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BELLEVILLE, Ill. – County courthouses will have greater flexibility to properly display the United States flag under a new law originally introduced by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea.

“It’s important to properly fly our nation’s flag at our courthouses, and this is a sensible update that will ensure it is always clearly and respectfully displayed,” Hoffman said. “While many courthouses will continue to proudly fly the flag at the top of their building, the reality is we have a lot of historic buildings where it is increasingly difficult to properly display the flag without dealing with weather damage and safety issues accessing it.”

House Bill 1615 updates state law by allowing a county courthouse to fly the United States flag prominently on the grounds of the courthouse instead of exclusively on the top of the courthouse. County courthouses can continue to fly the flag at the top, but the new flexibility will be helpful for structures where access is an issue.

Compared to many older courthouse buildings that featured a dome and flag on top, many recent courthouses built in recent decades do not include a flagpole on top their roof. The new law ensures these buildings are now in compliance, and reiterates the importance of a proper flag display.

House Bill 1615 passed with bipartisan support and was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The new law takes full effect Jan. 1.

A historic debate! But, did you know that Lincoln actually lost that election? 🗳️ 🎩

Aug. 21 marks the 166th anniversary of the first Lincoln-Douglas Senate debate, which was held in Ottawa's Washington Square. It is estimated that 20,000 spectators gathered to watch this face off between Douglas, the incumbent, and Lincoln, the challenger.

This was one of 7 debates, each in a different Illinois Congressional District (there were 9 at the time). In each debate, one of the candidates would open with an HOUR address. The other would then speak for an HOUR AND A HALF. The first then had 30 MINUTES for a rebuttal. Wow! Our patience levels were different before smart phones. 😁

You can still stroll through the park and visit the site of the debate. Nearby, you'll also find Reddick Mansion Association and the I&M Toll Collector's House among other sites. Makes for a wonderful day or half-day outing. Enjoy!

Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry City of Ottawa Illinois Government Ottawa Illinois Visitors Center

The perfect fall trip!!🍃🍂🍁

Just a Canal Boat Captain and a Canal Boat Kid looking out upon the wild green yonder. ⛴️ 😁

It's fun riding our Mule-Powered, 1840s-Replica I&M Canal Boat. You have the chance to meet Moe the Mule, hear stories of the canal's heyday from our period-dressed crew and enjoy the unique experience of cruising along the I&M Canal on our two-story boat.

It's even more fun for kids if you come during our 11:30am rides. These kid-focused (but not kids only) sessions enable them to discover what it would have been like to be a kid in the 1840s, the era of our canal boat.

As a Canal Boat Kid, they may also be asked to help with kid-appropriate deckhand chores, learn what it takes to care for mules, find out what the captain’s job included, greet other passengers when they board, look for wildlife along the shores, and more, all while they explore the boat during its tour.

Tours run Fri.-Sun. and most Weds. at 10am, 11:30am and 1pm (but check our schedule to confirm as days and times may vary). Book your tickets for this weekend (or other dates through October) here: https://bit.ly/IMCanalBoatTickets2024

📍 Lock 14 Access, LaSalle, IL

City of LaSalle, Illinois Enjoy LaSalle County, IL - Home of Starved Rock