January

• A truck towing a portion of a wind tower clipped a power pole along Rt. 10 between Midland City and Beason on Jan. 17.  The accident caused several villages to temporarily lose power.

• Commissioner John Wise reported it was time to begin upgrading the water department’s aging computer system.  The system controls the automated operation of the water plant.

• The school district announced it would sell the property that was once the site of Webster School to the City of Clinton for $8,000.

• The C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum began celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of C.H. Moore and the sesquicentennial of the completion of the Moore mansion.  It was also the golden anniversary of the DeWitt County Museum Association

February

Attorney Joe Taylor revealed that the late William Davenport willed more than $1 million to a number of nonprofit agencies, most located in Clinton.  Each of the organizations received $100,000.  Those local groups included Clinton YMCA, Dove, Inc., Warner Hospital and Health Services, Clinton Food Pantry / Community Action, Clinton Community Education Foundation, DeWitt County Friendship Center, Habitat for Humanity of DeWitt County, Vespasian Warner Pubic Library, and Clinton Rotary Club.

March

• The Clinton City Council began looking at ways to solve the problem of trash generated during the annual Apple n’ Pork Festival

• Clinton City Council approved the computer system upgrade to the city water plant.  Donahue & Associates were contracted to perform the upgrade.

• Warner Hospital and Health Services reported its highest revenue months in the hospital’s history during Dec. 2016 and Jan. 2017.

• Sherry Fulton retired after 35 years with University of Illinois Extension.  Fulton was DeWitt County’s Unit Educator and also coordinated the county’s 4-H activities.

Steve Willis retired as president of DeWitt Savings Bank and Justin Fentress assumed responsibilities as the facility’s new president.

• Gov. Bruce Rauner spoke during the annual DeWitt County Republican Lincoln Day dinner.  Rauner talked about property tax reform, workers’ compensation reform and other issues.

• The DeWitt County Board approved an electricity aggregation program allowing non-Corn Belt Energy customers in unincorporated areas to participate in the annual electricity auction.

April

• The Clinton City Council established a plan to fix the trash problem encountered during the annual Apple n’ Pork Festival.  More trash receptacles will be provided along Center Street, and they will be emptied at the end of the day on Saturday of the Festival to be ready for the following day.  Vendors will be responsible for the trash they generate.

• Clinton Fire Department conducted a multi-department training day in the block now under construction as the Mach I gasoline station.

• Warner Hospital announced its capital improvement projects, including $441,000 for 3-D mammography equipment and suite renovations.

• John Heap retired from Ace Hardware, turning responsibilities over to son-in-law Brad Barton.

• Riley Donelson, Grace Clark, Kevin Toohill and Raeann Huffman received scholarships from the DeWitt County Farm Bureau to continue their agricultural education.

• Organizers of The Vault proposed teen and community center announced that donations to establish the center were quickly adding up.

May

• Alexandra Johnson received a scholarship from the Sheriff’s Office through the Illinois Sheriff’s Association.

• The CHS Envirothon placed 4^th in state competition.  The student team was tested in five areas, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, soils and conservation.  

• The Clinton American Legion recognized Artie Bennett and Welby Crang, the first two DeWitt County soldiers to die in WWI, and for whom the Legion post is named.  Crang died in 1917, Bennett in 1918.  This year, 2018, marks the 100^th anniversary of the WWI armistice, in November.

• Mary Diener retired as principal of Clinton Elementary School after 33 years teaching and administrating.  Sasha Young assumed responsibilities as CES principal.

• The county’s mental health board celebrated its 50^th anniversary.  The board was established under the Community Mental Health Act.

• The former Indecent X-posure location was purchased for “The Vault” teen and community center.  The building also was a former location for Ben Franklin and Woolworth variety stores.

June

• A request to install wind turbine meteorological testing towers in northwest DeWitt County were scheduled to go before the zoning board of appeals.

• First National Bank & Trust donated $25,000 toward The Vault teen and community center project.  The donation put donations for the work over $200,000.

• Several award recipients were honored during the Illinois AmVets State Convention, held at the Crowne Plaza, Springfield.  Awards included Gordon Woods / The Clinton Journal, Mitchi Tucker, Robert Pakidis, Darvin Volker and Bob Pakidis.