Government
Columbia election results are in
After two weeks of anticipation, the final results for the April 2 municipal elections came in, with all candidates who were leading on election day officially winning. There were 211…
Read MoreElection wait continues
Eighty-two of the 211 absentee ballots in last week’s consolidated election have arrived at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office. Most of those are valid, but Monroe County Clerk Jonathan McLean…
Read MoreSheriff disputes school district assertion
The Columbia school district recently sent a second document to the community, following up on its letter from February addressing negative claims about the district. This document contains seven new…
Read MoreMaeystown mayor retires
In 1994, Terryl Walster was already serving in village government in Maeystown when he was appointed as mayor. The position was not one he aspired to have but one he…
Read MoreMorani moving on
Columbia City Administrator James “Jimmy” Morani submitted his letter of resignation following the April 1 meeting of the Columbia City Council meeting, but it was no April Fools’ joke. Morani,…
Read MoreColumbia Chamber hosts candidate forum
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum Tuesday night for those seeking election to the Columbia City Council and Columbia School Board on April 2. At the event,…
Read MoreSunset Overlook dealt another blow
Sunset Overlook’s bid to be rezoned in Columbia took another hit Monday night. The Columbia Committee of the Whole voted 7-1 against recommending its rezoning. As during a public hearing…
Read MoreThe man behind Columbia’s council race
The Columbia City Council aldermanic race on April 2 features three challengers tied to an outspoken independent contractor currently embroiled in a lawsuit against the city. Ward I alderman Steve…
Read MoreAssessments out now
The Monroe County Assessor’s Office has released 2018 property assessments. The full assessment list is in this issue of the Republic-Times. Monroe County Assessor Carl Wuertz said 2018 assessments remain…
Read More‘Smart on crime’ – Police deflection discussed
In February 2015, the rural Northern Illinois town of Dixon was rocked by three drug overdose deaths in 10 days. Like most communities, Dixon had seen sporadic overdose deaths, but…
Read MoreMinimum wage hike a done deal
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker fulfilled a campaign promise Tuesday morning by signing a bill recently passed by the General Assembly that will make Illinois’ minimum wage $15 by 2025. “This…
Read MoreAssessments coming soon
In stark contrast to last year, Monroe County residents can expect to see 2018 property assessments in the Feb. 27 issue of the Republic-Times. The 2017 property assessments weren’t published…
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