Page 1

My visit with the Carters in Plains
The session was led off by a no-nonsense tough woman, who taught Amy Carter fourth grade. Jan Williams, who owns the only hotel in Plains, runs the show. She sets the rules in a way that you don’t even want to come close to breaking them. Plus, she has the Secret Service to back her up.

Bowls on a stick
Back then, Springfield’s industrial base already was eroding, and civic leaders looking for new industries to bring to town were delighted when someone told them that a new industry was already here, in the form of tourism.

The chicken and the egg
Let’s look at Perdue Farms. Perdue is a $6 billion poultry giant (the fourth largest in the U.S., producing 676 million chickens in 2015).

LETTERS
CORREX In the March 2, 2017, article, “The vanishing Statehouse press corps,” Tara McClellan McAndrew misstated that the Illinois News Network, which the Illinois Policy Institute describes as its “independent project,” provides audio for free. The Network provides copy for free.

Rauner and sugar both unpopular here
The poll of 800 registered voters taken Feb. 15-20 for the American Heart Association found that Rauner is backed by just 32 percent against an unnamed Democrat, who would receive 47 percent. But a new penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks is actually supported by a majority of those polled, 56 percent, compared to 41 percent who oppose it.

Museum preserves memory of Civil War veterans
A museum in Springfield curated by direct descendants of Civil War veterans strives to honor their ancestors’ memory. Located at 503 South Walnut Street, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUVCW) Museum allows visitors to study the lives of soldiers who fought in the Civil War.

Lovelace murder trial heats up
A trial last year ended in a hung jury, with jurors reportedly evenly split over whether Lovelace killed his wife, Cory. Prosecutors say it was suffocation. The defense says she died from heavy drinking exacerbated by bulimia. Proceedings were moved to Springfield due to extensive pretrial publicity in the Quincy area.

SOHO 2.0
On the heels of the announcement by SOHO Music Festival founder Eric Welch of plans to end the popular annual charitable event after 12 years (See “SOHO No Mo?”in IT, March 2, 2017), a few of the festival’s former directors have announced a new nonprofi t to put together “The Legacy of Giving Music Festival” (L.

HOORAY FOR THE CHAMBER
Never let it be said that Chris Hembrough, president and CEO of the Greater Springfi eld Chamber of Commerce, is a man who doesn’t put his money where his mouth is. After reading a recent Illinois Times story on efforts to increase participation in advanced placement courses in Springfi eld School District 186 (“Reaching high,” Feb.

Lawmakers try to consolidate local governments
A local government consolidation bill, SB 3, was passed Feb. 28 in the Senate as part of the chamber’s “grand bargain” package. The bill facilitates the ability for all counties and townships to consolidate, and allows two or more townships that share a boundary to merge through a referendum process.

A troubled life
Rogers, 27, was alternately violent and calm, the sort who would threaten to kill, then comply when cops told him to put his hands behind his back, according to records documenting numerous run-ins with the law. By all appearances, Springfield police officer John Shea underestimated the situation when he tried to arrest Rogers in January.

Simple healthy meal prep
Several aspects of the experience were transformative for me. The first was to be co-teaching with David and my daughter. Shortly after I moved to Springfield in 1979 to start my dental practice, I discovered Crow’s Mill School (now Bootleggers) on my route home from the office.

Jackson finds the humanity in Logan
Taking place in the near future of 2029, Logan finds himself on the run with an elderly Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and unwanted passenger in tow.

Early Irish music
With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Friday in 2017, our celebration of all things Irish and Celtic stretches for more than a week. Since the long-running St.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Emerald Underground
Our longest-running Celtic-influenced band continues performing like nobody’s business during the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Springfield, albeit with a new lineup in action.

PUB CRAWL
Johnnie Owens, George Turner Trio with Frank Parker.

THE CALENDAR
Spoken Word Poetry Out Loud State Contest.

NATURE | Garden day in Lincoln
On Saturday, join the University of Illinois Extension Logan County Master Gardeners for an event honoring Russel Allen, a charter member of the Logan County Master Gardener volunteer program. Russel Allen Garden Day will showcase gardening presentations along with displays by local plant and gardening organizations.

FESTIVALS | Body, mind and spirit
Visions by JDR is pleased to host their Eighth Annual Holistic Fair on March 11-12, at the Illinois Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. This rejuvenating and healing event features a plethora of community practitioners focused on promoting health and wellness with a variety of demonstrations, services and products.

THEATER | Broadway in Springfield
Experience the longest-running American musical in Broadway history March 13-14 at Sangamon Auditorium..