Sandburg plants tree in honor of alumnus, fallen Carthage firefighter

 Doug Buckert's father Gene, sister Carla and mother Joyce attended a tree dedication in memory of Buckert at the Carthage campus on Sept. 9on what would have been Buckert’s 51st birthday. Buckert, a Sandburg alumnus and member of the Carthage Fire Department, was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call near Burnside on Oct. 2, 1997.

GALESBURG — Sandburg recently dedicated a tree on its Carthage campus in memory of an alumnus and fallen first responder.

A purple prince flowering crabapple tree was planted in honor of Doug Buckert, a volunteer member of the Carthage Fire Department who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call near Burnside on Oct. 2, 1997. 

Buckert graduated from Sandburg in 1995 with an associate degree, and he earned another degree from Sandburg in 1997 as part of the college’s first mortuary science program graduating class.

Doug's parents, Gene and Joyce Buckert, along with his sister, Carla, were present for the tree dedication ceremony, which took place Sept. 9 on what would have been Buckert’s 51st birthday.

The Buckert family also continues to honor Doug’s memory through a Sandburg Foundation scholarship in his name. The Walter Douglas "Doug" Buckert Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a second- year mortuary science student. The recipient must demonstrate qualities of leadership and civic-mindedness both in their community and the classroom and exemplify the qualities of servant leadership

Sandburg commemorates 60th anniversary by opening time capsule

On the day Sandburg celebrated its 60th anniversary, members of the college community took a trip back in time.

Sandburg faculty, staff, students, alumni and others from the area gathered for a Founders Day celebration Sept. 24 in the Graham Health System Science & Technology Center Atrium. The date marked the 60th anniversary of voters approving the establishment of the college, and the first classes in Sandburg’s history took place just shy of a year later, on Sept. 18, 1967.

The event included a display of Sandburg’s history through each decade, and it featured items from a time capsule sealed in 1976 as part of the college’s 10th anniversary. It was placed in what was then the exterior of building D and is now inside the college’s Public Safety office. The tin capsule was inserted into the brick wall and covered with a block engraved “1976.”

College officials opened the time capsule earlier last week, ahead of the Founders Day celebration. Inside it were letters from then-president Eltis Henson (the first president in Sandburg history), the student trustee at the time and the faculty council chairman in 1976.

Other items in the time capsule included college catalogs from 1975-76 and 1976-77, a photo of the original board of trustees, a program from the 1976 practical nursing graduation and a copy of the college’s newsletter from spring 1975, which featured a story on the groundbreaking of the first permanent buildings on what’s now the Galesburg campus.

Items from the 1976 time capsule are on display in the Sandburg library. The college plans to collect current-era items throughout the course of the year and reseal the time capsule so it can be opened by a future generation.

Sandburg President Dr. Seamus Reilly summarized Henson’s letter, which was produced on a typewriter and includes the salutation “TO WHOMEVER MAY OPEN THIS BOX.”

Henson’s letter noted Sandburg’s initial decade had been trying but rewarding. The college had grown from 300 students to more than 3,000. It had also expanded its district, increased its tax base, earned accreditation and established itself as a reputable place of higher learning in the community.

“The ability of Sandburg College to overcome serious problems and to become highly recognized for quality of education and service of its people can be attributed to the strong and dedicated personnel who have made up the board of trustees, the faculty and the staff,” Henson wrote.

“Fifty years later,” Reilly said, “I can tell you that those words still ring true. A college is not its buildings. It is not its classrooms. It is not even its name on a diploma. A college is its people, and most importantly, it is our students.”

While the college has had numerous physical changes and modes of instruction have evolved, the Sandburg of those many years ago shares several qualities with the one that exists today, and its core mission, Reilly said, remains the same.

“What is most interesting about this letter isn't the numbers,” Reilly said. “It is what he believed those numbers represented. He wrote that Sandburg had a responsibility to play an even greater role in the lives of the people of the district, and he challenged those who would follow to continue improving not only the quality of instruction but the quality of the life of the people Sandburg serves. It's a remarkable message to receive 50 years later, because while the college has changed in countless ways, that fundamental responsibility has not.”

Krista Winters, assistant professor of biology and current faculty representative to the board of trustees, read a letter from the time capsule dated Oct. 29, 1976, and written by Art Williamson, who was chairman of the faculty council.

“It is impossible to predict what changes in education and delivery systems will be made in the next 50 years,” Williamson wrote. “I know there have been tremendous changes in the past seven years that I have been on the faculty. If we are lucky, we will move into the permanent facilities in about a month. I wonder what changes will be made in them by the time you read this.”

“There’s a lot,” Winters quipped.

Theo Salim, the current student representative to the board, shared a letter to the 2026 student body written by 1976-77 student trustee Ron Rabernort.

Rabenort’s letter closed: “Finally, I would like to wish you all the best rewards possible, for an education cannot be simply measured in dollars and cents, but rather it is the inner fulfillment of a lifetime. Peace be with you all.”

Nauvoo Tourism Director Rebecca Williamson- October is is here whats happening in Nauvoo this month including  the Pumpkin Walk and Octoberfest! 

HIGH-DEMAND ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

REOPENS OCTOBER 1

(Macomb, Illinois, September 2026) – Rising energy costs continue to create challenges for many western Illinois
households. WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC), a nonprofit, assists eligible families, seniors, and individuals
to stay connected to essential utility services through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
LIHEAP helps eligible households to offset the rising cost of home energy bills, especially seniors living on fixed
incomes, individuals with disabilities, and working families. WIRC officials are pleased to announce that the agency
has once again been authorized to administer LIHEAP in Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren
counties for the upcoming program season.
ELIGIBILITY
WIRC officials note that eligibility guidelines expanded again this year. Customers of Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor
Gas, North Shore Gas, and Peoples Gas may qualify for LIHEAP if their income is at or below 300% of the Federal
Poverty Level. Households served by federally funded utilities or energy vendors may qualify with incomes at or
below 60% of the State Median Income.
Example income limits include:1 person: $3,990 per month; 2 people: $5,410 per month; 3 people: $6,830 per
month; 4 people: $8,250 per month. Households with five or more members can call WIRC or visit https://wirpc.org
or liheapillinois.com to know income limits.
APPLICATION WINDOW
The LIHEAP program season begins October 1, 2026, and continues through August 13, 2027, or until available
funding is exhausted. As in previous years, priority application periods are available for households considered most
vulnerable.

Beginning October 1, applications will be accepted from: Adults age 60 and older; Individuals with disabilities;
Families with children age 5 and younger; Households with a utility disconnection notice or disconnected service;
and Households with less than 25% fuel remaining in a propane tank.
Beginning November 1, all other income-eligible households may apply.
APPOINTMENT OPTIONS
Appointments are available by phone or in person and must be scheduled in advance. Walk-in appointments are not
available due to documentation required for the application.
Through partnerships with local organizations, WIRC will also offer in-person appointments at the Strom Center in
Monmouth, the Strom Center in Oquawka, and West Central Illinois Aging Network (Marion Corner Apartments) in
Carthage during October, November, and December. WIRC officials note that appointment availability at these
outreach sites is limited and often fills quickly.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for LIHEAP, or to determine if you may be eligible, contact WIRC to schedule an appointment. Applications
are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through August 13, 2027, or until funding is exhausted, whichever
occurs first.
Residents of Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, and Warren counties should call the Macomb office at 309-837-
2997. Residents of Knox County should call the Galesburg office at 309-837-5115.
APPLY EARLY
WIRC assisted nearly 6,000 households through LIHEAP during the last program season and expects demand to
continue. Appointment schedules can fill quickly, and available appointment dates may be several weeks after a
households initial call.
WIRC strongly encourages households to apply early rather than waiting until they receive a disconnection notice.
Early application can help households to avoid interruptions in utility service during periods of high demand.
Funding for LIHEAP is provided by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
(DCEO).
WIRC-Community Action Agency is a nonprofit organization that strengthens people and communities throughout
western Illinois through local partnerships and community-based services. WIRC is an equal opportunity provider
and employer.

Consortium including Sandburg designated as Center of Excellence by US Maritime Administration

 The Corn Belt Ports Rural Logistics & Maritime Training & Education Consortium, which includes Sandburg as a member, has been designated as a 2026 Center of Excellence (CoE) for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education.

The consortium was one of 16 CoE designees for 2026 by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). The CoE title is valid for five years and supports maritime training programs that prepare students for careers in the industry by highlighting workforce development, high-quality career paths and national infrastructure.

Formed earlier this year, the Corn Belt Ports Rural Logistics & Maritime Training & Education Consortium is a regional workforce development initiative through a network of higher education institutions from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin located along the upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Its focus is to further align with industry demands for afloat and ashore careers and to solidify long-term regional collaboration.   

The consortium includes Sandburg, Western Illinois University, Black Hawk College, Culver-Stockton College, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, Illinois Central College, John Wood Community College, Northeast Iowa Community College, the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and Western Technical College.

“Being designated as a Center of Excellence by the Maritime Administration is a considerable achievement for Sandburg and this consortium,” Sandburg President Dr. Seamus Reilly said. “This joint effort of community colleges, universities, industry champions and public partners speaks to the importance of addressing our region’s workforce needs and training students for careers that will support them. Having this designation will shine a brighter light on the critical role inland maritime and logistics industries have in this region.”

Member schools work with Corn Belt Ports, an organization of federally recognized ports within the Corn Belt’s lock-and-dam system, to keep the consortium’s work aligned with industry goals and academic strengths. They also partner with We Work the Waterways, a national nonprofit education organization, to ensure regional efforts meet maritime workforce priorities. 

Welcome to the Real World returns to Sandburg on Oct. 2 with more than 370 local 8th graders

GALESBURG — More than 370 area eighth graders will embark on an immersive occupational journey during the Welcome to the Real World and Career Exploration experience from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 2 on Sandburg’s Galesburg campus.

The event, hosted by Sandburg in cooperation with the University of Illinois Extension and Regional Office of Education No. 33, inspires students’ aspirations and prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the future while introducing them to diverse career options.

The Welcome to the Real World portion of the event simulates the implications of career choices and financial decisions, helping students better understand how their choices can impact their financial futures.

In the Career Exploration portion, students will hear from a panel of professionals in various career paths, allowing them to learn about necessary education and training as well as how these industry experts achieved success. The career panel will be moderated by Abby Thomas, director of communications and development at the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development.

The career panel will include the following industry experts:

• Cody Basham, Klingner and Associates
• Kaitlyn Damewood, McDonough District Hospital 
• Draven Leady, Quarter-Max Racing
• Corissa Wright, Galesburg Police Department

Following the career panel, industry partners will have interactive demonstrations set up in the gymnasium, where students can explore career fields through hands-on activities. Participating groups include:

• CBI Bank & Trust
• Community State Bank
• Dave’s Auto Body
• Facilitating Coordination in Ag Education
• Galesburg Area Vocational Center
• Galesburg Fire Department
• Galesburg Police Department
• Illinois Student Assistance Commission
• Knox County 911
• Knox County Clerk and Recorder’s Office
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Court
• Porter-Hay Insurance
• Regional Office of Education No. 33 (child development)
• Sandburg
  • Admissions Office
  • College of Nursing
  • Dental hygiene program
  • Information technology
  • Medical assisting program
  • TRIO Upward Bound
  • TRIO Upward Bound Math-Science
  • Welding program
  • Workforce Development & Community Education Department

This partnership between Sandburg, the U of I Extension and ROE No. 33 underscores the commitment of these organizations to provide students with exceptional opportunities for growth and learning. More than 150 volunteers will be part of helping area students throughout this career experience.

For more information or to assist with the event, contact Tracy Engstrom, coordinator of career development at Sandburg, at 309.341.5246 or tengstrom@sandburg.edu, or contact Shelby Carlson from the U of I Extension at srcarls2@illinois.edu. 

CARTHAGE CITY COUNCIL

AGENDA

REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 29, 2026

MAYOR:
Pledge of Allegiance Approve Regular Minutes Sept. 15, 2026
Roll Call M&O Environmental Pay Request - SCGP
Public Comments TIF Application – Lilly’s
CLERK:

TREASURER:
CITY ATTORNEY:
Land on end of Wabash
201 S. Scofield - Hundley Property 160 Prairie – Charlie Mustread
724 Walnut – Xavier Hutchcroft 130 S. Marion – Sebastian Jemison
E-Bike Ordinance
PUBLIC SAFETY:
Report on Fire Dept. Report on Police Report on Civil Defense
WIRC Victim Services Permission Form
PUBLIC PROPERTY:
Tree City Report Landfill Report
Public Properties Update Land Bank – International Property Maintenance Code
Asbestos Abatement
FINANCE:

PUBLIC WORKS:
Building Permit report CFL Loan Program – Dearwester
New Deep Well Salt Bids
IPWMAN membership
LEGISLATIVE:
Code Book Update Code Book Changes
Code Book Section 4-1-6: Fees
EXECUTIVE SESSION:

What's UP Doc?   Dr. Tom Grant  Lets talk metabolism

Don Obrien with the BBB - Lets talk about used car sales 

Josh Dickmantalks with Don Obrien of the Better Business Bureau

Meet the Candidates-  Bob Fioretti -  Republican Candidate for Attorney General

Hancock County Farm Bureau Richlyn Honer- with Farm Bureau Activities and reminding us all to watch out for farmers during this harvest 

Nauvoo Tourism Director Rebecca Williamson talks with Shawn Stewart about Nauvoo and Fall Activities

Whats up Doc- with Dr Tom Grant-    Healthy Living and how to  relieve  stress

Dr Jodi with Sandburg College - September/ Octobers Activites,     How you can complete your Degree  in just one night a week.   Kids Campus and More 

Illinois Extension Office  Kristin Huls and  Cynthia Colvin  stop by the WCAZ Studio to discuss all things 4H and now is the time to join and  Adult Mental Health First Aid for the Ag Community 

Sandburg dental hygiene 25th anniversary open house Oct. 7

andburg is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its dental hygiene program with an open house Oct. 7 on the Galesburg campus.

The open house will take place from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 7 in the Graham Health System Science & Technology Center Atrium. It offers a chance to connect with alumni, faculty, students, and friends of the program while celebrating its legacy and the professionals who’ve made a lasting impact in their communities.

Since its inception, Sandburg’s dental hygiene program has produced 593 graduates, and its alumni now live in 21 different states, including 292 in Illinois. 

The college’s dental hygiene clinic, which gives students hands-on learning opportunities while providing low-cost dental hygiene services to the community, has served more than 17,700 patients in its history. It has seen patients from 40 states and Canada.

Dental hygiene program alumni are asked to submit memories, impact statements and advice for current and future program students on this form.

You can contribute online to support Sandburg’s dental hygiene program through the Sandburg Foundat

Veteran and Senior Fair  Thursday September 17th- Josh Dickman and Illinois State Representative Dan Swanson  talk about what you can expect at this free event

What's up Doc- with Dr Tom Grant-   Healthy Living- Nutrition, unhealthy diets,  parents ask what can I do for my family

Carl Sandburg College president Dr. Seamus Reilly announces 2027 retirement

Carl Sandburg College President Dr. Seamus Reilly has announced that he will retire from his position at the end of his contract on June 30, 2027, after nine years leading the institution.

“It truly has been an honor to lead Carl Sandburg College over the past nine years,” Reilly said. “I am proud of the work that has been accomplished through the hard work of staff and faculty, and I look forward to seeing Sandburg continue to grow and shape our region.”

“On behalf of the board of trustees, we are deeply grateful for Dr. Reilly’s leadership, dedication and commitment to our students and District 518,” said Joshua Gibb, chairperson of the Sandburg board of trustees. “He leaves Carl Sandburg College stronger and well positioned for the future.

“The Board of Trustees takes the responsibility of selecting its next president very seriously and will approach that work with great care and purpose. While we will miss working with Seamus, we are excited about what lies ahead for Carl Sandburg College.”

Reilly became the seventh president of Sandburg in 2018. During his tenure, he’s led strategic planning efforts to enrich the college community and the community at large through new academic programs and the implementation of a campus master plan that’s sparked a bevy of improvement projects.

In 2024, Sandburg opened the Science & Technology Center, which houses programs for health professions, natural sciences, nursing and dental hygiene as well as the college’s dental hygiene clinic. The nearly 47,000-square-foot structure marked the first new building on Sandburg’s Galesburg campus since 2006.

Connected to the S+T Center, the renovated Student Center opened on the Galesburg campus in April 2025. In addition to offering a refurbished area for students to enjoy, the renovation brought nearly all the college’s student services — including admissions, advising, academic support, counseling, TRIO Student Support Services, student engagement and financial aid — under the same roof.

Just last month, Sandburg broke ground on the Charger Center, a 70,204-square-foot athletic and conference space that will serve as the new home for Sandburg’s athletic programs and support additional academic and community use.

Also under Reilly’s leadership, the college secured a $1.8 million grant through the state in 2025 to create the 518 Collective, an agricultural technology incubator located at the Annex on Main Street in downtown Galesburg.

Reilly also steered Sandburg through the COVID-19 pandemic, which included a transition to virtual and online learning for nearly every class offered during that time. In 2024, he received the Shirley B. Gordon Award from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the organization’s most prestigious honor given to community college presidents.

A 30-plus-year veteran in higher education, Reilly served as a vice president at Parkland College in Champaign before coming to Sandburg. While there, he also served as department chair of Fine and Applied Arts, director of International Education and an English instructor. He was inducted into the Parkland College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024.

Reilly graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1997 with a doctorate in English. 

He serves on the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce board, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Presidents’ Commission, the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development (KCAP) board of directors, the LWIA 14 Region Workforce Innovation Board, the Amtrak Corridor committee, the National Railroad Hall of Fame board of directors and the Gale Scholars Steering Committee.

Sandburg’s board of trustees, in partnership with a search firm, soon will begin a national search for the college’s eighth president.

Meet the Candidates- Carissa Bryant  for 9th Circuit Judge

She is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association andjust finished serving her second term on the Standing Committee for Illinois Civil Practice and Procedure.

Mobile Food  Pantry    September 26th  - Hancock County Extension Building

Sandburg announces 2026 summer session graduates

GALESBURG — Sandburg has announced the names of students who completed graduation requirements and graduated from the college following the conclusion of the 2026 summer session. 

ASSOCIATE DEGREES

ASSOCIATE IN ARTS

Abingdon — Macenzie Powers

Aledo — Tanner Sedam

Augusta — Owen Rigg

Burnside — Kirra Davis

Carthage — Kennedy Gunning

East Galesburg — Sarah Mathews

Elmwood — Lacyn Durst, Kaitlyn Noll

Galesburg — Emelie Buteyn, Amy Cauthon, Alicia Delafield, Sofia Dixon, Colby Folger, Gaeben Frisque, Jacqueline Henry, Vincent Kipkemoi, Dayton Lundstrom, Ashlee Mechtel, Jay Sanchez, Valerie Schnepf, Damien Snell, Payton Taylor, Tucker Vandewostine

Moline — Ayden Mendoza

Monmouth — Lili Brown, Brandon Martinez

Normal — Anaya Hardges

Rio — Charles Heinrich

Roseville — Rachael Garrett

Sutter — Haydn McMillen

Yates City — Kaitlyn Gray

ASSOCIATE IN GENERAL STUDIES

Abingdon — Madison Walter

Aledo — Tanner Sedam

Cameron — Danielle Bowling

Carthage — Michelle Nicol

East Galesburg — Sarah Mathews

Galesburg — Olivia Hillhouse, Morgan Mudd, Tucker Vandewostine

Knoxville — Piper Lewis

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE

Cameron — Chase Bryant

East Galesburg — Sarah Mathews

Galesburg — Cynthia Dickson, Caleb Monzo

Katy, Texas — Tiera Hall

Kilbourne — Hunter Snyder

Knoxville — Drake Dillon

Monmouth — Jessica Wilkinson

Rochester, NY — Larah Cledanor

Roseville — Summer Daniel

San Antonio, Texas — Lillian Covarrubias

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE

Business administration

Colchester — Makayla Cox

Criminal justice

Cambridge — Skye Fontanez

Galesburg — Colten Myers

Information technology & cyber security

Gilson — Nicholas McDaneld

Medical assistant

Abingdon — Zoe Brooks-Smice

Monmouth — Grecia Ojeda Sanchez

Mortuary science

Batavia — Robert Merrill

Galesburg — Olivia Minorini

Knoxville — Ariel Niles

West Point, Iowa — Elizabeth Tippey

Nursing

Galesburg — Jeff Kipkorir

Portland, Ore. — Allan Kipruto

CERTIFICATES

Medical assisting 

Abingdon — Zoe Brooks-Smice

Aledo — Ericka Sedam

Alexis — Hannah McNabb

Galesburg — Selma Frey, Carlie Garcia

Knoxville — Andrea Olinger

Monmouth — Dzemila Ahmetovic, Chloe McCutcheon, Grecia Ojeda Sanchez, Alondra Perez Godina, Alissa Underwood

North Henderson — Kloey Scott

Roseville — Jesslin Wainman

Practical nursing

Abingdon — Tyler Carlson Juhl

Carthage — Kailin Mapes

Galesburg — Ivine Chemutai, Cherrie Chesang, Lindzey Crozier, Taleah Kennedy, Mathew Kiplagat, Amanda Smith, Terryn Smith

Monmouth — Eya Massan Akpabli, Alyssa Lujan, Nicole Mabry

Oneida — Desiree McKinney

Rock Island — Anna Dean

Sutter — Haley Evans

West Point — Dacota Smith

Williamsfield — Diane Sutton