Leading
Way
Coles County works toward a better future for all Saturday, September 26, 2015
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Welcome to 2015’s Leading the Way
A healthy, diverse economy along with strong civic and social foundations are important to all who live, work and play in our community. This year’s Leading the Way explores the economic pillars that serve as the foundation to our community. Since its introduction more than a decade ago, this section has featured local industries and has taken a look at items produced right here in Coles County. It has featured letters home from people who grew up in East Central Illinois, highlighting some of the key individuals who trace their roots to this area. Last year’s Leading the Way was a collection of articles relating to some of the past themes. This year’s edition takes a look at seven areas key to any community’s good health: education, nonprofit groups, employment, government, health care and fitness, real estate and development, and recreation. You’ll read about efforts at Lake Land College, Mattoon, to offer students real-world, in-demand skills for jobs now open with area manufacturers and other businesses. Also featured will be Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, and a few of its many ways to prepare graduates for the workforce. Even in middle and high school, educators are leading the way for young people to be successful when adulthood arrives for them. At high schools in the county, teachers offer dual credit courses and other ways for teens to get a look ahead at careers in which they may be interested. At the middle school level, educators explore various life skills with the younger students, and expose them to possible careers, such as those related to the in-demand information technology arena. Nonprofit groups relate to us their efforts to help the less fortunate in the community. Ranging from health care to support with utilities, education and employment, many organizations are active across Coles County to give people a lift in life when they most need it. We explore employment issues from large to small businesses and to an East Central mainstay
-- agriculture. Small business owners, for example, talk about how they lead the way in Coles County with their contributions to local schools and other ways to give back to the communities they call home. You’ll read about infrastructure improvements, networking with business leaders and other ways that our city leaders help lead the way and draw in new employers and those who will join consistent efforts to make our communities better. Our political leaders talk about their own efforts to make state government, for example, work for area residents’ benefit. In looking at health care and fitness, we review the high-quality organizations that offer residents many opportunities to get fit, stay healthy and return to good health after physical issues, the latter addressed by state-of-the-art medical
facilities and staffers right here in Coles County. Real estate and development, home sales, and recreation round out the topics for this year’s Leading the Way, all putting the spotlight on business growth, drawing visitors to the area and ways for all residents to enjoy their downtime, respectively. We hope you’ll enjoy the 2015 Leading the Way section as much as we’ve enjoyed exploring our community to dig deeper into these common themes. There are so many people working hard every day to lead Coles County through good days and on to an even brighter future. Thanks for reading.
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ATTENTION PATRIOTS
COMMENCEMENT: Mike Shanahan speaks during commencement at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston in May 2015. (Kevin Kilhoffer, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier) INDUSTRY: Shop operations manager Justin Butcher shows the tubulation and mount structure for a halogen capsule (bulb) at the GE lamp factory in Mattoon in 2013. (Kevin Kilhoffer, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier) STUDIES: Students study inside Webb Hall on the campus of Lake Land College near Mattoon on Jan. 15. (Kevin Kilhoffer, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier) NATURE: Peggy Shaffer of Arcola releases a tagged monarch butterfly in 2014 at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center in Mattoon. (Ken Trevarthan, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier)
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EDUCATION
Lake Land offers workforce training for all By ROB STROUD JG-TC Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Sullivan High School junior Cori Elder recently took an image of his favorite car, a Mustang Fox Body, and used a laser cutter to put this design onto the deck of his planned motorized trail board. “Itʼs pretty sweet to watch (the laser cutter) go back and forth,” Elder said, noting the precision of the cutter. “Itʼs pretty mind blowing what all it can do.” Elder is one of of several area high school juniors who are taking a Manufacturing Skills 1 course on the main campus of Lake Land College in Mattoon as part of the collegeʼs new Career Academy program. Lake Land President Josh Bullock said the Career Academy offers manufacturing and automotive technology courses. He said this program is a way to get students interested in careers in these fields and to help alleviate a shortage of skilled workers for area employers. “Our goal is to bridge that skills gap,” Bullock said of the Career Academy. “Itʼs very highly technical work that requires a strong intelligence and skill set. Itʼs challenging and rewarding work.” Elder said he is taking the Career
Rob Stroud, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Coordinator Leo Kitten (standing) is pictured assisting area high school students with creating a motorized trail board during a Career Academy Manufacturing Skills 1 course on Sept. 15 at Lake Land College in Mattoon.
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Academy class to learn about career opportunities that are available. Classmate Levi Dodson of Shelbyville said he is already considering a career working with computer numerical controls in manufacturing. Dodson said he appreciates getting hands-on experience with a small metalworking lathe and other tools in a laid-back class setting at Lake Land. The Manufacturing Skills 1 course is taught by Leo Kitten, the computerintegrated manufacturing coordinator at Lake Land. He said the students also use a 3D printer to create components and a computer simulation to test how much weight their trail boards can handle. Bullock said Lake Land plans to offer other types of Career Academy courses, possibly building trades or welding, in Mattoon and to expand the program to Effingham County in partnership with high schools there. The college already partners with industry and other organizations in Effingham County to offer a Manufacturing Day. This program, now
Leading the Way
in its third year, enables high school students to tour area factories and learn about career opportunities. Bullock said Lake Land plans next month to offer its first Coles County Manufacturing Day. Jim Hull, vice president for academic services at Lake Land, said the college also has begun a new partnership with GSI to provide workforce education opportunities for high school students and adult students. Hull said GSI is helping sponsor an adult-education welding class in Pana, not far from its grain bin manufacturing facility in Assumption, and is helping sponsor a welding class at the high school in Paris, where it has a grain bin component manufacturing facility. “Itʼs a very unique opportunity for students to get high-level training and get the opportunity to participate in actual product work while learning,” Hull said. Hull said the partnership with GSI follows Lake Landʼs recent workforce training programs for the North American Lighting factory in Paris and
JG-TC - September 2015 7
Rob Stroud, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier High school students work on creating a motorized trail board with help from ComputerIntegrated Manufacturing Coordinator Leo Kitten (center) during a Career Academy Manufacturing Skills 1 course on Sept. 15 at Lake Land College in Mattoon.
the General Electric plant in Mattoon, as well collaborations with other area employers. “That is how we are going to be able to sustain growth in our local
communities,” Bullock said of the workforce training programs. Contact Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6861.
EDUCATION
Eastern pushes students to early internships By JARAD JARMON JG-TC Staff Writer
CHARLESTON -- To better strengthen a studentʼs success in finding a job, Eastern Illinois University is pushing students to apply for internships early in their college careers. Career Services has been encouraging students to start applying for internships not just in their junior and senior years but also their freshman and sophomore years. Linda Moore, Career Services director, said there is a growing shift in the universityʼs career services to educate students early on what is out in the job market. Moore said it is important to know early where you might be headed. Many might know the field they want to get into, but are often dumbfounded as to what they actually want to do for a living. “You need to decide that earlier so you can engage with (employers),” Moore said. “It is good to find that out before you go out and work, and say you hate your job. Jobs are hard to come by.” Students need to be prepared. Moore said it actually makes them more effective at job searching and finding the one that best fits them.
Also, Moore said a student can reach greater heights with more internships under their belts. One such student, Mitch Gurick, a business alum, applied for internships in his freshman year and every year following. Once out of college, Gurick landed a job at Google in Operations where he handles building and enhancing Human Resources at the company. Gurick said he partly attributes his success to the existence of the Job Fair hosted by Career Services during his first two years at Eastern. At the fair, he was introduced to two internship opportunities, at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and State Farm Insurance, which he managed to score in his first two years there. That led him to get an internship at JP Morgan the next year. Gurick said racking up internships was crucial to his success and benefited his learning experience to better equip him for the job market. “You get a larger breadth of what you want to do,” Gurick said. He added it is not up to Career Services to build success. They provide the tools, and the students must provide the initiative, Gurick said. Career Services members start notifying students of the importance of internships even before they begin their
first semester at Eastern. Moore said they explain early internships during
orientation. One of the internship programs Ca-
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reer Services coordinates involves working in the Charleston community at the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce. Cindy White, Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said the Chamber is one of the longest-running supporters of Easternʼs internship programs, giving students experience for around 25 years. White said these internship programs and initiatives ensure students have the edge over their competition with a robust line of experience. The university also prepares students for the job market through multiple workshops and seminars throughout the year to expose them to every aspect of job searching, normally once a week. Moore said they do so much programming that they operate at the same level as schools like the University of Illinois. In 2014, there were 3,953 students who attended one of the many EIU workshops and career fairs that took place that year. Moore said they are still working to boost student interest in utilizing Career Services. She said they invite students to the many workshops put on during the week. Several aspects go into preparing a student for the job market besides the lessons taught in the class. Moore said Career Services also offers counseling on anything from resume building to how to interview. In 2014, there were 2,773 students who made appointments for this kind of counseling.
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Jarad Jarmon, Journal Gazette/Times Courier Blake Berenz, an Eastern Illinois University student, attempts to secure advertisements during his internship with the Charleston Chamber of Commerce.
Moore said all of these things culminate into a student fully equipped to be successful in the job market. Molding students into experts is crucial to the furthering of the community overall advancement, she said. “The community benefits from the
students who are taught about work behaviors, work dress, how to communicate, how to solve problems, etc.,” she said. “Because we have that talent pool in Charleston, businesses such as Ruffalo Lovitz can have a call center here. That creates work and salaries
that students can spend on food at our local restaurants and grocery stores.” The job placement at Eastern was 87 percent in 2014, down slightly from a high of 90 percent in 2013. Contact Jarmon at jjarmon@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6839.
EDUCATION
High schools prepare students for college, trades By JARAD JARMON JG-TC Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Using a grant provided by the state, Mattoon High School, as well as Charleston and Oakland high schools, participate in a program that allows students, predominantly seniors, the chance to get an understanding of numerous health professions. These high schools offer a dualcredit class with Lake Land College in Mattoon that introduces students to various aspects of the field. They are taught basics of how patients are treated and are opened to the basics of what each profession in the field does. Halfway through the two-semester course (Basic Nurse Assisting), students will have ability become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) after pass-
ing a state-mandated test. Margaret Blair, the instructor of the class, said the test is rigorous, but once the student passes they have the qualifications to do several things in the health care field immediately. With this certification, they will be able to provide basic care to patients, as well as assist them in day-to-day activities they might not be able to do on their own, such as bathing or walking. Blair said many go off into the medical field, furthering their education in the field. In the latter half of the two-semester course, students go out and essentially shadow health care professionals in various places around the Coles County area. They are required to go to five different places and then spend four weeks at one of those places to get a better understanding of the work
that is done there. Blair said pediatrics and the women and children's center are popular among the students who attend. “They want to see babies delivered,” Blair said. The program essentially helps students figure out if they are in the field they want to be in, Blair said. “It is so important to know where you are headed before you get to college,” Blair said. “If you decide you want to go into nursing and youʼve spent three years in the nursing program, and then figure out it isn't for you, it would be horrible.” She said a lot of students find out if it is the right field while they are in the class. “They realize, in this class, it's not for them because they have to take care of patients here. A lot of the times they realize they don't have it in them,”
Blair said. “I like to have them know what they are doing because it is important to the kids.” Principal Michelle Sinclair said Mattoon High School has various classes similar to the health program, which was offered through the Eastern Illinois Education for Employment office. In a couple of the courses, Constructions Skills 1 and 2, students get
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hands-on knowledge of basics of construction. Throughout the courses, students actually build a house ranging from 1,500 to 1,600 square feet. The houses are then sold later on. They currently will be building a house on North 19th Street in Evergreen Court. Sinclair said the school is working on making it a dual credit course with Lake Land College. She said the classes will likely be dual credit next year. This will get the ball rolling with a building-related degree at Lake Land. “That would give our students a jump start on this two-year degree out a Lake Land,” Sinclair said. The school also offers several other dual credit courses to prepare students for future college plans and give them Continued from Pg. 8
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a leg up when they actually get to a university. These courses include Biology, Composition, Graphic Arts and Precalculus as well as other courses in the fields of business and music. “My role as principal of Mattoon High School is to make sure students are given options here that will prepare them for college, trade school, the workforce or the military,” Sinclair said. “This is why we offer our students a wide variety of college prep (dual credit courses) and vocational courses. We want our students to leave MHS prepared for the next step life has to offer them.” Contact Jarmon at jjarmon@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6839.
JG-TC - September 2015 9
Jarad Jarmon, Journal Gazette/Times Courier Margaret Blair, Basic Nurse Assisting course instructor, passes around bread for the students to touch for an experiment with mold. This experiment is meant to showcase the difference between sanitized and dirty hands.
EDUCATION
New computer club part of middle school approach
event, where they get to learn about careers that might interest them, Burgett also noted. He also said CMS teachers frequently invite guest speakers to talk to their classes about their professions.
By JG-TC STAFF
CHARLESTON -- Students' years between grade school and high school are a time to "expose them to what's out there," Charleston Middle School Principal Chad Burgett says. By that, he said, he means information and advice about possible careers along with other life skills, to go along what's taught in classrooms. "If we can expose them to different opportunities and allow them to find interests as they go, that's the most important thing at middle school," Burgett said. The approach is part of the goal of the school's new computer club that started this school year. Holly Pantle, CMS media center director and the club's sponsor, said middle school is a time of transition and learning about technology will do more than teach about a significant part of modern life. While the club will spend time working on how to operate various devices and deal with online safety, it will also help the students learn more about how they might use technology, including as a profession. "If you're starting to think about it now, you'll have a little more insight," Pantle said. "It's an opportunity for them to do some exploration." Some of the club's members are exciting about gaming possibilities and activities will include those that are appropriate and educational, Pantle said. The club will also help the students learn how to be safe and learn what's OK to share online, she added. As for possible careers in technology fields, Pantle said she wants the
Journal Gazette/Times-Courier file photo Charleston Middle School Principal Chad Burgett says the school's teachers regularly work with students on planning for their futures, and some of the school's activities also address that.
students to learn how to design an app, how to do programming and more. "I want the kids to become researchers themselves," she said. She also said she wants the CMS technology staff to talk to the club about how they got into their lines of work. Burgett also said part of the concept of a middle school is to include time for advisory, which has each teacher work with a particular group of students throughout the school year for help on a number of skills they need. For eighth-graders, that includes information on careers to help them decide what classes they might want to take when they get to high school the next year, he said.
He said the program also includes information on setting goals, resolving conflicts and other matters and he wants to expand the program and make it more consistent. CMS eighth-graders join others from throughout the area each year at Lake Land College's annual career day
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NONPROFITS
Community groups help people with many needs By ROB STROUD JG-TC Staff Writer
MATTOON -- The Catholic Charities resale shop raises money for this nonprofit organizationʼs social services programs and re-purposes many items that might otherwise take up landfill space. Donated clothing, toys, and many other items are available for purchase at resale prices in the shop at the Catholic Charities building, a re-purposed former Rural King store at 4217 DeWitt Ave. in Mattoon. “Our resale shop is what funds a majority of the services. For the most part, what the community donates to us is what sustains the program,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director Debbie Albin. She added that the organization also sells items on eBay and applies for grants. Catholic Charities provides assistance with food, clothing, housewares, furniture, baby clothing and formula, prescription medicine, and medical equipment for people who are in financial need. Albin said Catholic Charities recently started a mobile food program to serve other communities in its service area -Coles, Douglas and Edgar counties. They also annually offer a back-toschool backpack program and take part in the One Stop Community Christmas gift program organized by the Salvation Army. In addition to raising funds, Albin said the resale shop finds new uses for items that would otherwise end up in landfills. For example, she said they recently took old exam tables donated by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and turned them
into workbenches. Albin said they also repair broken furniture, recycle cardboard and shoes, reuse boxes to package food pantry items, and utilize donated shelving and clothing racks. “We re-purpose items and make them available. One personʼs trash is another personʼs treasure,” Albin said, noting that some items become props for local theatrical productions. The resale shop provides job skills training for special needs students from the Armstrong Program and volunteer opportunities for community members, as well. Albin said Catholic Charities regularly partners with and makes referrals to other charitable organizations, such as the Salvation Army. “I believe itʼs important for Catholic Charities to be part of the community and be there for anyone who needs help, whether itʼs individuals or other social service agencies,” Albin said. “Itʼs important we all work together to take care of our community and make our community a better place to live.” The Salvation Army of Coles and Cumberland counties is led by corps officers Daniel and Claudia Simmons, both lieutenants. Their service started on Aug. 12, 2014, at this post, 1300 Richmond Ave., Mattoon. “When we got here, we saw that the Salvation Army is involved in so much,” Daniel Simmons said. Simmons said the Salvation Army is first and foremost a church, which holds services at 11 a.m. every Sunday as part of the Universal Christian Church. “I think itʼs important that the Salvation Army, as a church, be involved and
Kevin Kilhoffer, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Employee Yelena Croft sorts clothing at Catholic Charities in Mattoon on Sept. 11.
interactive in the community,” Simmons said. The Salvation Army offers a volunteer-staffed food pantry, where people can choose the food that best meets their needs. Other services for people in financial need include clothing and furniture vouchers for the Salvation Army thrift store, emergency housing assistance, fuel vouchers, and rent and utility assistance. Simmons said they will soon offer case management for veterans -- particularly homeless veterans -- and their families. Simmons said they also offer womenʼs ministries, which organize nursing home visits and are planning an Oct. 24 craft bazaar, and offer a variety of childrenʼs programs. Children are served by a mobile food program in the summer, a summer youth program, Vacation Bible School in early September, and an after-school program with tutoring during the academic year. Simmons said participating children can earn badges for developing skills, such as playing team sports, fishing, and cooking. “The idea behind that is to build their character,” Simmons said.
The Salvation Armyʼs funding sources include the annual Christmas kettle drive and sales of donated items at the thrift store. Simmons said 33 percent of their income is derived from the thrift store. “It is really important to us that when we get donated money or someone buys something at the the thrift store; we are responsible with that money,” Simmons said. Contact Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 217238-6861.
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EMPLOYMENT
Large employers make big contributions to area By ROB STROUD JG-TC Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Coles County has a variety of large employers that together create a strong economic base locally and support community service projects. Examples of these employers include Eastern Illinois University and Lake Land College in higher education, Consolidated Communication in telecommunications and Internet service, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in health care, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust in finance, Rural King in retail, and R.R. Donnelleyʼs and other factories in manufacturing. “I think if you look at all the different sections, you can definitely see diversity,” said Angela Griffin, president of the Coles Together economic development organization. She added that Consolidated and First-Mid are both publicly traded companies based in Mattoon. These large employers tend to balance each other out so that Coles County is not dependent on one single large employer, Griffin said. If one segment of these large employers is not doing well, she said the economic impact to the community is offset by the stability of the others. Griffin said signs of economic growth can be seen in Sarah Bush Lincoln and Urbana-based Carle Foundation Hospital adding facilities and specialties locally, and in Donnelleyʼs, Lenderʼs Bagels, Mars Petcare and other factories hiring more workers and/or upgrading facilities. In addition, Griffin said Mattoonbased Rural King has filled the formerly empty Casey Tool & Machine building in Charleston as part of its growing Internet sales business. The number of Rural King stores served by the Mattoon distribution center has grown to more than 80. Griffin said the financial benefits of having these large employers in Coles County spills over to other segments of the economy, such as local construction and engineering firms handling their building projects. The employees of these large organizations also wield a substantial amount of collective economic power. “All of those folks are buying goods and services, buying homes, buying cars,” Griffin said, adding that the money from their purchases “turns over many times” in the local economy. The management and employees of large employers volunteer in many ca-
pacities within the community, as well. Michael Smith, chief marketing officer with Consolidated, said individual employees of Consolidated served a total of 55,000 volunteer hours last year in the community. He said the company, which has 375 employees in the area, encourages their community service. “For Consolidated, I think itʼs always been part of our culture to be active in the community and support community events,” Smith said, adding that Consolidated employees serve on boards for many community organizations. Consolidatedʼs community involvement also extends to charitable giving. Smith said the company donated $1.5 million, 5 percent of its pre-tax profits, to community development projects last year. Smith said this giving includes the Earning for Learning Program, through which Consolidated awards grants to help school districts and their teachers. He said the company has donated $3.3 million to local schools since 1993 through this program. Consolidated partners with other large employers for some community projects, such as teaming up with First Mid and Sarah Bush Lincoln to sponsor the annual Special Olympics Fam-
Dunn’s Ambulance Service
Rob Stroud, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Among large employers who call Coles County home and show leadership in the community is Consolidated Communications.
ily Festival on the campus of Lake Land. Consolidated founded this event in 1984. Smith said this partnership brings together an average of 1,200 volunteers each year to serve approximately 600 Special Olympians. “The more we do together, the bet-
ter off we are,” Smith said. Contact Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6861.
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JG-TC - September 2015 13
EMPLOYMENT
Local business owners are eager to give back By JG-TC STAFF A frequent comment from small business owners is that they want to give back to the community that's helped keep them in business. They also see their businesses as having a role in the makeup of the community itself, either as employers or as places their customers enjoy. Tom Porter, owner of the Porter Auto Body shops in Charleston and Mattoon, mentioned having someone who served as his mentor when he was in high school. "I appreciate what he did for me," Porter said. "I want to give other kids the same opportunity." The business is a corporate sponsor for Eastern Illinois University athletics in Charleston, takes part in high school sports sponsorships and also supports several youth sports programs. Porter also said he's been member of the Charleston Rotary Club for several years and feels it's important to work with a "service-based organization." He said he started working at a Charleston auto body shop when he was 15 years old, part of a high school work program. He bought the business 25 years ago and added the Mattoon location 11 years ago. Porter said he thinks a small business has to make a "strong commitment" to its customers but also to its employees because "your people make you."
Bernie DeBuhr, owner of DeBuhr's Feed and Seed in Mattoon, expressed much the same sentiment when talking about serving on the Mattoon High School ag advisory board and the Coles County 4-H board. The store is also the sponsor of the Bagel Bow Wow contest, which features friendly competitions for dogs during Mattoon's annual Bagelfest. "Mattoon has been good to us as a business," he said. "It's a way to give back to the community." Small businesses are "usually the first ones" that people approach for donations or support and the businesses usually oblige, DeBuhr also said. Such establishments also play an important role in the local economy, he added, partly because of the products they offer and "the uniqueness of a small business." But that's also because smaller businesses are often where young people get their first jobs, he said. "They learn work ethic and hopefully will be around a positive environment," DeBuhr said. Mark Elliott, owner of Mark's My Store in Mattoon, said the grocery sponsors several youth sports because he wants others to receive the benefits he did when he was involved in them. "I like to give back to something I was a part of," he said. He also said he thinks business support of such programs "helps the commu-
Journal Gazette/Times-Courier file photo The Bagel Bow Wow contest takes place during Mattoon's Bagelfest each year, and a scene from the 2015 event is shown. DeBuhr's Feed and Seed owner Bernie DeBuhr organizes the competition and says it's important for small business owners to contribute to the community.
nity grow" and can encourage young people to continue to support them when they get older. Locally owned grocery stores and other businesses are the "staple" of a community and it's important to help promote them, Elliott also said. "The city has to grow," he said. "The
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JG-TC - September 2015 15
EMPLOYMENT
Agriculture industry demands added job training By ROB STROUD JG-TC Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Agriculture has become a growth industry as the worldʼs population increases at a pace of two people being born every second. Jon Althaus, division chair for agriculture at Lake Land College in Mattoon, said this population boom has put a focus on the agriculture industry finding ways to get the best use out of available farmland, which is being encroached upon by urban expansion near large cities. “Agriculture has to be able to meet those types of needs,” Althaus said. “We have got to try to get the maximum amount of production and efficiency out of farmland that we can.” Althaus said there is consequently an increased demand for skilled employees to work in plant breeding, technology-aided precision agriculture, and other ag-related business and research. He said these are careers that require a strong understanding of science and technology. Studies conducted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., have found that U.S. college agriculture programs are only producing enough graduates to fill two-thirds of the available ag-related jobs in the nation, Althaus said. The division chair said he encourages students who are interested in science and technology to consider an education and a career in agriculture. “Agriculture is a field that can suit you very well,” Althaus said. “Agriculture students are in high demand.” Althaus said there are job opportunities in the area and beyond dealing with geographic information system software for farm equipment, fertilizers, agriculture chemicals, seeds, and grain and livestock production. “For young people, agriculture is a pretty good profession because there are so many things they can get involved in,” Althaus said. The agriculture industry continues to be an important segment of the local economy, particularly when corn and soybeans are being sold at high price levels, Althaus said. Farmers and others who work in agriculture spend money locally on goods and services, he noted. In addition, Althaus said farmland continues to be an essential part of the tax base for Lake Land and area school districts. Althaus said Lake Land has a 170acre laboratory of farmland on which faculty and students can research crop
Submitted photo John Deere Tech Instructor Allen Drake is pictured working with his students at Lake Land College's campus in Mattoon.
production with various herbicides, pesticides and seeds. He said the results of this research are available to the public. The division chair said Lake Land also partners with a several businesses in the area to provide internships and other educational opportunities for students. These partners include Effingham Equity, South Central FS, Farm Credit Services of Illinois, and Growmark Crop Production Services. One of Lake Land's partnerships has resulted in the college offering the John Deere Tech program. The enrolled students earn a salary while learning about John Deere equipment and servicing procedures at participating dealerships. Each student enrolling in the associate's in John Deere Tech program must have sponsorship from a John Deere dealership. Only 32 students a year are accepted into this program, one of only a few offered through the John Deere Co. in North America. “We are continually looking for the next opportunity,” Althaus said of these partnerships. Contact Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6861.
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GOVERNMENT
Cities use methods such as TIFs to restore communities By JARAD JARMON JG-TC Staff Writer
CHARLESTON -- With the creation and use of tax increment finance (TIF) districts, Charleston and Mattoon have been able to clean up and restore buildings in their downtown areas to help maintain the buildings' initial look. Revenue is generated from property taxes to allow the city to fund restoration projects to blights in the city. This is just one method that Mattoon and Charleston use to keep the heart of their cities up to date. With both cities, property owners within the district can apply for restoration work within the city. The city planner or administrator then looks through the application to decide which improvement is more needed. These improvements normally include helping give each building a facelift, essentially. The work often involves tuckpointing and other masonry work, like the facelift that is being done to the Uptowner and a couple of buildings next to it in Charleston. Using the $185,500 raised, the city provides the restoration of these buildings that are normally in need of a facelift and revitalization. Currently, Charleston is funding seven projects around or near the square that will improve the look of each building. Some of the major projects in-
clude the project on the Uptowner and two buildings next to it, roof repair to Lolaʼs Naturals and a new roof on Rocʼs Blackfront. The purpose is not only to ensure many of the downtown area buildings are pristine but also to promote business growth in the area. Kyle Gill, Mattoon city administrator, said the five TIF districts in Mattoon provide a fresh look so that businesses owners stay invested in their property. In Mattoon, TIFs do not cover the costs of an entire repair but alleviate some of the burden of restoring a building. The TIFs will take on 90 percent of up to $40,000 for any particular project. Gill said before the use of the TIFs, many owners in the downtown area were absentee and often did not reinvest in the maintenance of their buildings. “It has shown that, within the last 15 years, there have been several more businesses relocate into the midtown TIF,” Gill said. He said without some of these funded projects, some businesses may not have located themselves in Mattoon. Mattoon normally has $300,000 to use toward restoring its buildings. One such building project includes the building for Sears. TIFs covered the cost of new economical windows as well as the installation of insulation boards in the walls.
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Jarad Jarmon, Journal Gazette/Times Courier Kevin Tracy, right, and Cory Mason, both of Kross Masonry and restoration, tear out old brick from the Lincoln Bookstore in Charleston.
“TIFs have been another thing to incentivize people coming into the districts and into Mattoon,” Gill said. Restoration projects funded by the TIFs have cleaned up or enhanced several properties in the downtown and surrounding areas including the buildings housing Sound Source Music and Slumberland. The TIFs have also covered elevator repairs since the districts' implementa-
tion in 2004. Contact Jarmon at jjarmon@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6839.
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JG-TC - September 2015 17
GOVERNMENT
Senator helps lead the way on train delay solutions By JARAD JARMON JG-TC Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Movement has been made in efforts to resolve the infamous city traffic problems that arise as a result of the train yard and the many trains that stop there to unload and reload in the heart of town. So far, despite efforts from city officials and the help of those working at the train yard, traffic problems have been consistent at the train tracks leading to an entire section of the city cut off from the rest. “When they are blocking that intersection, a third of this town is cut off from the other two-thirds,” State Sen. Dale Righter said. Righter and his staff, along with the city, have been working to get some assistance from the state to help reach a solution on the issue. Working with the governorʼs office, the state Department of Transportation agreed to facilitate and pay for a feasibility study to find out alternative ways to rerouting traffic to ease congestion around the train yard and the train tracks, especially on Marshall Avenue between 21st Street and Lakeland Boulevard. “The feasibility study is designed to evaluate, at least to some extent, all of the possible alternatives for rerouting the traffic,” Righter said. “You don't just build something (to fix the problem). You look at all the ways you could do something, and find the one that makes the most sense.” Righter said the study is almost com-
plete and once the right course of action is decided, a timeline will be in place to solidify when the issue might be solved. It depends on the course of action how long it could take to fix the problem. Righter and the city have been dealing with the complaints of residents about the issues surrounding the railroad crossings for years. He said he has been talking with leaders for the railroads and the city for years. Early on, working with Canadian National, the railroad company that owns that tracks where many of the issues take place, Righter said he had small levels of success in mitigating the issue, but not solving it. He said simply asking the railroads to not block the tracks as long as trains often do is not enough to fix the problem, especially now. “The problem is just too severe now,” he said. Mattoon, as well as other areas downstate, were built around railroads and the train yards. Growth in the industry and in the town over the decades, especially within the last two to three years, has created an almost “insufferable problem,” Righter said. It has gotten to the point where it poses more issues than just making people late for work or school. “It has become not just a convenience problem. It has become a safety issue,” he said. This problem forced the need for a fire station to be built on the southwest third of the city that is cut off by the tracks. Medical and fire personnel need to reach
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Jarad Jarmon, Journal Gazette/Times Courier A Mediacom van, along with the three vehicles behind it (unseen), is stopped by a delayed train near the train yard in Mattoon. Trains around the train yard are notorious for stopping for long periods of time, blocking street traffic in the heart of town.
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HEALTH CARE AND FITNESS
Health care, fitness chances help residents to wellness By DAWN JAMES JG-TC Staff Writer
Health care and fitness opportunities abound in the Mattoon and Charleston area and are continuing to grow each and every year. Mattoon Area Family YMCA Angie Patrick, membership and marketing director at the Mattoon Area Family YMCA, said, "In the area of health and fitness, we are leading the way in the community by offering fitness programs for all ages." This includes fitness and aquatics classes for the active older adult. These programs help strengthen muscles and increase flexibility, improve balance and much more, she said. "We also offer classes such as Body Pump and TRX which improve strength while also offering cardio favorites such as Zumba, cycling and kickboxing. For those looking to relax and re-energize Yoga and Tai Chi are also available," Patrick said. The Y strives for optimal health also through programs such as Y-Change and Personal Training, she said. Patrick said, "At the Y our three areas of focus are Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. The Y is more than a gym as we strengthen mind, spirit and body through programs that encourage kids
to learn and grow while bringing community members together to not only seek health but to volunteer and give back to our community." The facility also finished its Wellness Wing last spring. The expansion allows for more classes to be held and makes the facility more convenient for the older members as it is located in the front of the studio, she said. The YMCA is waiving the joining fee on all new memberships until Sept. 30. This is up to a $75 savings, Patrick said. For more information, call Patrick or reach her via email apatrick@mattoonymca.org. The Mattoon Area Family YMCA is located at 221 N. 16th St.. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center According to Lindsey Williamson, MS, healthy living fitness manager at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, the Center for Healthy Living opened in October of 2014. The center offers Ranchero Clinic (primary care physicianʼs office), Medical Weight Management, SBL employee wellness, and the Fitness Center. Each of these services is geared toward the Sarah Bush Lincoln mission statement of creating healthy communities, she said. "Our most recent expansion, the Center for Healthy Living, houses a fitness center which offers a medical exercise program to community
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Journal Gazette/Times-Courier file photo Volunteers led by personal trainer Cindy Hamilton are pictured demonstrating the new TRX Suspension Training system at the Mattoon Area Family YMCA.
members. This is an exceptional program in which community residents can join a structured fitness program via doctor referral. Essentially, doctors prescribe exercise and the SBL fitness center carries out the treatment (exercise)." The program is a 120-day program in which participants receive a customdesigned exercise and lifestyle pro-
gram to help them achieve their goals and manage chronic illness. Participants work with an exercise specialist and a dietician to achieve results through an individualized exercise and nutrition plan, she said. In addition, Williamson said there are no similar programs in the area to what Sarah Bush Lincoln offers with its medical exercise program.
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"The medical exercise program aims to help our community: enhance quality of life, manage chronic conditions, prevent avoidable hospitalizations, delay onset/re-occurrence of symptoms, support individual goals, and achieve a consistent fitness program," she said. "Building the Center for Healthy Living and implementing the Medical Exercise Program is a great example of how Sarah Bush Lincoln is striving to create healthy communities," said Williamson. In addition, Dr. Abdur Shakir, Regional Cancer Center medical director, shared what Sarah Bush Lincoln is offering in terms of cancer care. "We have a concentrated effort on bringing the most sophisticated cancer treatment in a rural setting. "Since I have started five years ago we have made some pretty dramatic changes. We have acquired our own PET scan in our office so a patient's cancer status is received the same day," he said. "We have developed a lung cancer screening program and are one of the first to do so in Central Illinois," Shakir said. "We were one the first in central Illinois to use Radium 223 for prostate cancer patients, and we are one of the first cancer centers in Central Illinois to do next generation sequencing on tumors to look for targeted therapies. "These are a select few things that have put us on the forefront of cancer Continued from Pg. 18
Leading the Way
treatment in Central Illinois," he said. Dr. Shakir added, "Our current cancer center just cannot accommodate the volume of patients we have at the moment. The community, SBLHS, patients, doctors all have come together and agreed a larger cancer center is needed for our great community. "Our current center is 8,400 square feet. The plan is to have a state of the art 21,000 square-foot center. "This $15.8 million dollar project will bring a center to patients that are undergoing the most grueling treatment in medicine," Shakir said. "It will not just be a place for chemotherapy and radiation but will be a place of comfort. "This new center has allowed us to continue and expand our relationship with the University of Illinois at Chicago, with the plan of bringing the most state of the art clinical trials program in Central Illinois. "This larger center will also be able to accommodate patients and their families, and will have a state-of-the art linear accelerator (radiation therapy) for patients." Shakir also said Sarah Bush Lincoln has done a lot more in the past five years to enhance healthier lifestyles, including the following: • developing a wellness screening for SBLHS employees, • expanded cardiology service • started a neurology team • weight management program • lobby renovation
JG-TC - September 2015 19
• laboratory department expansion • cancer support group • created a service for patients to see how they are doing "All of these great programs gives patient resources that are not available in other communities and was not available here five years ago," Shakir said. "The field of medicine is evolving, and we as a system have continued to evolve with the advances in patient care." Lauren Bollan also shared what Sarah Bush Lincoln does in terms of educating kids throughout the area. SBL offers a 5-2-1 Almost None Curriculum in area classrooms. The program emphasizes a healthier lifestyle by focusing on eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, spending no more than two hours a day in front of an electronic screen, getting at least one hour of physical activity per day and drinking almost no sugary beverages. She also shared information on the KickStart Mobile. "For us, that's a classroom on wheels," she said. It has several interactive features, and includes jump ropes and other physical fitness options. It also has a sound system for music while the students exercise. Carle Clinic Carle-Mattoon is leading the way in improving care not only in the community, but also throughout the region, said Aja Lystila, MD, medical director
at Carle Mattoon-Charleston. Lystila said their new facility on Hurst Drive is the first primary care facility at Carle to implement the Medical Home model of care, which is a patient-centered approach allowing physicians, nurse practitioners and other members of the team to provide support to the patient. It is more an effective way to manage care and more efficient, he said. That ultimately means the patient has received even more comprehensive care, the medical director said. In the past two years Carle has opened a new clinic on Hurst Drive and the Carle Heart and Vascular Institute on Lerna Road. The clinic allows doctors to see more patients in a private, comfortable and efficient way. The Heart and Vascular Institute opened this past February and provides a variety of highly specialized services to diagnose, monitor and follow up with patients needing cardiac care all in one place using the latest technology. In addition, Carle is offering diabetes care as part of the Recognized Program through the American Diabetes Association. Lystila said Carle's diabetes results are among the best across the Carle organization thanks to programs and resources tailored to the patient needs. This is also a product of the Patient Centered Medical Home, he said.
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REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT
Leaders develop workers, sites for employers, too By JG-TC STAFF
Helping manufacturers with the workers they need to stay where they are and to expand is the top priority for Coles County's economic development agency, its leader says. Meanwhile, cities' attempts to draw retail establishments and other businesses is largely matching them with the right place, officials say. The "top of the list" for helping manufacturers is ensuring a skilled workforce, said Angela Griffin, president of the Coles Together economic development agency. Griffin said manufacturing is "making a comeback" and there are more jobs, many of which are technology based and not limited to manual labor. "Many have expressed the sentiment about the lack of manufacturing skills in the workforce," she said. "That's why it's so important for us to approach this concern." For the last three years, Griffin has spent time at Charleston, Mattoon and Oakland high schools working in a program that teaches sophomores about their choices after they graduate. It also helps them with the decisions they need to make during high school and includes messages about staying in school and developing a good work ethic, she said. Also, Coles Together recently started to contribute and raise funds for some students' tuition in what's called a Career Academy at Lake Land College in Mattoon. High school juniors and seniors can get dual credit in different subjects and can finish with a one-year certificate Griffin said many employers are interested in having as their workers' qualifications. She said Coles Together also works with the three high schools in the county to identify students who might be interested in the program. And "to help tie it all together" is "Manufacturing Day," planned for Oct. 2. High school students will be able to tour manufacturing facilities to learn about careers, perhaps ones they might not have thought about entering, Griffin said. The event will cover different jobs, not just actual manufacturing positions, and Lake Land will also do presentations on programs it has for those interested in any of the careers, she also said. "It lets kids know these are opportunities and there are ways you can develop a plan," Griffin said. Meanwhile, Charleston city officials
are collaborating with property owners to find businesses willing to locate there, city Manager Scott Smith said. The city hired a consultant to identify businesses that are growing and locating in communities similar to Charleston, then possibly match them with available locations, he said. "It's a challenge for us to go after retail development," Smith said, and many are reluctant to open a new store fairly close to nearby markets -- Champaign-Urbana; Terre Haute, Ind.; Effingham -- where they're already located. Smith said there's been "some increased interest" from businesses because of the approach, and there have been some visits to Charleston by interested businesses, though he wouldn't identify them. It's also "making sure Charleston's on the radar" and building relationships with businesses that might be willing to locate in the city, he said. "I feel like this is the best route to take," Smith said. "I'm optimistic." The city of Mattoon has used a consultant in the past but is now mostly relying on the demographics and materials already on hand to provide prospective businesses with the information they need, city Administrator Kyle Gill said. City officials stay in contact with the owners of properties that could be the
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Journal Gazette/Times-Courier file photo A conceptual drawing of the Sears Hometown store planned for a remodeled building on Broadway Avenue in Mattoon is shown. Local government and economic development officials say they use a variety of methods to try to draw employers to the area and help businesses develop.
locations for retail shops, he also said. "If they have any leads we try to give them any information about our community," Gill said. Some businesses, such as the Sears Hometown store and the Denny's restaurant that have plans to locate in Mattoon, contacted the city, Gill also said. City officials helped with possible locations and information about their potential customer base, he
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JG-TC - September 2015 21
REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT
Area known for stable residential real estate market By PENNY WEAVER JG-TC Editor
CHARLESTON -- When it comes to home values and the residential real estate market across Coles County, the key word is "stability." And that helps draw new employers, says one real estate leader, improving the community for all. "The stability ... and affordability of homes in our area are definitely things that for employers looking at the area ... would be a big draw," said Mike Staton, president of the Central Illinois Board of Realtors and a realtor at Coldwell Banker Classic Real Estate in Charleston. Staton attributes quite a bit of this to steady top employers in Coles County. “We have some pretty stable economic factors in our area," he said, citing as examples Mattoon-based Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System and Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. "Our big employers are generally very stable.” Current trends largely support that history, although state budget cuts affecting Eastern are also having an effect on the Charleston residential real estate market, Staton noted. Through the end of July, Charleston saw an additional 19 units sold versus last year, which is a 16.5 percent increase, he said. But Staton added, "One of the things thatʼs really affecting Charleston right now is the investment properties.” He called that portion of the market "stagnant," noting that many sites are considered single family but are viewed as college rentals. With enrollment at Eastern down, some of those rentals are more difficult to fill. The average Charleston residential real estate price through the end of July is up 3.1 percent over 2014, Staton noted, and the median price is up 8 percent over the prior year. From 2014 to 2015, as of the end of July, Mattoon saw a 19 percent increase in units sold, Staton said. Another notable point is that inventory in Mattoon is at a less than six-month supply. "Inventoryʼs been really down in Mattoon over where it typically is in Mattoon at this time of year, which is not necessarily a bad thing but is something that weʼve been observing," Staton said. Compared to last year, the average home price in Mattoon is down 5.5 percent, with the median price down 0.7 percent. “Mattoon is a market that fluctuates
between 5 and 10 percent per year," Staton said. "Over time itʼs an extremely steady market. Over time theyʼre both (Charleston and Mattoon) extremely stable markets.” As Coles County avoids both large surges in residential real estate prices and big decreases in prices, buyers can typically benefit from that stability. “To me itʼs one of those things that allows people to know that their investmentʼs a little bit safer," Staton said. "For a lot of people, when someone new does come into the market or into our area … theyʼre very pleased with the bang for the buck.” In Mattoon, the average home price is $83,000, for example, with the median price coming in at $72,500. Staton pointed out that the nearby market in Champaign sees prices twice that. “It can make a huge difference," he said. For example, in smaller Coles County towns such as Ashmore and Lerna, the market is tougher when gas prices creep up, as many people commute to larger cities. Mattoon and Charleston are the area's biggest towns, next to Champaign-Urbana. “For Mattoon/Charleston, weʼre kind of the Mecca in the area," Staton said. "Weʼre far bigger" than other Coles County towns. Staton advises, "Don't use your home as a piggy bank," but says the
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Kevin Kilhoffer, Journal Gazette/ TImes-Courier The housing market in both Charleston (pictured) and Mattoon is historically a stable one, according to Mike Staton, president of the Central Illinois Board of Realtors.
stability in Coles County is a real plus. “Itʼs a safe place if you invest money in your community -- youʼre usually okay," he said. Contact Weaver at pweaver@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6863.
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RECREATION
Gems across county offer many options for leisure time By DAWN JAMES FOR THE JG-TC
Coles County residents and visitors have plenty of opportunities for recreation, ranging from trails for bicycling, running and walking to bird watching and more. Recent and continuing improvements on these sites are drawing more people to try them out. Trails have much to offer mountain biking enthusiasts Since April, area hikers and mountain biking enthusiasts have had an opportunity to enjoy their hobbies at Woodyard Conservation Area. The trails were expanded, connecting Lakeview Park and the new riprap trail up to the Alex Russell Memorial Pier at Lake Charleston. Bike & Hike store Manager Brendan Lynch said, "What was once 1.1 miles of trails is now an approximately 5-mile loop with entrance points at Lakeview, Woodyard and the pier -- with plans to eventually extend the trails farther." Charleston Engineer/Technician Chad Isley and Assistant Director of Public Works Greg Culp were instrumental in the trail's design and execution, Lynch said; Lynch and Isley met up with officials from the International Mountain Bicycling Association to ensure the trails were up to standards, he said. As the trails wind through the park and the conservation area, they rarely take the form of a flat path -- and there's a reason for that. On certain sloped sections, the crew cut areas known as benches to make the ground easier to traverse, Isley said. A portion of the slope is flattened, enough so that bikers and hikers can make their way through but not enough to allow water to pool and make the trail muddy, he said. Even when the trail isn't sloped, it's often going up and down -- Lynch said the straighter the path, the more chance for water pooling that could impede progress. The crew that worked on the project took great pains to ensure the trails would be around for generations to come -- and that meant foreseeing potential problems with erosion, he said. That's where the different groups came in at. "Basically, every resource that we had -- whether it was forest service, or the International Mountain (Bicycling) Association or the sheer intellectual firepower of the Public Works engineers -- we levied into this area," Lynch said. In other areas, the crew had to be more creative. One slope near the beginning of the Woodyard trails (or ending, depending on which way the biker/hiker is traveling) is so steep the crews had to add gravel amendment under the soil for better traction. In order to traverse the small ravine at the bottom of the slope, Public Works installed drainage pipe to support a small path.
The goal was to make the environment seem as natural as possible; the crew actually incorporated things such as fallen trees into the path, Isley said. One point along the trail features several logs stacked over a fallen tree -- somewhat of a challenge but not too difficult for bikers to get over," Lynch said. Bike trail extensions in the works The Mattoon City Council approved a land exchange in June aimed at helping to eventually extend the city's bike trail west from 10th Street to the Mattoon Area Family YMCA building, 221 N. 16th St. This plan will utilize former railroad property that runs east-west through Mattoon. From the YMCA, the city will acquire 8,170 square feet of former railroad property between 15th and 16th streets north of the Upchurch Group building. In exchange for this property, the city will give the YMCA $23,500 and approximately 450 square feet of city-owned property on the northwest side of the YMCA building. The YMCA has been leasing this property from the city and has built a small office wing there. Bike trail extension in the works to Douglas-Hart Nature Center Mattoon's city council last year approved a lease agreement that will allow the grant application process to move forward for the bike trail extension to Douglas-Hart Nature Center. The council called a special meeting to authorize the lease agreement between the city and the nature center to satisfy specifications of the grant application. If awarded, the $46,500 grant will aid in the funding of a bike path that will connect the existing bike trail to the DouglasHart Nature Center parking lot. The 450-foot path will be constructed on a property that has been purchased separately by the Douglas-Hart Foundation. The project was to include demolition of a vacant home at 2121 Dewitt Ave. East. Landscaping and bike crossing road signage will be part of the cost of the project. The grant allocation will be divided evenly between the city and the foundation, while the remaining costs of the project will be divided between the two parties. Group nears fundraising goal for nature preserve purchase A stewardship group is well on its way toward raising money to buy what would be its third nature preserve in Coles County. The Urbana-based Grand Prairie Friends is set to close the sale for the land known as Scaggs Woods near Fox Ridge State Park but is still accepting donations for the project, group President Jamie Ellis said. Recent news of grant funding for the project marks the latest in the "generous donations" that have been received, Ellis
Kevin Kilhoffer, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Trails through the Woodyard Conservation Area, connecting Lakeview Park and the new riprap trail up to the Alex Russell Memorial Pier on Lake Charleston, were more than a decade in the making and a year-and-a-half in construction.
said. "We've had a really good show of support," he said. "We know there's a core group of people who really care about this project."
Grand Prairie Friends is still accepting donations, Ellis said. Anyone wanting to contribute to or learn more about the project can go to the Grand Prairie Friends website,
“We know there’s a core group of people who really care about this project.” Since 2012, Grand Prairie Friends has purchased two other tracts of land in the same part of southeastern Coles County. The latest is a 92-acre tract that neighbors the others, Warbler Woods Nature Preserve and Embarras Ridges Land and Water Preserve. Ellis said the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation recently notified Grand Prairie Friends that it approved the entire $190,000 the group requested for the project. An earlier grant of $100,000 from the Mattoon-based Lumpkin Family Foundation and about $30,000 in other donations will cover the $295,000 purchase price and some of the money need for work at the site, he said. The Illinois Clean Energy Foundation grant includes $10,000 for stewardship work such as removing non-native plant species from the property, Ellis said. Grand Prairie Friends budgeted a total of $338,000 to be able to include a parking lot, signs and informational brochures about the site, he added. The group also wants to build a trail system through all three of the sites at some point, he also said. To cover the remaining expenses,
grandprairiefriends.org/scaggs-woodsfunding.php. Donations can also be mailed to Grand Prairie Friends, P.O. Box 36, Urbana, IL 61803. Ellis said after the sale's finalized Grand Prairie Friends members will conduct a more thorough examination of the new property and decide what restoration and other work needs to take place. He said some type of public event will likely take place at the new property at some point, likely this fall. Contact James at djames@jg-tc.com or 217238-6866.
369-0911
Michael Stanfield Realtor Buy or Sell Farms - Homes Commercial
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