Kaitlyn Copley

Kaitlyn Copley

  • Joined: August 2, 2023
  • Articles: 2294

Bits & Pieces – The fun of little boys

Bits and pieces

Growing up across the street from the marina had many perks, especially for my three brothers. 

Back when we were kids, there wasn’t a marina, but there was so much raw territory for my brothers to explore. I never joined them for their fishing, hunting or exploring escapades, mainly because of my fear of snakes. But my brothers never flinched. In fact, my brother Danny brought a snake in the house (unbeknownst to any of us) and hid it. Unfortunately for me, the rascal escaped and decided to live in my room. I can’t even begin to tell you the screaming I did as I walked in my room and a snake is slithering across the floor. I’m sure it broke the sound barrier.

Focus on Faith – Who is your neighbor?

Hands on the bible

Have you ever noticed that stories about people doing good or being kind are usually saved for the very end of most evening newscasts?  You know the kind of stories I am talking about, like when a community helps out a family in need or a serviceman or woman returns from overseas to be reunited with the family. On the other hand, what leads off the news each evening isn’t that uplifting. Stories about murder, terrorism, vandalism, fires, political drama and other not so nice news starts off the evening news.  We live in a pretty rough world. And that may be why the news ends with a positive story to make us all smile.

Pirkle graduates law school

Morgan Pirkle

Morgan Pirkle graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia, Missouri on May 11. 

Morgan plans to continue her education and graduate with a Master of Business (MBA) from the University of Missouri College of Business in May 2025. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business.

Solar solicitors in Ashland discussed

shland Mayor Kitty Mau brought up the issue of solicitors in the Village of Ashland at last week’s board meeting, calling it a “nightmare” problem. 

According to Mau and Police Chief Martin Fanning, the solicitation is being driven by the Illinois Solar Panel Program. Fanning said that when he has dealt with them, the solicitors are professional and courteous. He said most of them are young people, many from out-of-state, on their first job with bosses telling them everything had been taken care of for them to go into the village when the employer had not done the work to get a daily permit. They also had not been advised of the village’s 10 a.m.-5 p.m. hours. Still, Fanning acknowledged that the solicitors make residents nervous because they are “not used to it.”

Communication and swallowing disorders common in adults  

With speech, language, and swallowing disorders common in adults following stroke, head and neck cancer, and a variety of other illnesses and injuries, Culbertson Memorial Hospital’s speech-language pathologist Jenna Patterson encourages residents to learn the signs—and seek an evaluation—if they have concerns about themselves or a loved one. This is a timely message, as May is recognized as National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.

LLCC News

Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Campus

Lincoln Land Community College recognized students with academic, leadership and special awards at the Student Recognition Ceremony May 8.

Ashland: Callum Smith, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Kassidy Upchurch, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate, were recognized.

American Legion Post #498 Memorial Day Service

American Legion Post #498 will hold Memorial Day Service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 27 at the Pete Gutmann Memorial Gymnasium in Ashland.

Master of Ceremonies will be Scot Atwood, Commander  of the George H. Pettit Post #4670. 

Posting of the U.S.A. Flag will be by Boy Scout Troop 125/Cub Scout Pack 125. Speaker will be Pastor David Elmore.

Chapin receives reimbursement grant

The Village of Chapin recently received a Derecho Reimbursement grant from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) with the proceeds split between departments. 

The Sewer Department received just over $6,000, the Water Department, $4,000 and the General Fund just over $11,000. The fire Ddepartment also received $1,000 from the grant.

Man arrested on drug charges

Christopher S. Robinson

A Jacksonville man was recently arrested for several drug charges.

Christopher S. Robinson, 28, was arrested for the following:

• Possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver (1 count)

• Possession of controlled substance with intent to deliver (2 counts)

• Possession of cannabis with intent to deliver (1 count)

• Possession of Promethazine with dextromethorphan with intent to deliver (1 count)