Joe Landry (left) and Franklin Fite (right) both say the Bel-Aire is their home. They say they don’t want to leave and have nowhere else to go. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE Franklin Fite is a collector. The small, one-room apartment he shares with his wife at the Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield is decorated with Pez […]
Summerguide 2026
Our annual Summerguide has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for local theater, musical performances, outdoor activities or family-friendly events – many of them free of charge – we’ve got all the details. Plus, there’s an expanded three-month calendar of activities to help you keep track of everything. The International Carillon Festival is being held…
Women’s Business Showcase
Spring in Central Illinois is the perfect time to put your business in front of new customers—and the Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois (WECI) Women’s Business Showcase is built to do exactly that. Join us on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for one of the region’s most anticipated events celebrating women-owned…