The 2023 edition of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce Business Expo saw a successful turnout.

Janice Petersen, Clinton Chamber Executive Director, noted she had heard from vendors that they thought it was a great crowd. She says vendors can expect a survey in the coming days to get more feedback.

Petersen indicated in addition to the 50 vendors present, attendees could participate in a raffle and view demonstrations from Clinton YMCA and Clinton High School Thespians.

Non-profit organizations were present at the Expo including the Weldon Springs Foundation. Stephanie Russell, Foundation President, was on hand to promote a couple of upcoming events the Foundation is hosting.

Warner Hospital and Health Services CEO Paul Skowron remarked has a couple of upcoming projects including expanding the emergency room and building a new parking lot.

Many vendors at the Business Expo were seeking applicants for employment opportunities. Blake West with the Clinton Fire Department had information and applications for volunteer firefighters.

The drawing for the gift cards from Clinton Save-A-Lot and Kirby Foods will be done on Friday, March 31. 

With the completion of the Business Expo, The Clinton Chamber of Commerce now focuses on another annual event, May Days.

The Clinton Youth Baseball Association will be able to continue its progress towards new dugouts thanks to a contribution from a Clinton non-profit and a Clinton business.

The Clinton Eagles and Sweet Mae's Ice Cream Shoppe teamed up over the last month-plus to raise money for the Clinton Youth Baseball Association. Sweet Mae's Ice Cream Shoppe owner Melissa Morris explains she baked cookies and they were raffled off and which allowed them to raise over $2100 on top of a $300 contribution from The Eagles.

Dave Brunning is the President of the Clinton Baseball Association and explains as they raise the money, they are gradually working across the complex on Clinton's east side to replace the dugouts at each field.

Brunning explains once the 8-U dugouts are replaced, that will be the final major project on the fields. He is appreciative of community support in recent years to allow them to purchase new scoreboards.

Brunning notes the sign-up deadline for this year's youth baseball season has come and gone but encourages parents that may be interested in their children playing next year to subscribe to the league's newsletter so they will be aware of when the sign-ups come around in 2024.

Clintonboysbaseball.com is the website for more information about Clinton Youth Baseball.

Morris is putting the call out for parents or community members that may be interested in helping the youth baseball league build the dugouts. She notes the more volunteers they have, the less the cost is on the association.

Adults pictured left to right: Diane Ferguson, Hillari Harrold, Deanna Long, and Melissa Morris

Apex Clean Energy is evaluating its next move after the Piatt County Board rejected its special use permit for its Goosecreek Wind project in northern Piatt County.

Alan Moore with Apex Clean energy tells Regional Radio was disappointed in last Thursday's vote but is re-evaluating what is next for the project and its participating landowners.

Max Jabrixio with Apex Clean Energy indicates he was alarmed to hear a statement from Vice-Chair Jerry Edwards who claimed no one in his district wanted the wind project but heard from several individuals and the Blue Ridge Board of Education they supported the project.

Moore says the company anticipates bringing the project back to the County in the future. He points out, the State's wind energy legislation makes things very interesting.

Moore believes while those in Piatt County opposed to the project have been loud in their opposition, he believes there is a majority of individuals that who support the project or are indifferent but see the benefits it provides.

Even with state mandates on zoning for wind, Moore and Jabrixio say they feel strongly it is important to be good partners with its governing bodies and residents. 

A brief warmup this week is setting up for some potential wild weather Friday.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln told Regional Radio Friday morning could offer dicey weather, and then some more severe weather roars through later in the day Friday.

The biggest threat for Illinois will be high winds of up to 70 MPH. Shimon indicates other areas in the midwest could experience some more severe storms.

Shimon indicates this won't be the end of the threat of severe weather. He looks into next week and points out we will see more days with high winds and chances for severe weather.

Shimon encourages having a couple of options for receiving severe weather information, particularly during the non-waking hours. He points out often times the tornado sirens are not audible in many homes so you need to have a way of being alerted to the threat of severe weather. 

A trial is underway in Chicago for four people who are alleged to have bribed former Speaker of the House Mike Madigan by giving his friends and associates contracts and jobs that required little to no work to be done.

Today the jury saw secretly recorded videos that begin to reveal the depth of the federal investigation. Then Com-Ed Vice President Fidel Marquez was a federal informant and he recorded the meetings. In one at Springfield restaurant, he’s talking with lobbyist Mike McClain who suggests that little about their agreements should be documented.

The trial is expected to continue for a few more weeks and Madigan’s trial isn’t expected to begin until next year.

THE ILLINOIS MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION IS UNVEILING THE WINNER OF THE “COOLEST THING MADE IN ILLINOIS” CONTEST. 

VOTERS WHITTLED DOWN NEARLY 250 ENTRIES TO COME UP WITH THE WINNER: THE ROSENBERG MOON HABITAT, DESIGNED BY STUDENTS AND SPACE ARCHITECTS IN SWITZERLAND AND DENMARK AND PRINTED BY INGERSOLL MACHINE TOOLS IN ROCKFORD. THE HABITAT IS THE TALLEST SINGLE PIECE 3-D PRINTED POLYMER STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD. GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER ATTENDED THE EVENT AND APPLAUDS THE INDUSTRY.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JULIANA STRATTON WAS AT THE CEREMONY:

OTHER FINALISTS INCLUDE THE DRUG TERMINATOR MANUFACTURED BY ELASTEC IN CARMI (KAHR-meye), 17TH STREET BARBECUE SAUCES IN MURPHYSBORO AND A DRIVER’S ASSISTANCE SENSOR MADE BY HELLA ELECTRONICS IN FLORA.

ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER SUSANA MENDOZA CONTINUES TO BEEF UP THE STATE’S RAINY DAY FUND.

COMPTROLLER MENDOZA DEPOSITED ANOTHER 150 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE EMEGENCY FUND, BRINGING THE BALANCE TO A RECORD HIGH OF ONE-POINT-22-BILLION DOLLARS.

MENDOZA. STILL, IT’S NOT ENOUGH.

COMPTROLLER MENDOZA IS ASKING LEGISLATORS TO PASS A BILL THAT MAKES REGULAR DEPOSITS INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND WHEN STATE REVENUE IS STRONG.

Wednesday was a big day for Ag at the Illinois State Capitol. The 53rd Annual Ag Legislative Day was held for the first time since 2020. Governor JB Pritzker says the state is a agriculture powerhouse.

A longstanding tradition on the day includes more than a thousand FFA members in official dress who pass out baskets of Illinois commodities to lawmakers.

The Clinton City Council has failed in its search for an administrator.

That's the admission of a Council member who says the search efforts are intensifying. On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Commissioner John Wise, discussing his candidacy for next week's election, told Regional Radio the Council has failed in its job to find a replacement for longtime Administrator Tim Followell.

According to Wise, the City Council is evaluating the Administrator position. He explains for so long, Followell did so many things that were outside the scope of a traditional administrator.

Wise told Regional Radio the next four years will be his final on the Council and hopes to help move the City forward through better promotion. He points to collaborating with the DeWitt County Development Council as well as finding an administrator as partner that could help the Council do that and bring people to the community. 

A couple of rural DeWitt County roads will receive some improvements this summer including the much anticipated Revere Road project.

At the Thursday night DeWitt County Board meeting, Jamie Prestegaard, property committee chairperson told the Board the Revere Road project will utilize federal funds and will extend from the Route 10 intersection to the Business 51 intersection.

County Highway Engineer Mark Mathon indicates this is a total reconstruction of the road.

According to Prestegaard, Washington Road in rural DeWitt County will receive some bridge road work.

The Board also approved an agreement with Cummins Engineering to cover the services for guardrail improvements. 

The University of Illinois Extension in Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties is celebrating a big increase in participation in 4-H this year.

Extension Director Terri Miller-Casey indicates they are seeing more kids out this year and she feels it is because in a time when activities for kids are not always what parents are looking for, 4-H continues to be a safe haven for youth.

Miller-Casey notes the traditional fair season is when most 4-H projects are returned but they are already doing some of those projects now.

Miller-Casey hopes parents will consider enrolling their kids in 4-H. She stresses it is not ever too late to join 4-H and they will give anyone the chance to watch a club meeting and learn what it's all about.

Visit extension.illinois.edu for more on 4-H in your hometown. 

A relatively new collaboration between the Illinois State Police Investigation Zone 6 Command Staff and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is taking new looks at old homicide cold cases. Professor Trish Oberweis (OH-bur-WICE), professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Criminal Justice Studies, says there have been a handful of minor successes.

She says students scour the data and prioritize investigations based on which cases are closest to an arrest. They then analyze the case with regard to what additional investigative work might help advance the case, based on the training they received before being assigned a case. They also make recommendations, which become a part of the quickstart guide called a ‘Murder Book.’

Inflation has hit the grocery store hard this year and it's made eating healthy a bit of a challenge. OSF Healthcare dietitian Sara Umphleet says there are ways to save money and eat healthy...

Food prices on average across Illinois were up more than 8 cents per item from February 2022 to February 2023.

LEGISLATION PENDING IN THE ILLINOIS SENATE FURTHER CAPS THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION INSULIN. 

IN 2019, LAWMAKERS CAPPED THE COST OF A MONTHLY SUPPLY OF INSULIN AT 100 DOLLARS. THIS BILL LOWERS THAT CAP TO 35 DOLLARS. IT’S SPONSORED BY SENATOR LAURA MURPHY OF DES PLAINES.

SENATOR LINDA HOLMES OF AURORA...

MURPHY’S LEGISLATION ALSO CREATES A DISCOUNT INSULIN PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. SHE SAYS MORE THAN ONE MILLION ILLINOISANS HAVE INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES.

Illinois Ag Legislative Day is Wednesday and its big day at the state capitol. The day draws ag lobbyists and others to the capitol to talk to lawmakers about the Spring session.

Ag Director Jerry Costello says it’s a great day and what really stands out is the work done by members of the FFA and 4H who stop by during the day to visit with their local lawmakers.

Costello had been a state representative prior to serving as Director of Agriculture.

What are specialty growers doing as the calendar gets set to turn to April? Randy Graham operates Curtis Orchard in Champaign.

Graham also serves as chairman of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association. 

There's still time to be a part of the Kenney Fire Department's Good Friday blood drive.

The annual event welcomes ImpactLife to the fold this year. Jim Watts with ImpactLife stresses when you donate through their organization, your donation stays local.

According to Watts, the process of giving blood will look a lot like it has in years past. He explains there is a questionnaire that needs to be completed to give blood and it can be done online ahead of your donation. He stresses though that it can only be done the day of the donation.

Kerry Coles, or KC, with the Kenney Fire Department outlines the many health benefits of giving blood and says it can also be a mini physical.

Get more information about donating blood on Friday, April 7 by finding the Kenney Fire Department on Facebook. The drive is from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm at the Kenney Fire Station. 

Macon County CASA has a new executive director. 

The non-profit has been in DeWitt County for a little over a year and Blaine Smith told Regional Radio on the WHOW Morning Show Monday that caring for children is something she's very passionate about.

For Smith, she hopes to see Macon County CASA grow to the point they have enough volunteers to cover nearly every child in their program in DeWitt County. If things go well and there's continuity, she would like to see expansion. 

Smith will be at the Thursday Clinton Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at Clinton High School. She hopes to meet community members and existing volunteers there. 

If you cannot make the expo but would like to find out more about Macon County CASA, visit maconcountycasa.org or call 217-428-8424.

PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND HISTORY UNDER A BILL ADVANCING IN THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE. 

THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES HISTORY LESSONS IN ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL TO INCLUDE MORE ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO ILLINOIS AND THEIR CONTEMPORARY LIVES. IT'S SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE MAURICE WEST OF ROCKFORD.

HIS LEGISLATION REQUIRES THESE LESSONS IN ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

THE MEASURE PASSED THE HOUSE AND NOW AWAITS A VOTE IN THE SENATE.

USDA Rural Development State Director Betsy Dirksen Londrigan reminding about Value Added Producer Grants.

More info at rd.usda.gov/il.

A bill sponsored by a local lawmaker is heading to the Illinois Senate that would provide that Constitution Day (September 17) be recognized as a commemorative holiday on Illinois school calendars. 

Commemorative holidays in the state of Illinois are regular school days that recognize specified patriotic, civic, cultural, or historical persons, activities, or events. According to State Representative Amy Elik of Alton, Constitution Day is recognized federally but not by the State of Illinois.

If approved, it would join a list of other commemorative holidays that include the birthday of Muhammad Ali on January 17, Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, 9/11 Day of Remembrance, and Recycling Day on October 1.

At last Thursday's DeWitt County Board meeting, the Board voted to get the Clinton Lake Marina appraised.

Marina Committee Chairman Dan Matthews indicated Webster & Associates from Champaign, IL, and Sikich from Springfield, IL, will both conduct appraisals of the marina property. He notes both companies offer a different perspective and both will be done for under $20,000.

The Board also approved the quote from JLS to repair around 20 floats on docks 1 and 2. Matthews remarked that JLS has made a lot of repairs on the marina in recent years.

Last year the islands in the marina parking lot were removed and replaced with gravel patches. Marina committeeman Terry Ferguson said the patches will be fixed by oil and chip.

As previously reported, during the new business portion of the meeting the County Board decided to pursue selling the Clinton Lake Marina.

Last year was the first full year for golf carts to be used in the City of Lincoln and last week the Council took action to clean up some issues in its ordinance.

Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch indicates because of all the state routes that run through the community, they needed to clean up language surrounding access near those routes.

According to Mayor Welch, the neighborhood of Mayfair is problematic because it is landlocked by a state highway and the ordinances do not allow golf carts on state highways. He points to instances like that.

The Mayor estimates there are more than 30 permits issued at this time in the City of Lincoln. Like other communities, they have regulations similar to that of a motor vehicle and golf carts have to follow the rules of the road. 

The highly anticipated 2022 Land Values Report released by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers this week. Luke Worrell is chair of the organization and runs a land business in Jacksonville.

In the report, survey respondents indicated that 58-percent of farmland buyers required debt financing in 2022.

THE LATEST HAZARDOUS MATERIAL REPORT FROM THE ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION FOUND MINIMAL VIOLATIONS ON STATE RAILWAYS.

OF THE MORE THAN 85-HUNDRED RAIL CARS INSPECTED BY THE I-C-C LAST YEAR, JUST ONE POINT THREE PERCENT WERE CITED FOR VIOLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMISSION'S RAIL SAFETY EXPERT BRIAN VERCRUYSEE (vera-cruise) SAYS THERE WERE 83 RAIL INCIDENTS IN 2022, MOST INVOLVING DIESEL.

HE SAYS THE INCIDENT HAS THE I-C-C REVIEWING ITS OWN PROTOCOLS.

VERCRUYSSE SAYS THERE WERE 83 RAILWAY INCIDENTS INCLUDING FIVE DERAILMENTS WHERE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLED LAST YEAR IN ILLINOIS.