To those that call the state home, it almost goes without saying that the people of Illinois are some of the kindest, most industrious people in the world. Still, when Illinoisans go above and beyond what is expected of them to help others, they deserve to be commended and thanked.

This week, Springfield resident Johann “Joe” Thomas went viral for doing the right thing while working a shift as a server at a local IHOP, where he has been taking care of his regular customers for over 11 years.

Keshia Dotson, who was eating at the IHOP one Saturday in March, witnessed Thomas helping a woman with Huntington’s disease eat her breakfast. Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that makes ordinary tasks like eating impossible as it progresses.

The viral incident was not the first time that Thomas helped the woman. She and her husband are regulars at the Springfield IHOP. The server noticed that her husband would usually assist her as his own meal became cold. One day, Thomas sat down at their table and offered to help while the man enjoyed his meal. They have followed the same routine ever since.

Joe Thomas’ coworkers have nothing but positive things to say about his kind demeanor and willingness to go the extra mile for IHOP guests. “This is no big deal to him,” one coworker said. “He does this every time. He’s a great coworker.”

Thomas agrees that this sort of thing is second nature for him.

“I really treat people like I want to be treated,” Thomas told CBS news. “I have a soft heart. Everything I do is honestly just natural, besides the way my parents raised me. I don’t think about it. I just do it.” He hopes that people will follow his lead and “pay it forward” by doing good deeds for others.

It could be the cheering of the crowd, the wild mascots energizing the crowd or the mounting tension in the last few seconds of a close game, but no matter the reason, high school basketball serves as a focal point for many people. The Prairie State is home to many amazing high school basketball players. The stars of the team are remembered, and the trophies they win are fixtures in high schools around the state as a sign of their success. Not all players go on to play professionally, but they still deserve to be recognized for their contributions to basketball.With the state finals approaching, the Chicago Tribune created a 100 greatest players ever list that spans the course of Illinois’ 118-year-old high school basketball history.  

The tech community is excited about a quickly growing startup scene outside of the industry’s traditional strongholds in the Bay Area and New York City. Chicago’s startup community has been generating higher returns on investments than anywhere else in the country. Technology entrepreneurs in Chicago continue to create and develop businesses, making Silicon Prairie an up-and-coming force in the national technology and innovation scene.

According to a report by investment research company PitchBook, Chicago is currently the most profitable city for startups in the United States. Of the 31 Chicago startups analyzed by PitchBook, 81 percent yielded between 3 and 10 percent return on an investment. With 31 startups that meet PitchBook’s profitability requirements compared to Silicon Valley’s 613, of which 72 percent yielded between 3 and 10 percent return. Chicago remains a relatively small hub for technology entrepreneurship. However, the fact that startups in Chicago are achieving such impressive return rates suggests that the technology industry in Chicago is growing at a steady rate.

Investors and entrepreneurs in Chicago have resources available to them including the tech incubator 1871, which has helped businesses grow and innovate during the past five years by providing them with space and connectivity, education, early-stage venture capital and customers. Located in downtown Chicago’s famous Merchandise Mart, 1871 is now the home of more than 400 startups.

Another good resource is the website Built in Chicago. It connects job seekers with startups and reports on news in the technology sector. The daily job listings on Built in Chicago illustrate the benefit of the city’s startup scene on an individual level.

Chicago’s prospects as a technology hub have been rising in recent years. Industry experts point to the city’s historically multifaceted business community, robust and innovative revenue streams and a steady stream of local tech talent to explain why Chicago is prospering. Its big-city location adjacent to transportation hubs and institutions of higher education is another reason why Chicago has attracted and retained talented people from around the world as the technology sector has steadily grown. The companies being founded and incubated in Chicago are steadily growing, creating good jobs as they expand and innovate.

The health and continued growth of Chicago’s technology sector is crucial to the state of Illinois and its economic well-being. The technology sector is becoming an increasingly important part of the global economy by creating good-paying jobs and valuable companies. It has revolutionized and revitalized local economies and it continues to benefit the locales in which it flourishes.

Chicago is uniquely positioned to become the next big tech hub. Expect to hear more about Chicago in the future as a diverse community of companies continues to expand, solve everyday problems, and create good jobs for a 21st century economy.

SALISBURY ─ George Colin was a folk-artist sensation. He left a wonderful legacy and beautiful treasures behind when he passed. His work is full of bright colors, animals, nature and abstracts. His paintings of Illinois farms are infused with Prairie State pride.

In 1990, his paintings were presented to President George Bush by Illinois Governor Jim Thompson. President Bush was so impressed by his work that he sent a letter to Colin expressing his pleasure.

Colin’s art stands as a testament to his creative genius and love of life. His art has found its way into metropolitan galleries and everyday homes. Winnie Colin, his wife of nearly 48 years, told The State Journal-Register on Wednesday that the time has come to sell some of her husband’s works, as well as other items the couple collected during their years together.

Since 2014, many of his paintings, sculptures and other artworks were on display at his gallery on Mill Street in Salisbury. The sale will be held at the same gallery this weekend, giving art lovers a chance to celebrate the life and work of George Colin, a renowned artist and devoted husband.

The art sale is semi-chronologically ordered to document the life of George Colin. There are image previews of some of Colin’s artwork on The State Journal-Register’s website.

\Who: Colin Folk Art

What: The life and work of George Colin

Where: 6111 Mill Street, Salisbury, IL 62677

When: February 4-5

For here more information about Colin Folk Art’s sell.

Click here for original artist post.