September Chamber Courier 2025 by Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Canton IL

Vice President: Maggie Connell - Edward Jones

cANTON aREA cHAMBER OF cOMMERCE bOARD OF dIRECTORS

Executive Board Executive Board

President: Chad Holloway - OSF HealthCare

Board of Directors Board of Directors

Tanaya Krulac - COOK Medical

Jay Valencia - Canton High School

Jason Gumbart - Apex Seed Company

Lacey Neal - Rock Valley Physical Therapy

Diane Bell - Di’s Boutique

Alesia Shaw - Graham Health System

Jason Elwell - EATS

Jacque Nelson - MidAmerica National Bank

Emylee Bitner - Bank of Farmington

Cade Fawcett - Ipava State Bank

Makaylynee Correa- Student Representative

Executive Director Carla Bobell

To everyone who shows up every day with pride and purpose, the small business owners, employees, dreamers, and doers who pour their heart into our community and make this place we call home truly special...Thank you! We hope all of you that own businesses who do so much for our community were able to take some much-deserved time off over the Labor Day weekend. We see the extra hours you are working, the giving back to your community, the bending over backwards for your customers, clients, patients, or clientele. You go the extra mile time and time again. Our communities are blessed to have your business in our towns, and we thank you for all that you do and continue to do to shape our communities into the unique places they are today!

One of the things the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce loves to do is promote our Chamber Members. When you are a member of the Canton Chamber you are listed in the Membership Directory on the cantonillinois.org website. This creates another search engine that pulls up when folks are looking for your business/organization online. We encourage you to go there and look up your business or organization and see if all the information is up to date and that your logo is included. https://members.cantonillinois.org/list/ If you are a member who is an individual, you will not find yourself listed in the Membership Directory for your protection.

We would like to create a new idea to promote our Chamber members that would include pictures of local Canton Chamber business owners. You can see the example that is below. We would like to replace the pictures in this example with pictures of....well, you! Chamber Week in Illinois is the week of September 7th, and we would like to highlight businesses all month using a similar image. Each day we use it; we plan to promote the business and a different reason why folks should choose Chamber Members to do business with. And it does not cost you a dime!

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

REIGN GRAPHICS AND DESIGNS

Reign Graphics and Designs is a brand-new business owned and operated by RJ Trimpe and located at 540 South Main Street in Canton. RJ bought the building on 5 Avenue on April 5th of this year, and you most likely noticed some big changes to the building right away. Once known as an auto mechanic shop they decided to convert the space to a graphics and design company. When thinking of a business to open, RJ had decided on a design company, because there was not a brick-and-mortar store front open in Canton. After four months of construction, the building is complete, and they are open for business!

Reign Graphics and Designs staffs an in-house designer so they are able to offer a wide variety of services for Canton and the surrounding communities. Some of the services they provide include but are not limited to: T-shirts, business cards, small wraps, vinyl decals, stickers, banners, posters, different types of signage, tumblers, hats, logo designs, and more. In-house designer Caleb has a bachelor's degree in graphic design, with several years’experience and is always happy to help and answer any questions. RJ states “As a small business, we are committed to the satisfaction of our customers, as well as other small businesses and organizations who seek us out to help them with whatever needs they may have for their business or events.” Give them a call for your next design need!

CANTON PARK DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

2025 has proven to be a productive year for The Canton Park District!

We were happy to be a part of Canton Bicentennial events, hosting decade games and a movie in the park and participating in the parade to round out the week-long celebration It was an exciting time for the community, and we would like to thank the Bicentennial Committee for all their hard work to make it all happen.

We are thrilled to welcome Park Superintendent, Dale Hanson and Maintenance Foreman, Kyle Walker to our team.

Big Creek Park Pool saw 18,243 people in attendance during the season Swimmers enjoyed special activities including pool parties, tot time, water aerobics, a dive in movie, and spending time with family and friends. We had a successful summer season with our Youth Baseball and Adult Softball Leagues; Adult Fall Leagues are now underway.

Our biggest accomplishments of the season have been the many upgrades we have made throughout the park district, including sealing the trail at Wallace Park, new playground equipment at Big Creek Park, a total transformation of the Nagel Space Center and free fishing at Lakeland Park, and Driving Range upgrades that included a rebuilt golf shack, new golf ball dispenser that will take credit cards and cash, and lights that allow you to enjoy the range until 10:00 p.m. along with new targets.

Big Creek Park Pool refreshed with new paint, fencing and slide refurbishment. We are not finished, so keep looking for improvements to our parks! We still have plenty of programs and events for you to enjoy to wrap up the year. A complete list of programs and events can be found on our website at www.cantonpark.org and click on the Program and Events tab.

Administration Office - 250 South Avenue D.

Office Hours 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday Phone: 309-647-1345

Gary G Baker Recreation Center - 940 North Main St

Hours of operations are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Phone: 309-647-7665

Connecting Canton, Fulton County andWest Central Illinois to nature and recreational opportunities.

Canton Park District

D&S PRIVATE DETECTIVE, INC.

Since 2003 D&S Private Detective Agency has been serving the needs of their clients in central Illinois for over 14 years. Their private detective agency is one of the premier names in personal investigations, with 30 employees and an impeccable track record for proven results.

Sadie Donald (owner) and Darren Donald (co-owner) purchased Elam PI (formerly in Canton) and made a company of their own, now known as D&S Private Detective, Inc. Sadie is also the President and Office Manager of their Bartonville based office and also is a licensed Illinois Live Scan Fingerprint Vendor, and an FBI Channeler for authorized recipients and personal background investigation services. Darren has an associate’s degree in Law Enforcement and is an active law enforcement officer with over 14 years of experience. He has had specialty training in supervision, interviewing, interrogation, report writing, crime scene processing and many other aspects of police and private detective work.

D&S Private Detective Agency specialize in security, detective work, background investigations, process serving, LiveScan Fingerprinting, and in-depth investigations for both business and personal use. They are members of NAPPS (National Association of Professional Process Services), have the hands-on experience to manage even the most complex of cases, and will work with you to secure your rights and restitutions.

They are very proud to announce that D&S Private Detective Inc is now officially certified as a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE)! This certification recognizes their ongoing commitment to diversity, excellence, and leadership as a woman-owned and operated business. It also opens new opportunities to connect, collaborate, and contribute to supplier diversity programs across industries.

Sadie states that “D&S Private Detective Agency prides ourselves on its service to our customers. We serve the counties of Fulton, Peoria, Tazewell, Mason, McDonough, and beyond, and we look forward to the various opportunities to earn your trusted business and show you the professional difference our agency can make.”

OPERA HOUSE PLAZA UPDATE

Excitement continues to grow as the Opera House Plaza project moves closer to completion in downtown Canton. Over the past two weeks, construction crews have noticeably increased their pace, and the vision for this new community gathering space is quickly coming to life.

Several key milestones have already been achieved. The north and south sidewalks are now poured, creating a clear outline of the plaza’s footprint. The center entryway and main plaza are framed and scheduled for concrete pouring in early September. The pavilion stage, a highlight of the project, is currently being finished with siding, trim, electrical, and plumbing features that will make it a versatile space for concerts, performances, and community events.

In mid-September, black dirt will be brought in to prepare for landscaping, followed by tree planting to add shade and greenery. Irrigation lines will also be installed to support the plaza’s landscaping long term. Additionally, measurements are being taken for custom ironwork fencing and railing, adding both safety and an attractive finishing touch to the space.

The completion of the Opera House Plaza is currently expected in mid-October, pending favorable weather conditions. As the finishing details come together, anticipation is building for what this project will mean to Canton. The Opera House Plaza is designed to be a hub for community gatherings, celebrations, and events for years to come. Be watching for Grand Opening information in the near future.

TIME CAPSULE SUBMISSIONS

The Canton Bicentennial celebration is already two months in the rear-view mirror, but the 100 years long march to the year 2125 and the city’s Tricentennial is just getting started. The Bicentennial Committee is creating a time capsule to be opened 100 years from now…and the public can be a part of it. The new time capsule will follow in the footsteps of the 1925 Centennial time capsule that was opened during the celebration.

A “2025 Time Capsule Submission Form” is available. Individuals, families, businesses, organizations, schools, and other entities are encouraged to complete the one-page form and submit it along with items they’d like to see included in it. It’s anticipated there will be more submissions than there is room for in the time capsule. For that reason, the Committee will determine which items will be included. Artifacts such as photos, documents, digital media, letters, and organizational histories are among those to be considered. All items must fit in an eight-inches-by-ten-inches or smaller unsealed envelope. Each submission form can be accompanied by just one envelope A complete list of restrictions is stated on the form

Forms are at the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce at 48 North Main Street, the Canton Area Heritage Center at 111 South Main Street, and at www.cantonillinois.org. Click on “Canton Bicentennial” at the top of the home page.

The deadline for submissions has been extended through Friday October 31st. They’re to be brought to the Chamber of Commerce. A date has not yet been set as to when the time capsule will be filled and sealed, but it’s expected to be sometime in November. It will then be housed at Parlin-Ingersoll Library in Canton until it’s opened 100 years from now.

Questions about the time capsule can be directed to the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce at 647-2677 or by email at cantonilbicentenniaL2025@gmail.com.

TIME CAPSULE SUBMISSIONS

2025 Time Capsule Submission Form

The primary purpose of a time capsule is to preserve a snapshot of a particular moment in time for future generations to discover and explore. It serves as a historical record, offering insights into the culture, technology, and everyday life of the era in which it was created Time capsules can also be used to commemorate special events, preserve personal memories, or even communicate with future civilizations.

Choose one:

Individual/Family Business/Corporation _ Organization School _ Other

Name of Above:

Contact information of person submitting this form:

Name: Phone #

Email:

Briefly describe the artifact(s) being submitted and why it is significant:

Submission Considerations:

Size: 11” x 17” or less envelope; unsealed

Paper or flash/ext. hard drives/CDs and DVDs accepted; other physical artifacts will be considered

Photos must include the names of people/buildings/places and approximate date on the back of the photos

Restrictions: No glass or items with potentially corrosive materials will be accepted

Deadline: Artifacts must be brought to the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Office at 48 North Main Street, in Canton, during regular business hours by 10.31.2025

The Canton Bicentennial Steering Committee reserves the right of refusal.

The 2025 Canton, Illinois Time Capsule will be sealed and housed at Parlin Ingersoll Library and opened at Canton’s Tricentennial Celebration in 2125.

Accepted by the 2025 Canton Bicentennial Steering Committee on