[Scott County office holders, department heads and employees who were available for the photo]
Scott County Employees turn out for America 250
Scott County employees gathered on the courthouse steps Monday, June 1st, for a photo in the spirit of America’s semiquincentennial. According to Eric Tuey, Court Security Deputy: “This is the first picture that we’re aware of with employees, office holders, and department heads in 187 years. One possible exception could be a photo from the mid-1800s outside the first courthouse.”
After the photo, the America 250 flag was raised at the courthouse. The flag will fly until Labor Day, then be displayed inside.
Various employees have completed several civic pride projects for the 250th anniversary. These projects are:
- Improved lighting to the town clock on the courthouse
- Replacement of an outdoor sign at the county-owned Ebaugh Park north of Winchester
- Welcome sign inside courthouse entrance
- Framed photographs displayed in the courthouse of past and present Scott County
- Remodeling of the announcement board located outside the courthouse
Projects that remain are repairs to the clock bell, which has not rung in many years, and new signage at the courthouse to direct visitors.
Scott County is the eighth-smallest Illinois County by square miles and the seventh-smallest by population. The county has around 125 full and part-time workers. The majority work at the county-owned nursing center.
“We have a great bunch of county employees; we all work well together, and we’re happy to help our citizens or anyone who comes to our county,” added Tuey.
Juneteenth panel discussion on June 19 to tie in to Underground Railroad Exhibit at Jacksonville Area Museum
The process, excitement and challenges of making stories like the Underground Railroad come alive during the Social Media Age will be the focus of a panel discussion to be held on Juneteenth, Friday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church at 331 E. State Street in Jacksonville. The event, which is free and open to the public, is being held in conjunction with the “Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad” exhibit currently on display at the Jacksonville Area Museum at 301 E. State Street.
Panel discussion participants include:
- Dr. Brian Mitchell, a well-known African American historian, former Director of Research and Interpretation at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and currently the Center for Lincoln Studies Public Humanities Fellow at the University of Illinois Springfield.
- Dr. Brittany Yancy, Illinois College professor of 20th-century U.S. History with a focus on social movements, urban radicalism, critical race theory, women’s activism, and black women’s political and intellectual history.
- Kathryn Harris, former director at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and a first-person interpreter of historic African American women.
- Ruth Linear, local historian and director of the Jacksonville African American History Museum.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Jacksonville Area Museum Manager Tori Ohl and museum board member and historian Chad Boehlke. A tour of the Underground Railroad exhibit at the Jacksonville Area Museum will be offered following the June 19 program.
“Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad” highlights the courageous stories of freedom seekers and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them on the Underground Railroad in Illinois. The exhibit is open to the public at the Jacksonville Area Museum through August 1, 2026 during the museum’s normal hours of operation: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays.
The next special program in support of the exhibit will be on Saturday, July 11 at 6 p.m. when local historian Chad Boehlke will conduct a guided tour of Underground Railroad-related grave sites at Diamond Grove Cemetery. The July 11 program is free and open to the public.
“Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad” is proudly presented by The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, also known as Looking for Lincoln.
Visit jacksonvilleareamuseum.org or connect with the Jacksonville Area Museum on Facebook for more information or to find out how to become a museum member or volunteer.
Express Employment Professionals holding open interviews
Open interviews will take place every Thursday in June. There are two interview time blocks: 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. The interviews will be held at Express Employment, located at 901 W. Morton Ave. #104 in Jacksonville. Walk-ins are welcome. Scan QR code to register or call 217-245-5700 for more information.
