Randy Witter has learned a thing or two during his 48 years of lobbying work at the Illinois State Capitol. “I learned early on that if you treat everyone the same way, whether it’s the governor or the janitor, with the same respect, you’re going to get further ahead,” said the 72-year-old Witter. “You don’t […]
Cover Story
Posted inNews
Help wanted
For those dining out, hitting the drive-thru lane, dropping their children off at the bus stop or walking through the aisles of retailers in Springfield, the news that 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August likely comes as no surprise in light of the many “Help wanted” and “We’re hiring!” signs on display in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The neighborhood is going to art
It was a recent weekday afternoon in Springfield when Erin Washington was hanging crystal prisms from a neon-pink geodesic dome. The dome is outside of Springfield Art Association (SAA) in the Enos Park neighborhood. It is a bright pop of color that draws attention to the lawn, which includes a nearby mural and other displays […]
Posted inNews
The Old State Capitol renovation
“The Old State Capitol is not just a building but an artifact, with numerous stories to tell,” says Justin Blandford, superintendent of Springfield’s state historic sites for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The state of Illinois is making a major investment to preserve this historic and iconic landmark. A $1.65 million capital project is […]
Posted inNews
Mass disagreement
The members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church have been anxious for weeks as their way of worship has come under attack from a powerful source – Pope Francis. Parishioners at the church on Springfield’s east side worship the way Catholics have for more than 1,000 years, in Latin. But what was once a ubiquitous rite […]
Posted inNews
Route 66 Mother Road Festival drives in
Just a few months ago, Springfield’s longest running, best attended and highest grossing homegrown festival, was nearly lost in the wind like the exhaust fumes from a classic hot rod car. With cooperation between the city of Springfield, concerned citizens and longtime participants in the event, the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival is now […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Fall Home & Garden 2021
While things have started to reopen, the extra time we spent at home last year made us more aware of improvements needed both inside and outside our homes. Extending our living space outdoors has become popular, especially with more entertaining and family gatherings now taking place outside. Urban rewilding is also a growing trend, as […]
Posted inNews
George Ryan looks back
George H. Ryan has faced some harsh critics during his 87 years of life, much of it spent in the public eye. But there was no tougher crowd than the roomful of murder victims’ families that he invited to the Illinois Executive Mansion in 2002. “They were bitter. They were terribly angry,” Ryan said. “I […]
Posted inNews
A league of their own
Baseball has always been America’s favorite pastime. Many Illinois Times readers have heard of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb, as they were household names in the 1920s and 1930s. The names James “Cool Papa” Bell, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Oscar Charleston and Satchel Paige were also household names, but in totally different households. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Fall Guide 2021
There is no shortage of things to do in central Illinois this fall. Many of the fall festivals and regular events are returning, and we’ve included a roundup of theater and live music happenings. Traditional activities such as apple orchards and enjoying the outdoors are more popular than ever, but we’ve also highlighted some new […]
Posted inNews
Back to school
It’s the first school year since the pandemic began that all students are to be in classrooms full time. Schools have planned ways to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and its potentially more contagious variants, as the delta version is proving to be. As of Aug. 18 the community transmission level was high in nearly […]
Posted inNews
Fair fanfare
The Illinois State Fair is back this year with the theme of One Illinois, designed to emphasize a need for unity during the pandemic’s challenges. Krista Lisser, Illinois Department of Agriculture’s public information officer, said that the fair’s organizers expect a similar attendance to previous years, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 509,000 people […]
