News

Surgeons to Host Informational Sessions About Weight-Loss Surgery

The Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Center will hold monthly sessions for people who want to learn more about weight-loss surgery.Sessions are held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 3, March 9, April 9 and May 4. All sessions meet in Room 1A of the Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation, 228 W. Miller St., Springfield.Dr. Orlando Icaza, a surgeon with Springfield Clinic, and Dr. Adam Reid, a surgeon with SIU Medicine, will discuss the risks and benefits of weight-loss surgery during the free informational

Risk of Infection from Respiratory Virus ‘Very Low’ for Central Illinois

A respiratory virus that has sickened hundreds and killed at least 17 people in China saw its first confirmed case in the United States this week, but a health official in Springfield said Thursday that the risk of transmission in central Illinois remains low.“This is an ever-changing virus, and we’re learning more and more about it every day,” said Gina Carnduff, director of infection prevention for Memorial Health System, which has hospitals in Springfield, Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln and

Express Employment Professionals announces its January Express Employee of the Month

Express Employment Professionals is proud to announce Lonnie Cain as the January Express Employee of the Month. Lonnie has been a steady employee of Express since 2006 as a Driver for both Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants and St. John's Hospital. Recently, there was a day on his route where the request for a driver was accidentally overlooked. Lonnie, knowing the doctor's weekly schedule, proactively showed up to make sure the doctor arrived where they were needed. His supervisor can count on him to

LLCC hosts Illinois Freedom Project exhibit Feb. 11-13; other Lincoln’s birthday events at Outreach Centers

In observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, Lincoln Land Community College will host the Illinois Freedom Project travelling exhibit from Feb. 11-13 in A. Lincoln Commons on the Springfield campus, 5250 Shepherd Road.  The Illinois Freedom Project is a multimedia initiative that teaches about the journey from slavery to freedom in Illinois. A website, videos, printed materials, curriculum and a traveling exhibit share the stories of freedom through the lens of the people, places and events in Illinois

Jameson Joins Decatur Memorial Hospital Medical Group

Dr. Travis Jameson has begun his practice at Decatur Memorial Hospital Medical Group as a nephrologist.Jameson served in a nephrology fellowship program at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood from 2017 to 2019 and in an internal medical residency program at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine from 2010 to 2013.Jameson earned his doctorate in medicine from SIU School of Medicine in 2010 and received a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and sciences with a concentration in molecular

UIS and LLCC to host the Career Connections Expo for students, alumni and community members

WHAT:The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) are excited to announce the 2020 Career Connections Expo. Students and alumni from the hosting institutions as well as community members are invited to attend the free event to explore career opportunities and network with participating employers.   WHEN:11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020  WHERE:The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus  DETAILS:The Expo is designed to help attendees

UIS invites prospective students to learn about master’s degree programs at the Graduate School Fair

WHAT:The University of Illinois Springfield will showcase its 20 master’s degree programs during the annual Graduate School Fair. Students from any institution who are considering earning a master’s degree or who want to learn more about UIS’ programs are invited to attend.  WHEN:4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020  WHERE:UIS Student Union, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield  DETAILS:Attendees will have the opportunity to speak face-to-face with academic program representatives and be able to apply for

LLCU Hires Two New Branch Managers in Decatur

Land of Lincoln Credit Union (LLCU) is pleased to announce the addition of two new Branch Managers in Decatur. Curtis Sain has joined the team as Branch Manager at Prosperity Place (Decatur) and Andrea Dodd has joined LLCU as the Branch Manager at Oakland Avenue (Decatur). Sain brings invaluable customer service and sales experience to the position. He spent the previous 8 years of his career as a very successful Sales Consultant at Miles Chevrolet in Decatur. His career there gave him extensive

UIS Speaker Series examines understanding faith as part of a professional work environment

WHAT:The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents a discussion and workshop on “Beyond the Status Quo: Finding Your Non-Traditional Interfaith Identity” with Parth Bhansali, a Chicago-based first generation Indian-American.  WHEN:  7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020  WHERE:  UIS Student Union Ballroom, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield  DETAILS:Bhansali will present and examine interfaith challenges from a Hindu perspective. He will look

Sixth Street Lanes to Reduce for Water Main Repairs

Beginning Tuesday, January 21st, Sixth Street will be reduced to two lanes between Laurel and Spruce Streets to accommodate City Water, Light and Power’s repairs to a broken water main on the east side of the road. This repair is expected to take multiple days and lanes will remain closed until the road surface repairs to follow CWLP’s work are complete. Work will be delayed in the event of inclement weather.   As this is a high traffic route for the morning commute, motorists should plan to take

Memorial Behavioral Health Offers Class in Mental Health First Aid

SPRINGFIELD – Memorial Behavioral Health will offer a class for the public to receive training on how to identify and respond to adults showing signs of mental illness or substance abuse.The class, Mental Health First Aid, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in Room 2D of the Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation, 228 W. Miller St. The class is for adults only.The cost for the class is $18.95, which includes training manuals for the session.“People with mental illness may not seek

UIS students to pack 30,000 meals during the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

UIS students to pack 30,000 meals during the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service  WHAT:       University of Illinois Springfield students will pack 30,000 healthy meals that will be donated to local charitable organizations in celebration of the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.  WHEN:       2:30-5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, 2020  WHERE:    UIS Student Union Ballroom, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield                     DETAILS:Students will pack meals made from dry

Alive to Interpretation opening January 17

Roland Folse, Rick Taylor, and Gene Tanta are featured in the exhibition, ALIVE to Interpretation at the SAA Collective. The exhibition runs from Friday, January 17 through Saturday, March 5 in the H. D. Smith Gallery on the first floor of the Hoogland Center for the Arts. The reception will be held on Friday, January 17 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with artist’s talks at 5:45 PM. This is free and open to the public.Rick Taylor has been a member of the SAA Collective since he moved to the area from Chicago. His

UIS Institute for Illinois Public Finance releases report on state government efficiency

SPRINGFIELD – A study released today by the University of Illinois Springfield’s Institute for Illinois Public Finance reports mixed results with respect to the efficiency of Illinois state government when compared to other states.The study finds that Illinois state government is in a group of the most efficient states in three areas: higher education, environment and housing, and infrastructure. It is in the top 20 states for efficiency in welfare, and in the top half of states for public safety and health

Breast Cancer Support Group to Discuss Ghana Mission Trip

SPRINGFIELD – The February meeting of the breast cancer support group at Memorial Medical Center will discuss a mission trip to Ghana.Dr. Karen Hoelzer, a retired medical oncologist, will be the featured guest speaker. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Clarke Conference Room (E-118) in Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. First St., Springfield.The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month except for December. For more information, call 217-757-7684.

Scholarship Funding Available to Students in Sangamon and Surrounding Counties

SPRINGFIELD – The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln is now accepting applications for the 2020 scholarship program. There are more than 35 different scholarships with more than $150,000 available in awards. While many scholarships are available to graduating seniors in Sangamon County, there are also scholarships available for returning students and graduating seniors from surrounding counties.The Community Foundation also administers the Student of the Year Scholarship Program, available for

Grant Opportunities for Programs that Support Elderly, Women and Children

Applications due by February 3 for King’s Daughters Organization Fund and The Women’s Fund  SPRINGFIELD – The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln is currently accepting applications for two separate grant cycles:  King’s Daughters Organization Fund  The King’s Daughters Organization (KDO) Fund is led by local volunteers who serve the community through hands-on support and projects designed to aid the elderly in Sangamon County. The grants must be used to support programs and services that

UIS online bachelor’s degree programs ranked among the top 10 percent in the country

SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield’s online bachelor’s degree programs have been ranked 33rd best in the country (out of 353 institutions) for a second year in a row by U.S. News and World Report. The 2020 ranking put UIS among the top 10 percent of best online bachelor’s degree programs in the United States.UIS’ online master’s degree programs were also ranked highly by U.S. News and World Report. The management information systems (MIS) online master’s degree was ranked 41 out of 188 in

UIS to receive a $100,000 grant aimed at developing new programs to support minority students in STEM fields

SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield will receive a five-year $100,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant aimed at developing and implementing evidence-based programs that will support the academic success of underrepresented minority (URM) students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.Lucía Vázquez, associate dean of the UIS College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will serve as one of the principal investigators on the project. “Nationwide, minorities are

Campus Visit Day Feb. 17 at LLCC

SPRINGFIELD — Prospective students interested in starting or restarting college or training for a new career are invited to visit Lincoln Land Community College for Campus Visit Day on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 17. The free event will be held at the LLCC Springfield campus, 5250 Shepherd Road, with two sessions scheduled, 10 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m.  “Whether you want to earn an academic transfer degree or get training to enter right into the workforce, visit LLCC on Campus Visit Day to explore our

Four UIS faculty members to present their research during public presentations on campus

SPRINGFIELD – Four faculty members from the University of Illinois Springfield will present their research as part of the Spring Semester 2020 Faculty Scholarship Series. All presentations are free and open to the public.The series starts with Dathan Powell, UIS associate professor of art, music and theatre. He will present “Deep Time and Universal Design: A Journey from The Creation to Creating an Accessible Future for Artists” from 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) Conference Room

LLCC welcomes new dean of natural and agricultural sciences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:  Kyla Kruse, kyla.kruse@llcc.edu, 217-786-4918  LLCC welcomes new dean of natural and agricultural sciences  SPRINGFIELD — Kimberly Vogt, Ph.D., from Indianapolis, has joined Lincoln Land Community College as dean of natural and agricultural sciences. She began her new duties Jan. 6.  Dr. Vogt comes to LLCC from Marian University where she served as chair of the department of biology for three years and assistant professor of biology for an additional four years. Prior to

Mayor's Awards for the Arts

The Office of the Mayor and the Springfield Area Arts Council invite the public to the 20thMayor’s Awards for the Arts.  These awards recognize outstanding talent in and dedication to the arts in Sangamon and Menard counties, the area served by the Springfield Area Arts Council.   The award categories include Individual Visual Artist; Arts Organization; Arts Volunteer; and Arts Educator.   The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Monday, January 13, 2020, at 5:30 P. M. in the LRS Theater at the

Three CMT Employees Named New Associates

Chris Smithcsmith@cmtengr.com217-572-1130January 10, 2020  Three CMT Employees Named New AssociatesThree staff members of Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. (CMT) were named as new associates at the firm’s most recent board of directors meeting. As associates, the three employees are eligible for stock ownership in the privately-held corporation.Greg Huntley, PE is a Springfield, Illinois-based Project Manager in CMT’s Aviation Unit where he specializes in military and civilian airfield design. With 19 years

Nominations open for 2020 LLCC Honored Alumni Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    Jan. 9, 2020Contact:  Kyla Kruse, kyla.kruse@llcc.edu, 217-786-4918  Nominations open for 2020 LLCC Honored Alumni AwardNominations due by Feb. 15  SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College is accepting nominations for the 2020 Honored Alumni Award. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2020.  Anyone may nominate an LLCC alum (someone who has successfully completed coursework at LLCC) for the award by completing a form at

LLCC’s Academy of Lifelong Learning to hold Winter Celebration Jan. 31

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:  Kyla Kruse, kyla.kruse@llcc.edu  217-786-4918  LLCC’s Academy of Lifelong Learning to hold Winter Celebration Jan. 31Public invited to free event  SPRINGFIELD­ — The Lincoln Land Community College Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) invites the public to its Winter Celebration, “ALL Goes West,” Friday, Jan. 31. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Trutter Center on the LLCC-Springfield campus, 5250 Shepherd Road.  The free event includes a performance by

LLCC Agriculture receives national award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       Jan. 7, 2020Contact:  Kyla Kruse, kyla.kruse@llcc.edu, 217-786-4918  Note: photo attached l-r: Jason Kemp, 2019 NAAE president; Nasser Dean, Stakeholder Relations Manager – Western U.S. Region, Bayer; Bill Harmon, LLCC professor and agriculture program coordinator; and Deanna Thies, NAAE Region 4 director  LLCC Agriculture receives national awardRecognized for outstanding agricultural education program  SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln

LLCC announces hiring of first e-sports coach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contact: Lynn Whalen, lynn.whalen@llcc.edu, 217-786-229    LLCC announces hiring of first e-sports coach  SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced the hiring of its first e-sports head coach. Dalton McGhiey of Springfield will lead the first-ever LLCC Loggers e-sports team.  McGhiey, a biology teacher at Lanphier High School, also coaches the District 186 Springfield Capitols e-sports team.  “We are very excited for LLCC to be on the cutting edge of this new

Carl Gold, M.D. Is Now The ZG Worldwide Chief Medical Officer

ZG Worldwide Consultants 2150 Illini Road Springfield, IL 62704 USA Phone: 217.691.0554 Email: info@zgworldwide.com www.zgworldwide.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MEDIA CONTACT: Springfield, IL, January 13, 2020 Lothar Soliwon 217.691.0554info@zgworldwide.comCarl Gold, M.D. Is Now The ZG Worldwide Chief Medical Officer ZG Worldwide (Business Consultants - Subject Matter Experts - Software) provides one-stop shopping for a broad range of specialized services in various industries. Based in

Community Members Encouraged to Get Flu Vaccine During Season of High Flu Activity

For Immediate Release January 8, 2020  CONTACT:  Amanda Mack Marketing Project Manager HSHS Medical Group 217.391.8592                      Amanda.Mack@HSHS.org    Community Members Encouraged to Get Flu Vaccine During Season of High Flu Activity     (Illinois) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that flu activity is high in the United States and expected to continue for weeks. The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 6.4 million flu illnesses,

IMT Insurance Names Lee/O’Keefe Insurance Agency, Inc. 2020 GEM Agency

WEST DES MOINES, IA, January 3, 2020 – IMT Insurance, a Midwest-based provider of personal and commercial insurance products, recently announced its list of 2020 Gem Agencies, distinguishing Lee/O’Keefe Insurance Agency, Inc. as one of the qualifying recipients. IMT Insurance is proud to recognize Lee/O’Keefe Insurance Agency, Inc. as one of the highest performing IMT agencies in its six-state territory (Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Each year, IMT Insurance awards

Lee/O'Keefe Insurance Agency staff receive awards

ARM of Illinois, Inc. recently announced that Brian Blough, Vice President and Cheri Plummer, Commercial Lines Sales Agent from Lee/O'Keefe Insurance Agency, Inc. in Springfield were named as Prairie State Insurance Cooperative (PSIC) Producers of the Year. PSIC is a full‐service insurance and risk management program offered to public schools in Illinois. The comprehensive program gives members long‐term stability as well as broader coverages and increased limits. In addition to workers compensation,

LLCC’s James S. Murray Gallery features “A Year in the Life of Chris Britt” Jan. 13-Feb. 14

SPRINGFIELD — The James S. Murray Gallery at Lincoln Land Community College will host the exhibit “A Year in the Life of Chris Britt” from Jan. 13-Feb. 14. The public is invited to view the exhibit, which features Britt’s editorial cartoons, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is located on the upper level of Menard Hall on the LLCC Springfield campus, 5250 Shepherd Road.  The exhibit features a selection of cartoons, which draw attention to some of the key events and issues in the recent past. They

Sikich announces the addition of Leslie Barnett to its firm

Sikich is excited to announce the addition of Leslie Barnett to our firm. Leslie will join the team as a Director in the tax department, working from Sikich’s Springfield office. She has nearly 20 years of experience, specifically working in tax consulting, planning and compliance with financial service institutions and other clients. Leslie is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Illinois CPA Society. For more information about Leslie and our Springfield team,

Most Frequent Injury of Recreational Marijuana Use is Consuming Too Much, Officials Say

SPRINGFIELD – Thousands of marijuana-related emergency visits occur in the United States each year. While a fatal overdose is unlikely, ingesting too much marijuana is possible, especially if you’re not familiar with the potency of the drug you’re consuming, officials said.Recreational marijuana use became legal in Illinois on Jan. 1, making the state the 11th in the nation to legalize cannabis. Local health officials are on the alert for marijuana overuse and injuries in the early days of

Amelia, Oliver and Levi Were Springfield’s Top Baby Names in 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 6, 2020  HSHS ST. JOHN’S HOSPITALContact: Lane FowlerPhone: 217-801-0917Email: lane.fowler@hshs.org  MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTERMichael Leathers217-788-7086leathers.michael@mhsil.comDean Olsen217-588-3208olsen.dean@mhsil.comMedia Phone217-303-1583   Amelia, Oliver and Levi Were Springfield’s Top Baby Names in 2019SPRINGFIELD – Amelia was the most popular name for a baby girl in Springfield in 2019, while the most popular name for a boy was a tie between Oliver and Levi, according

America's Got Talent singer/ventriloquist Darci Lynne performing at UIS Performing Arts Center January 25

On the heels of another record-breaking year, the gifted Singer/Ventriloquist Darci Lynne is sharing her passion for performance and bringing her enchanting show which is backed by a live band to fans across America. Darci kicked off 2019 with some of the most memorable AGT contestants from 184 countries becoming the runner up out of the 50 top competitors on the first ever “America’s Got Talent: Champions.” Recently the AGT alum was invited back as a Special Gust on Season 14 were she delivered a

50/50 Raffles to benefit Springfield Area Arts Council

A 50/50 raffle will be held during each weekly Uptown Friday Night, a year-round jazz and blues live music series held at Robbie’s Restaurant (Old State Capitol Plaza South, downtown Springfield).  It features local professional musicians in an intimate setting.  Uptown Friday Night Performer List

Alliance Community Bank welcomes Jeremy Gebhardt as new Mortgage Loan Officer

Alliance Community Bank is pleased to announce and welcome Jeremy Gebhardt as our newest Mortgage Loan Officer. Jeremy will predominantly be managing our Loan Production Office in Riverton, and will be helping customers with all their lending needs.  Alliance Community Bank is excited to place deeper roots in the Riverton Community and we believe Jeremy will do a great job facilitating that growth.  Jeremy joins Alliance Community Bank after a unique background in insurance, real estate, and banking.

UIS and LLCC to hold Career Connections Expo

Gateway Foundation to hold Breakfast with the Experts

Gateway Foundation is proud to present a free educational series in 2020.  All programs are from 8 - 10 a.m. unless otherwise noted. January 24 Integrated Treatment for Those Struggling with Co-Occurring Disorders April 4 Not JUST Alcohol: Recognizing the Dangers July 30 Motivational Interviewing: What Works When Nothing Else Will Note: Time is different; will be held 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. November 20 Engagement and Retention: Reducing Common Barriers to Treatment Register via e-mail to Sandra Beecher at

Springfield Area Arts Council offering guitar lessons for adults

For Immediate Release December 22, 2019 SIX STRINGS \ SIX WEEKS Springfield, IL - The Springfield Area Arts Council is partnering with local singer/songwriter Jaigh Lowder to offer an exciting program for adults who always have wanted to play the guitar.  Guitar lessons will be offered in a small class setting in the Annex at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in downtown Springfield.  There will be six sessions on Monday evenings.  Participants must bring their own guitar; music will be provided.  Click