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Ambassador Committee Member Spotlight - Fred Weber
Fred WeberBranch Manager217 Mortgage(217) 820-4700Fred@217Mortgage.comWhat products and services does your business offer?We are well-positioned to serve the varied needs of our clients. Whether you're looking to purchase a new home, refinance an existing mortgage, or access your home's equity through a HELOC, 217 Mortgage has the right solution for you. We also specialize in Renovation Loans and Construction Loans, helping you build or transform your dream home. We offer a comprehensive range of Loan
Local organizations to hold press conference to bring awareness to National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital will commemorate the start of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month at a joint press conference. The Springfield Mayor will join with local organizations and advocates to promote resources to prevent child abuse in our communities. Following the press conference, attendees are encouraged to participate in planting blue pinwheels on the hospital lawn in support of child
UIS honored with Voter Friendly Campus designation
SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield has been named a Voter Friendly Campus for 2025-26 by the Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. This marks the third time UIS has earned the designation.UIS is one of 272 campuses in 39 states and the District of Columbia to receive the honor, which recognizes institutions that have implemented practices encouraging students to register and vote. The initiative aims to help students
UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents “Between Horizons” by ceramicist Ellen Kleckner
SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to announce, “Between Horizons,” a solo exhibition by ceramicist Ellen Kleckner. The exhibition, featuring ceramics and craft-based media, opened March 17 and runs through April 10. A closing reception will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on April 10 at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.“Between Horizons” is presented in conjunction with “Shapes of Influence,” a national juried
Statement From Protect Illinois Hospitality on Committee Passage of Legislation to Eliminate the Tip Credit
Approved Amendment to HB 2982 Could Cost State $270 Million Per Year SPRINGFIELD – Protect Illinois Hospitality, a coalition of tipped workers, service operators, and local business owners, released the following statement after the House Executive Committee approved HB 2982, which will eliminate the state tip credit by 2027.The bill includes a recent amendment to offer a $1.50 tax credit per hour per employee for employers who choose to forego the tip credit before it is eliminated. The 120,000 servers
Illinois Poetry Out Loud State Champion Crowned in Springfield
After three rounds of powerful recitations at the Poetry Out Loud state finals, Illinois Poet Laureate and special guest Angela Jackson gazed out over the talented high school competitors and declared their performances "a feast for the heart." Thirteen students from across Illinois gathered at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on Monday, March 17, vying for the opportunity to represent the prairie state at the national contest in Washington, D.C., this May. Emerging as the 2025 Illinois Poetry Out Loud
Springfield Native Ed Curtis to Retire as President and CEO after 50-Year Career at Memorial Health
SPRINGFIELD – When Ed Curtis arrived at Springfield Memorial Hospital in 1975 as a new nursing graduate, he had no idea he was beginning a 50-year career that would culminate as president and CEO. Curtis, a native of Springfield and a graduate of Lanphier High School, had been inspired to become a registered nurse after witnessing the compassionate care a family member received during a hospital stay. After graduating with a nursing degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, he took a bedside
LLCC’s Professor Rebecca Miller named ITC Outstanding Distance Educator
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College Psychology Professor Rebecca Miller has been named the Instructional Technology Council’s (ITC) 2025 Outstanding Distance Educator during the ITC annual conference held in Charleston, South Carolina, in early March.The Outstanding Distance Educator Award recognizes a single educator each year who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to online teaching, student engagement and the creative use of technology to enhance learning.Miller has taught LLCC online
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND EVANS RECYCLING OFFER FREE SPRING YARD WASTE DROP-OFF FOR RESIDENTS
Springfield, IL—In collaboration with Evans Recycling, the City of Springfield’s Office of Public Works announces the annual free drop-off weeks for the spring season. City of Springfield residents can drop off their yard waste bags at Evans Recycling, 2100 J David Jones Parkway, with a photo ID from April 7, 2025, to May 3, 2025. The hours for Evans Recycling are as follows: Monday to Friday – 7 am to 5 pm Saturday – 7 am to 12 pm Branch drop-off is free year-round at Evans Recycling. Please call
UIS expands in-state tuition program for students in Missouri, Iowa and Indiana
SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield will expand its in-state tuition pilot program to include additional counties in Missouri, Iowa and Indiana, following approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.The three-year pilot program, which began in fall 2024, initially offered in-state tuition to students from St. Charles and St. Louis counties in Missouri and Scott County in Iowa. The expansion will now extend in-state tuition to students from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties in
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LAND OF LINCOLN CREDIT UNION EMPLOYEE MICHELLE HARVEY NAMED OAKLAND BRANCH MANAGER
Decatur, Illinois, March 3rd, 2025 – Land of Lincoln Credit Union (LLCU) announced that Michelle Harvey will now serve as Branch Manager at the Oakland Ave. location. Harvey has 31 years of experience in the banking industry and has been with LLCU for 25 years, serving in the following positions: Teller, Teller Supervisor, Mound Rd. Branch Manager, Decatur Operations Manager, and Mortgage & Commercial Loan Processing Manager. "LLCU’s Oakland branch is our busiest location,” states Jeri Phillips, SVP Chief
Join Us for Afternoons of Bridal Bliss! Goodwill Hosts Three Upcoming Bridal Gown Shows
Springfield, IL – March 14, 2025 – Future brides, mark your calendars! Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries is thrilled to announce three upcoming Bridal Gown Shows, offering an incredible selection of new and gently used wedding dresses in various styles and sizes—all at unbeatable prices.These special events will showcase a stunning array of over 200 bridal gowns, flower girl dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, and a limited selection of bridesmaid dresses. Thanks to a generous donation from a local
The Cher Show Is Making Its Springfield Debut at the UIS Performing Arts Center April 17th
The Tony Award®-winning musical The Cher Show is bringing the legend, the music, and the dazzling spectacle to Springfield for the first time! This National Broadway Tour makes its highly anticipated local debut for one night only on Thursday, April 17, delivering an unforgettable journey through the life and career of the iconic Cher.With 35 smash hits, stunning costumes, and the story of a true trailblazer, The Cher Show is a non-stop celebration of one of music’s greatest icons. This high-energy
CEFCU Announces Hoffmire Retirement & Hanley Promotion
CEFCU announces the retirement of Mark Hoffmire, Chief Lending Officer, after 43 years of service, effective May 1, 2025. Throughout his tenure, Hoffmire has held various roles, including Chief Operations Officer, Senior Vice President of Lending, Community President in San Jose, CA, and Vice President of Mortgages. He has been a committed member of the community and currently serves as the Board Chair for Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois. CEFCU announces that Doug Hanley will assume the role of
UIS announces inaugural class of Promising Prairie Star Recognition Program
SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield has released the names of the inaugural class of the Promising Prairie Star Recognition Program. This program, established by the Young Alumni Committee, honors outstanding graduates under the age of 40 or those who have graduated within the previous five years. The honorees are selected for their emerging and unique innovation, creativity and success in their chosen career or life's work.“This program serves as an inspiration to our alumni and future
UIS students gain access to free test prep through the new Prepare for Illinois’ Future program
SPRINGFIELD – The Prepare for Illinois’ Future program, a statewide partnership administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, is providing University of Illinois Springfield students with free access to Kaplan’s test prep resources for graduate admissions, licensure and credentialing exams, as well as skills development courses.The initiative is designed to help students prepare for their careers and create equitable pathways to in-demand fields such as nursing, teaching and
EP!C’S 14TH ANNUAL BON APPÈTIT TO HOST FOOD NETWORK STAR, CHEF AMANDA FREITAG
PEORIA – On Thursday, March 20, 2025, EP!C—Empowering People Inspiring Capabilities—will host their 14th AnnualBon Appétit with help from Chef Jonathan Scrivner and the team at the Par-A-Dice. Voted as one of the Top 3 Best Local Events from the Journal Star People’s Choice awards for several years running, this culinary evening features a four-course meal by a celebrity chef, cooking demos, along with opportunities to support EP!C’s mission. Proceeds from the event help to raise critical funding that
SMTD Opens In-Person Customer Service at Transfer Center
Facility Serves Walk-Up Passengers Utilizing SMTD Fixed Route Service Springfield, IL – The Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) opened its new customer service window at the Transfer Center at the Springfield Sangamon County Transportation Center (The HUB) Monday morning. The opening marks the first time customer service representatives have been available to SMTD passengers at the Transfer Center to facilitate bus pass sales, answer questions, and renew certain types of discount passes. “We are excited
Graham Named February Colleague of the Month for System Resources at Memorial Health
Ryan Graham, an electronic technician, is the Memorial Health System Resources Colleague of the Month for February. Graham took on a new role and worked diligently to learn the systems he was responsible for – not only to understand the systems but also to learn the governing codes and how his work impacts patient care. He was called in after hours to help troubleshoot an issue and worked tirelessly to resolve the problem in a way that caused patients the least amount of disturbance. “Ryan’s tenacity and
HSHS St. John’s Hospital Offering Free, At-Home Colon Cancer Screening Tests March 27
During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, HSHS St. John’s Hospital wants to put community members at ease by giving away at-home screening tests while highlighting that colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States when cases for men and women are combined, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Individuals 45 or older or those with an immediate family member diagnosed with colon cancer are eligible to pick up a FIT kit at-home screening test
CWLP GIVES STORM & POWER OUTAGE PREP TIPS
Springfield, Illinois – City Water, Light and Power is sharing storm and power outage preparation tips ahead of the chance of stormy weather beginning Friday. With the possibility for severe weather and high winds and storms that can topple utility poles or even just cause trees to make contact with power lines, power outages can result. Here are CWLP’s tips: Be Storm Ready• Follow National Weather Service for the area and stay in tune with local news media on weather alerts, watches and warnings.• Have a
THE DAVE SHAW AND DIANE EDWARDS CREATIVE PURSUIT FUND
Applications due May 15th, 2025Awards announced May 30th, 2025March 13, 2025 (Springfield) - The Springfield Art Association is pleased to announce a new monetary award in memory of Dave Shaw and Diane Edwards. Dave Shaw was a beloved Visual Art and Drama teacher at Rochester High School. He was an accomplished artist, set designer, and spectacular supporter of all his students and their creative endeavors. Diane Edwards was passionate about education. She was an elementary school teacher for many
UIS offers graduates the option to receive a certified electronic diploma
SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield is now offering graduates the option to receive an eDiploma, a certified electronic version of their traditional paper diploma. This new option does not replace the paper diploma, which graduates will continue to receive, but provides an additional, convenient way to verify their academic achievements.The UIS eDiploma is a signed and certified PDF of the original paper diploma, designed to facilitate easy diploma verification. The eDiploma is available
Ambassador Committee Member Spotlight Dalton Minder
Dalton MinderMarketing / Sales AssociateAgility Technologies NA(217) 391-2104dalton.minder@agcomtech.comWhat products and services does your business offer?At Agility, we provide comprehensive managed IT services tailored to small and medium-sized businesses. Our solutions include cybersecurity protection, cloud-hosted VoIP phone systems, secure backup solutions, compliance support, and 24/7 network monitoring to keep businesses running smoothly. We also specialize in business security, offering
Three LLCC students featured in St. Louis art exhibit
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College students Emily Calcara of Athens, Abigail Oller of Springfield and Kavita Sundaram of Springfield have their artwork featured in “Varsity Art 29,” a multi-media exhibition of original artwork by regional artists from Missouri and Illinois. The show is being presented in the Art Saint Louis Gallery in downtown St. Louis from March 1-27. “We are incredibly proud of our students for having their artwork selected for the ‘Varsity Art 29’ exhibit at the Art Saint
The Damon Priddy State Farm Team is Growing!
Springfield Illinois - March 2025 - Damon Priddy Insurance & Financial Services - a State Farm Agency is proud to announce the addition of three talented professionals - Chadd Pfeiffer, Marc Reeves and Heath Bilyeu - to it's growing team. As the agency continues to expand its footprint in the Springfield community, these new team members bring a wealth of knowledge, industry experience and a commitment to delivering exceptional service to clients. "This growth reflects our dedication to helping more
Dabble and Mike Murphy featured on WSIU’s “InFocus''
Ashley Striplin, Co-owner of Dabble, and our very own Mike Murphy were recently featured on WSIU’s “InFocus” segment. To view the interviews, click the link below.https://www.wsiu.org/shows/infocus/episodes/infocus-building-a-business-in-illinois-ryfjl1
HSHS names System Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a leading Catholic health ministry with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, announced today that Kelley Kostich, Ph.D., RN, NE-BC, has been named System Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive. She will join HSHS on March 31. In this role, Kostich will oversee system nursing practice, nursing standardization, clinical education and St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield. Kostich is an exceptional nursing executive with depth of
UIS Visual Arts Gallery partners with the Kidzeum to present “Bit by Bit: An Exhibition on Healing”
SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is partnering with the Kidzeum of Health and Science, 412 E. Adams St., Springfield, to present “Bit by Bit,” an exhibition exploring the concept of healing through contemporary art. The exhibition will run from March 28 to May 11. Admission to the exhibition is included with Kidzeum entry. Curated by the UIS Visual Arts Gallery, the exhibition at the Kidzeum features professional artists working in fiber, handmade paper, animation,
LLCC students qualify for Illinois SkillsUSA Competition
SPRINGFIELD — Forty-seven Lincoln Land Community College students qualified for the 2025 Illinois SkillsUSA Competition after earning high scores at the SkillsUSA Regional Competition held last month at LLCC and the Capital Area Career Center (CACC). The regional competition showcased the expertise of students competing in automotive and diesel technologies, welding and welding fabrication, culinary arts, and baking and pastry arts. SkillsUSA, a national organization dedicated to preparing students for
LLCC student Zorah Austin named 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College student Zorah Austin of Virden has been named a 2025 Coca-Cola AcademicTeam Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. She will be recognized during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Kansas City, Missouri, April 3-5. Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership and engagement in college and community service. “As our chapter’s vice president
UIS students to spend spring break cleaning up waterways in Memphis
SPRINGFIELD – A group of 10 University of Illinois Springfield students will spend their spring break helping to remove garbage and debris from waterways in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of the Prairie Stars Service Trip.The students will depart UIS on Sunday, March 9, and volunteer Monday through Thursday before returning to Springfield. They will work at McKellar Lake, a tributary of the Mississippi River, with Living Lands & Waters, a nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1998. The organization
Fourteen students from around Illinois will participate in state-wide poetry recitation contest.
“Poetry is essential, as needful to us as water.” Angela Jackson Award-winning teenagers from around Illinois are set to compete in Springfield for a slot in the 2025 Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest in Washington, D.C., in early May. The state event is free, accessible, and open to the public. It is set to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, March 17, 2024, in the LRS Theatre of the Hoogland Center for the Arts at 420 South Sixth Street in downtown Springfield. A special guest will be Angela
Berry celebrates 30 years at Hanson
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Darrel Berry, manager of Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s corporate communications department, recently celebrated 30 years of service at the firm’s Springfield headquarters. Berry joined the company in 1995. He provides services for and oversees the production of marketing materials, employee newsletters, Hanson’s blogs and social media, presentations, advertising, videos and websites for the company and clients. He also assists with public-involvement activities for projects and
RISE Springfield to Offer Leadership Conference for Young Professionals
Springfield, IL – The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s young professionals’ program, RISE Springfield, will hold their first annual RISE Springfield Leadership Conference presented by INB at the Memorial Learning Center on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. This will be a full-day event designed for young professionals eager to enhance their leadership and professional skills. Event speakers will cover a wide range of professional development topics including effective communication skills, team building
Damon Priddy State Farm recognized as both Best Agency & Best Agent in Springfield!
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS - November 2024 The Damon Priddy State Farm Team, a leader in providing quality insurance & financial service solutions, is proud to announce it's recent awards for Best Insurance Agency and Best Insurance Agent in Springfield by the Community Choice Awards. These prestigious honors reflect the agency's dedication to clients, community engagement and exceptional service. This is the third consecutive year that the agency has taken home both awards! The awards were presented at the
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Damon Priddy State Farm Team Rebrands ''What is Service''
This week the agency has taken part in multiple events and recognized their service team for National Customer Service Week! Nearly four years into the launch of the Damon Priddy State Farm Agency, our team is "rebranding" the customer service team and the way we "do service". "I came from a background in hospitality, managing multiple hotels and major brands along the way. Taking care of people is engrained in who I am. That hospitality training and care for detail doesn't go away. Launching the agency in
Orion Marty with Damon Priddy State Farm recognized with Wow Award!
Join us in celebrating the latest Central Illinois Customer Service Association “WOW” Award Winner, Orion Marty, Senior Account Manager with Damon Priddy State Farm!The “WOW” Award, sponsored by 92.7 WMAY, is an opportunity to recognize those unsung heroes that lift our spirits and inspire us through their simple or extraordinary acts of kindness or superior customer service.?By recognizing those who make a difference in our lives, we are challenged to think about how we can do the same for others. It’s
