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🌱 Patch AM: How Springfield’s tourism chief is heading to the governor’s mansion

Coming up: 2 Days Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Training in Springfield, IL on the Springfield Patch calendar

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Good morning to you Springfield! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Springfield's tourism chief is heading to the governor's mansion
  • How to enter Springfield's new Dana-Thomas House Lego competition
  • New $66 million rehab hospital proposed for Wabash Avenue

Also on today's calendar: Elle Nieto-Brodnick Workshop BYOT and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: I'm a rock group with 4 members; one member was assassinated. What am I? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Humid; dense fog in the a.m., with a high of 81 and low of 65 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny, warm and humid, temps: high: 87, low: 67. 🌶 Hot!
  • Sunday: Sunshine and a few clouds, with a high of 84 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Amy Beadle leaving Visit Springfield for governor's office (sj-r.com) — A longtime Visit Springfield marketing leader, Amy Beadle, has left the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau to become Director of Executive Mansion Operations for the governor's office later this month. After more than three decades serving Springfield tourism and major events like the State Fair and Route 66 festival, she'll now oversee events and operations at the Illinois Executive Mansion while Springfield leaders credit her with helping drive record tourism.
   

2. Dana-Thomas House to celebrate Susan Lawrence Dana's legacy with inaugural Lego brick competition (springfieldherald.news) — Springfield families can celebrate Susan Lawrence Dana's legacy by entering a new Lego brick building competition tied to the Dana-Thomas House, with entries due online by Oct. 13. Selected creations will be displayed inside the historic Frank Lloyd Wright home, and residents can also donate Lego bricks at the Lawrence Avenue foundation office to support local youth.
   

3. 26-042 Rehabilitation Institute of Springfield, LLC (illinois.gov) — A new 60-bed comprehensive rehabilitation hospital is proposed for 4685 Wabash Avenue in Springfield, with a project cost of about $66 million. Residents can request a public hearing by Sept. 24, submit written comments by Jan. 6, and later respond to the state board's staff report before a planned January 2027 decision on the project.
   

4. Springfield man pleads guilty to first-degree murder of Stonington man (sj-r.com) — A Springfield man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the April 2025 shooting death of 19-year-old Camren White on West Lenox Avenue. Justin L. Pickrell remains in custody and is scheduled for sentencing in Springfield on Nov. 6, after being arrested days after the killing following a traffic crash and treated for related injuries.
   

5. Residents bring open minds, skepticism to 19th Street Rail Corridor Open House (illinoistimes.com) — Springfield residents recently weighed in on options for the 19th Street rail corridor, which could shape safety, traffic, and potential trail space on the city's east side. Consultants will use this feedback, plus business and railroad input, to recommend a plan and cost analysis to the city council in December, while some neighbors remain skeptical long-promised changes will happen.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Glenkirk Direct Support Professional Daniel Bello Earns Statewide IARF Honor —Nicole Andas Read on Patch
  • Does anyone play mahjong?
    I'm interested in learning and have been studying a beginner's book and I have a Chinese set (doesn't have the 8 jokers that are used in the American… (Nextdoor Hazel Dell)
  • If anyone is missing an orange cat, this one showed up on English Ave.
    We gave it some food. It didn't run away when we came outside but didn't come any closer either. Just ate and wandered off. (Nextdoor North of Washington Park)
  • Simplex, Inc. posted a job opening for Assembly Technician in Springfield. Apply here.
  • Kedrion Biopharma, Inc. posted a job opening for Production Lead in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.

Ok Springfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Mount Rushmore (Thank you J.J. W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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