Around The Town

Andras, Mouilish join Jacksonville Memorial’s Board of Directors: A local banker and a well-known business owner have joined the Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Board of Directors.  

Kim Andras, a commercial/agriculture loan officer at CNB Bank & Trust in Chapin, and Saif Mouilish, founder and CEO of SafeCo group, best known locally for its donut shop and bakery, were recently elected to serve four-year terms on the nonprofit hospital’s board. 

Andras serves on the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce board, University of Illinois Extension Council and is a member of Faith Bible Church in Springfield. Andras lives with her husband, Will, and their two children, Peri and Peyton, in Manchester, where they raise purebred Red Angus cattle. 

Mouilish operates SafeCo group, which oversees the SafeCo Donuts and Bakery brand, the Old Fashioned Delights brand and the Trolley Stop brand. Mouilish lives in Jacksonville with his spouse and three children. Outside of operating his business, his interests include classic car trading and investing, professional soccer, Taekwondo and cycling. 

Mouilish replaces retiring board member Nancy Spangenberg, who served 12 years on the board. Andras fills the seat vacated by Greg Lepper, who served for a decade.

The Jacksonville Memorial Hospital board of directors comprises 16 members. In addition to Andras and Mouilish, members are Douglas Awe, Chris Barrett, Reginald Benton, Barbara Farley, Dr. Daniel Hallam, Dr. James Hinchen, Lindsay McQueen, Maryjane Million, Polly Pulley, Dr. Peter Russotto, Kelly Staake, Stephen Symons, Thomas Veith and Bradley Wilson.


2022 Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot winners announced: The winners from the January 15 event held at The JHS Bowl are as to follow. First place finishers advanced to District Hoop Shoot, held on January 22 at 11 a.m. at The JHS Bowl.

Girls 8-9

1st place: Mayla York – Triopia; 2nd place: Kinsley Fryman – Winchester; and 3rd place: Rylan Blakeman – Eisenhower

Girls 10-11

1st place: Addilynn Tracy – Triopia; 2nd place: Mia Sievers – Winchester; and 3rd place: Alivia Heinemann – North

Girls 12-13

1st place: Grace Cleveland – OSS

Boys 8-9

1st place: Maddox Chapman – Winchester; 2nd place: Jack Whalen – OSS; and 3rd place: Jace Lay – Eisenhower

Boys 10-11

1st place: Tate York – Triopia; 2nd place: Jagger Jamison – Eisenhower; and 3rd place: Griffin Mossman – OSS

Boys 12-13

1st place: Charlie Smith – Winchester; 2nd place: Adam Abell – OSS; and 3rd place: Grant Fricke – Triopia


The Morgan County Republican Central Committee announces Myers as appointment: The Morgan County Republican Central Committee is proud to announce they will be recommending Crystal Myers for the appointment to serve out the remainder of Kim Mitchell’s term as Morgan County Treasurer. Mitchell announced her resignation effective January 30, to pursue business opportunities outside of the state of Illinois.

Myers has served as Morgan County Chief Deputy Treasurer for many years. A lifelong resident of Morgan County, she graduated from Jacksonville High School and MacMurray College. She has years of experience in municipal government and mortgage and commercial banking.

Myers is married to Bob Myers, and they have two daughters.

Myers is looking forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Morgan County in a more visible role.

The committee thanks Kim Mitchell for her service to our county and wish her and her husband good luck in their new venture.

Morgan County Republican Party Chairman Steve Hardin said, “Crystal is the perfect choice for this position. Her many years in the office will allow her to seamlessly replace Mitchell.”


Kiwanis schedules .5k event in April; seeks beneficiary applications: The Jacksonville Kiwanis Club’s annual .5k Walk, Skip, Run or Roll for charity will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, at Don’s Place in downtown Jacksonville. Participants only have to travel a short .5k route — approximately 1/3 of a mile — to Bahan’s Tavern to complete the race.

The charity event has raised nearly $60,000 over the past decade under the direction of Jacksonville residents Bruce and Dessa Surratt. While the duo has turned over the reins to a committee of Kiwanis organizers, they will remain involved and supportive of the event.

The .5k committee is currently seeking applicants from nonprofit organizations to benefit from the proceeds of the fundraiser, as well as businesses or individuals who are willing to serve as sponsors. Contact Gary Scott at 217-370-9058 or gscott@wlds.com; Lauren Dwyer at lauren@beardimplement.com or 618-946-2323; or Kristin Jamison at kristin@jredc.org or 217-719-9215 for more information.


Council for Exceptional Children Chapter 99 to host workshop on February 1: The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Chapter 99 will host a workshop via Zoom on February 1 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The workshop will be conducted by Bev Johns and will focus on “Accommodating Students in Academics and Behavior: The After Effects of the Pandemic on Students and Supports Needed.” Johns is a former adjunct professor at MacMurray College, an author and well-known speaker.

 The workshop is free for parents, family members, students, paraprofessionals and CEC members. To register, email cecchapter99@gmail.com. Please include the date of the meeting, your name, email, address, phone and school, if applicable. 

 Teachers and other professionals should go to: cec99.org to pay the $15 fee, which includes professional development hours. Or send a check to: CEC Chapter 99, P.O. Box 475, Jacksonville, IL 62651. If you have special needs, notify email above.


Library Event: ‘The Chicago Cub Shot for Love: A Showgirl’s Crime of Passion and the 1932 World Series’ to be held February 1: On July 6, 1932, Violet Popovich argued with her former boyfriend, Chicago Cub Billy Jurges, and pulled a gun out of her purse. Both were wounded in the ensuing struggle, but Jurges refused to press charges. Even without their star shortstop, Chicago made it to the World Series, only to be on the wrong end of Babe Ruth’s legendary “Called Shot” home run. Join Jack Bales, author of “The Chicago Cub Shot for Love: A Showgirl’s Crime of Passion and the 1932 World Series,” as he uses original photographs, newspaper articles, and interviews with Popovich and Jurges family members to profile the lives of the ill-fated couple and trace the ripple effects of the shooting on the Cubs’ tumultuous season.

Jack Bales is a native of Aurora and received his B.A. in English from Illinois College. In 1980, he moved to Fredericksburg and served as the Reference and Humanities Librarian for 40 years at the University of Mary Washington.

This presentation will take place on Zoom and can be viewed at home or on the TV in the Jacksonville Public Library’s meeting room on Tuesday, February 1 at 7 p.m.

To register to be on Zoom, please email Sarah at ssnyder@jaxpl.org to receive the Zoom link. No registration required for in-person attendance. Find out more at jaxpl.org. The Jacksonville Public Library is located 201 W. College Ave. and can be reached via phone at 217-243-5435.


CASSCOMM presents check to Jacksonville Center for the Arts: CASSCOMM Sales Representative Joe Kaufmann (center) presents to Jacksonville Center for the Arts (JCA) Board Members Richard Basden and Mary Fergurson a $5,000 check to support the JCA Civic Center, which is to be built on the lot across from the Jacksonville Municipal Building. CASSCOMM is a local broadband, cable TV provider in the community.

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