New Illinois, Inc. held an informational event at Godfather’s Pizza, in Springfield on June 18. Speakers included New Illinois Sangamon County Chair Lynn Wilson and New Illinois Board Chair G.H. Merritt.
New Illinois is one of the leading organizations in the movement to create a new state separate from the current State of Illinois, Chicago, and Urban Cook County.
The Village of Chapin is accepting applications for water superintendent as the current superintendent has resigned for personal reasons.
Elsewhere in the utilities/streets report from a recent meeting: Illinois DOC inmates have been in the village on a mowing detail.
The Illinois State Crime Stoppers recently honored Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties Crime Stoppers President MacKenzie Stewart.
Stewart was selected as an Outstanding Board Member of the Year for her Motivation, Direction and Initiative in leading her local program.
The Ashland Fire District Board discussed proposed OSHA rules that seem likely to be enacted by the agency. The rules will include new medical and training requirements for firefighters, equipment and facility maintenance, and administrative work toward compliance with the rules. The board members and Ashland Fire Chief Shane Hall aired their concerns with the new rules and the burden they expect compliance to place on the district.
At its June 19th school board meeting, the Beardstown School board heard from Frank Shaw, Curriculum Administrator, regarding the Spain trip that fourteen students and six adults participated in from June 1st through June 10th.
Cass County State’s Attorney Craig R. Miller announces that on June 17, Billy J. Surratt, Jr., 44, Beardstown, Illinois, received a sentence of fifteen (15) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by three (3) years of Mandatory Supervised Release in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of possession of methamphetamine, Class X felony.
Arenzville Fire Department lost a devoted member of it crew. The following is an excerpt from their Facebook page. Lee Burrus, “Adam-5,” joined our family in June of 1982 and since that day has selflessly devoted his life to the safety and welfare of his community and this family. He knew no stranger and treated everyone with the same love and compassion. To say he was loved and will be missed is such an understatement and this life will not be the same without him “stirring the pot” and putting smiles on so many faces, as he did so well. Adam 5 has answered his last call and is safely home, rest easy brother, we’ll take it from here.
Division 1 - Ages 6-7: Juventus defeated America 3-0, Atlas Jr. defeated Los Tigers FC 3-1 | Division 2 - Ages 8-9: Real San Jose defeated San Antonio 2-1, Pachuca defeated Los Reales FC 2-0 | Division 3 - Ages 10-11, Los Leoncitos FC defeated Pumas 3-2, Monaco defeated Chivas 6-4 | Division 4 - Ages 12-14: Real Madrid defeated Atlas 8-4,Toros Neza defeated Aguilas 5-1
Hummingbirds are unlike any other bird. Spanning the Americas with over 330 species, hummingbirds belong to Trochilidae, the second-largest bird family in the world. However, only the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) inhabits the Midwest. This hummingbird migrates south in late summer, with the males migrating first, typically in August. Before the non-stop flight to overwintering sites, this bird needs abundant food sources to fuel its journey to Florida, Texas, Central America, or Mexico.
The dates and locations for the District 17 Little League 9/10-year-old and 11/12-year-old All-Star softball tournaments have been announced. The 9/10-year-olds will play a five-team double elimination tournament while the 11/12-year-old tourney will be a four-team double elimination affair.