The Macoupin County Historical Society will host a drive-through chicken fried chicken dinner starting at 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at the MCHS grounds located at 920 W. Breckenridge, Carlinville.

Serving will continue until 7 p.m. or until food is sold out.

 Meals are $12 each and include a chicken fried chicken breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and a roll.

“We offered a chicken dinner last year and were sold out within a couple of hours,” said Dan Hauter, MCHS President. “My advice is to come as early as possible to make sure you can buy a meal.”

Serving will be drive-through only. No walk-up orders will be taken.

Persons who wish to dine on the grounds may park their vehicle after getting their order and dine in the pavilion adjacent to the Red Barn. Water and soda will be available for purchase or customers may bring their own non-alcoholic beverage.

Proceeds will benefit the Macoupin County Historical Society.

Historian and author Tom Emery will discuss his most recent book, Illinois in the Revolutionary War, at 7 p.m., Monday, May 4, at the Ruyle Genealogy Building on the Macoupin County Historical Society grounds, 920 W. Breckenridge St., Carlinville.

The program is open to the public and the Ruyle Building is handicapped accessible.

Honoring America’s 250 anniversary, Emery’s book focuses on the overlooked history linking Illinois with the Revolution some four decades before statehood.

“There was more to the war in Illinois than most people realize,” said Emery. “Revolutionary action took place in many parts of the state, and it was a struggle for all involved. It shows how hard many Americans worked for liberty.”                                 

Among other topics, the book describes George Rogers Clark’s capture of Kaskaskia and his subsequent march to the British stronghold at Vincennes. Emery also provides information on many of Clark’s lieutenants, including Capt. Joseph Bowman and others.

There are numerous place names in Illinois that are derived from Revolutionary figures, Emery noted, and there are hundreds of Revolutionary veterans buried in Illinois.

Emery, a resident of Carlinville, has created 44 book and booklet titles. He is a recipient of 16 awards from the Illinois State Historical Society, and has lectured on his work to audiences around the Midwest.

SPRINGFIELD, IL, – Macoupin County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).

The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g., school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there was no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.

Under a law passed in 1975, property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures. Farmland is assessed at one-third of its agriculture economic value and not subject to the state equalization factor. 

Assessments in Macoupin County are at 33.17% of market value, based on sales of properties in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2025 taxes, payable in 2026.

Last year’s equalization factor for the county was 1.0000.

The final assessment equalization factor was issued after a public hearing on the tentative factor. The tentative factor issued on 08-Jan-2026 was 1.0000.

The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the price of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments/county assessor.

If the three-year average level of assessment is one-third of the market value, the equalization factor will be one (1). If the average level of assessment is greater than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be less than one (1). And if the average level of assessment is less than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be greater than one (1).

A change in the equalization factor does not mean total property tax bills will increase or decrease. Tax bills are determined by local taxing bodies when they request money each year to provide services to local citizens. If the amount requested by local taxing districts is not greater than the amount received in the previous year, then total property taxes will not increase even if assessments increase.

The assessed value of an individual property determines what portion of the tax burden a specific taxpayer will assume. That individual’s portion of tax responsibility is not changed by the multiplier.