Springfield residents retain a strong sense of neighborhood identity even after decades of population shifts to smaller surrounding communities, a survey by University of Illinois Springfield and a local planning commission found.
There was less optimism on long-term stability in the survey released Monday, with more than 20 percent saying their neighborhoods would be worse places to live in coming years.
Nearly 730 residents of Sangamon County responded to the “Neighborhood Survey,” taken this spring and summer. It was the first in-depth survey of neighborhood sentiments since 1975, said Norm Sims, executive director of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission.
Residents in north Sangamon County were most satisfied with their neighborhoods, with nearly 96 percent reporting liking where they live, while satisfaction was lowest in northeast Springfield, where the favorability rating was nearly 82 percent of residents.
“If they don’t have a neighborhood identity, I think they’re trying to get one,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Research Office. “The county was the only place where they’d say, we don’t really have a neighborhood.”
The story was published in The State Journal-Register on August 5, 2014.
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Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
UIS unveils new athletic logo
A fresh appearance for their school’s sports teams will greet University of Illinois Springfield students when they return to campus for the fall semester in a few weeks.
UIS unveiled a new logo during a ceremony on Friday at The Recreation and Athletic Center. The logo, featuring “UIS” and a single motion star, is navy, Vegas gold and white.
“We cleaned it up and simplified it,” UIS athletic director Kim Pate said.
The release of the logo comes six months after the school announced it would retain the Prairie Stars nickname, which dates back to 1977. A process to examine nickname alternatives began in 2012. Among the proposed name suggestions were Stars, Mammoths, Sabers, Stampede and Springers.
Pate assured those in attendance Friday that “Prairie Stars” is here to stay. Free shirts, balls, bracelets, buttons and other items featuring the new UIS and Prairie Stars logos were distributed to those on hand. A tarp was removed from the gymnasium floor and revealed the new logo painted on the court.
Studio Simon of Louisville, Kentucky, designed the graphics, which include 11 primary marks and sport-specific logos.
The story was published in The State Journal-Register on August 2, 2014.
Read the story online
UIS unveiled a new logo during a ceremony on Friday at The Recreation and Athletic Center. The logo, featuring “UIS” and a single motion star, is navy, Vegas gold and white.
“We cleaned it up and simplified it,” UIS athletic director Kim Pate said.
The release of the logo comes six months after the school announced it would retain the Prairie Stars nickname, which dates back to 1977. A process to examine nickname alternatives began in 2012. Among the proposed name suggestions were Stars, Mammoths, Sabers, Stampede and Springers.
Pate assured those in attendance Friday that “Prairie Stars” is here to stay. Free shirts, balls, bracelets, buttons and other items featuring the new UIS and Prairie Stars logos were distributed to those on hand. A tarp was removed from the gymnasium floor and revealed the new logo painted on the court.
Studio Simon of Louisville, Kentucky, designed the graphics, which include 11 primary marks and sport-specific logos.
The story was published in The State Journal-Register on August 2, 2014.
Read the story online
Smith leaves legacy of speed, versatility at UIS
At the plate, she was dependable. In the field, she was versatile and on the base paths, she was one of the fastest ever at University of Illinois Springfield.
Nokomis graduate Mandy Smith, who suited up for University of Illinois Springfield during the last four years, led the team in stolen bases two of those years. She was second in stolen bases one other year. At the plate, she never had a batting average lower than .245 and batted as high as .312. In the field, she played second base, right field and centerfield.
"I am a big fan of right field," said the former Redskin player. "Everyone thinks that right is a boring spot, but in college it is not. I played quite a bit of infield during high school, so I was very used to that position. Center was a ton of running and backing up the middle infield."
But, she was good at all three spots and probably because of her bat and her ability to steal bases, was a constant starter in the lineup. From her freshman year, she started every game.
"I had the great fortune to never be injured and to be good enough to play," said Smith. "It was a good four years for me. They were like a family and we had great times. I have some great memories."
Smith finished her career with a .286 batting average. In 640 trips to the plate, she had 183 hits (16 doubles, three triples). She also had 105 runs scored, 71 stolen bases, 52 RBIs and 49 walks. For her career, she made 239 putouts, 112 assisted putouts and 19 errors for a fielding percentage of .949.
Smith was featured by the Hillsboro Journal-News on August 4, 2014.
Read the article online
Nokomis graduate Mandy Smith, who suited up for University of Illinois Springfield during the last four years, led the team in stolen bases two of those years. She was second in stolen bases one other year. At the plate, she never had a batting average lower than .245 and batted as high as .312. In the field, she played second base, right field and centerfield.
"I am a big fan of right field," said the former Redskin player. "Everyone thinks that right is a boring spot, but in college it is not. I played quite a bit of infield during high school, so I was very used to that position. Center was a ton of running and backing up the middle infield."
But, she was good at all three spots and probably because of her bat and her ability to steal bases, was a constant starter in the lineup. From her freshman year, she started every game.
"I had the great fortune to never be injured and to be good enough to play," said Smith. "It was a good four years for me. They were like a family and we had great times. I have some great memories."
Smith finished her career with a .286 batting average. In 640 trips to the plate, she had 183 hits (16 doubles, three triples). She also had 105 runs scored, 71 stolen bases, 52 RBIs and 49 walks. For her career, she made 239 putouts, 112 assisted putouts and 19 errors for a fielding percentage of .949.
Smith was featured by the Hillsboro Journal-News on August 4, 2014.
Read the article online
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