2019 Year in review

Noteworthy news stories of 2019

Send a link to a friend  Share

[January 09, 2020]  In addition to the hot topics of Cannabis and the Logan County Courthouse repair needs, there were a number of noteworthy news stories published in Lincoln Daily News in 2019.  The stories published covered news worthy topics from around the county starting with Atlanta. 

Economic development 

Atlanta started the year with a move toward economic growth for the city as aldermen discussed and voted on the requests that would bring a new truck stop and other businesses to Atlanta near the Interstate 55 exchange. 

At their March 5th meeting, aldermen heard from Jeff Giebelhausen, who was hired to be the city’s development consultant, he recommended that the council work with developers Bishap, Shawn, and Amit Patel to build a travel plaza that would include a truck stop, convenience store, car wash and a Dairy Queen Grill and Chill restaurant. 

On December 14th, Bill Thomas of the Logan County Economic Development Partnership issued a press release saying that the purchase of the desired property had been completed and that the developers were ready to move forward with the construction of the plaza. 

03/07 - Large new retail business complex to break ground in Atlanta this spring
Complex includes Truck Stop, Convenience Store, Car Wash, and Dairy Queen Grill and Chill

12/14 - Land Purchase Moves Atlanta Truck Stop Project Forward 

 

In September Mount Pulaski also announced it had plans for economic growth.   LDN brought you the story on how the community is going to be working together to finance a new type of grocery store.  This novel action is being taken after the loss of the local IGA. 

Market on the Hill was brought to the public just days before the annual Mount Pulaski Fall Festival.  In an open meeting, guests enjoyed foods prepared from local growers and heard from the Market on the Hill interim Board of Directors about how the entire community would be partial owners of the new market. 

Interim board member Tom Martin explained that shares and food cooperative memberships would be sold to finance the store.  Within days, the board was delighted to report that they had received an overwhelming response to their request for community involvement.  About 50 percent of the funding needed was gathered together within the first couple days and at the fall festival it was announced that the investment guarantees the board had collected were enough to get started on the renovation of a building located on the historic Mount Pulaski Courthouse Square. 

It is the intention of the board to have the market opened in the early part of 2020. 

9/20 - Market on the Hill kicks off with strong positive support from the community

Push for Market on the Hill funding off to a terrific start - Album 

In Lincoln a new group was formed in 2019 to tackle the task of economic development within the city.  The L.E.A.D. group, made up of local CEO’s and entrepreneurs have established a committee and have also invested personal cash into the committee to hire the experts that will be needed to bring economic growth to the city.

The group, represented by Dr. David Gerlach of Lincoln College and local business owner Chris Graue addressed the Lincoln City Council.  They came not to ask for financial support, but rather to seek a letter of endorsement from the city that would assist the group in obtaining its not-for-profit status. 

10/17 - Local CEO’s take the L.E.A.D. on economic development in Lincoln 

In February, 2019, the Atlanta city council made a rather controversial decision to purchase the Atlanta Golf Course. 

 

The decision to buy the North Greens Golf Course was supposed to have been put to voters as a referendum on the April ballot.  However, the aldermen decided to take the decision into their own hands in February because there was work that needed to be done at the course in preparation for the spring season.  If the city waited until April then it would have to open late in the year and would jeopardize some of its membership as well as revenues from the course. 

02/07 - City of Atlanta to purchase Atlanta Golf Course

North Greens Golf Course - Link 

In February, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital announced a new partnership with the Lincoln Area YMCA.  A new YMCA facility will be built along Woodlawn Road in Lincoln on property owned by ALMH.   

The new $27 million facility will offer amenities that have not been offered through the local YMCA in the past including an indoor swimming pool, physical therapy/workout rooms, day care facilities and much more. 

2/21 - ALMH & YMCA partner for new $27 million facility in Lincoln

A few weeks later at a meeting of the Lincoln City Council, ALMH came forward with a request for the city to pay for building an extension to Stahlhut Drive that would connect it to Woodlawn Road.  Along with the request, the hospital offered to finance the city with $1.3 million through a low interest loan. 

The new road will make for faster access to the hospital for ambulances coming from the west.  The road will also connect to Castle Manor Drive for much faster access to the hospital from Castle Manor and St. Clara’s Rehab & Senior care. 

03/14 - ALMH requests city to extend Stahlhut Drive at $1.3 million
Offers low interest financing

03/21 - Lincoln aldermen accept ALMH $1.3 million financing for Stahlhut Drive extension 

In June, Heritage Packaging in Lincoln announced that it would become a member of the Welch Packaging family.  According to current manager Greg Basford the purchase of the local manufacturer by Welch Packaging was a very positive step in the right direction for Heritage.  All staff were to be retained and the company was not going to be moved out of the Lincoln area.  The benefits were that Welch packaging offered resources that were not available to Heritage, Basford said.  The purchase would increase the local manufacturing plants ability to sustain and compete in the market place. 

06/01 - Heritage Packaging becomes part of the Welch Packaging family 

On the downside 

While there were a lot of good things going on in the Logan County area pertaining to economic development, there were also a few hard blows to the community.  Closures of the ‘bottle factory,’ Alexander Lumber and the administrative offices at Christian Village made the news at various points throughout the year.
 

01/10 - Alexander Lumber Co. to close or merge seven Illinois lumberyards
Lincoln store among the stores listed 

02/01 - Lincoln “Bottle Factory” to close April 30th

09/20 - Christian Homes announces closure of Lincoln Business Office 

[to top of second column]

On the healthcare front 

There were a number of news stories focusing on healthy initiatives in Logan County.   

2/14 - St. Clara's Rehab & Senior Care celebrates first year at new location with a look back to the past

03/01 - ALMH introduces new Senior Life Solutions – multifaceted day program eases life transitions 

04/27 - Logan County Department of Public Health receives first Mother’s Milk Depository donation 

11/21 - Getting the kind of medical care you need and deserve in central Illinois 

Retirees 

Four well-known community members announced their retirement from local positions including Lincoln Fire Chief Mark Miller, Lincoln Public Library Director Richard Sumrall, Lincoln Community High School District 404 Superintendent Robert Bagby, Logan County Emergency Management Agency Director Dan Fulscher and Lincoln Park District Executive Director John Andrews.  

01/30 - Lincoln Fire Chief Mark Miller announces retirement plans
Mayor recommends Asst. Chief Bob Dunovsky as Miller’s replacement 

04/17 - Lincoln Fire Chief Mark Miller remembers his history with the department - Pdf 

07/11 - LCHS Superintendent Robert Bagby decade broadens student opportunities 

08/23 - Retiring administrators see Lincoln Public Library into electronic age 

12/18 - Abigail O’Brien to become Lincoln Park District Executive Director

Local attractions, recreation and tourism 

Around the area, there were some significant events and activities that had an impact on our community and our tourism industry.  There were also developments which will have a long term impact on our quality of life as Logan County residents. 

This year the Lincoln Park District announced it would be reclaiming a portion of Memorial Park, taking it back to its native vegetation.  The LPD also asked that it be deeded several of the city park properties now owned by the city of Lincoln.  The request was made so that the LPD could seek grant funding to make improvements at the parks. 

 

04/22 - Lincoln Park District announces natural restoration plan for Memorial Park

12/02 - Lincoln Park District seeks deeds to four city owned parks 

In Atlanta, the Atlanta Museum was chosen to be one of the select few that housed the traveling Smithsonian exhibit “Crossroads.” 

02/04 - Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” meshes perfectly with Atlanta’s historical works on education and its impact
Now open - A must see

Atlanta Smithsonian Museum on Main Street - Album

Atlanta Visitors Center opening coincides with Smithsonian Exhibit - Album 

And, as the Logan County Tourism Bureau worked to transform the recently restored Lincoln Depot into a visitors center for all those coming into the area, the State Bank of Lincoln agreed to allow the LCTB to be the new home of the well-known Lincoln Christening Statue by Edna Goodenough.  On a fun and exciting day in February, the crew from Brad Matthews Construct literally walked Lincoln across the road and railroad tracks from the State Bank Sangamon Branch to the Lincoln Depot Visitor Center. 

2/16 - State Bank of Lincoln’s “Christening Lincoln” statue now on-spot in the Lincoln Depot

 Why did Lincoln cross the road? To get to the Depot! - slideshow 

The tourism bureau also partnered with the communities of Atlanta, Elkhart, and Mount Pulaski to establish new visitor centers for travelers entering the respective communities.  With the placement of centers in these three towns plus the center in Lincoln, tourists have an opportunity to learn more about the county and its historical aspects at any community they stop in coming off of major highways that pass through the county.

03/30 - Logan County Tourism Bureau to fund Atlanta, Elkhart and Mount Pulaski visitors centers

Press release:
Visitor Welcome Centers Planned for Logan County 

 

Weather 

And finally, as we close the NEWS chapter of the LDN year in review, let’s talk about the weather. 

Our new year has started on a very mild note.  We ended the year with above normal temperatures and many enjoyed shirt sleeves and light jackets on Christmas Day.  However, 2019 was not so mellow and by the end of January, we were breaking records, but not in a good way! 

01/31 - Central Illinois sees Jan 30th daily records fall Lincoln’s -12F in 1936 fell with -19 F

Logan County saw a windchill of -40 at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday
Listed alphabetically by county 

Spring flooding this year also had a significant impact on the community.  As the heavy rains fell right at planting season, the progress of local farmers was hindered in many areas. 

05/02 - Heavy rains impact travel on county roadways - Album
Scenes from Nicholson Street bridge at Kickapoo Creek 

05/19 - Many areas around Lincoln impacted with flooding from last week's rains - Album 

And, while it didn’t warrant a news story, the fact that the first heavy snow of the season fell on Halloween – October 31st did not go un-noticed.

----

So, all in all, LDN spent the year bringing our readers the important local news that they needed and wanted to know.  The goal of the paper has always been to share community news and bring to light through unbiased reporting the issues that are of importance to all of us. 

Our records show that our efforts have paid off through a tremendous following of readers.  In 2019, we averaged 15,052 readers per day.  In the month of December we hit our record high with an average of 22,656 visitors per day to Lincolndailynews.com.  This tells us we’re doing something right, and we believe what we are doing right is giving our readers what they want from a local news source.   

Thanks to all who read LDN.  You make all our work worthwhile!

[N SMITH / LDN ARCHIVES]

< Recent features

Back to top