Illinois has a magnificent Supreme Court building, which was dedicated in 1908. Architect W. Carbys Zimmerman modeled the building after the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., and the Pantheon in Rome. Two large sculptures by Charles J. Mulligan flank the front entrance to the building. One is titled Justice and Power and the other […]
Karen Ackerman Witter
Karen Ackerman Witter started freelance writing after a 35-year career in state government holding various senior leadership positions. Prior to retiring she was associate director of the Illinois State Museum for 14 years. She is the past president of the Kidzeum Board of Directors and is an active volunteer with the Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise, Women for Women giving circle of the Community Foundation, NPR Illinois and other community organizations.
Posted inNews
Bans Off Our Bodies Reaction Rally
Several hundred people filled the Old State Capitol Plaza in downtown Springfield on Saturday morning, July 9, for the Bans Off Our Bodies Roe Reaction Rally. The event was organized by the Rally for Abortion Justice Coalition which includes Planned Parenthood Illinois, League of Women Voters of the Springfield Area, Black Lives Matter Springfield and […]
Posted inOpinion
Unplug Illinois Day
Unplug your electronic devices and plug in to play and adventure. Saturday, July 9, is Unplug Illinois Day, a campaign of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. The Springfield Park District invites you to take advantage of our parks, golf courses, nature trails, bike trails, nature preserve, skate parks, tennis and pickleball courts, disc golf, […]
Posted inOpinion
Grants preserve local history
The Sangamon County Historical Society recently awarded four grants for special projects that help preserve and promote local history. Friends of the Original Leland Farm House Inc. – $1,000 to restore the 1860s Farm House Summer Kitchen which was moved from its original site in Leland Grove to Washington Park. Funds will be used to […]
Posted inOpinion
Downtown store is Springfield’s first refillery
To support a local female-owned business while helping the environment, visit The Keep Store at 314 E. Adams Street. Amy Shelton is the owner and founder of Springfield’s first “refillery” store which opened May 21. Bring your own jar or buy a container to purchase bath supplies, cleaning products and other personal care items by […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Giving women hope
“You’re never too old to do the next thing,” says Margaret Ann Jessup. “You can’t be afraid. Trust your heart. It’s never perfect.” Jessup, who lives with her family in Divernon, is executive director of Wooden It Be Lovely (WIBL), a nonprofit organization that employs women suffering from poverty, drug addiction and abuse and helps […]
Posted inOpinion
King’s Daughters grants help seniors
Community organizations that serve senior citizens in Sangamon County recently received a total of $185,191 in grants from the King’s Daughters Organization Fund at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln. Over the past 15 years, the King’s Daughters Organization Fund has provided more than $2 million in grants for programs that improve the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Colorado artist’s work is bold and deep
Betsy Dollar, executive director of the Springfield Art Association (SAA), is committed to engaging local citizens in the arts in a myriad of ways. Summer art camps for youth, adult art classes, exhibitions of work by local artists, community art projects and the Edwards Place Fine Art Fair are just a few examples. Showcasing high-quality […]
Posted inOpinion
Bundles of Joy
See a need. Take action. That’s what Dr. Meredith Havey Volle did when she realized that many low-income parents lack resources for clothing for their newborns. As a new mother, she saw firsthand the disparity among families. As an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine specializing in pediatric primary care, she […]
Posted inNews
Black Lives Matter Springfield awards scholarships
Three local high school seniors are each receiving $1,500 scholarships to further their education, thanks to Black Lives Matter Springfield. The initial goal was to provide $500 scholarships; however, the organization tripled that amount as a result of community participation in “dine to donate” fundraisers and direct donations to the scholarship fund. Locally-owned AzTca and […]
Posted inOpinion
Springfield runner wins 100-mile race
Springfield may have the Fat Ass 5K, but Georgia has Dumbass events, sponsored by the Dahlonega Ultra Marathon Association in northern Georgia. Springfield’s Joe Miller, an ultramarathoner, competed in the Cruel Jewel 100 Dumbass event May 13-15 in the Chattahoochee National Forest. He finished in first place with a time of 23 hours, 40 minutes […]
