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 Logan County
Business
Directory

Features

 

advertising

 

Lincoln Daily News

(217) 732-7443

ldn@lincolndailynews.com


appliances

 

McEntire's Home
Appliance and TV

403 Broadway St.

(217) 732-4874

mcentires@abelink.com


attorneys

 

John R. Gehlbach
Law Office

529 Pulaski St.

(217) 735-4311

jrglaw@ccaonline.com

 

Thomas L. Van Hook

Lincoln

217-735-2187

Tvanhook@CCAonline.com


books/educational

 

Prairie Years

121 N. Kickapoo

(217) 732-9216


bottled water

 

Gold Springs

1165 - 2200th St.

Hartsburg, IL

(888) 478-9283

www.goldsprings.com

 

Culligan

318 N. Chicago

(217) 735-4450

www.culligan.com


computer service

 

CCA

601 Keokuk St.

(217) 735-2677

cca@ccaonline.com


employment

 

Illinois Employment
and Training Center

120 S. McLean St.

(217) 735-5441

ietc@abelink.com


food & ice cream

 

Gleason's Dairy Bar

110 Clinton St.

(217) 732-3187


gifts

 

The Mustard Moon

1314 5th St.

(217) 735-1093

www.themustardmoon.com


insurance

 

Moriearty Insurance
Agency, Inc.

218 8th St.

(217) 732-7341

miai@ccaonline.com

 

Aid Assoc. for
Lutherans/Lutheran
Brotherhood

604 Broadway St.

Suite 4

(217) 735-2253

linda_aper@aal.org

www.aal.org


internet services

 

CCAonline

601 Keokuk St.

(217) 735-2677

webmaster@ccaonline.com


investments

 

Aid Assoc. for
Lutherans/Lutheran
Brotherhood

604 Broadway St.

Suite 4

(217) 735-2253

linda_aper@aal.org

www.aal.org


massage

 

All About You

408 Pulaski St.

(217) 735-4700


pizza

 

Stuffed-Aria Pizza

102 5th Street

(217) 732-3100


printer/printing

 

Key Printing

Tom Seggelke

(217) 732-9879

key@keyprinting.net


real estate

 

Alexander & Co.
Real Estate

410 Pulaski St.

(217) 732-8353

sonnie@ccaonline.com

 

Diane Schriber
Realty

610 N. Logan

(217) 735-2550

schriber@ccaonline.com

 

ME Realty

222 N. McLean

(217) 735-5424

merealty.com

 

Werth & Associates

1203 Woodlawn Rd.

(217) 735-3411

werthrealty@abelink.com


restaurants

 

Blue Dog Inn

111 S. Sangamon St.

(217) 735-1743

www.bluedoginn.com


sewing

 

The Sewing Place

503 Woodlawn Rd.

(217) 732-7930


title companies

 

Logan County
Title Co.

507 Pulaski St.

LCtitle@ccaonline.com


New business specializes
in customer service

[MARCH 19, 2002]  A new title company has set up shop in Lincoln. Tri-County Land Title opened on March 4 at 606 Keokuk, next door to Graue Pharmacy. An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony are planned for Thursday, March 21, at 3 p.m.

Owner Anna Rains of Canton said the business specializes in customer service. "We’ll go above and beyond to get the closing," including an after-hours or weekend closing when the customer’s schedule requires it, she said.

 

 [Owner Anna Rains, office manager Michelle Fahey;  photo by Bob Frank]

 

Rains said she has been in the title business for eight or nine years. Tri-County Land Title is headquartered in Canton with branches in Springfield, Bloomington, Havana, Hanna City, Champaign and now Lincoln. The original three counties served, referred to in the company name, were Sangamon, Cass and Schyler. Now Tri-County does business in about 50 counties through the middle of the state, according to Rains.

Of the branches, Springfield and Lincoln are staffed full time and the others part time. Local hours are 8-5 Monday through Friday and by appointment. The phone number is 735-9880.

The Lincoln office will be operated by Michelle Fahey, the firm’s accountant. In addition, she will continue to spend a couple of days a month in Canton doing accounting. Rains herself expects to be in Lincoln several days a week for the next few months. After that she plans to be here at least weekly.

Rains said a strength of the business is that she has "worn both the realtor’s and the lender’s shoes." She has been a real estate broker for 19 years with experience in Jacksonville and Beardstown. She also worked as a loan originator in a mortgage brokerage firm for one year. Ten years ago she obtained her paralegal certification.

Rains plans to visit office meetings of local real estate agencies and to join the Logan County Board of Realtors. She said she has previously been involved with boards of Realtors on both the state and local levels. In Lincoln she has already dealt with several Realtors, and a bank with which she has done business has a branch here. These were factors in her decision to locate in Lincoln.

Services offered by Tri-County Land Title include title searches, escrow closings, construction escrows and help policies. Rains explained that a help policy is a cheaper title policy used for second mortgages.

In Illinois, Rains said, mortgage brokers are required to close with a title company; some banks also choose to do so. Besides clearing the title to the property, the title company collects money for the loan from the bank and the down payment and closing fee from the customer and disburses all funds.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

In construction escrows the title company handles disbursements to the builder, first verifying the bill with the customer. Tri-County Land Title also conducts a second update search on the property. Rains said the construction escrow service benefits both the bank and the customer. The bank is spared the extensive paperwork with each draw and also avoids liability because the signing of a lien waiver means a mechanic’s lien cannot be filed. The customer is protected from difficulties involving the contractor.

Tri-County Land Title’s motto is "Customer service is our specialty." Rains said she offers after hours and weekend closings with notice because many customers’ work schedules do not allow them to be present during normal business hours. "We try to be real flexible," she said, "working with realtors and lenders as a team. Then the customer is happy, and we all look good."

Canton is the firm’s production site, and all typing is done there. Rains said an increasing amount of work is done online. Whereas lenders used to send document packages by overnight delivery, now they often use e-mail.

As with any business, there are some typical problems. In title searches, Rains said, "forgery is the biggest thing we run into." She therefore asks for a driver’s license or other identification from both borrower and seller. She also occasionally encounters encroachments, when construction on one person’s property crosses the line onto a neighbor’s.

At times Rains sees old titles in which the legal description includes landmarks no longer present, such as a chicken coop or apple tree. In such cases the lender typically has the land resurveyed.

Another problem occurs when parents put their children’s names on a title and later want to borrow money against it. If the children are under 18, they cannot sign for a loan. In such a case a legal guardian must be assigned, a complication the parents may not have foreseen.

Fahey, office manager in Lincoln, has been with the firm for six months. She is currently taking the basic course offered by the American Land Title Association. Rains and other members of the staff have also studied through the association.

Fahey, who resides in Havana, lived in Lincoln from 1990 to 1994 while her husband attended Lincoln Christian Seminary. The Faheys intend to stay in Havana until their eldest son, now a sophomore, finishes high school. After that the family may move to Lincoln.

At present the Tri-County Land Title office is sparsely furnished because some furniture arrived damaged and had to be returned. Rains hopes the replacements will be in place by March 21 for the open house.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]


When you feel stress
you need All About You

[MARCH 18, 2002]  Christmas bills have just subsided. Tax time is here. Wouldn’t it be nice to just relax?

Well, you are in luck. For about six months now, residents of Logan County have been visiting Beth Gohl and Sandy Slack over at All About You for everything from shoulder rubs to full oil massages. Services also include reflexology, which utilizes pressure points on the feet to stimulate or relax different parts of the body, and raindrop therapy, in which nine essential oils are dripped onto the back and massaged in.

All About You had their ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 27, but they have been open since Aug. 6. According to Gohl, business has been good. "We’re able to pay our bills, so we’re happy with that."

Gohl and Slack use and sell products from the Young Living Essential Oils line. Young Living uses all natural ingredients; no chemicals are used even when growing the plants. Products include soaps, shampoos, lotions and vitamins.

  

[to top of second column in this article]

Their prices are rather reasonable. A simple massage (such as a shoulder or back rub) is $1 per minute for up to 20 minutes. A 30-minute massage is $25; a full hour massage is $40. Reflexology is $35 for 30 minutes or $50 for an hour. Raindrop therapy is $60.

All About You is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Appointments are preferred for most therapy, but walk-ins can be accepted if the masseuses are free. Appointments are necessary for after-hours massages.

So, as taxes and bills weigh you down, there is a place you can go to relax, or maybe you want to order some relaxation as a gift for someone you know could use it.

All About You is a new business in the area. They are located downtown at 408 Pulaski St., Lincoln; (217) 735-4700.

[Gina Sennett]


City is asked for $1.1 million
for commercial park

[MARCH 14, 2002]  Lincoln has been asked to come up with $1.1 million as its share of the $3.5 million cost of improving a proposed industrial and commercial park, the city council learned at its work session March 12.

All of the city’s $1.1 million share is slated for various sewer improvements, including running a line to the proposed 63.5-acre site at Business 55 and Kruger Road, near the north Interstate 55 interchange.

Purchase of the property, a cost of $678,000, and other improvements adding up to $816,950 are projected as the county’s share. These include road improvements, electricity, landscaping and engineering.

Local utility companies and a private developer would cover the rest of the cost, which includes putting up a speculative building at a cost of about $1.3 million. A private developer, Tamkin of Los Angeles, Calif., has already made an offer to construct the building, but no contract has yet been signed, Smith said. The building would be a shell adaptable to many different uses.

Andrew Hamilton of Financial Solutions, a Springfield firm, who is serving as a consultant to the Lincoln and Logan Economic Development Council, presented the proposal to the council and gave a brief overview. The document, titled "Lincoln Commerce Park Development Project," includes background, site maps, projections for development and debt repayment, local fund analysis, demographic data and a section on qualifications of Hamilton and his firm.

Hamilton suggested the city develop the nine-lot project in phases to reduce the initial cost. The city could pay off the $1.1 million debt by 2008 if a building could be sold every year, he said. "It could very well be an investment that could pay out in a short time."

Mark Smith, economic development director, told the council he was not asking for a decision immediately. "Take it [the projection] home, read it and digest it," he said.

Hamilton will attend the council’s work session on March 26 to answer questions about the proposal and possibly follow up with information about funding sources, Smith said. No suggestions for funding were included in the proposal given to council members Tuesday.

The Economic Development Council has been working on the project for the past two years, Smith said. It was first presented to the public in October of last year.

The proposal shows that the population of Logan County has been decreasing since 1970, and, according to Smith, the county’s job and income growth lag far behind those of other counties in Illinois — so far behind that he described it as "negative growth."

The Commerce Park development was proposed to attract small manufacturing or distribution companies that would provide well-paying jobs, expand the local employment base, keep young people in the community, and expand and broaden the tax base, Smith said.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

At the October meeting, he said the developed park could bring in a total of $321 million in wages to employees and as much as $561,000 in property tax revenue yearly.

Finding ways to fund the project, however, could be a difficult proposition. The city is already facing a financial crunch, according to Alderman Steve Fuhrer, chairman of the council’s finance committee. Unusually low interest rates mean the city is not getting much income from its investments, and the recession means fewer dollars from sales taxes. At a recent meeting, Alderman Glenn Shelton noted that the city has spent about $446,000 more than it has taken in this fiscal year.

Although the council did not enter into any discussion of the plan on Tuesday, Fuhrer expressed hope that the project would be "a doable thing." Noting the possibility of many job losses at Lincoln Developmental Center, he said, "I’ve seen Lincoln regress. I think this is the way of the future. I think if we could have done this 20 years ago, we would have been better off. If we don’t take that chance now, it could be worse."

The EDC will be presenting its plan to the Logan County Board this week.

In other business, Jan Schumacher, vice president of Main Street Lincoln, told the council the group is close to choosing a candidate for director of the program. The 15 applicants have been narrowed down to two, she said. Past Main Street Lincoln director Wendy Bell was offered and accepted a position with the Illinois Main Street program in Springfield. She began working there earlier this year.

Philip Dehner of A.G. Edwards told the council that the 1,065 shares of Principal Financial Group the city recently received were a result of de-mutualization of the company. Formerly the company was owned by its policyholders; it is now owned by stockholders. The city held insurance policies on some employees through the company.

The shares are worth about $25 each, Dehner said, and after paying the cost of selling the shares the city will have an extra $25,000.

City Attorney Bill Bates said that in his opinion it is not legal for the city to buy or hold stocks, so the shares should be sold.

Before the meeting, the public grounds and buildings and ordinance and zoning committees heard from Ray Shinkle, representing Chicago firms Insite and Voicestream, who want to put up a 190-foot cell phone tower just off Connolley Road between Hicks Gas and Verizon Towers. The firm already has a tower in Atlanta and is considering another in Elkhart. Regional Planner Phil Mahler said the tower would bring income of $500 a month to the city.

[Joan Crabb]

 


Announcements

‘Venus Takes on Investing’ workshop rescheduled

[MARCH 29, 2002]  The Lincoln A.G. Edwards & Sons is presenting a "Venus Takes on Investing" seminar on April 6 and 11.  [Note: This is a date change.]

Seminar information

Women cannot ignore certain facts when planning for their financial futures. For example, 90 percent of women will become wholly responsible for their finances sometime during their lifetimes.*

You’ll discover ways to help you:

•  Plan for successful financial future.

•  Reduce your taxes.

•  Increase your investment income potential.

•  Build for your retirement.

•  Build a "rainy day" fund.

•  Accumulate money for a child or grandchild’s education.

*(Source: Investment Company Institute)

Speaker

Bridget Schneider, financial consultant with A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.

Dates

•  Saturday, April 6, 9-10 a.m.

•  Thursday, April 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Location

Heartland Community College

620 Broadway St.

Lincoln, IL 62656

R.S.V.P.

(217) 732-3877 or (800) 596-0014

Contact person

Brittney Van Fossan or Nina Westen

 


Guzzardo to chair LCCS
capital campaign committee

[MARCH 9, 2002]  Lincoln Christian College and Seminary has named John Guzzardo chairperson for the LCCS capital campaign committee for Lincoln and Logan County.

The goal for the committee is $300,000. A gift of $100,000 has already been received and committed to the renovation of the Earl C Hargrove Auditorium.

Gary Edwards, vice president of stewardship development for Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, says he is thrilled to have Guzzardo as a part of the capital campaign team. "John Guzzardo is an integral part of the history of LCCS and the community," he says.

 

 

 

[to top of second column in this article]

 

LCCS launched its capital campaign, "Same Foundation…New Generation," a little more than one year ago. To date, LCCS has reached more than $3 million of its $5 million goal. The money raised will be committed toward the following initiatives:

•  Campus improvements

•  Academic program enrichment

•  Academic program endowment

•  Scholarship endowment

•  Special projects

LCCS has been an active part of the Lincoln community since 1944. The seminary is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

[LCCS news release]


The Chamber Report

Chamber Man of the Year

[MARCH 28, 2002]  Perry Grieme was selected Chamber Member of the Year during the 80th annual dinner of the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce at the Maple Club recently. Grieme is the ninth recipient of this award, initiated to provide recognition for exceptional service to the chamber of commerce and dedication to the advancement and improvement of the community.

Grieme, owner of Parker-Grieme Insurance, served a six-year term on the chamber board of directors and was the board’s president in 1997. He is an active member of the Chamber Ambassadors and the Membership Committee, and he volunteers with the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival and the Lincoln Christmas parade. Grieme provided direction to the chamber’s reorganization of the Economic Development Council and has served on many task force and ad hoc committees.

In addition, Grieme has served as district chairman of the Boys Scouts of America, board member of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, board member and past president of the Logan County Heart Association, board member of the Lincoln Elks Club, board member and past president of the Lincoln Kiwanis Club, board member of St. Clara’s Manor, coach of Junior Railers basketball teams, and he is active with his church.

[to top of second column in this article]

He has distinguished himself as a leader in the insurance field and has represented the industry in numerous local and state advisory roles.

The Chamber Member of the Year award was established in 1994. Nominees must be an owner, manager, or employee of a chamber member business in operation for at least three years, demonstrating ethical business practices.

Past recipients of the award include Becky Werth, Dave Davis, Bob Albert, Gene Frioli, John Guzzardo, Shirley Bartelmay, Bob Graue and Dave Campbell.

[Chamber press release] 

 


The chamber of commerce is a catalyst for community progress, bringing business and professional people together to work for the common good of Lincoln and Logan County.

Bobbi Abbott, Executive Director

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

303 S. Kickapoo St.

Lincoln, IL 62656

(217) 735-2385

chamber@lincolnillinois.com
www.lincolnillinois.com


Honors & Awards


Main Street Corner News

Main Street Lincoln hires new program director

[MARCH 29, 2002]  Cindy McLaughlin has been named the new program manager for Main Street Lincoln. She will begin her position April 8.

McLaughlin, a program service coordinator for Easter Seals Society in Bloomington, has done public relations work for the Art Institute in Chicago and is a former admissions counselor at Lincoln College.

Originally from Benton in southern Illinois, McLaughlin is a graduate of Lincoln College and Eastern Illinois University. She operates Logan County Starlites, a baton group for young girls, and has appeared in theatrical productions at the Lincoln Community Theatre and the Maple Club.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

"I’m very excited to work with Lincoln’s business owners and the community to ensure our future success," McLaughlin said. She and her husband, Tom, make their home in Lincoln.

"We are looking forward to having someone with Cindy’s enthusiasm and love for small towns carry out the programs for Main Street," noted Main Street President Jan Schumacher. "She is a hard worker who can oversee our many projects to continue to improve downtown Lincoln.

McLaughlin replaces Wendy Bell, who recently accepted a position with Illinois Main Street.

[Main Street Lincoln news release]


Main Street Lincoln

303 S. Kickapoo

Lincoln, IL 62656

Phone: (217) 732-2929

Fax: (217) 735-9205

E-mail: manager@mainstreetlincoln.com

 

Job Hunt

Lincolndailynews.com makes it easy to look for a job in the Logan County area.


Help Wanted, Professional. INSTRUCTOR. BUSINESS IS GROWING. Join our team. Computer training company looking for excellent interpersonal, presentation and customer-service skills. Full- and part-time positions available. We will train the right educator in the technology. E-mail resume to springfield@novasolutions.com or fax to 217-744-1502. Mail: 1630 S. State Suite 201, Springfield, IL 62704.


Full-time Certified Nursing Assistant Home Health Aide position available at the Logan County Health Department. This position requires home visits and respite care. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No nights or weekends. Must be responsible, enthusiastic and have a valid drivers license and dependable car. The health department has excellent benefits. If interested, complete an application at 109 Third St., Lincoln. EOE


Data Collectors needed for temporary research study of soft drink vending machines in Logan County. Flexible hours. Payment is per machine plus mileage. Send letter of interest to Data Bank USA, Attn: Tami, PO Box 13699, Fort Wayne, IN 46865 or databankusa@databankusa.com.


Logan County Health Department has an opening for a Director of Nursing. To qualify for this position you must be a Registered Nurse with a baccalaureate degree, have at least three years of management experience in a health-related organization and be a licensed driver. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overall direction of home health and public health services, using independent judgment to assure work meets department and program standards, ability to participate in public relations and community activities directly affecting home health and public health. Qualified applicants will have the ability to establish, implement and evaluate goals and objectives for services to promote the standards of quality and contribute to the total organization. The health department has excellent working hours and benefits. Salary will be commensurate with experience. If you are interested in this position, please send a resume to Lloyd L. Evans, Administrator, P.O. Box 508, Lincoln, IL 62656-0508. EOE


Employers, you can list available jobs by e-mailing ldn@lincolndailynews.com. Each job listing costs $10 the first week, $20 for eight days to one month. There is a limit of 75 words per announcement.


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