The Taylorville School District is busy overseeing construction projects on both the forthcoming Fine Arts Center and at North Elementary School.  The latter project is intended to rectify space limitations at the school and is expected to be completed in time for next school year.  The school district has sorted the work into multiple phases, aiming for efficiency in terms of both time and costs.

School Board President Ann Chandler has played a significant role in the projects.  She says the North school work became a higher priority in part because classes had to share spaces or use smaller rooms. 

The construction at that school began during spring break.  Workers plan to add four new rooms to the building. 

As for how the multiple projects are being funded, the district purchased bonds totaling $15 million and is also using revenue from the 1% sales tax. 

The North school project had originally been set to be done after work at the high school, including the new athletic space.  The school district also intends to look into renovations at Memorial Elementary School, the building of which is over a century old. 

More information on Taylorville Community Unit School District #3 is available at www.tcusd3.org.

Ann Chandler appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show as part of our monthly Taylorville Schools Good News Segment. 

A ribbon cutting took place on Friday, May 8th, at the Lake Lawn Inn, which is tucked just outside of Pana off of Illinois Route 29. This ribbon-cutting was to honor Lake Lawn Inn as the newest member of The Taylorville Chamber of Commerce.

The Lake Lawn Inn has been operating in Pana for many years, serving as a restaurant as well as a motel. The inn has been undergoing several updates under its current ownership. The new updates include themed rooms for the family and kids.

Owner of the Lake Lawn Inn, Jared Cox, spoke with Dylan Clark from Hart Media Group about his inspiration and what pushed him into creating these themed rooms.

According to Cox, the main idea behind his inspiration for these kid-friendly rooms was so the kids can have a place to enjoy that will likely leave them with memories for years to come.

Cox also stated that, considering he's doing all of these themed rooms by himself, with some assistance from his employees, they can take several weeks to even months to complete, compared to a regular room that is not themed.

There are multiple theme options, including a lodge-style log cabin theme where the kids' room is actually built to look like the inside and outside of a cozy cabin. The kids' personal cabin also features a built-in slide.

There is a pirate-themed room, featuring a large pirate ship with an in-deck cabin room for the kids' beds. The inn will also give those who rent this room a pirate hat, eye patch, and inflatable sword for the kids to really feel like pirates and for their imagination to take them to the sea.

One other room, which is nearing completion but not quite finished yet, is a space excursion room. This room features a space shuttle-style sleeping arrangement for the kids and a futuristic spaceship feel to the entire room. From textured walls to a “Star Trek” style entertainment system, resembling a flight deck command center on a spaceship.

Pictured below is Lake Lawn Inn's Owner, Jared Cox (Left), next to his wife, Lily Cox, holding a bow made from the ribbon that was cut during the ceremony, followed by a picture of Jared cutting the ribbon.

Details on the Lake Lawn Inn can be found at www.lakelawninn.com
For information on The Taylorville Chamber of Commerce, visit www.taylorvillechamber.com
 

The Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce is beginning to solidify plans for certain elements of this year’s Chillifest.  Cook-offs are set for each day of the festival, with the goal of drawing further participation in the chili component of the weekend.  Chamber Board President Krystal Baker says winners will qualify for the world championships. 

Separate from Chillifest, the Chamber is hosting a contest for community members to post pictures on Facebook of porch geese that they own.  The prize for the winner is a Chamber gift card.

More information on the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce is available at www.taylorvillechamber.com.

Krystal Baker appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

Christian County Sheriff, Bruce Kettelkamp, gives congratulations to Olive Goodall from rural Pawnee for her being awarded one of the many Illinois Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) Scholarships.

According to Sheriff Kettelkamp, Goodall was selected from a number of highly qualified applicants in the Christian County area. Sheriff Kettelkamp also stated that Sheriffs around Illinois consider this particular scholarship to be an investment into the applicant’s better future and that it is also a strong demonstration of their respect and support for education.

During the 2026 - 2027 academic year, the ISA awarded a total so far of 123 scholarships throughout the state of Illinois. These scholarships were all awarded to students who are wishing to pursue higher education during the 2026 - 2027 school year.

For more information on scholarship opportunities, visit www.ilsheriff.org

Pictured below is Chief Deputy Jim Baker (LEFT) and the scholarship recipient, Olive Goodall (RIGHT).

Christian County residents will have a chance to weigh in on zoning-related issues later this month.
The Christian County Zoning Board of Appeals is set to hold a public hearing on Monday, May 18th at 12:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the County Board Room on the second floor of the Christian County Courthouse in Taylorville.

During the hearing, board members will discuss several items, including potential text amendments to the county zoning code, ongoing ordinance research, regulations involving wireless internet antennas, and 911 collocation and access.

The board will also consider referrals from the Christian County Board.

Officials say documents related to rezoning requests, variances, special use applications, and proposed text amendments are available for public inspection at the Christian County Zoning Office on South Main Street in Taylorville.

Residents with questions or those seeking more information can contact the zoning office directly.

The Taylorville Police Department is recognizing Executive Secretary Kirsten Nelson for her outstanding performance in her career.

Nelson has been named Employee of the First Quarter for 2026, an honor, department leaders say, that reflects not only her dedication but also the crucial role she plays in daily operations. According to Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler, Nelson handles a wide range of responsibilities that help keep the department running smoothly.

Nelson’s duties include paying bills, ordering supplies, and preparing criminal cases for prosecution. All of those tasks are hard work that requires organization, attention to detail, and professionalism. One of the most important parts of her position is helping ensure criminal cases are properly prepared for the court process.

Department officials say the work takes countless hours and is essential to keeping cases moving through the legal system. Nelson also serves as the liaison between the police department and the State’s Attorney’s Office.

As the Christian County seat and one of the busiest law enforcement agencies in the region, Taylorville Police say the position comes with significant daily demands and pressure. In addition, Nelson serves as the department’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officer. Last year alone, she reportedly handled more than 600 FOIA requests.

So far this year, she has already processed more than 300 requests, with that number continuing to increase each week. Chief Wheeler described Nelson as the backbone of the department, praising her reliability, professionalism, loyalty, and strong work ethic.

The department thanked Nelson for her continued dedication and congratulated her on being named Employee of the First Quarter for 2026.

Pictured below are Employee Of The Quarter, Kirsten Nelson (LEFT), and Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler (RIGHT)

For more news, stay tuned to WTIM, Your Only Local News Radio, and keep your eye on taylorvilledailynews.com

Christian County Court has denied a motion to reconsider pretrial detention conditions for Brian M. Grove, who is charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials.

As a result, Judge J. Marc Kelly granted Grove release under several strict pretrial conditions. Those conditions include GPS monitoring, home confinement, no internet access through phones or computers, no possession of dangerous weapons, and no contact with anyone under the age of 18. 

According to court records, Grove appeared in custody in Christian County Court with his attorney, Thomas Finks. Today’s hearing was for the court to review a motion seeking changes to his pretrial detention status.

The court considered arguments from both parties, including claims related to Grove’s medical treatment, but ultimately ruled that the medical concerns did not amount to a change in circumstances.

During the hearing, the court also addressed the issue of his level of danger to the community. Court records state that Grove submitted several Rule 23 appellate cases for consideration.

While acknowledgment of those opinions was not binding, the judge noted that the cited cases excluded child pornography related offenses from being considered dangerous to the community.

This was a position that Judge Kelly strongly disagreed with.

Despite those concerns, the court determined that there were less restrictive alternatives available, other than continued detention, that could help mitigate any threat to the community.

Grove will now await his next hearing out of custody, but still restricted by the court with pretrial conditions.

Keep an eye on taylorvilledailynews.com for further updates after his next court hearing.

Grove is scheduled to appear in court next for pretrial proceedings on June 11th at 10 AM.