Cover Story
Former King’s Daughters Home to house nurses
Yolonda Rice, a Springfield investor and entrepreneur, plans to purchase the former King’s Daughters Home and create apartments for nursing students and traveling nurses. “This has been a long journey,” Rice said, “but I have been met with great support from the city, the Historic Sites Commission and many others to make this a reality.” …
Zach Dinardo joins Memorial Health
Zach Dinardo has joined Memorial Health as chief legal officer, effective Sept. 22. Dinardo has more than 25 years of experience as a legal advisor in the health care field, most recently as deputy chief counsel and compliance officer at Springfield Clinic. Prior to that, he spent 23 years in private practice with Sorling Northrup…
UIS Innovation Center opens in Horace Mann building
The third floor of Horace Mann’s modernist glass and steel tower in downtown Springfield is now home to the University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Center, which includes the Innovate Springfield business incubator. “Our move to this strategic location will enable us to bring more people into our innovation ecosystem, including students, faculty, corporate partners, community…
Building permits – Sept. 15 to Sept. 21
Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust received a commercial remodel permit for 3401 Freedom Drive. Contractor is Prime Retail Services, Inc. and the project is valued at $20,000. Northfield Mall LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2415 N. Dirksen Parkway. Contractor is Northfield Mall LLC and the project is valued at $7,000. Legacy Pointe Dev…
Evergreen Wealth to open on west side of Springfield
Evergreen Wealth is preparing to open on Springfield’s west side, but both the business and the staff are already well-known. “We’ve been Troxell Financial for over 30 years,” said Cassandra Ostermeier, director of marketing. The business has shared space at 214 South Grand Ave. West with Troxell, an independent insurance agency, since its inception, although…
Habitat for Humanity announces new executive director
The board of directors of Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County has announced the appointment of Candace D. Silas as the organization’s new executive director and CEO. Silas brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in program administration, workforce development and community support services. For the past eight years, she has worked at Lincoln…
Free workshops to support small businesses
The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA) is launching a new community-focused workshop series designed to empower entrepreneurs, small business owners and community members with the tools, resources and connections to help them succeed. “Supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses is an important part of economic development, and we’re committed to creating opportunities that uplift and…
Bailey Family Insurance to relocate
Mark and Christine Bailey thought they’d found the “forever home” for Bailey Family Insurance when they purchased their current building five years ago. But now the company is planning to move to a significantly larger location after adding additional staff and wanting to have room for future growth. “We’re maxed out at our current location,”…
Building permits – Sept. 8 to Sept. 14
The 8th Street Gym Inc. received a commercial accessory structure permit for 1401 N. Eighth St. Contractor is Midwest Garage Builders and the project is valued at $29,000. Tina Marie Boshardy received a commercial remodel permit for 1610 S. Sixth St. Contractor is Knight Commercial Restoration and the project is valued at $300,000. White Oaks…
Former city director addresses his departure
In the wake of the assassination of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk, a city of Springfield department head posted something on Facebook critical of the influencer and now he no longer has a job. “I had never heard of this guy before he got shot,” James ‘Jayme’ Sullivan told Illinois Times. “I was on vacation when…
Hank’s Power & Equipment closes
Hank’s Power & Equipment has closed its Springfield location and the property owner has listed the buildings for sale. Springfield Mowers & Power Equipment occupied the buildings at 1808 W. Jefferson St. from 2019 until October 2021 when a fire at the business killed the owner, Robert Kalabus. His widow, Stephanie Kalabus, told SBJ at…
Bourbon Street adds food service
Bourbon Street Rhythm & Ribs, 1031 South Grand Ave. East, has reopened its kitchen and is now offering food service Thursday through Sunday. “It’s been at least six years since we had food service, and I’ve been trying for some time to bring it back,” said bar manager Deb Smith. “There’s a market for it,…
Building permits – Sept. 1 to Sept. 7
LSI Springfield LLC received a commercial accessory structure permit for a tent at 3441 Lumber Lane. Contractor is Noonan Equipment and Event Rental and the project is valued at $1,940. Springfield Columbus Home Association received a commercial accessory structure permit for a tent at 2200 S. Meadowbrook Road. Contractor is Noonan Equipment and Event Rental…
Myers Building celebrates 100 years
The Myers Building in downtown Springfield celebrated its 100th anniversary on Sept. 8. Mayor Misty Buscher and Ryan McCrady, president and CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, met with Steve Myers and Julie Myers Casper to discuss the history and future of the iconic downtown building. The historic property now has a new owner after…
Amanda Brown named city communications director
Amanda Brown has been named the communications director for the city of Springfield. Brown, 24, most recently worked for the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus as a membership engagement coordinator. Brown said that while she enjoyed her time working in state government, “local government has always had a special place in my heart.” She said she…
First Citizen program accepting nominations
The First Citizen award program is accepting nominations through Oct. 15, and the winner will be announced at a public event on Nov. 12. The award, which recognizes individuals whose service has significantly contributed to the betterment of the Springfield area, was created in 1963 by Springfield’s Copley-owned newspaper. The award had been associated with…
Long Nine Junction to return downtown
A restaurant is returning to downtown Springfield with the same name and location, but a slightly different format. Corey and Emily Faucon operated Long Nine Junction for nearly four years at 5 Old State Capitol Plaza before closing in February 2021. The couple then moved to Petersburg and have been involved in several culinary ventures…
Building permits – Aug. 25 to Aug. 31
Wal-Mart Real Estate Business MS 0555 Trust received a commercial remodel permit for 2760 N. Dirksen Parkway. Contractor is Prime Retail Services and the project is valued at $200,000. CMT Real Estate Co. received a commercial remodel permit for 2750 W. Washington St. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $1.2 million.…
Land of Lincoln Credit Union to acquire local bank
Land of Lincoln Credit Union has announced plans to acquire Williamsville State Bank and Trust. While the agreement is contingent on obtaining regulatory and WSB Financial, Ltd. stockholder approvals, the proposed transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both institutions. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of…
Leonard Williams joins CLP Insurance Solutions
Leonard Williams has joined CLP Insurance Solutions in Springfield. Williams, an insurance professional with more than 25 years of experience serving clients in Sangamon and Macon counties, retired from Country Financial in December 2023 and will now serve clients as an agent with CLP Insurance Solutions, located at 3050 Montvale Drive, Suite C. In his…
LLCC President Charlotte Warren announces retirement
Lincoln Land Community College President Dr. Charlotte Warren has announced she will retire from her role as LLCC’s sixth president in June 2026, a position she has held for two decades. ‹ LeftCenterRight ResizeCancelCrop 300 x 459 ✖i › Warren shared the news in a heartfelt message to faculty and staff during the college’s annual…
Bret Mahoney joins Memorial Health
Bret Mahoney has joined the Memorial Health Human Resources Division as system director of talent management effective Aug. 18. Mahoney has more than 14 years of experience in talent management, most recently as executive director of training and organizational design at Loma Linda University Health in Loma Linda, California. In his new role leading Memorial…
Building permits – Aug. 18 to Aug. 24
CGM Management LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2205 Wabash Ave., Suite 102. Contractor is Marriott Real Estate Services, LLC and the project is valued at $20,000. MWAA Inc. received a commercial remodel structure permit for 1850 W. Jefferson St. Contractor is MWAA Inc. and the project is valued at $200,000. Hy-Vee Inc. received…
Joe Kienzler joins Hope
Joe Kienzler has joined Hope as the development manager and will be responsible for the organization’s fundraising and development efforts. ‹ LeftCenterRight ResizeCancelCrop 300 x 383 ✖i › While this is his first time working for a nonprofit, Kienzler said it was a logical transition for him. “On the surface, it doesn’t seem like there…
The Big Beautiful Bill
Politicians have some significant differences, but they all seem to have one thing in common – most of what they say isn’t true, or isn’t quite true. What you think “no taxes on tips,” “no taxes on Social Security benefits” and “no taxes on overtime” mean might not be what those things mean in the…
Star 66 Cafe
Springfield drivers have a growing tendency to crash into buildings, which has been well-documented on social media. One of the more recent incidents involved Star 66 Café, where a driver crashed into the seating area, pushing booths into the counter. Thankfully the injuries were only superficial, but the physical damage is still evident. Since it…
Finding fulfillment through service
David Hilst’s family struggled when he was a child. His father had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and died when Hilst was only 8 years old. In spite of medical bills making finances tight and having a brother with Down syndrome, Hilst said, “My mom raised three boys with grit and grace. So things were…
A throwback to the days of small, independent pharmacies
Potter Drug, which opened on the west side of Springfield last year, is a throwback to when people knew and could talk to the pharmacist who owned the local drugstore. Even its logo is “an homage to what a pharmacy was 20 to 30 years ago as far as service,” said Tim Gleason, Potter Drug…
Community health workers help address disparities
An apartment fire put Willie Taylor out of his home two years ago on Springfield’s east side and threw his life into chaos. A survivor of two strokes who deals with high blood pressure and other health problems, Taylor, 71, is on more stable footing these days. He attributes the improvement to Derek Rimelspach, a…
Federal cuts to impact medical pipeline, research
Sen. Dick Durbin, joined by members of the Southern Illinois University medical network, warned at a press conference in Springfield of the federal administration’s decisions that will impact aspiring doctors, rural hospitals and scientific research. Discussing provisions within the new federal tax law and the decision to cap federal education loans, Durbin said medical students…
Q&A with Mandy Eaton
Dr. Mandy Eaton became president and chief executive officer of Memorial Health on April 1, succeeding Ed Curtis following his retirement. She previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cone Health, a nonprofit health care organization that includes five hospitals and numerous outpatient locations serving a five-county area in North Carolina.…
Sick of absenteeism?
Absenteeism isn’t just a human resources headache. It’s often a larger symptom of an unhealthy organization. When it gets out of hand it can become a business problem: chronic, unplanned or prolonged absences hurt morale, slow productivity, damage customer relationships and can hurt your bottom line. But how can you address it without making problems…
Mennonite College of Nursing Springfield graduates inaugural class
Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing has graduated 25 students in its first cohort of nursing students in Springfield, More than 30% of the graduating class have signed on with Memorial Health. “This momentous occasion is the culmination of a great deal of planning and collaboration between our two organizations,” said Dr. Marsha Prater,…
LLCC offering Essential Workplace Skills series
Lincoln Land Community College is offering its popular Essential Workplace Skills training series this fall at its LLCC-Medical District location at 130 W. Mason St. The series is designed for individuals seeking to upskill or boost their marketability – including job seekers, current employees and anyone wanting to sharpen critical soft skills. For a limited…
Memorial Health names senior vice president
Dr. Ted Clark has been named Memorial Health’s senior vice president and chief clinical officer, effective Aug. 4. In his new role, Clark will oversee Memorial Medical Group, Memorial Behavioral Health and the health system’s quality and safety teams and its home health services. Clark has served as Decatur Memorial Hospital’s chief medical officer since…
