WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — A lot of jobs have become more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. One man not only has a challenging job … but he’s new to the position. Dave Andriano started at the Watseka School District over the summer. He has three decades of experience and previously worked as an assistant superintendent […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — Family-owned radio stations are fewer and farther between.  You can hear the local sounds every day from Watseka.  Stacey Smith didn’t always envision herself as part of the family business, but today she’s running the radio stations as the general manager of WGFA-FM and WIBK-AM.   Her dad, the late Dick Martin, started the stations with partners before […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — They’re inviting the community to help them improve the place they call home.  The group of businesswomen got its start in 2018.   They decided to work with the city leadership and community members to make the community look better.  “Especially in these times right now,” said Rhonda Pence with Watseka Rocks. […]

Watseka, Ill. (WCIA). Two representatives from the Illinois Pork Producers Association try a bite of the Copper Pot Coffeehouse pulled pork sandwich. Copper Pot Coffeehouse: 123 W Oak St Watseka, IL 60970 Monday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — A member of the Watseka Police Department is getting ready to celebrate his first year on the force … but he’s not your typical hire. 4-year-old Tucker started working with the department in December 2019. He’s certified in tracking and article search. Tucker can also sniff out seven different narcotics, including […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — Not everyone is excited to get extra duties added to the job. But not everyone is Scott Yates. “I thought it was going to be fun,” said Yates. He’s the groundskeeper at Iroquois Memorial Hospital. The raised gardens are in his hands. “Kind of weed it, make it look pretty, water […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) – Events are being cancelled all over Central Illinois because of the pandemic. But one started up because of it. Every Saturday, for the past three months, the parking lot next to the post office has been full of vendors selling their bounty and hungry customers scooping up the produce. Watseka has […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — You can find a piece of history in every corner of central Illinois. If you take a walk along Mulberry St., you’ll see homes built in the 1860s. Among them sits what’s known to many as the Duff house. It’s now owned by Susan and Mitchell Bence. The home sits on […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — A façade grant program is helping spruce up businesses in Watseka. One family is in the process of opening several businesses at a building downtown. The Bread Basket Food Pantry has already opened. They’re also putting in a pub and an event space. “We’re trying to open it up so everybody […]

CHRISMAN, Ill. (WCIA) – Meteorologist Jacob Dickey went on the road to a restaurant with some deeply rooted family ties and delicious food that’s been serving customers for generations.

CHRISMAN, Ill. (WCIA) – When you dial 911 in need of an ambulance, typically you don’t want to wait very long for help. Some rural towns are forced to wait because a first responder is coming from the town over, but not in Chrisman. “The board, in looking for funding, put a question on the […]

CHRISMAN, Ill. (WCIA) – Linda Barrett knows a lot about the town of Chrisman. “In 1840, he registered 800 acres, which is where Chrisman stands now. And he built a home on what is now the Nazarene Church on Route 1,” she said. That’s because the town history, is her family history. “Back in 1830, […]

MT. ZION, Ill. (WCIA) – Meteorologist Jacob Dickey stops by a delicious place in Mt. Zion that looks to take standard bar food to the next level.

Clinton, Ill. (WCIA) When people hear Christmas in July they panic or are a bit turned off because they don’t want to be hearing about Christmas during the hottest time of the year. But now is the best time to start getting orders together for custom gifts that way you can beat the holiday hubbub! […]

Clinton, Ill. (WCIA) Baum Chevrolet Buick is a fourth-gen full service dealership with Sales, Service, Body Shop, Detail, Quick Lube, Farmer City Used Store, Trailer Sales and Rental and Towing departments, which is unusual for a new car franchise. Most people are concerned with what the hot topics are at the time. Right now it […]

CLINTON, Ill. (WCIA) – It’s a safe space for teens to come to. Not only is it a fun place for them to hang out. They also teach valuable life lessons and help these kids get through any tough time in Our Town Clinton. “I love the vault and I love the message. I love […]

CLINTON, Ill. (WCIA) – Just outside of downtown Clinton, surrounded by woods, sits a big white mansion. “The house is about 110 years old and we bought it from a wonderful family that lived here as a family home and so we evolved it into this,” Melinda Decker, a co-owner, said. Inside that old home, […]

CLINTON, Ill. (WCIA) – It’s a window that makes Clinton what it is today and it’s a window that you can still look through right now. All through the pages of historic books in Our Town Clinton. They were donated by one of the first settlers in Clinton. And it wasn’t just a few. C.H. […]

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) – Starting your own business can be well, intimidating. “Terrifying. So scary, but yet it’s been so rewarding,” Ashley Berkheimer, the found of Soul Weights, said. Places like Elevate CCIC incorporated want to help. “Part of it is, you know, coming here and connecting with their team to learn about, okay, these […]

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) – Driving down Charleston Avenue in Mattoon, you see a lot of familiar buildings. Like the consolidated communications building. But now, that building is getting some new life. “Starting from the basement and working your way to the top, we’ve got communications, we’ve got a child care pathway, info tech IT, HVAC, […]

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) – Walk into the doors of the old House Brothers Tavern, now known as just House Tavern, and you’re taken back in time. It’s been a place where you could grab a beer, or a good conversation, since 1905. And it’s been in the same family for just as long. “It started […]

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) – They say, it takes a village to raise a child. “There’s not a whole lot going on, and we have a lot of communities of parents that are kind of stuck at home or they have the kids, and there’s not a whole lot to do,” Emma Bennett, a mom, said. […]

SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) — We had a great time during Our Town Savoy! Here’s some snippets of the fun we had with this wonderful community.

SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) – What do you think of when you hear the word roller skating? It might conjure up stories your mom told you about her years working at the roller rink, or skating around with that cute girl from school. But mostly, people think of a different era, and when you walk into […]

SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) – Mark Wetzel has planted over 100 trees in Savoy. It’s a title he never thought he would have. Sarah: “Did you ever think you would be planting more than 100 trees?”Mark: “No no no no no. It kind of maybe got out of hand a couple times.” From Oak, to Birch, […]

SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) – It was 3-years-ago when Boy Scouts of America changed its name to Scouts BSA and opened the doors for girls to join. One of those girls is from Our Town Savoy. Not only did she become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Scouts, she’s the first girl from Savoy […]

Decatur, Ill. (WCIA) Dr. Debra Babich shares how a simple skin check can help you when it comes to signs of skin cancer. Here’s more from VitalSkin: We’ve been serving the Decatur community for 17 years as Babich Skin Care. We’re excited to announce that we’ve rebranded and partnered with VitalSkin Dermatology. While our name […]

Decatur, Ill. (WCIA) Vieweg Real Estate specializes in commercial and residential real estate, and we offer quick claims, farmland sales, recreational property sales, and more. At Vieweg Real Estate we specialize in commercial and residential real estate. We also offer quick claims, farmland sales, recreational property sales, and more. We are your source for commercial […]

Decatur, Ill. (WCIA) Land of Lincoln Credit Union (LLCU) is celebrating our 75th Anniversary this year. We have been LOCALLY OWNED for all 75 years. We have an apple in our logo because our main mission is EDUCATION, providing tools and resources to people in order to achieve financial success.Additionally, as a part of our […]

Decatur, Ill. (WCIA) Shelter Insurance agent Joseph Basil joins us from Our Town Decatur. We are diverse in auto, home and life insurance with a specials focus on youth life insurance and young adults . My clients are always surprised at how much money I can save them and their children by developing a personalized […]

Decatur, Ill. (WCIA) Coziahr Harley-Davidson is a full service Harley-Davidson dealership that sells and services new and used Harley-Davidsons. We also offer parts and accessories for your motorcycle, plus riding gear, clothing, and other merchandise for any Harley enthusiast. We have factory trained technicians and years of experience to help customers find exactly what they […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) – The Brass Horn has been a staple for downtown Decatur for over 3 decades. Helping to outfit men, women and now even kids. Several people in Decatur said they’re proud of the long-time business, and that the people there are the reason it stays open. Of course, men have been able […]

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) – An important part of any city is new places to eat at or visit. In Our Town Decatur, new places are popping up all the time. In the heart of downtown Decatur, you’ll find the hustle and bustle of any city. With shops, restaurants, and now, The Establishment. “We basically decided […]

WESTVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – Johnnie Hull is a mother, a guidance counselor, and a photographer. If she’s not molding young minds in the high school she’s capturing what’s going on in our town Westville. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. “Little snapshot in time,” Johnnie Hull said. For Hull, those words couldn’t […]

WESTVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – The year is 1873. The first telephone hasn’t even been invented yet. The first type writer just started production, and the town of Westville is getting its start. Then, 1885 hit and Westville was booming. “We call ourselves one of the melting pots of Illinois. Lots of different ethnicity groups. Every […]

Farmer City, Ill. (WCIA) We solve transportation “problems”! Often our customers have life, family or financial changes that require a new or new-to-them car, options for repairing the old one, or somewhere to simply sell their old vehicle. We also help with: Choosing the vehicle that fits now/future needs (size, safety, function) Preparing financially to […]

Farmer City, Ill. (WCIA) The Farmer City Raceway has been here since 1941. Its a 1/4 mile high banked oval which sits inside a 1/2 mile flat horse track. It was originally ran by the Fair Board for many years before they offered it up for lease by outside promoters for a while. The decline […]

Farmer City, Ill. (WCIA) Walker Tire & Muffler are your go to stop when it comes to tires for your car, mower, or tractor! Farm Work, Tires, Service work. How quick and time efficient we are. Most work we do includes Farm tire problems or vehicle tire problems. We can make recommendations on the different […]

Farmer City, Ill. (WCIA) Mayor Scott Testory welcomes us to our first Our Town stop of the summer! We are a city; we provide services to our residents and businesses such as water, sewer, electric and garbage pickup. We also provide police protection, street maintenance and park upkeep. Mayor tries to resolve issues that residents […]

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Welcome to “Our Town Danville” fall edition where we shine a spotlight on the city and those who make a difference in the community.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — One group has been serenading people in Danville — and beyond — for more than 50 years. The Danville Barbershop Chorus is made up of dozens of men of all ages. They perform several times a year around the community. The pandemic has stopped the group from doing that, which has […]

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — If you’re looking for a place to dance, or to support small businesses, there’s a new place in Danville. FYEnally Raw Studios opened in August in the Towne Center Plaza. Opening during a pandemic is no easy task — but owner, Tierra Brown, says it was a risk that made her […]

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — School looks different for every student this year, but if they’re going to walk into a school building — they have to wear a mask. Kids at Meade Park Elementary School in Danville got some help with that. “When we realized that the students were going to have to wear masks, […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — A lot of jobs have become more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. One man not only has a challenging job … but he’s new to the position. Dave Andriano started at the Watseka School District over the summer. He has three decades of experience and previously worked as an assistant superintendent […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — Family-owned radio stations are fewer and farther between.  You can hear the local sounds every day from Watseka.  Stacey Smith didn’t always envision herself as part of the family business, but today she’s running the radio stations as the general manager of WGFA-FM and WIBK-AM.   Her dad, the late Dick Martin, started the stations with partners before […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — They’re inviting the community to help them improve the place they call home.  The group of businesswomen got its start in 2018.   They decided to work with the city leadership and community members to make the community look better.  “Especially in these times right now,” said Rhonda Pence with Watseka Rocks. […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — A member of the Watseka Police Department is getting ready to celebrate his first year on the force … but he’s not your typical hire. 4-year-old Tucker started working with the department in December 2019. He’s certified in tracking and article search. Tucker can also sniff out seven different narcotics, including […]

WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — A façade grant program is helping spruce up businesses in Watseka. One family is in the process of opening several businesses at a building downtown. The Bread Basket Food Pantry has already opened. They’re also putting in a pub and an event space. “We’re trying to open it up so everybody […]

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — Businesses have had to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic but one in Mahomet changed everything. Yo Yo’s opened about three years ago as a self-serve frozen yogurt shop. As the business got ready to open for the season in March, the COVID-19 pandemic changed their plans. The owners knew they probably […]

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — More people are spending time outside during the COVID-19 pandemic and they have many options in Mahomet. The Parks and Recreation Department has grown a lot of over the years — and it’s still growing. They’re currently planning a splash pad and playground at Barber Park. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed […]

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — The stay-at-home order was tough on kids. So when small groups were finally allowed to meet, a new program started in Champaign County. The RISE Program was the brainchild of Matt Robinson and his wife. “We were thinking of things for kids to do, we know they were Zoomed out, Google […]

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — A new addition at Effingham’s animal shelter is helping people bond with their potential pets. Crews started building the addition in March and opened over the summer. The project includes a new entrance, more office space and a viewing room for people to meet with cats and dogs. “This is just […]

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — Dozens of kids are currently enrolled in Head Start, but leaders will soon have room for dozens more. CEFS runs the area’s Head Start Program, along with other community services. They needed more room for students and had been looking for a new space for about a year. The group started […]

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — A once-vacant building is now home to Effingham’s newest fire station. Firefighters had to celebrate the grand opening of the station on West Jaycee Avenue — virtually. They moved in February, right before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Firefighters had been planning the move for awhile because their old building didn’t serve […]