Village Staff
Images
Ashmore has a great team of staff who work hard to make Ashmore better, stronger, and more efficient. Mayor Crail affectionately refers to this crew as "The Dream Team," as they persistently seek the balance between serving the community with a small-town family attitude while also being responsible with the Village's humble resources. Each staff member takes pride in their work and is quick to jump in and assist other members with their projects. They share the applause when kind acknowledgement graces their ears, and they humbly own the responsibility when a mistake is made.
Ashmore is proud to show off it's team, and we hope the residents are equally pleased to call on them for questions, assistance, compliments, and suggestions.
Municipal Office
Jackie Freezeland (Clerk, Water Collector, FOIA Officer, Notary Public, Ordinance Enforcement, Volunteer Coordinator, Tasty Tuesday Organizer, Harvest Festival Secretary, Landscape Designer, Complaint Manager, Public Information Officer, "Queen Bee" & General Jackie-of-All-Trades) was originally appointed to the position in November 2015. She served until March 2022 when she resigned to pursue an administrative position at Family Worship Center in Mattoon. Water Collector and Deputy Clerk Kelsey Willison stepped up to fill the role of Clerk for the next 18 months before resigning to pursue other interests. So Jackie came back to Ashmore in September 2023 to pick up where she left off. Mrs. Freezeland graduated from Charleston in 2000, earned an Associate's in Business Administration at Lake Land College in 2002, and then a BSA in Accounting at Eastern Illinois University. Jackie is married to retired Police Chief (Arcola) Tad Freezeland, and they live in Charleston. They have 2 daughters, 4 grandkids, and 2 dogs. She sings with the Family Worship Center worship team as well as the Feudin' Hillbillys, and in her personal time she writes Christian and country songs and studies theology and foreign languages.
Kathy Childress (Treasurer) stepped into her role as Treasurer in July 2021 upon retiring after 22 years as administrative clerk at Eastern Illinois University's Planning & Budget Office. Mrs. Childress was raised on her family's farm in Lerna, and carries those farm-raised Christian values of hard work, honesty, and respect into everything she does. Kathy graduated from Charleston and attended Lake Land College. She and her husband Herb still call Ashmore home. They have 2 grown daughters. Kathy serves at Ashmore Presbyterian Church, and helps keep stats for the Tri-County volleyball and basketball teams.
Carol Bradford (Community Center Curator & Office Cleaner-Upper) has been on staff with the Village since 1998. Anyone who has been lucky enough to meet Carol knows that she puts a smile, a laugh, a spring, and a little bit of love in everything she does. She is an Oakland native who is mature enough not to tell us when she graduated. From there she got most of her knowledge, experience, and quick wit from the School of Hard Knocks (her words!) She moved with her family to Ashmore in 1987 and has dedicated her life to the people and community she cares about (related or not). Carol served on the Village Board of Trustees for 10 years, cleans and manages the the Community Center, and cleans the Municipal Office and Fire Hall. She was honored as Grand Marshall of Ashmore Ag Days in 2016. Carol and her husband Jerry live in the heart of Ashmore, and they run Ashmore's only library in their spare time. They have 4 sons, 1 daughter, 15 grandkids, and 5 great-grandkids (and counting). Carol has a knack for painting and crafts, and she organizes 3 vendor / craft shows each year at the Community Center, where proceeds from the table fees are donated back to the Village.
Public Works
Jake Johnson (Superintendent & Water Operator) was born and raised in Ashmore, and graduated from Charleston in 2006. He earned an AAS in Automotive Technology at Lake Land College in 2008. Mr. Johnson was hired as Ashmore's Superintendent of Public Works in September 2015. He earned his Class C&D Water Operator's License in September 2016, and then earned his Class B License in November 2019, qualifying him to take the baton from Jim Clifton as Ashmore's Water Operator. Jake also serves as Water Operator for the Brocton and Westfield systems. Mr. Johnson was elected to the Illinois Rural Water Association's Board of Directors in 2021 and was voted runner-up Illinois Water Operator of the Year in 2024. He was also honored as one of ClassE/Elevate's "20 Under 40" in 2024. Jake volunteers as Director on the Ashmore Festival Committee board, as Captain of the Ashmore Fire Department, and he runs his own lawn care side-business during the summer. Jake and his wife Destiny live in Ashmore with their 3 daughters. When Jake finally takes time off, he loves spending it with his family camping, hunting, fishing, and generally anything that involves being outdoors and active.
Tim Coffey (Assistant Superintendent) has worked for the Village since November 2012 after retiring from the Department of Natural Resources (posted at Fox Ridge and Lincoln Trail State Parks). Tim knows the Village inside and out, upside and down, and backwards and forwards, and his knowledge and experience are invaluable in his role as Mr. Johnson's right-hand man. Tim is an Ashmore native, and yes, he's part of the gaggle of Coffey's that dominates the Ashmore phone book listings. He graduated from Charleston in 1978 and then earned several certifications in small engine repairs, plumbing, botany, and real estate among others. Tim and his wife Terina live in Ashmore along with their 3 daughters... sorta... the daughters are sometimes home and sometimes off at college, depending on the season. When he's not working or travelling for his daughters' sporting events, Tim can be found elbow-deep in his garden tractors. As a member of 3 local tractor pulling clubs, he enjoys travelling and competing in garden tractor pulls and showcases, showing off his trusty machines "Farmer's Toy" and "Blitzed."
Garrett Livingston (Village Groundskeeper) joined our Public Works team in July 2022. He is a part-time supplement primarily charged with parks & property maintenance. Mr. Livingston graduated from Charleson in 2015, and he attended Lake Land College until he was hired at Douglas County Sheriff's Office in 2020 (where he still works full-time). Garrett and his fiance Elena moved to Ashmore in 2021 and are excited about their upcoming wedding in June. They chose Ashmore to start their family, because this is where Garrett's father was raised and where his parents lived for almost 30 years. When asked about what he enjoys doing in his free time, he answers, "What free time?"
Jason Walters (Weekend Water Operator) is another part-time supplement to the Public Works team. The water plant must be checked daily, so on weekends, holidays, or other days when Jake & Tim get the day off, Jason diligently swoops in to make sure the water plant statistics are checked and logged. Jason has been the reliable "off-duty operator" since April 2011. Jason was raised in Ashmore, and still calls it home along with his wife Betsy and their 2 sons. He enjoys playing guitar when he's not busy working or spending time with family.