As the search for the next Taylorville School District Superintendent continues a recent sign-up only stakeholder meeting was held where the public voiced their opinions on what qualities they would like in the next superintendent. President of the Taylorville School board, Brenda Patrick, said the candidates answered questions and heard from the public.

Patrick was unable to disclose the names of the candidates due to confidentialities.
 

Stay tuned to Regional Radio News on December, 12th for the regularly scheduled Taylorville School Board meeting at the district office for more information.

New programs have been announced for the Shelbyville Public Library that further tell the community that their library is more than just a depository for books. A drop-in Christmas ornament-making class will be held on Saturday, December 9th at the Shelbyville Public Library, starting at 9:00 a.m. for all ages.

Monica Cameron, Executive Director for the Shelbyville Public Library works hard with her staff to provide new and relevant programs for their community.

On Wednesday, December 13h at 10:45 a.m. the opening of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library will be presented for Shelbyville Public Library. This program, made possible by United Way of Decatur Mid-Illinois and Shelby Electric Cooperative, registered children will have fresh reading material for the whole year.

This program is for kids ages 1-4 and the opening for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library will be in the kids section of the library.

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

Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs announced that the holiday season brings an extra dose of cheer for Illinoisans, as Christmas, Happy Holidays, Santa, Rudolph, and even Scrooge are among the millions of names listed in the state's missing money database. This surprise of unclaimed cash and property is awaiting rightful owners, creating an opportunity for some unexpected holiday financial boost.

Frerichs expressed the festive spirit saying, it's the most wonderful time of the year, and returning missing money to the rightful owners is even more special during this season. He encouraged residents to discover if they have any forgotten funds by entering their names at illinoistreasurer.gov/icash.

Unclaimed property, defined as money or accounts with no activity for several years, is entrusted to the State Treasurer when the legal owner fails to respond to inquiries. This includes unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, and unused rebate cards.

With an estimated one in four adults in Illinois finding missing money through the treasurer's database, the average claim is $1,000. Frerichs has overseen the return of over $1.9 billion in unclaimed property, marking a record-setting performance resulting from a comprehensive restructuring of the missing money process. The state treasurer's office has streamlined the claims process, introduced electronic claims, and leveraged technology for easy payments.

In a recent initiative, the Treasurer's Office launched the Enhanced Money Match program, sending letters to over 140,000 individuals by cross-referencing state-collected data with the missing money database. The program aims to simplify the process for unclaimed property owners, providing details about the amount and source of the money.

With a focus on the ease of the claims process, recipients must only watch their mail and cash the check, with the Treasurer's Office conducting additional security measures. Frerichs recommends that residents check for missing money at least twice a year, emphasizing the ongoing effort to reunite Illinois residents with their unclaimed assets. To see if any missing money awaits, individuals are encouraged to visit illinoistreasurer.gov/icash.

The Miller Media Group's NEW Country 104-point-one is debuting a new show today.

Students in the Tommy TV video production class at Taylorville High School, are hosting a new afternoon show from 4 til 6 weekdays on that station.

Several different students enrolled in the Tommy TV class, are getting the experience in being on-the-air and recording segments that are airing in the daily 2-hour show.

Find out more on their new show, and see some of the students participating, on the NEW Counry 104-point-one Facebook page.

The kitchen will become increasingly busier as we near Christmas and New Year’s, and extra care and attention must be paid to the cleanliness of your cooking space and food. Lisa Peterson, Nutrition and Wellness Educator for the University of Illinois Extension says that salmonella can remain on a non-sanitized surface for 32 hours.

steps as simple as proper hand washing is the first defense against food-borne illnesses that can end the Christmas fun.

for the oven and other cooking areas, Peterson says it is imperative to keep these areas clean and sanitized, and for those looking to hold their yearly kitchen cleaning, the Extensions resources are here to help.

All of this cleanliness information and more can be found at extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/cleaning-sanitizing-kitchen.

Lisa Peterson appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

Illinois has been awarded a significant federal grant of $95.1 million by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to elevate its passenger rail infrastructure across the state. The allocation includes a substantial portion of almost $94 million dedicated to the rejuvenation and modernization of Chicago's Union Station, a pivotal transportation hub. Governor JB Pritzker praised the grant, highlighting Illinois' central position in the nation's transport network and emphasizing the strides made to modernize the state's railways.

The grant, a result of the collaborative efforts between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the FRA, and the Biden Administration, includes two grants totaling $93.6 million, focusing on the Chicago Hub Improvement Program. This initiative aims to enhance rail services and operations not only in Chicago but also across the Midwest. The funds will facilitate upgrades in Union Station's accessibility features for riders with disabilities, renovation of outdated ventilation systems, and expansion of station platforms to accommodate the nearly 120,000 daily Amtrak and Metra train passengers.

Moreover, as part of the FRA's Corridor Identification and Development Program, IDOT received $1.5 million for planning enhancements in three state-supported rail corridors: Chicago to Carbondale, Chicago to St. Louis, and Chicago to Quad Cities. These grants will aid in developing comprehensive plans, schedules, and cost estimates, paving the way for future federal funding opportunities for construction and implementation. The Illinois Transportation Secretary, Omer Osman, hailed these grants as crucial steps in advancing Illinois' comprehensive transportation system, positioning the state as a North American transport hub. Governor Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois capital program, with a commitment of over $1 billion to enhance rail statewide, underscores the state's dedication to transforming and expanding its passenger rail services for the future.

For more information visit Illinoisrail.org
 

For those looking to stay local this New Year’s Eve while still wanting to celebrate properly with, food, friends, drinks, and music, Florinda’s on the Taylorville Square will be opening their doors at 9:00 p.m. for a New Year's Eve Party. The party will be held in Florinda’s large event room right next door to their 114 South Main Street location. Attendees can expect finger-food appetizers from Florinda’s menu, a local DJ, and champagne on hand to toast as the community rings in the new year.

Florinda Guerriero, Owner and Operator of Florinda’s has been working the restaurant since its inception in 2000. Florinda explained that this is the first year to host a New Year's Eve party and she is excited to see the community enjoy a celebration in their own town.

Florinda’s Main restaurant will be open for dining on the day of the party but Florinda says the kitchen will keep pumping out authentic Italian for the party.

Guerriero’s story, coming to the United States from Italy when she was 13 to the Town of Taylorville was destiny she said, and is happy to now be in a position to hold a celebration for the entire community.

The New Year's Eve party will be held in the door to the left of Florinda’s, located at 114 South Main Street in Taylorville.