Pandemic keeps Secretary of State offices closed until next year

The Illinois Secretary of State announced today that offices closed November 17 will now remain closed until week of January 4, according to a news release issued by Jessie White.

"As the health and safety of employees and the public are paramount, we decided to extend the closure of Driver Services facilities until Jan 4, 2021, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic," White said in the statement. "Unfortunately, face-to-face transactions potentially increase the further spread of the virus, and protecting the health and safety of our residents is my top priority."

Offices around the state have been closed since November 17 in anticipation of a surge in COVID-19 infections.

Locally, the Titon and Rantoul offices will remain open with limited services. The Tilton office, located at 5 Southgate Drive, and the Rantoul office at 421 S. Murray Road will continue to have drive-through license sticker renewals. In addition, the inside office will be open for commercial driver’s license (CDL) applications, and new drivers can also register at the facility.

White has expanded online services for the public, which they can take advantage of by visiting www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Some of these services include:

• Renewing a license plate sticker;
• Renewing a valid driver’s license for qualifying drivers;
• Renewing a valid ID card for those age 22-64 (seniors 65 and older have free, non-expiring IDs);
• Obtaining a driver record abstract;
• Filing Business Services documents, such as incorporations and annual reports; and
• Customers with issues involving administrative hearings may contact adminhearings@ilsos.gov.

White said expiration dates of driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended until June 1 of next year.

Photo of the Day - December 4, 2020

SJO gives up plus-40 to visiting Cardinals

Head coach Dick Duval, on the left, and Casey Hug (middle) escort injured Eli Marlow off the field before halftime during St. Joseph-Ogden's home game against Stillman Valley on September 5, 2008. Marlow suffered game-ending trauma to his left shoulder. Later, the visiting Cardinals handed the Spartans a sour 44-25 loss. The last time a SJO team allowed an opponent to score over 40 points in the regular season was to Clifton Central in 2002. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)