Harris “Buzz” Hatcher, 70, of Springfield, invited me on a tour, saying, “I want to tell you about the Hickox family.” I was intrigued, since I had conducted research about homes the Hickox family owned over generations. We stand at Fourth and Cook in front of the Hickox Apartment complex, which is listed on the […]
Cinda Ackerman Klickna
Cinda Klickna is a former teacher from Springfield and past president of the Illinois Education Association.
Posted inOpinion
Creating a culture of historic preservation
Hats off to Lisa Moffett and Theresa O’Hare who went into action to save the summer kitchen at the famed Leland Farmhouse even though the main house was demolished. And hats off to the Springfield Park Board for seeing the significance of preserving a piece of history and entering into a letter of intent to […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
A teacher at heart
Chuck Flamini held about every job in education in Springfield District 186 one could possibly have: teacher, coach, union president, principal, athletic director, central office administrator, assistant superintendent and board member. Ask anyone about his main philosophy while serving in any of these roles, and the comment always is, “Chuck had teachers in his heart.” […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Central Illinois filmmakers at work
Julie Staley started Spencer Films two years ago and has been hard at work on several projects. Just completed shooting in Los Angeles is The Lie, a short film about heroin addiction. Staley says, “This addiction is affecting many, but we don’t make strides to get ahead; more momentum is needed, and the film helps […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Easy Rider
In June 2021, June Flood was helped into a side car of a motorcycle and taken on her first-ever motorcycle ride. That was what she requested to celebrate her 100th birthday. When asked about the ride, she says, “It was fun but not long enough and not fast enough.” The video of her ride was […]
Posted inNews
Bustos enters SHS Hall of Fame
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos stood on the Springfield High School stage addressing students as she accepted induction into the SHS Hall of Fame. She advised the group, “There will be so many opportunities for you. The foundation built through SHS will serve you well and lead to places you may never have thought of. The foundation […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Historical Midwest poet comes to life on video
In 1979 John Hallwas was a young professor, doing research about what early Illinois settlers would have read. While scouring through newspapers from the 1830s, he found poems in the Sangamo Journal that caught his attention, each simply signed “H.” Hallwas wondered who the poet was and kept searching, finding a total of 71 poems […]
Posted inNews
Hindu Temple to open Oct. 13-17
This week the Indian community will be celebrating their new Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield, the Shree MahaLakshmi Temple, located in Chatham. Starting Oct. 13 and lasting through Oct. 17, events will include religious and cultural programs, Indian classical dance, and music. The public is welcome. The culminating event on Oct. 17 will be the […]
Posted inNews
Springfield’s independent films
A lone figure, head down, sits at a large dining room table. At the sound of the clapboard, the director announces, “Lights. Camera. Action.” Others slowly enter the room and take their seats at the table. There is chatter among the group, and then at one end of the table two discuss the time they […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A walk through Oak Ridge Cemetery
After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Sangamon County Historical Society will once again host the Oak Ridge Cemetery Walk on Sunday, Oct. 3. Eight Springfield notables will be portrayed. Each of the actors will make a 5-7-minute presentation telling the story of one buried nearby. Here are a few highlights of each: […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
A mother’s memoir of heartbreak and healing
Through a 10-year ordeal with her son, Monique Davis of Rochester, a teacher in Springfield public schools, relied on her faith for strength and guidance. She has written about the journey in a memoir, Be Still and Know: A Mother’s Story of Faith, Heartbreak, and Miracles, published in 2021 through Amazon. Her son, Alex, had […]
Posted inNews
Historic Old Leland Farm House scheduled for demolition
As Illinois Times goes to press, demolition of the old rambling, brick mansion at Willemore and Wiggins, known as the Leland Farm house, appears to be imminent. The house was set to be demolished by its owner, Frank Vala, this week. Vala, a prominent Springfield businessman, is chair of the Springfield Airport Authority. Rumors had […]
