The University of Illinois Extension is helping people plan for the future of their business or operation. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Extension Director in Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties, Terri Casey, told the Hart Media Group that on May 5th, they will be hosting the next installment in the free webinar series all about succession planning. This session will cover how a community can support the continuation of a business. 

A session in this series was hosted this morning, covering the opportunities that Co-ops can offer when it comes to succession planning. This can be a good option when finding it hard to locate a buyer with the capital necessary. 

If you missed that session, Casey indicates that they are archived on the Extension website. She adds that if you are unable to make future webinars that you are interested in, you should still register to be sent all of the helpful materials to be accessed later. 

Learn more and register for the free sessions of the Succession Planning Webinar Series and more at extension.illinois.edu/lms. 
 

The springtime is very busy for the Clinton Community Education Foundation, as they fundraise to support all the ways they help the Clinton School District.

CCEF Secretary Chris Shaffer explains that through things like their teacher grants program, scholarships for high school graduates, and reimbursement of dual credit courses, they supported the district with over $60,000 in the last year alone. 

Shaffer says a good year for the CCEF provides over $100,000 to the district. Much of that is raised through some of the upcoming fundraisers like Derby Day and CCEF Trivia Night, both hosted at the Clinton Eagle in the coming months. 

Fundraisers are not the non-profit's only source of funds. Shaffer gives credit to the forethought of previous CCEF boards to create invested endowments that supplement the organization's income. 

We'll have more from Shaffer in the days ahead on the upcoming Derby Day and Trivia Night fundraisers. In the meantime, learn more about the Clinton Community Education Foundation at ccef15.org or by finding them on Facebook. 
 

A local school board is on the verge of approving funding for an ongoing elementary facilities project.

Mt. Pulaski Schools Superintendent Jason Spang explains that the school board recently heard presentations from bidders regarding the renovations of the district's elementary school. He says they decided to go with Core Construction for the project, which they have utilized for previous work. 

The project will feature the addition of new classrooms and a new gym. Spang believes that there will not be much opposition due to the responsible fiscal approach they are taking. 

The construction of a new data center is on the horizon in Logan County, although nothing has been set in stone. Spang states that whether they reap the financial benefits from that project or not, this is a project they feel the district can handle. 

From breaking ground to completion, Spang expects this project to take around 15 months. He notes that there should be very little displacement of students during the school year. 

This project is among several renovations the district has been making, from athletic facilities to educational ones. Keep up with all the latest of Mt. Pulaski Schools by visiting mtpulaski.k12.il.us or by finding the district on Facebook.
 

The DeWitt County Animal Control has been caring for a few livestock animals recently, sparking discussions on the care of animals in need versus what County statutes allow. 

At Last Week's DeWitt County Public Safety Committee meeting, John Werts asked Animal Control Administrator Grace Moore about some chickens, ducks, and other livestock that they have been caring for recently, adding that caring for livestock is strictly prohibited in County ordinances. 

When it came to the horses being fed, Moore says they had the Illinois Department of Agriculture Involved. She notes that horses are protected under the Human Care for Animals Act. Committee Chair Megan Myers brought up that it can be difficult to turn away animals that are in need, no matter the species. 

Full Board Chair Joe Witte told the Hart Media Group that the ordinance regarding scenarios can be somewhat unclear; however, he affirms that the facilities are simply not suitable for handling chickens and other livestock.  

Witte adds that Animal Control has the authority to turn away animals. While he understands that many may have differing opinions on the matter, serving livestock could be a very slippery slope that the County is not equipped for. 

Much of the livestock in question is no longer, or will no longer be, in the care of the County. 
 

One of the hardest kinds of items to dispose of in day-to-day life is also becoming more common. 

Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch explains that if you are a Logan County resident and have broken or obsolete technology piling up at home, this week is your opportunity to drop them off for free at the Lincoln Municipal Services Building. 

There are a few regulations that must be followed, such as maximums on certain large items like televisions. The Mayor adds that the event is exclusive to Logan County residents, and they will turn people away who do not respect that.

Visit lincolnil.gov or find the City on Facebook for more on Electronic Recycling in Lincoln. 
 

The DeLand-Weldon School District has been working on an initiative to turn the expansive green space of their lot into a resource for outdoor education. 

Superintendent Dr. Michael Tresnak says that they could not complete this project alone. They have partnered with the farm bureaus of the district's two counties to lend a hand. The Piatt County Farm Bureau is donating a pavilion that should be installed by the end of the month.

DeWitt County Farm Bureau Manager, Grace Harrold, explains that she and the Piatt County Farm Bureau were reached out to by Janelle Harper, one of the district's middle school science teachers. While Piatt County handled the pavilion, Harrold began recruiting the Clinton High School Industrial Tech Department for a donation of their own. 

Harrold states that they decided a shed would be their donation to the project, which will house the program's tools and equipment. It will also help support the district's up-and-coming FFA program. 

Dr. Tresnak is very grateful for the hard work of Mrs. Harper and notes that community organizations have been very excited to partner in this outdoor ed initiative. 

While some aspects of this project will be completed before the end of the school year, Dr. Tresnak is excited to utilize the space to its fullest extent next school year. Learn more about all the happenings of DeLand-Weldon Schools at dwschools.org, or follow along on Facebook.
 

It has already been a wet spring, and the remainder of the spring could still be wet.

That's according to Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln, who indicates the remainder of the spring will be warm. That's as we turn the calendar to May.

According to Shimon, temperatures from the beginning to the end of May are some of the most substantial increases we see for the spring.

After some major storms on Friday night, Shimon is reminding us to be not only weather alert but also to keep a persistent eye on the sky when there is a threat of severe weather.

Shimon reminds we remain in a pattern of transition where there are competing weather patterns over the Midwest that can create severe and extreme weather changes, like what we saw Friday night.