The area once was home to  the world’s largest lead smelter and in its day, when Asarco pumped out paychecks and put food on the table, it had a lot of positive impact. Then when it closed, the legacy became less and less nostalgic as the years have passed. Local leaders have sought a cleanup of the site far beyond their means. Yesterday, the US EPA announced a breakthrough on that front. The Asarco site was among sites chosen for cleanup in a third and final wave of cleanups under a one billion dollar effort nationwide. Asarco is among 25 new Superfund cleanup projects.  EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “This final round of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has made it possible for EPA to initiate clean ups at every single Superfund site where construction work is ready to begin. This is an incredible milestone in our efforts to clean up and protect communities, deliver local jobs, enhance economic activity, and improve people’s lives for years to come.”    

“Alongside Illinois’ rich industrial history lies the sobering reality of polluted sites that pose significant risks to public health and the environment,” said Sen. Dick Durbin. “This federal funding is critical in our mission to restore contaminated sites for the benefit of every Illinois resident and safeguard the surrounding ecosystems.”  

“I’m proud to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is continuing to support critical projects throughout Illinois, and I’m pleased this Superfund site in Montgomery County, Illinois, will benefit,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth. “Eliminating contaminated sites is an important part of protecting the health of children and families, and it is also a necessary part of helping spur development, job creation and economic growth for affected communities. I’ll keep working to help ensure that all Illinoisans can breathe clean air and live in a safe environment without fear of toxins and pollution.”  

“Illinois EPA is pleased to see this federal funding being directly applied to the Asarco Superfund site in Taylor Springs, Illinois,” said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim.  “With no required state match, 100 percent of this funding will go directly to remediating this site, which is a win for Illinois residents.”  

Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, cleanup will begin at the Asarco Taylor Springs Superfund site. EPA completed the remedial investigation and feasibility study phase of the Superfund process in 2021 and issued a proposed cleanup plan for public comment in June 2021. Funding will be used to remediate lead- contaminated soil, process residues, and groundwater at the site. For the residential areas, this involves the excavation of contaminated soil and backfilling with clean soil.  At the former smelter property, cleanup includes excavation of source materials and lake dams and spillways repair to prevent release of contaminated material and protect aquatic habitat.  

If ain’t broke, don’t fix it but that doesn’t mean don’t add a new tweak or two. That sums up the gameplan for this year’s Litchfield Pickers markets. The Litchfield Tourism Office and Prairie Pickers have announced that the 2024 Litchfield Pickers Markets will again be on the second Sunday of each month from May through October. There is one change though as the event will start and finish one hour earlier running from 8am to 2pm in the Downtown area. The first Pickers Market is set for May 12th with the events running through October. New this year, in addition to the juried vintage antique sale organizers will also feature other vendors in the separate Monroe Street area – arts and crafts markets in May and October, non-juried toy and collectibles markets in June and September, and traditional farmers’ markets in July and August.More information and applications for all of the markets can be found on the tourism office’s website at visitlitchfield.com, or interested vendors and visitors can call 217-324-8147. 

In 2026, the states through which historic Route 66 passes will celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the route’s designation. Posts on many Route 66 social media platforms show that travelers are already 

making plans to travel the route during its centennial. In preparation, the Litchfield Tourism Office, the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center and other area Route 66 landmarks and businesses would like to form a group comprised of those who are interested in helping plan for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration in the Montgomery County area.Route 66 was designated on November 11, 1926 by the United States Numbered HighwaySystem. Illinois was the first of the eight states through which the route passes to have its portionpaved, or slabbed, as it was called. Eight miles of the route pass through Montgomery County, with two alignments going through Litchfield. 

Every year, the historic route attracts not only visitors from across the U.S., but also thousands of international travelers, and local economies benefit from route tourism. From Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California and in every community in between, Mother Road tourism boosts employment opportunities, household incomes and government revenues. 

The tourism office will host the first planning meeting in the Carnegie Building at 400 N. State Street in Litchfield on Wednesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. The public and all interested parties are invited to attend the meeting. Those who would like to attend are asked to RSVP by calling the tourism office at 217-324-8147 or sending an e-mail to tourism@cityoflitchfieldil.com. 

Litchfield is taking a grass roots approach to long term economic development and city planning.  They are teaming up with Western Illinois University’s Rural Affairs Program to bring  ‘MAPPING The Future of Your Community’ back to Litchfield, 22 years after a previous effort.  Mapping offers five, three-hour sessions at SCI  Regional Workforce Training and Innovation Center at 2001 Eilerman Avenue, Litchfield to discuss the questions: 
• Where are we now? 
• Where do we want to be? 
• How are we going to get there? 
• How do we make it happen? 
• How do we make it happen and maintain the momentum?  
Sessions will be held five consecutive Mondays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting next Monday February 12th.   City officials prefer participants take part in all five sessions.  
For more information, or to sign up to participate in the sessions, please contact Tonya Flannery at 217-324-8151 or tflannery@cityoflitchfieldil.com. 

The Montgomery County Clerk’s Office reminds voters who wish to vote by mail for the Tuesday, March 19 th , 2024 General Primary Election that they may apply for a ballot from that office. To vote by mail, voters may go to the County Clerk’s page of the county website at www.montgomerycountyil.gov and download, complete and sign the Vote By Mail Ballot Application form and mail it to the County Clerk’s Office. Voters may also call the County Clerk’s Office at 217-532-9530 during business hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (excluding holidays) to receive a Vote By Mail Ballot Application. All Vote By Mail Ballot Applications must be received at the County Clerk’s office by Thursday, March 14 th , 2024 in order to receive a mailed ballot. To be counted, Vote By Mail ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day (March 19 th , 2024) and received within 14 days after Election Day. Voters may also return their Vote By Mail ballot by placing it in the secure outdoor Ballot Drop Box located on the north side of the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro, or they may return it to the County Clerk’s Office in person. Anyone needing further information about the upcoming election is encouraged to visit the county website or contact the County Clerk/Recorder’s Office at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro in person, by phone at (217) 532-9530, or by email at countyclerk@montgomerycountyil.gov.