CD of A Salad Luncheon returns August 2:
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas are holding their annual salad luncheon on Wednesday, August 2, starting at 11 a.m.
In fact, this will mark the return of the group’s annual luncheon fundraiser to a physical location as the group had been forced to hold the event virtually due to COVID-19. The most recent event otherwise was in 2019.
The CD of A Salad Luncheon will be held at the Knights of Columbus, 320 E. State St. in Jacksonville. Seating for the salad luncheon will be at 11 a.m. and at noon. Carry out and express lanes will be available as well.
Tickets for the event are $10 — they are being sold at Jacksonville’s County Market, All Occasions Flowers & Gifts and The Source Newspaper. Additionally, tickets can be purchased from an CD of A member or at the door. Proceeds benefit local charities.
“We are excited to see everyone in person again. We hope to hold a great event this year and greatly appreciate everyone’s participation and support,” said Sue Tapscott. Tapscott and Joan Ryan are the co-chairs of the 2023 CD of A Salad Luncheon.
About CD of A: The Catholic Daughters of the Americas is a charitable organization of Catholic and religious women who “strive to embrace the principle of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all.” The nonprofit was incorporated in Utica, New York on June 18, 1903.
CASSCOMM celebrates 125 years of locally owned business:
CASSCOMM, a leading provider of communications in Central Illinois, is excited to share that the company is celebrating its 125th year in business and in connecting people, businesses and communities. Such a significant milestone showcases CASSCOMM’s commitment to providing reliable and innovative services to its customers.
In 1898, CASSCOMM began its long and successful journey. William McKinley was president of the United States, 22 years after Alexander Graham Bell successfully received a patent for the telephone. In 1898, CASSCOMM (then known as Cass Telephone Co.) was granted a franchise as Virginia and Little Indian Telephone Company.
The telephone wires ran from the community of Little Indian to Virginia, providing telephone service within the city limits. The construction wires were strung along roadsides, and attached to any stable device available such as trees, poles, sheds and to whatever else they could attach.
CASSCOMM is a six-generation family-run business now headed by the great-great-grandson president and CEO, Sam Gill. CASSCOMM has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of technology and communication services throughout its long history. CASSCOMM’s expertise and dedication have helped shape the industry for a century and a quarter. Since 1898, CASSCOMM has grown its name and services to be a local household staple that customers can rely on without question.
Over its entire life, CASSCOMM has offered reliable landline telephone services to its customers and still has many communities with landline home phones today.
In 1965, Gerald Gill Sr. launched Cass Cable TV services, offering 12 local channels in its coverage areas. Today, CASSCOMM is still a TV provider, offering customers HD channels over a modern fiber optic network.
In 1996, CASSCOMM took a chance on 54k dial-up Internet access, not knowing where it would lead. With more than 18,000 customers today, this move in 1996 turned out to be a wise choice by the company.
In 2018, CASSCOMM and its board of directors made the decision to be proactive in the broadband world and start a plan to upgrade all of its communities from coaxial cable to fiber optics and connect everyone to Fiber To The Home (FTTH). Today, CASSCOMM has completed more than over 75% of its upgrades in its community footprint and will be done by the end of 2024.
CASSCOMM President and CEO Sam Gill said, “As the company’s sixth-generation president, I am thrilled to carry forward the rich legacy and values that have defined our company over the years. With the recent surge in demand for access to reliable high speed fiber Internet access, we are entering a new era as a telecommunications provider, focusing on expanding our broadband capabilities, while still continuing to enhance our cable TV offerings, and providing state-of-the-art telephone services.”
In celebration of its 125th anniversary, CASSCOMM is expressing gratitude to its loyal customers, employees and community partners who have supported us throughout the years, by offering 4 months of free fiber internet to 125 lucky customers. As CASSCOMM embarks on its next chapter of its journey, the company extends its heartfelt thanks to all those who have been a part of CASSCOMM’s success story. CASSCOMM is excited about the future and looks forward to serving its communities for years to come!
CASSCOMM’s current footprint includes 34 communities in 9 counties. CASSCOMM provides services to more than 18,000 customers. CASSCOMM is still centrally located in Virginia and offers local technician and customer service help to all its communities.
MCS Community Services announces scholarship winners:
The MCS Community Services 2023 scholarship winners from Morgan County are:
• Jessica Howard of Jacksonville — She received a $2,000 scholarship. Howard will be attending Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville, where she will study elementary education.
• Adayshia Jackson — A 2023 graduate from Jacksonville High School, she received a $2,000 scholarship. Jackson will be attending Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville, where she will study criminal justice.
• Rileigh Kerchowski-Cox of Jacksonville — A 2018 graduate from Pittsfield High School, she received an $2,000 scholarship. Simmons will be attending Lewis and Clark Community College, where she will study dental hygiene.
These scholarships are funded by a grant from a Federal Community Services Block Grant administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities. MCS is governed by the Morgan, Cass, and Scott county boards of commissioners.
