election in November:

Stay tuned to Regional Radio for updates each hour from our national news partner SRN News.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club once again held a drive-thru donation day on Saturday, in front of our studios at 918 East Park Street in Taylorville. Duane Stock and Carl Goebel manned the tent and accepted non-perishable foods and monetary donations to benefit the Taylorville Food Pantry.

Live on Groovy 97.3 WRAN, Taylorville Kiwanis Club member Duane Stock spoke about the morning of donations and how monetary donations made by the community are used at the Taylorville Food Pantry.

Duane Stock also spoke about his membership with the Taylorville Kiwanis Club and the work they continue to do.

The Taylorville Kiwanis club organizes multiple events during the year as part of their service to the community.

The Taylorville Food Pantry, the Taylorville Kiwanis Club, and the Miller Media Group thank all those who contributed to the Drive-Thru Donation Day.

It was a successful community day out at the Christian County Ag Fair on Wednesday as the Expo building filled with over 70 vendors, showing off many local businesses and agriculture groups.

Angela Ohl-Marsters, Marketing and Promotions Director for the Christian County Ag Fair was ecstatic seeing local citizens fill the Expo Building and begin their experience at the 100th annual Christian County Fair 

Katelyn Lotz, Manager at Farm and Home Supply in Taylorville is no stranger to community day and promotion all Farm and Home has to offer while appreciating the strong relationships the store and the CC Fair has.

More Christian County fair information can be found at christiancountyfair.com.

The 100th Annual Christian County Ag Fair will feature talent at the grand stand this evening.  Rodney Atkins will perform with special guest Allie Colleen.  The show will start at 7:30 PM with gates opening at 6 PM.  Tickets are still available for the event with grandstand tickets $30 and track tickets $40.  The track is the section closest to the stage and chairs will be not allowed on the track.  The grandstand section is all general admission.  There will be no reserved seating. 

Find out more information on the event by visiting www.christiancountyfair.com.  

Registration is open now for the fall semester at Lincoln Land Community College in Taylorville and popular classes and time slots are beginning to fill. Enrollment Coordinator, Tisha Miller says LLCC will be with a new or returning student every step of the way to register properly with Tisha and the student success coaches for support.

Miller says the College Now Program for high school students looking to get college credits before graduation has tightened up the availability of some of the class options. New to this year's program lineup are creative writing classes, a cardiovascular sonography program, and the professional workplace environment certificate.

Miller speaks to the advantages that come with LLCC's extensive online class offerings.

LLCC will hold a fall semester welcome and open house on Monday, August 12th to get students familiar with the building, professors, and more.

Visit www.llcc.edu/our-locations/taylorville or call Tisha at 217-786-2775 for more information on registration and the LLCC open house.

Tisha Miller appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

Due to Illinois's unique geology, carbon capture and sequestration projects are highly sought after.  In response to this growing industry, State Senator Laura Fine passed legislation to ensure these projects meet some of the strongest environmental protections in the nation. 

Senate Bill 1289 sets environmental safety requirements at each stage in the carbon capture process at the capture facility, via pipelines, and at sequestration sites.  The law ensures that Illinois will remain a leader in climate progress by requiring carbon capture companies not to increase air pollution and demonstrate a net reduction in climate pollution.  The law also will establish a two-year moratorium on carbon dioxide pipelines. 

Senator Fine says that Illinois can be a leader for the nation on carbon copy laws.

The law will also hold sequestration site operators at standards above and beyond US EPA requirements.  IEMA, Illinois Fire Service Institute, OSFM, and the Illinois Department of Public Health must create training to prepare enhanced local emergency response plans.  The law requires corporations to monitor sequestration sites for a minimum of 30 years after the last carbon injection. 

Senate Bill 1289 was signed into law Thursday and goes into effect immediately. 

Over 200 people attended the 30th annual Christian County Ag Group Ag Appreciation Luncheon at the Christian County Ag Fair over the noon hour today.

A host of Christian County ag businesses sponsored the event spotlighting the importance of agriculture to the Christian County economy.

Guest speaker was Scott Halpin, the Illinois State Executive Director for the U-S-D-A Farm Service Agency.  Halpin discussed the status of the pending Farm Bill passing thru Congress, adding that Congress must pass at least an extension by the end of September to avoid many U-S-D-A programs not having funding.

Halpin added the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress and signed by the President provides additional funding for U-S-D-A conservation programs for farmers.

A host of scholarships were announced at today's Ag Appreciation Luncheon.   The Christian County Ag Group awarded a scholarship to Jay Bliler, son of Nate and Elizabeth Bliler of Taylorville.   

And, Alec Myers, manager of the Christian County Farm Bureau and its Foundation, awarded 15-hundred dollar scholarships to several deserving students:

Jay Bliler of Taylorville

Riley Brown of Morrisonville

Julia Corzine of Assumption

Chloe Grant of Owaneco

Drew Mickey of Taylorville

Abby Morris of Palmer

Cole Paulek of Stonington

Waylon Paulek of Stonington

Tessa Saxe of Morrisonville

And

Lizzie Schafer of Owaneco.

After a host of dignitaries were introduced, a chicken dinner with all the trimmings was served and catered by Angelo's Catering.

The Christian County Ag Group was founded 30 years ago based on an idea by Taylorville native Richard "Dick" Breckenridge, who was recognized at the luncheon for his efforts in founding the group.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a pavement preservation project will begin Thursday, July 18, on Illinois 128 from Illinois 33 in Beecher City to the Shelby County line. The project is expected to take about a week to complete.

This 2.5-mile project will help preserve and maintain the existing pavement. One lane will be closed at times to complete the various operations. Flaggers will be used to direct motorists through the work zones. Further improvements on Illinois 128, including resurfacing in Shelby County to Illinois 16, are scheduled in 2025.

Motorists are encouraged to allow for extra travel time through the work zone. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. 

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Four of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges and 762 additional safety improvements.

For IDOT District 7 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict7 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

Incidents of drowning deaths are on the rise after decades of decline according to the CDC, but there are ways to mitigate your child's risk of danger. Dr. Jon Gehlbach, M.D., is the medical director of the Pediatric Critical Care Unit at OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, is providing key tips for safety in or around the water.

From 2020 to 2022, more than 4,500 people died each year due to drowning and was the leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 4. According to the CDC's 'Vital Sign' study, 55% of American adults have never taken a swimming lesson. Dr. Gehlbach recommends parents get their kids comfortable with swim lessons to keep kids safe around the water.

If your child was to lose consciousness underwater, Dr. Gehlbach stresses the importance of knowing how to administer CPR.

One of the most common reasons for a child drowning is when a child enters the pool without an adult knowing. Dr. Gehlbach says that 'time is of the essence' when it comes to a victim of drowning.

For more information and key tips for a safe summer on the water, visit www.cdc.gov/drowning.

Royalty was out at the Christian County Ag Fair on Wednesday morning enjoying their time with their crowns after pageant winners were announced on Tuesday evening. Delaney Epley was named Miss Christian County, Holly Kruse, Jr. Miss Christian County, and Ella Womack, Little Miss Christian County.

The crowned individuals were in agreeance that they are thankful to be representing Christian County and constant support from fellow pageant contestants creates a culture of respect and empowerment.

Jr. Miss Christian County, Holly Kruse spoke on her excitement for the upcoming year and how the competition may be fierce but does not rattle the relationships made among the contestants.

And Little Miss Christian County, Ella Womack was happy with her dress and was excited to be crowned this year.

More Christian County Ag Fair information can be found at christiancountyfair.com.

A Pana resident narrowly missed being the victim of a fraud scheme to steal their personal information and money. The Better Business Bureau states that unsuspecting people communicating with online scammers has risen over 60% with online scams and fraud schemes making up 68% of all reports to the BBB.

Pana Police Chief Daniel Bland explained the situation where a resident came into the Pana Police Department to ask why a caller with the PPD caller ID was asking for their personal information and funds from their bank. Chief Bland says it was the skepticism, awareness and ultimately contact with Pana Police that saved the person from identity theft and financial ruin.

Chief Bland says these crimes are rampant, so always practice safety while doing anything online like purchasing items, filling out documents, and even talking to a representative over the phone.

Fraudsters and scammers have a way of tapping into a victim's emotions, creating scenarios like requesting payments or services will be cut off or that a family member is in trouble and your money is needed to save them. These high-stress and surprising scam tactics have been successful for fraudsters and Chief Bland is sending the message to remain vigilant while online.

If you or someone you know is the victim of an online scam you can contact your local law enforcement and or file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Pana Police Chief Daniel Bland appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and his office have announced renovations coming to the Shelbyville Department of Motor Vehicles or ‘DMV’ starting July 19th through the 29th. During the makeover, a temporary location will continue to service resident’s vehicle needs at the Shelbyville Public Library, located at 154 N Broadway St. in Shelbyville.

Shelbyville’s new DMV is part of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office’s ongoing efforts to modernize, combining both vehicle and driver services at a new, single service counter. This should lead to a reduction in wait times and cut out several existing steps altogether. Moving forward at these “One-Stop-Shop” DMV’s like the one in Shelbyville, drivers services and vehicle services employees will be cross-trained to provide both of these services at a single service counter. In addition to these changes, improved signage will look to create a more logical flow.

The renovated Shelbyville DMV will offer customers the same services like: applying for a ‘Real ID’ or drivers license, renewals, ordering of new license plates, vehicle registration, and more, but with a brand new look. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says that the Shelbyville DMV facility is among the first in the state to receive this overhaul giving the new space a modern feel while embracing new technology to improve efficiency.

For more information on the expected renovations and services, visit www.ilsos.gov.

The Christian County Board met for a little over an hour on Tuesday evening for their monthly meeting.  The board approved changes to the septic ordinance. Some of the big concerns over it was that the health department could enter people's homes whenever they wanted and Dr. Chad Anderson, with the Christian County Health Department reassured the board that that wasn't the case. 

Administrative Assistant, Liz Hile, said that the way that the new ordinance was was standard across the other departments. After a little more discussion over some clarification issues, the motion passed. 

Other big topics of discussion included ordinances approved from the ZBA including video conference rules being clarified, screening and fencing rules updated, and flood damage prevention updated. The Liquor License Ordinance was amended and approved.  Bryan Sharp said one of the reasons the ordinance was changed was to help urge license holders to get it done before it expires.

Bryan Sharp announced new hours for Animal Control that were subsequently approved.

The next county board meeting is set for August 20th. 

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from a former Taylorville firefighter who is now a State Fire Marshall Investigator at its Tuesday meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

Bob Dunn was a long-time Taylorville firefighter who is now one of just 16 State Fire Marshall Investigators in Illinois.  As a result, he and his fellow investigators are on call 24/7.

Dunn also introduced the Kiwanis club to his K-9 Oodon, a yellow lab retriever, who was trained thru the federal A-T-F to sniff out any kind of accelerant when investigating fires.   Dunn talked about the training Oodon went thru, and how he continues to train the dog each day.

He put extremely small amounts of various accelerants thru-out the Moose Lodge meeting room where the Kiwanis Club holds their meetings, and in all 6 cases Oodon found them.

Oodon is now 2 ½ years old and Dunn added the K-9 should be able to serve the state agency for 8 years.

In Kiwanis business, Kiwanis Park co-chair Duane Stock announced that some new picnic tables have been assembled and will be installed at the Park this week.

And, Kiwanis member Blain Cornwell is continuing to organize the annual fund raiser where local Kiwanis members are paid to man some of the gates at the Illinois State Fair on 2 days of its 10-day run in Springfield. 

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.

The 100th Annual Christian County Agricultural Fair has officially begun with a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place at the Christian County Fair Grounds on Tuesday morning. Community leaders gathered including Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry, Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp, and many Christian County Board members.

Craig Paulek is in his second year as President of the Christian County Ag Fair and is excited to bring marquee events to the community like the Rodney Atkins and Allie Colleen Concert and the wine gala.

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry praised the great efforts and volunteer service that has allowed the Christian County Fair to exist year after year.

Find the full schedule of events and all other information at christiancountyfair.com.
 

The Christian County Board is set to meet this evening at 6:30 PM on the second floor of the Christian County Courthouse. After a review of minutes and hearing from the public, the board will announce an appointment for the mental health board, There will be four ZBA articles discussed and potentially approved including special procedures and permits, articles of rules and procedures, screening and fencing, and flood damage prevention. 

Under committee reports, the board will hear from highway/building, executive personnel, and audit finance.  Some motions coming out of those committee meetings include a speed study request for Wantland Drive, the Nokomis Road Safety Improvement Grant Project, a courthouse update, a septic update, and election judges. 

Under new business, the board will review hours of operation for animal control, look at a building plan proposal change for Skyline Solar, and hear about any new issues that may be relevant. Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more following the conclusion of this meeting. 

The 100th annual Christian County Ag Fair is this week with 4-H showings kicking off the events. The 4-her’s have been busy preparing animals to show and finishing their different projects like cooking, photography, technology, and crafting.

4-her Connor Eggimann is in his 3rd year showing off his work to the judges, this year Connor’s focus was on geology and woodworking.

Cara Eggimann talks about her quilting project and flower arrangements that were ready for the show just in time.

Ben Wamsley spoke about his unique art project and his fourth year participating with the E-sports team.

Stay current on this week at the Christian County Ag Fair at christiancountyfair.com.

The Litchfield Fire Department responded to a vehicle that struck a building Sunday evening. According to Fire Chief, Adam Pennock, the fire department responded to Jubelt’s Bakery and Restaurant.  Upon arrival, the fire department found a four-door white Dodge pickup truck, that had struck the southwest corner of the building.  The occupant was out of the vehicle before EMS responded and was evaluated and transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment.  

Fire personnel worked to extract the vehicle, while two personnel with the City of Litchfield came to inspect the building.  The vehicle was towed and the Litchfield Street Department was called in to put up panels to keep people from entering the restaurant.  

The Litchfield Fire Department thanked all those involved to help keep the area safe. 

A Taylorville police sergeant was recognized for heroic acts of bravery in the line of duty at the Monday night city council meeting.  Sergeant Christian Nelson was awarded the Medal of Valor from Kenny Winslow, Executive Director for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.   

Also recognized at the city council meeting, was Kyndra Durbin who was promoted to Deputy Chief for the Police Explorer Program. Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler and Officer Jody Grove awarded the promotion to Durbin.

Chief Wheeler praised both Durbin and Nelson for their contributions. 

As for the rest of the regular city council meeting, Aldermen Megan Bryant and Kathy Driskell were absent. The appropriation ordinance was approved, funding for the Veteran’s parking lot was approved, and a motion to approve the bid for Springfield Road was approved. 

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry gave his report thanking everyone for their support of Journey in July and reminded the public of the 100th anniversary of the Christian County fair this week.

The council approved a motion to approve the purchase of two squad cars that passed 5-1 (Aldermen Randy Mitchelson voting no). The meeting took 31 minutes.  The next city council meeting is set for August 5th, 2024. 

A boil order is in effect for parts of Taylorville including the 100 block of North Walnut Street and the 200 block of East Vine Street. This boil order is in effect until bacteriological samples can be taken to ensure water and public safety.  The public is urged to boil all water used for drinking and cooking purposes to a rolling boil for 5 minutes before using.  

Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for updates on this boil order and when it will be lifted. For any questions, please get in touch with Marlin Brune, Water Superintendent, with the city of Taylorville. 

There will be a movie night at Manners Park Pool in Taylorville on July 22nd at 7 PM.  Manners Park After Dark will show the movie “Jaws” in the pool.  Jessica Franks, Park Director, spoke about the upcoming event taking place at the park.  She says she is excited about the first Manners Park After Dark movie. 

The movie will begin at dark (9 PM) and concessions will be available.  All children will be required to be in a float during the movie, and there will be adequate lifeguards and support to keep an eye on all of the children at the pool. 

The next event at the Park will be the Journey tribute band on August 10th. 

The Shelbyville Public Library is bringing back the popular bubble stations for area kiddos on Wednesday, July 17th, at 10:30 a.m. at the mini park at the corner of Main Street and Broadway in Shelbyville.

Monica Cameron, Director of Shelbyville Public Library says in past years even some adults were getting in on the bubble fun.

Cameron talks about the company the library uses to provide the biodegradable bubbles.

For more information about Wednesday's events or more summer programs visit www.shelbyvillelibrary.org.

Monica Cameron appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show live from our studios in Downtown Shelbyville.

The Taylorville Municipal Band will dedicate new concert music folders in memory of two long-serving members, Ceasar Gianasi and Dr. Joseph Smith, during their performance on July 17, 2024. The concert will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Christian County Fairgrounds, coinciding with the fair's "Community Day" celebration marking its 100th anniversary.

Ceasar Gianasi, who played clarinet with the band from 1946, and Dr. Joseph Smith, a trombone player since 1953, both had distinguished careers with the band. Gianasi's participation was only interrupted during his Army service in the Korean Conflict, while Smith was an active member until 2022. Memorial gifts in their honor funded the purchase of new leatherette folders embossed with their names in gold lettering.

The band has been using these new folders since the start of the 2024 summer concert series. Family members of both honorees will attend the dedication. Concertgoers can choose bleacher seating or bring their own lawn chairs for the event.

Learn more by visiting the Taylorville Municipal Band on Facebook.

The Taylorville City Council will meet this evening for their regular council meeting.  The meeting will take place at the Municipal Building at 7 PM.  Sergeant Christian Nelson will be honored by the Illinois Police Chief’s Association. Kyndra Durbin will also be recognized for the Police Explorer Program.  

Under motions, the council will look to approve the appropriation ordinance, funding for the Veteran’s Parking Lot, resubmit the application for the ITEP Grant, approve/accept a bid for Springfield Road from EL Pruitt Company, well improvement upgrades, and advertise the Clerk 1 position in the City Clerk’s Office.  

Under committee reports, the council will look to accept the bid from VICC for paving a parking lot in the fire station, purchasing two squad cars for the police department, approve/promote Alex Angel to Heavy Equipment Operator A, approve the signing of a new six-year generator service agreement, purchase a hydraulic lift, and approve the signing of an agreement with Cady Aquastore to rehab both Clear Wells.  

The council will hear from the City Attorney and Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry.  Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more following the conclusion of the event. 
 

This July, the Macon County Conservation District is celebrating Park and Recreation Month, highlighting the importance of conservation, parks, and recreation in strengthening the Decatur and Macon County community. A variety of engaging programs are planned for residents of all ages.

Events include:

July 13: Reptiles and Amphibians of Macon County from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Unplug Illinois Day.

July 20: Night Hike along the Rock Springs-Fairview Bike Trail at 9:00 p.m.

July 27: Backyard Conservation program at 2:00 p.m. with a naturalist.

July 28: Nature Exploration in the Digital Age: Seek and Naturalist program at 2:00 p.m.

July 14 & 28: Summer Concert Series at 7:00 p.m. featuring bands Corn & Cotton and Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters (no registration required).

The celebration aligns with the National Recreation and Park Association's initiative, encouraging the community to share their experiences and stories about local greenspaces and parks on social media with the hashtag, Where You Belong.

For more details and online registration, visit MaconCountyConservation.org.

A Canadian national has been sentenced to a little over four years imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release and he must pay $460,350 in restitution to victims.  38-year-old Sebastian Chelemen was sentenced for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  

The government established that between April 2023 and June of 2023, Chelemen participated in a fraud scheme with co-conspirators operating in Canada who called elderly individuals throughout the United States portraying themselves as young loved ones who had been arrested and needed money for bond or a lawyer.  

Once a victim agreed to provide the funds for their loved one’s release from jail, Chelemen would act like the bondsman/courier and arrive at their address for the purpose of picking up the funds.  He would then provide the victims with a receipt that included a case number, the amount of money provided, and the false name he used during the interaction.  

Chelemen personally obtained over $380,000 from the victims in multiple states directly and co-conspirators received another $78,000 from victims who mailed funds as part of the scheme.  Members also attempted to obtain at least an additional $290,000 from victims.  Chelemen was arrested in Sangamon County with over $138,000 in cash which he acknowledged he recently received from numerous victims throughout the Central District of Illinois. 

US District Court Judge Sue E. Myerscough found Chelemen was responsible for over $750,000 in actual and attempted loss, that had victimized vulnerable individuals as part of the scheme. Chelemen pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on February 6th, 2024, detained on June 26th following his arrest in Sangamon County on June 13th,  He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since that time. The statutory penalties for conspiracy to commit wire fraud are up to twenty years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced the partial closure of the Fayette Avenue/Maple Street intersection in Effingham beginning Monday, July 15. This closure is part of the Fayette Avenue reconstruction project.

Only right turns will be allowed at this intersection. Traffic traveling on Fayette Avenue can continue through the intersection. This partial closure will allow for the construction of turn lanes on Fayette Avenue through the intersection. Message boards will be used to direct traffic. Work should be completed in early August.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices, and be alert for workers and equipment.

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. 

Accomplishments through Year Four of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges, and 762 additional safety improvements.

For IDOT District 7 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict7 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has been honored with the Travelers' Choice award from Tripadvisor, placing it among the top 10 percent of attractions worldwide. This recognition is based on thousands of 5-star reviews from visitors.

Christina Shutt, executive director of the ALPLM, was excited to see the positive feedback, stating the institution's commitment to connecting guests with Lincoln's life and legacy. Shutt said that this award confirms they are succeeding in making those connections.

John Boris, Tripadvisor's Chief Growth Officer says that the Travelers' Choice honors businesses that consistently demonstrate excellence in hospitality and make a memorable impact on visitors who leave glowing reviews.

Recent reviews praise the museum as "highly impressive," with staff described as "friendly and informative." Visitors can explore Lincoln's significant life moments, view his documents and artifacts, and enjoy immersive shows.

Summer Griffith, Director of Marketing and Guest Experience, voiced pride in being a global destination and introducing guests to Abraham Lincoln and the Springfield community.

Tripadvisor is a popular travel platform that provides over 1 billion reviews on various services and destinations. The ALPLM aims to inspire civic engagement through Illinois history and Lincoln's legacy, supported by its extensive collection of historical materials.

For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov or follow the ALPLM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Christian County YMCA and Taylorville Memorial Hospital are teaming up for the Back-To-School Health and Resource Fair, this Saturday, July 13th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the CC YMCA.

The community is asked to bring canned foods for donations to Dinner Seasoned with Love. The Back-To-School Health and Resource Fair also highlights Operation Loaded Book Bag, ensuring all children begin their school year on the right note.

Jay Boulanger, Community Health Coordinator at Taylorville Memorial Hospital is blown away year after year by the giving community, and the response to community gathering and education events like the health and resource fair.

Suzy Traughber heads up both Operation Loaded Book Bag and Dinner Seasoned with Love. Both initiatives can be inquired about during Saturday's events.

Bruce Blanshan, Director of the CC YMCA sees the health and resource fair as a way to give back to the community while promoting healthy and active living.

More information about the events and updates can be found on the CC YMCA Facebook Page.

Jay Boulanger, Suzy Traughber, and Bruce Blanshan appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show.

A Shelbyville, Illinois man has been sentenced to 17 ½ years in prison for the production, receipt, and possession of child pornography.  30-year-old Brett J. Simpson of Shelbyville, was sentenced on July 10th, 2024 to 210 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by seven years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $15,500 in restitution to victims and register as a sex offender.  

Simpson had previously pleaded guilty to persuading a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography, receiving child pornography, and possessing it between December 2021 and May 2022.  

At the sentencing hearing, the government proved that Simpson pretended to be a minor on social media platforms to entice children to produce and send him images and videos. He also persuaded a child with gift cards and also received upon request a video containing images of that child.  Evidence showed that Simpson possessed thousands of other images of child pornography, including 250 images depicting children under 12 years of age. 

Shelbyville Police Chief Chad Brachbill thanked the Springfield Office of the FBI for assisting with the arrest back in May of 2022.  He says he looks forward to partnering with them in the future to continue keeping children safe from criminal activity of any kind, especially internet sex crimes. 

Simpson was arrested in June 2022 and has remained in custody since his arrest.   The statutory penalties for the production of child pornography are no less than 15 years and up to a maximum of 30 years imprisonment; for receipt of child pornography no less than five years and up to 20 years imprisonment; and possession of child pornography a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. The maximum possible fine was $250,000 per count.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Shelbyville Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Senor-Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
 

The Shelby County Coroner has released the names of the three teenage girls that were killed in a crash involving a UTV and a grain truck on Wednesday afternoon.  According to Shelby County Coroner Brad Phegley, 14-year old Sienna Bostedo from Mode, 13-year-old Karly Wetherall from Stewardson, and 14-year-old Edie WIttenberg from Strasburg were killed when their UTV was hit.

Phegley says that Bostedo died on Thursday after being airlifted to an Indianapolis Hospital. 

To see the original story on this click here. 

The annual Journey in July Central Illinois shopping adventure takes place this Friday, July 12th, and runs through Sunday, July 14th, highlighting many businesses that will be sporting deals and specials for the big days. The Taylorville Square will be filled with vendors of all types while area stores will be open and ready for citizens from all over.

Lindsay Bliler, Owner of Farmhouse Signs and the creator of Journey in July lists the areas that will be participating and mentions these shopping days are to promote growth and development in many towns in Central Illinois.

Elizabeth Hohenstein, Vendor Chair for Journey in July talks about the roughly 30 vendors that will be out on the Taylorville Square, mostly featuring a makers market.

Linda Allen, Executive Director of the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce says her favorite part is seeing all of the local and traveling citizens visiting businesses and participating in the day.

Visit the Journey in July Facebook page for more information and updates throughout the weekend.

Lindsay Bliler, Elizabeth Hohenstein, and Linda Allen appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show.

The third teenager involved in the fatal vehicle UTV crash in Shelby County who had been airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis has passed away.  The 14-year-old girl was with two other 14-year-olds traveling in a UTV on County Road 3150 E.  A grain tractor-trailer was traveling east on County Road 1200 N when the two vehicles collided.  She had been airlifted to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, with life-threatening injuries.  

Stewardson-Strasburg High School held a student vigil at 4 PM today and will hold a public vigil at 6 PM this evening. Names of the deceased have not been released at this time. Regional Radio News shares its deepest condolences to the community during this time.

To see the original press release click here.

Bob Ridings planted 3 trucks on his Truck Farm at his Taylorville dealership this morning.   The 3 previous trucks were taken out of the ground last year after being planted over 30 years ago according to Ridings.

The trucks buried today were Ford trucks with the colors of red, white, and blue.

Curt Bangert and his family did the excavation of the trucks out of the ground last year and did today’s planting of trucks at the Bob Ridings Truck Farm.  Bob says they had to do some math to get the trucks buried at the right angle.

Ridings added that truck sales are the foundation of the Ridings dealerships.

Hurricane Beryl was the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic and caused significant disruption as it swept through the Windward Islands and the Caribbean. After weakening over the Gulf of Mexico, Beryl regained strength and made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Houston, Texas, on July 8th.

The storm's remnants moved northeast, reaching western Indiana by the evening of July 9th. Central and eastern Illinois experienced 2 to 5 inches of rainfall, leading to localized flooding, particularly around the I-57 corridor. Wind gusts reached up to 54 mph in west central Indiana, near Lafayette.

While unusual, Illinois has seen the remnants of tropical systems before. For more information on the history of tropical remnants impacting the area, go to www.weather.gov/ilx/tropical_climo.

Two teenagers are dead, with one seriously injured following a crash between a UTV and a grain hauler truck in Shelby County on Wednesday evening.  Illinois State Police were called to 1200 N 3150 E Road around 5:30 PM on Wednesday.  ISP says a 2022 Polaris UTV was traveling south on County Road 3150 E.  A grain tractor-trailer was traveling east on County Road 1200 N.  

According to State Police, the UTV ran a stop sign on 3150 E and the tractor-trailer hit the UTV.  Two 14-year-old females were pronounced dead on the scene and one was transported to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, with life-threatening injuries. The driver was uninjured in the crash. Illinois State Police are still investigating. 

Stewardson-Strasburg High School will be holding a student vigil at 4 PM today and a public vigil at 6 PM this evening.  Names of the deceased have not been released at this time. Regional Radio News shares its deepest condolences to the community during this time. 

The Village of Kincaid has announced their city clean-up day.  The event will take place on August 24th, from 8 AM until 4 PM at Kincaid City Hall.  There will be a $25 one-time fee for drop off of materials.  Items that are not allowed for drop-off include large and small appliances, batteries, tires, yard waste, tv’s, monitors, printers, fax machines, computers, keyboards, VCRs, DVD players, game consoles, small-scale servers, converter boxes, cable receivers, or paint cans.  

Kincaid City Hall asks that you limit your drop-off with bedding to one set per household for mattress box spring combo, or two single mattresses or two single box springs.  For more information, contact Kincaid City Hall at 217-237-4713.

The Christian County Health Department is driving a new initiative for parents to protect children in their homes from the harms of cannabis. Diana Voiles, Director of Nursing at the CCHD says marijuana gummies, brownies, or even the drug itself, can be taken and ingested by a child and while it can be used for relaxation purposes in adults, for children the effects can be much more harmful.

To combat kids from getting their hands on their parent's weed, “Let's Talk about Cannabis” locked bags will be given out for free while supplies last to seal off odors and unwanted hands from getting to the stash.

Illinois was not alone in seeing a spike in emergency room visits during the onset of cannabis legalization mostly due to the easy access kids are having.

On the topic of child safety, the Christian County Health Department still has gun locks for citizens looking to fasten guns and keep their children safe in another way.

Visit the Health Department in person located at 730 North Pawnee Street in Taylorville or call for more information at 217-824-4113.

Diana Voiles appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

New legislation will change healthcare and health insurance practices in Illinois. The Healthcare Protection Act will make health care more accessible and transparent for Illinoisans according to State Senator Robert Peters.  

The new law is set to ban step therapy, prior authorization for mental health crises, and junk insurance. Senator Peters went on to say that the new rules will also improve network adequacy by addressing ghost networks and ending unchecked rate increases for large-group insurance companies. 

The Healthcare Protection Act, House Bill 5395, was signed into law on Wednesday. 

A Former Illinois State Senator has been sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment, supervised release for two years, and ordered to pay $683,816.61 for fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering, and tax evasion. The sentencing stems from incidents that took place from 2015 to 2020.  During that time,  McCann was caught in a scheme to convert more than $200,000 in funds that were made to his campaign committees to pay for himself and make personal purchases.

51-year-old William Samuel McCann Jr. of Plainview served as a state senator for the 49th District of Illinois from 2012 to 2013 and for the 50th District from 2013 to 2019. McCann ran for Illinois Governor in 2018. McCann used more than $60,000 in campaign funds to buy trucks, fuel, and insurance. He also used $18,000 in campaign funds to buy an RV, and $25,000 to buy a motor home. McCann was also found guilty of using a $20,000 cashier check to pay off personal loans. 

In addition to wire fraud, and money laundering, McCann was also charged with one count of tax evasion. The Statutory penalty for each count of wire fraud (seven counts) and one count of money laundering is up to 20 years in prison. For tax evasion, it's up to five years. 

US Attorney Gregory K. Harris says that McCann brazenly betrayed the public trust by engaging in a five-year scheme to defraud and convert more than $600,000 in campaign funds to his personal use. IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock says that this sentence is a reminder that no one is immune to obeying the law.  

The case investigation was conducted by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.  Assistant US Attorney Timothy Bass represented the government in the prosecution.  To see the whole press release click here.

The Safe-T Act has posed its challenges and sometimes interpretation of the law can be quite tricky. Christian County State's Attorney John McWard spoke about some of those challenges and what he sees as the prosecution in Christian County. McWard says that it all comes down to communication and training. 

McWard says he has seen an uptick of sexual crimes in the county.

Mcward credits his relationships with law enforcement to be able to do his job. He says he has a much better appreciation for the job they do after working hand in hand with them.

For more information on the Christian County State's Attorney, click here.

Small Town Taylorville has recently converted to a private organization but with the same mission, to put the power back into the hands of local businesses through broad marketing and advertising campaigns. Membership tiers allow business owners to have their products and services advertised on the STT website, paper maps given out at local stores, social media posts, and more awareness opportunities.

Small Town Taylorville Chair Steve Craggs says the response to the campaign has been tremendous with the list of founding business members growing. Joanna Buesinger, Owner of Southern Belle Florist and a Founding Member with Small Town Taylorville says it was an easy decision to get involved with the efforts of STT.

Samantha Adermann, Office Manager at Southern Ledge Pools and Patios says the STT campaigns will provide a boost of product awareness when the slower season hits.

Craggs speaks on local seasonal traditions, quality recreation, and the businesses that makeup Taylorville and Christian County, and how awareness of these efforts must be spread to develop more commerce and economic momentum.

visit smalltowntaylorville.com to learn more about the group and its membership offerings.

Steve Craggs, Joanna Buesinger, and Samantha Adermann appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show.

Speech language pathology is offered at Pana Community Hospital, helping citizens of all ages correct and strengthen their vocal and communicative skills. Speech pathologists can be found in a medical setting, at schools, and even at in-home settings. Lauren Mahan started as the Speech Language Pathologist at Pana Community Hospital In June of 2023 after spending seven years as a speech pathologist in schools.

To give a breakdown of speech pathology, Mahan describes the age range and deficiencies, either developed or congenital, of the patients she cares for.

Mahan says that many times adults need speech pathology therapy to return back to their normal selves after experiencing events like a stroke.

Mahan describes the outpatient services offered at Pana Community Hospital and how to get in touch with her to begin your speech journey.

Learn more by visiting panahospital.com/services/rehabwellness-center and clicking the Speech Therapy tab.

Lauren Mahan appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.

Taylorville Community Credit Union has announced their newest addition to their team, filling their full time teller position at the Taylorville office. Aaron Bangert, a resident of Taylorville, will begin working full time while also completing his Finance degree online at Southern New Hampshire University. Bangert is familiar with the community and many members already with TCCU, he says he enjoys the work and the interaction with the members and that the credit union offers a friendly environment.

With his recent hiring, Bangert’s duties as a full time teller will include: assisting members with their day to day account needs, deposit and withdrawal activity, funds transfers, and the opening of new accounts. Will Perkins, Taylorville Community Credit Union President says he’s pleased to have Aaron join their Taylorville staff. Perkins went on to say Aaron has already proven himself to be a valuable representative of TCCU.

Taylorville Community Credit Union is a not for profit, cooperative financial institution. For more information about TCCU, visit them online at www.tccu.org.

The Taylorville School Board of Education met on Tuesday evening with new Superintendent Brandi Bruley leading her first meeting. 

Board Member Lori Wemple gave an update on NPT Special Education Cooperative and announced that the NPT Program will take over Taylorville's own ABLE and FACES students with disabilities programs. 

Superintendent Brandi Bruley gave her report, citing insurance coverage updates and current grants. 

Anita Brown, District Curriculum Director was recognized by Board President Brenda Partick for her retirement and her years of service to Taylorville School District.

Overnight requests were approved for the Taylorville Cheer Team to head to Illinois State University to participate in the annual cheer camp and for the girl's track team looking to attend a training camp in the Chicago area, both were approved unanimously. 

There was no old business to be discussed and all board members were present except for Jennifer Norris.

The Next Taylorville School Board meeting is set for August 13th.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from a new Edward Jones investment advisor in Taylorville, at its Tuesday meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

Nicole Helm has set up shop in the Edward Jones office formerly occupied by Brad Davis who retired.   Helm talked about originally being from Seattle, Washington, and how it was thru Edward Jones that she met her husband.

Helm gave Kiwanis members an overview of the current investment climate, saying inflation is down and consumer spending is at 2-percent.

Helm added Edward Jones expects the stock market to continue to grow into 2025.

In Kiwanis business, Kiwanis member Blain Cornwell is again heading up the local club's efforts to provide volunteers to work the gates at this year's Illinois State Fair, as a fund-raiser for the club.  

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.

The Master Gardners in Christian County are preparing and promoting an upcoming event at Davis Memorial Christian Church, touring the community garden and gaining education on native plants. The From Garden to Table program is coming to Davis Memorial on Wednesday, July 24th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Master Gardener Gwen Podeschi speaks highly of the grounds of the community garden and how much community members can take away in plant life knowledge.

Attendees will learn the benefits of nearby plant protectors and the interesting ways their garden operation has remained successful.

Podeschi encourages all citizens interested in gardening and plant life to come out to Davis Memorial Christian Church on July 24th to connect and familiarize themselves with area wildlife.

Visit extension.illinois.edu/garden-table for more information. Davis Memorial Church is located at 1500 West Franklin Street in Taylorville.

Gwen Podeschi and Linda Smith appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show.

The Christian County Agriculture Fair has gathered a great many vendors for the 100th annual this year, highlighting local businesses and specifically agriculturally minded groups. Taylorville’s Farm and Home Supply has been very involved in the livestock and vendor piece of the fair with more for the community in 2024.

Farm and Home Supply Manager, Katelyn Lotz says the past years of the fair have been successful, handing out awards to livestock showers, providing activities for the kids, and educating the public on what Farm and Home offers.

Lotz says that the people with Farm and Home Supply are here for the community. Questions regarding their new line of agriculture equipment or other offerings will be answered at the CC Fair.

The dedicated Christian County Fair board and organizers along with the community are to thank for their years of support and acceptance.

The Christian County Ag Fair begins July 16th and runs through the 20th. Find more information about the fair at christiancountyfair.com.

Katelyn Lotz appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

Starting in the Fall 2024 semester, Lake Land College will begin offering dual credit courses at no cost to student that fall within the Effingham Regional Career Academy. Several select courses will be taught by instructors of Lake Land College at the Kluthe Center in Effingham. These courses will provide students the chance to explore options in high demand fields such as: commercial driver’s license or ‘CDL,’ agriculture, health care, networking, and in geospatial technology.

All of the classes in the Fall 2024 semester will be available to interested students within the Effingham Regional Career Academy. The ERCA covers 14 local highschools including: Altamont High School, Beecher City High School, Cowden-Herrick High School, Effingham High School, and Stewardson-Strasburg High School. In order to be eligible, students must be in their sophomore or junior year of high school.

To learn more about the available courses and how to register, students should first contact their high school guidance counselor. After doing this, contact Jerome Tkachuk, Director of the Effingham Education and Regional Extension Centers, at 217-540-3500.

More information is available on all additional dual credit opportunities found at Lake Land College by contacting Tessa Wiles, Director of Dual Credit and Honors Experience, at 217-234-5044 or at twiles@lakelandcollege.edu.

The Taylorville School Board of Education meets this evening at 6:00 p.m. for their regular July meeting.

New business to be discussed include a freedom of information request for ZT Creative Energy, Illinois Association of School Board talking points from Brenda Patrick, and consideration of hazardous walkway resolutions. Incoming Superintendent Brandi Bruley looks to be approved as District FOIA Officer and Interim Superintendent Kenneth Schwengel will give his report.

Before new business, the consent agenda looks to approve minutes from regular and closed meetings on June 6th, 2024, consideration of minutes from the last six months of the board of education meetings, the treasurer’s report, and consideration of overnight trips.

Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more updates upon the conclusion of the meeting.

Trumpet Soloists to be Featured With Municipal Band Trumpet soloists Dennis Jones and Braden Lueking will be featured performers at the Wednesday, July 10 concert by the Taylorville Municipal Band. The concert will be held at the Christian County Historical Society and will begin at 7:00 PM.

Dennis Jones, retired band director for the Rochester School District and longtime Taylorville Municipal Band member, will perform a 2015 composition by James Curnow, Nexus. Braden Lueking, a 2024 Rochester High School graduate, will perform Cinema Paradiso by Ennio and Andrea Morricone. Another featured composition on this concert will be a new piece composed for the The President’s Own Marine Band by staff arranger and Taylorville native, Scott Ninmer called PACE Fanfare.

Audience members can also plan on hearing Thundercrest March by Eric Osterling; Second Suite in F by Gustav Holst; George Washington March by Edwin Franko Goldman; Declaration Overture by Claude T. Smith; His Honor March by Henry Fillmore; Syncopated Clock by Leroy Anderson; Choose Joy by Randall Standridge; and America The Beautiful by Samuel Augustus Ward, arranged by Carmen Dragon. 

You can follow the Taylorville Municipal Band on Facebook.

New technology involved with Artificial intelligence or AI is making huge strides as it is being used for patients who may be at risk of a stroke.  OSF Healthcare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park has CT and MRI perfusion capabilities, that help look at a patient’s blood flow to the brain.

Using AI helps neurovascular and vascular medical teams reduce the time to treatment and improve patient outcomes.  AI processes the images and gives clinical information to the clinician immediately.  This helps providers more quickly decide the best course of action.

Tracy Jendruczek, VP of surgical and procedural services with OSF Little Company of Mary, says the addition of CT and MRI perfusions at the hospital, is beneficial for the community.

Jendruczek says that AI treatment is now for those who show signs or symptoms of a tumor.

The ultimate goal of CT and MRI perfusions is to expedite treatment for stroke patients.

Find out more information by clicking here.
 

Fireworks went off without a hitch at Lake Shelbyville on the 4th thanks to both the dedicated US Army Corps of Engineers and responsible actions by citizens who attended. Ashley Florey, Natural Resource Specialist with the Corps of Engineers says that the lake was the busiest it has been in the last five years.

Despite heavy traffic on the water, Florey calls the Independence Day preparations routine at this point.

Florey says that with all parking lots full, no accidents or incidents is a great thing for not only the Army Corps of Engineers but also the Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce and the many vendors on hand.

Here is July’s lake update at Lake Shelbyville. Florey says that holiday celebrations are not yet over so continue to practice safety while on the water.

More Lake Shelbyville information can be found here.

Ashley Florey appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show, live from our studios in downtown Shelbyville.

Shelby County Community Services DUI and Substance Abuse Team is taking the holiday weekend to inform residents of the expectations and “normal behavior” that persists. Natalie Inman, Program Coordinator for SCCS says while celebrating the 4th and consuming alcohol go hand in hand, citizens can enjoy their holidays without the help of booze.

Inman says it is largely societal norms that have created the culture around alcohol, especially for those under the legal age of consumption. Inman states that consuming alcohol or drugs as a minor is almost an expectation by their peers to participate in the good time.

Inman concludes by saying having a few legal drinks is perfectly fine for celebrating citizens but always remembering safety and moderation and having a plan for once the party is over.

More information about SCCS can be found here.

Natalie Inman appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show live from our downtown studios in Shelbyville.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club held a drive-thru donation day on Saturday, in front of our studios at 918 East Park in Taylorville. Kiwanis Members Will Perkins and Griffin Smock manned the tent and accepted non-perishable foods and monetary donations to benefit the Taylorville Food Pantry.

Live on Groovy 97.3 WRAN, Griffin Smock spoke about his beginnings as a Kiwanis Member and the draw of helping children and youth in the community with seasonal initiatives. 

Kiwanis Member Will Perkins talked about one of the most abundant days for the drive-thru donation program and the constant efforts made year-round to boost local citizens 

The Taylorville Food Pantry, the Taylorville Kiwanis Club, and The Miller Media group thank all those who contributed to the Drive-Thru Donation Day. 
 

A highway has reopened after a sinkhole closed down some of the road back in April. Illinois Route 185 reopened earlier this week with one lane of highway open to through traffic with stoplights to control traffic.  

The road is estimated to be about 600 feet from the sinkhole.  The Illinois Department of Transportation inspected the road before it officially opened to traffic. The road, which is between Hillsboro and Coffeen, has been closed since the sinkhole was opened up on Thursday, April 11th.  
 

Lincoln Land Community College is expanding to offer two new degree programs and one new certificate this fall — a creative writing associate in arts, a cardiovascular sonography associate in applied science, and a workplace dynamics certificate.

The creative writing program offers classes, workshops, and other activities such as readings and contests, accessible to writers of all levels. Courses are taught by writers trained in their specialties, whose works have been published in literary journals and with literary presses.  Community Colleges don’t generally get extras for creative writing programs.  Dr. Corrine Hinton, dean of English and Humanity says that LLCC Faculty live the passions they teach and mentor the next generation of from the prairie state and beyond. The creative writing program prepares students to begin seeking publication and/or transfer to a four-year university.

Cardiovascular sonography (CVS) is LLCC’s newest sonography program and will cover two ultrasound specialty areas: adult echocardiography and vascular sonography.

Program Director Leigh Giles-Brown says that the addition to the sonography program will equip students with skills to perform critical diagnostic procedures. She says there is a growing demand for cardiovascular healthcare professionals in the community.  The two-year associate in applied science degree program will help prepare students for national credentialing exams. 

The certificate in workplace dynamics prepares students for a professional business environment. Upon successful completion of the program, students will have the skills necessary for the Microsoft certification exam.

The fall semester begins Aug. 17.

More details are available at llcc.edu/creative-writing, llcc.edu/cvs and llcc.edu/business.

Routine maintenance is set to be done on the well just west of Manners Park in Taylorville—the last time the work was done was in 2017 and it’s due for a cleaning.  Screens of wells must be cleaned and descaled periodically to maintain efficient operation.  The pump will also be replaced.  There will be NO remediation work being done on the well.  It is simply cleaning it along with other maintenance and upkeep.  According to the project manager of the site, Amy Weber, there will be a crane brought in simply because of how deep they have to go down.

Brian Martin, Senior Manager of Environmental and ESG Services and Remediation Projects for Ameren Illinois, says that over time the screen can get clogged and this allows for it to work better.

The next scheduled maintenance is set for 2031.  For a fact sheet on the site, click here.

Community members ages 55 and over and looking for more opportunities to remain active while serving the community have the C.E.F.S RSVP Community Action Team looking for them. RSVP stands for Retired Senior Volunteer Program and RSVP Manager, Kim Shelmadine, says any number of volunteer jobs not only help the community but also the overall health of the volunteer.

Shelmadine explains that volunteers will have the freedom to choose the times and types of work they participate in.

The heartwarming Pencil Pal Program connects RSVP volunteers to area school children who will write back and forth throughout the year, an end-of-the-year banquet allows those pals to meet face to face creating a very special evening.

Learn more about getting involved with the RSVP Community Action Team at www.cefseoc.org/americorps.

Kim Shelmadine appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

With the holiday weekend rapidly approaching, a record number of American motorists will hit the road this Fourth of July. Drivers this Independence Day weekend can expect the lowest holiday price at the pump since 2021. In the United States, the projected national average price of gas is $3.49 per gallon.

In a summer survey conducted by GasBuddy, 45% of Americans have plans to hit the road during the holiday weekend. Despite the $3.39 per gallon price tag seen in early June, gasoline prices are once again on the rise at the start of July. The State of Illinois’ gas tax once again increased starting July 1st  which has also raised prices locally

.

So far in 2024, the ten largest changes in prices from state to state are all declines.
Patrick De Haan, Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy, stated “For those hitting the road to celebrate Independence Day, gas prices have seen modest recent fluctuations, but most states are seeing prices near or even well below where they were a year ago.”

WTIM's 96.1 FM signal, along with WRAN groovy 97.3 and NEW Country 104.1, are back on the air following an equipment failure at 7:40 this morning.

Equipment that sends on-air audio for those 3 signals from our Park Street studios to our Taylorville tower, failed.

Station engineer John Masters set up backup feeds for WTIM and WRAN from the studios to the tower earlier this afternoon, to get those 2 signals back on the air.

NEW Country 104.1 is also back on the air, but at reduced power transmitting from our Park Street studios.

Other Miller Media Group radio station signals were not affected by this morning's outage.

On July 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted traditional approval to Eli Lilly's donanemab, marketed as Kisunla (kih-SUHN-lah), for treating early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. This approval covers individuals with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia stages of Alzheimer's with confirmed amyloid plaques. Kisunla is the third drug approved by the FDA that alters the disease's underlying progression.

In a significant legislative move, Illinois became the first state to mandate insurance coverage for Alzheimer's treatments, improving access to these progressive disease-slowing drugs. With nearly 7 million Americans affected by Alzheimer's, it remains a leading cause of death in the country. Over 11 million family members and friends also provide care to those with Alzheimer's and other dementias, with Illinois alone accounting for more than 266,500 patients and 314,000 caregivers.

For more information, visit alz.org/facts. Support and information from the Alzheimer's Association are available 24/7 for individuals with Alzheimer's and their caregivers at 800.272.3900.

The Meals on Wheels Program in Christian County supplies daily meals for community members over the age of 60, supplying Effingham, Dieterich, Altamont, Beecher City, Flora, Vandalia, Pana, Taylorville, Ramsey, and Kincaid. Brittany Palmer Meals on Wheels Program Coordinator says the program not only provides meals and fellowship for area seniors but also daily greetings and check-ins from area drivers.

Palmer continues by explaining the two different options citizens have to get meals. One way is visiting a congregate site and enjoying the meal amongst friends. The other option is for home-bound community members who can have Meals on Wheels pull right up to their homes.

Light activities can be found at the congregate sites says Palmer.

Palmer is in charge of building the monthly menu which must fit certain nutritional guidelines.

Volunteers are needed for the Meals on Wheels Program, Palmer says they are in need of drivers and delivery people.

For more information go to https://www.cefseoc.org/mealsonwheels. 

Brittany Palmer appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

The Taylorville Food Pantry provides a great deal of not only service but hope to local citizens as they supply over 400 families a month, meeting necessary nutrition requirements. Summers have brought fresh produce into the TFP to be then housed and given away to families in need. With multitudes of food items coming in and out of the doors, the food pantry remains committed to being a zero-waste operation.

Amy Hagen, Co-Coordinator for the Taylorville Food Pantry says unused produce is delegated to buckets that can be taken away as fresh compost for community gardens, farmers, or any groups that could utilize the food waste.

Premade container flower beds are also available for pick up at the TFP says Hagen.

Co-Coordinator Pam Moses breaks down some of the numbers of people served for the month of May.

The Taylorville Food Pantry is located at 1429 East Main Cross Street in Taylorville.

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

The Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce welcomed two new members on Wednesday, adding Rural Rentals and Milkmaid Mercantile, both under one roof. Ed Shoemaker is the Owner and Operator of Rural Rentals while Amelia Shoemaker owns and runs Milkmaid Mercantile.

Ed Shoemaker dives into the types of items that are set for rental with plans for many more pieces in the future. There are items for purchase in the store as well like fire-pits, leather goods, and more.

Amelia Shoemaker, who runs Milkmaid Mercantile, says her goal is for local citizens to be able to create a full meal from her local meat, produce, and more.

Both Rural Rental and Milkmaid Mercantile are located at 1001 North Cheney Street in Taylorville.

WTIM's 96.1 FM signal, along with WRAN groovy 97.3 and NEW Country 104.1, went off the air this morning due to failure of equipment that sends those stations' audio from the Park Street studios in Taylorville, to the Taylorville tower.

The failure does not affect WTIM's 870, 107.5 or 107.9 FM signals.

Station personnel are working on the problem and are working to get audio on those 3 signals back on the air as soon as possible.

We appreciate your patience while we resolve these problems.

Property Tax bills have been mailed out in Christian County and installments are due on July 19th and September 19th. Betty Asmussen, Christian County Treasurer says that you can pay online.  You may also pay your bill at any bank in the county except for Regents, or even mail it, or stop by the Treasurer’s office. 

For more information, visit christiancountyil.gov/treasurer/. 

Taylorville’s Business Development District Committee has been dissolved as the result of a Taylorville City Council vote. The advisory committee was made up of business people and accountants who would give insight into the decisions and directions of the BDD, no final votes could be made by this committee.

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry remains in favor of the BDD Committee since its inception, 6 years ago. Mayor Barry says that without the BDD Committee, there will be more work put on the council.

Taylorville City Council Alderman Randy Mitchelson voted to dissolve the BDD Committee and stated that the group was just an extra step in the decision-making process. Also voting to dissolve the committee were Aldermen Jeremy Wilson, Megan Bryant and Steve Dorchinecz.

Mayor Barry says the city council may believe that since the final decisions are theirs to make, then there would be no need for the committee. But the Mayor speaks to the years of business experience the committee provides at no cost to the city.

The responsibilities of the BDD Committee will now be assumed by the Ordinance Committee.

Taylorville mayor Bruce Barry appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

The Pana Firework Show is tonight with family-friendly activities beginning and 4:30 and the fireworks beginning at dusk at Pana’s Tri-County Fairgrounds. The Pana Firework Committee has been hard at work coordinating games, activities, and food vendors. Since 2022 the Pana Firework Committee has handled firework show operations and the group is happy to be providing another memorable night for the community. Committee Members say this fireworks show will be the best one yet.

Committee Members Savannah Holthaus and Tim Christer explain that the Pana firework display has come a long way since the Pana Fire Department led the evening for over 15 years. With Pana Police and fire still involved in the effort, Holthaus and Christer break down the night's events.

Christer speaks more about year three of the fireworks show and how the $20,000 budget for fireworks and professionals looks to execute the best show yet. 

Holthaus recognizes the local businesses and groups who make the evening possible by providing access to games for kids and activities for all.

Holthaus reminds the community to enter a giveaway for four tickets to Holiday World. The prize will go to one lucky family in attendance, no purchase is necessary and all citizens need to do is head to the dunk tank and enter their family in to win. 

Follow Pana Fireworks on Facebook for updates and more information. The Pana Tri-County Fairgrounds are located at 605 North 2500 East Road in Pana.

Savannah Holthaus and Tim Christer appeared as guests on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.
 

On Tuesday, June 25th, Illinois lawmakers signed into law Senate Bill 1; this bill creates a new ‘Department of Early Childhood’ which will become the lead agency in providing early childhood education and care programs, as well as care services in the state of Illinois. The newly founded ‘Department of Early Childhood’ was established to oversee state-funded early childhood programs that already reside within the State Board of Education, Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services.

State Senator Doris Turner supported the new law to create the ‘Department of Early Childhood’ and played a pivotal role in the passing of Senate Bill 1. Turner says “the new agency will streamline the process for parents and providers, making it easier to navigate the resources our state has to offer.”

Starting in July of 2026, the new ‘Department of Early Childhood’ will begin the takeover of programs within three state agencies, including: the Early Childhood Block Grant program from the State Board of Education which funds the Preschool for All program and more. The Child Care Assistance program and Early Intervention Services currently under the Department of Human Services. And, the licensing of daycare facilities, managed at this time by DCFS, which will also move to Illinois’ newest state agency in July 2026.

Illinois State Representative Brad Halbrook participated in the 2024 Dudley Smith Farm Field Day at the Dudley Smith Initiative Farm in Christian County, a 228-acre research site focused on advancing Illinois agriculture. 

The event featured discussions on cover crops, soil testing, agronomy research, and farm-to-plate operations. A special highlight was the presentation honoring Ed Ballard, a key figure at the farm since its inception in 1995. 

Halbrook presented Ballard with a certificate of appreciation from the Illinois House of Representatives, praising his contributions and dedication as he approaches retirement. Halbrook said, that as a lifelong family farmer, he can truly appreciate the work done here each day, Ed's tireless dedication has significantly benefited Illinois agriculture.

Dudley Smith Farm is located at East 700 North Road in Morrisonville. 
 

July of 2023 saw 108 injuries reported by 34 different hospitals in Illinois as a result of improper practices while handling and lighting off fireworks. Independence Day is just days away and law enforcement officials and first responders want community members to celebrate freedom and safety.

Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler says to use common sense all day on the Fourth of July, not only at dusk when the fireworks come out to play but during area parades and cookouts too.

Local law enforcement, fire departments, and medical services expect an uptick in calls and visits on the Fourth every year, but there are ways to avoid a bitter end to the day Chief Wheeler says he and the department know personal fireworks will go off, but doing so responsibly is the main message.

Chief Wheeler reminds the community of their pets who may get shaken up by the loud booms, and even military veterans whose PTSD could be triggered during the Fourth.

For further questions to the Taylorville Police Department, call 217-824-2211.

Chief Wheeler appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

The following fireworks displays will be held over the 3rd and 4th of July. This list is not exclusive. Start times for all of these are at dusk unless otherwise noted. The weather may play a factor in some of these displays. 

Assumption: July 4, Slag Pile

Bement July 4th Forest Preserve Park

Decatur: July 4, Nelson Park

Edinburg: July 4,

Effingham: July 3, Lake Sara Fireworks, 9:15

Effingham: July 4, Effingham High School

Herrick: July 4, Tom Davis Park

Macon: Macon Speedway, July 3rd

Mt Zion: July 3, 323 Fletcher Park Boulevard

Moweaqua: July 3, North Park

Oconee: July 5, North end of town

Pana: July 3 fairgrounds, dusk

Shelbyville: July 4,Lake Shelbyville-Dam West Recreation Area, dusk

Springfield—Springfield Horsehoes July 3rd and July 4th and Knights Action Park  6-9:30 July 4th. 

Sullivan: July 4, Wyman Park

Taylorville: July 4, Lake Taylorville, dusk

Did we miss your fireworks display? Give us a call at 824-3395 or email us at wtim@randyradio.com so we can get it included!

Taylorville Memorial Hospital is set to host a community wide blood drive in partnership with ImpactLife on Thursday, July 18th from 11 A.M. until 4 P.M.. The Taylorville Memorial Hospital Blood Drive will be held at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, inside the ImpactLife Donor Bus.

ImpactLife is a non-profit community organization that continues to serve as the primary provider of blood products and services to over 125 hospitals and Emergency Medical Services in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. In the Taylorville area, ImpactLife exclusively serves Pana Community Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital. ImpactLife is a non-profit community organization.

To be eligible to donate blood, individuals must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental permission) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo ID is required for donation. For those unsure about their eligibility, you can contact ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401 for clarification. If you last gave blood on or before May 23rd of 2024, you are once again eligible to participate in this drive.

As a token of appreciation when you donate, you will receive an ImpactLife Promo Voucher that can be redeemed for various rewards. Appointments are encouraged and interested donors can contact ImpactLife Springfield at (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60050 to locate the drive. 

Taylorville City Council denied approval for Small Town Taylorville funding and dissolved the Business Development District Committee at a short meeting on Monday evening.  All Aldermen were present except for Chris Skultety. The Council denied approval for funding for Small Town Taylorville for $40,000 after they attempted to table the motion.  

Aldermen Kathy Driskell and Aldermen Jim Olive brought the motion to the floor for approval. Aldermen Randy Mitchelson attempted to table it.  The table failed 4-3.  Aldermen Jim Olive, Jeremy Wilson, Doug Brown, and Megan Bryant voted “No” on tabling it. The motion for approval of funding also failed 5-2. Aldermen Brown, Bryant, Steve Dorchinecz, Mitchelson, and Wilson voted “No.” 

The Council also voted to dissolve the Business Development District Committee Monday evening. Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry urged the committee to vote no on the motion brought forward by Alderman Mitchelson.

Aldermen Mitchelson says that it was necessary to dissolve the BDD Committee as it was just an extra step. The ordinance committee will assume the responsibilities of the BDD Committee. 

The motion passed to dissolve the committee.  Aldermen Wilson, Bryant, Dorchinecz, and Mitchelson voted Yes.  Mayor Barry said that he was thinking about vetoing the motion, but allowed it to pass. Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry gave his updates including a potential change for the picnic and parade on the 4th of July due to inclement weather.

In other news from the Taylorville City Council meeting:

–David Peddycoart was sworn in as a new officer for the Taylorville Police Department.

–A motion to adopt an ordinance concerning airport crop applicator leases passed.  

–Sergeant Christian Nelson was supposed to be honored with a Medal of Honor by the Illinois Police Chief’s Association, but a conflict arose, so it will be held at a later date. 

–A motion was approved for the repair of the roof of the Gagne Building. 

–Motions concerning the 2024-2025 budget were also approved.

The meeting took about 28 minutes.  The next Taylorville City Council Meeting is set for July 15th.  

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set to host a grand fireworks display at Lake Shelbyville this Fourth of July. Fireworks will be launched at dusk from Ramp Point in the Dam West Recreation Area. Prime viewing spots include the Dam West and Dam East Recreation Areas, the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center, parts of the road across the dam, and the Dam West Overlook.

Regina Agney, President of the Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce thanks the corps for all they do in hosting the event yearly. 

To accommodate the event, the Dam Road will close to traffic at 8:00 p.m. from the 9th Street intersection to Dam East. Parking is limited, but alternative parking is available at Spillway Recreation Area, Forest Park, and Dam West High Water Boat Ramp. Visitors parking at the high water ramp can access Dam West via the General Dacey Trail.

The Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce will provide entertainment leading up to the fireworks, with concessions available from 4:00 to 9:00 PM and music from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The fireworks show will start at dusk. Attendees are reminded that personal fireworks are prohibited on government property, with violators facing citations.

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

Craig’s Sporting Goods and Family Fun Center in Shelbyville are ready for another summer of supplying fishing gear, bike maintenance, and lake information for the community. Cheryl Schultz, Owner and Proprietor of Craig’s says the summer season of fishing and outdoor activities has gone well for the store.

Craig’s is visited by a local Lake Shelbyville fishing guide to share insights about the lake, the levels, and what's biting this time of year. Schultz also points to some of the products you can find on the shelves.

Schultz explains that Craig’s Sporting Goods has an open position for general manager. Schultz says she is taking applications now and takes time to describe the preferred candidate for the position.

Craig's Sporting Goods is located at 105 East Main Street in Shelbyville, where applications are ready to be filled out at the store. Schultz says she will only hold in-person interviews.

Cheryl Schultz appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show live from our studios in downtown Shelbyville.

On Wednesday, Christian County Court Judge Brad Paisley led a treatment court Commencement Ceremony for eight individuals who are looking forward to being drug-free. The ceremony has been going on for 14 years.  Judge Paisley says it is all about change.

Shalee Bayne, Michael Blake, Adam Bolfing, Brian Hays, Jason Krouse, Phil McNear, Tilur Miller, and Stephanie Reber all participated in the ceremony. Judge Paisley says not only can you see a change in these individuals, but you can also see a change in Taylorville as a whole.

State Senator Steve McClure says he is proud of the participants in the ceremony saying that according to statistics 70% don’t make it to the commencement.  He spoke about the work that they are doing in Congress to help. 

A nolle was issued for Dylan Russell.  A nolle is like a dismissal of charges.  A reception was held for the commencement goers.  Regional Radio News salutes all of the recipients and wishes them the best on their journey moving forward. 

The Taylorville City Council is set to meet this evening at 7 PM at the Municipal Building in Taylorville.  After recognizing David Peddycoart, the council will honor Sergeant Christian Nelson, receiving the Medal of Honor from the Illinois Police Chief’s Association. The council will discuss a motion to approve funding in the amount of $40,000 for the advertising budget for Small Town Taylorville, and look at a motion to change the Taylorville City Code concerning airport crop applicator leases.  

Under committee reports, the council will look at a quote for cyber and pollution insurance, discuss a motion to dissolve the BDD Board, and approve the fiscal year budget, and appropriation.  The council will also review a motion for roof repair for the Gagne Building.  The Council will potentially approve Special Events Permit for the Taylorville Chamber of Commerce, and look at directing the Mayor to sign the Ward 3 Sewer Separation Investigation Engineering Proposal and a Drainage Improvement pay request for White Oaks Drive.  

The council will hear from the City Attorney, Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry, and from the public.  Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more following the conclusion of the event.