Crimestoppers Helps with Tire Slashings
By Gary Scott on May 15, 2026 at 11:57am
Jacksonville police are getting a helping hand from Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott and Cass Counties on a vandalism spree. Jacksonville police are investigating a series of tire slashes on vehicles that occurred between Thursday and Sunday of last weekend. Police say anyone who has seen suspicious damage to vehicle tires during this time period […]
Calhoun High Swatted
By Gary Scott on May 14, 2026 at 12:26pm
The Calhoun County sheriff’s office is investigating a report of someone calling in a fake attack on the Calhoun High School this week. It’s called swatting. It refers to the act of making a false emergency report, often involving claims of an active shooter, bomb threat, or another violent incident. The intent is to draw […]
Railroad Crossings Work
By Gary Scott on May 14, 2026 at 12:22pm
Several railroad crossings in the area will be closed from time to time for maintenance starting next week in the Jacksonville area. The work will start from Farmingdale Road in Sangamon County on Monday, and stretch to the Orleans Road crossing in Morgan County. The list of crossings are at Farley, Loami Bates, Bates, Patton […]
Winchester Gym Demo
By Gary Scott on May 14, 2026 at 9:26am
The Jacksonville Journal Courier reports this morning that Winchester school board has approved two bids for the demolition of the Winchester Grade School gymnasium. The newspaper says Neff Colvin of Jacksonville has been given the job for $318-thousand. A second firm was hired to abate the asbestos. The gym closed January 15th, after a worker […]
Virden Man gets prison over Child Porn
By Gary Scott on May 14, 2026 at 9:24am
A Macoupin County man is headed to prison for the dissemination of child sexual abuse material. 38-year-old Jacob Rogers of Virden was sentenced yesterday to 16 years in prison. The sentence was handed down in Macoupin County court, after Rogers admitted to one count of Class X felony dissemination of child pornography involving children under […]
Two New Aldermen for Jax
By Gary Scott on May 12, 2026 at 12:37pm
The Jacksonville city council last night added an IT specialist, and a retired engineer to fill two empty aldermanic seats. Rob Thomas takes over for Eren White Williams in Ward 1. White Williams stepped down last month to devote more time to her health and family. Mark Sorrill steps in for Don Cook in Ward […]
Woods Wants More Complete Review For Data Centers
By Gary Scott on May 11, 2026 at 12:41pm
One of the Morgan County commissioners wants to put teeth and transparency into the review process for power companies and data centers wanting to locate in Morgan County. Dr Michael Woods says a six month review to delay the proposed projects isn’t enough. Dr Woods says he wants the county board to look at the […]
Morgan County Board Rehashes Data Center Review
By Gary Scott on May 11, 2026 at 12:39pm
An hour and half long Morgan County board meeting this morning played to a packed house in the commissioners’ office with much of the time taken up with zoning control. Peter Yannikockas of Solar Generation of New York walked into a buzz saw of questions from the audience. He was there to get a memorandum […]
$3-million in Prison Death Case
By Gary Scott on May 8, 2026 at 3:44pm
A story in the Illinois Times reports a jury in Springfield last month awarded a multi million settlement to the family of a man who died while in custody at the Jacksonville Correctional Center. Chicago native, 43-year-old Eugene Varner junior was serving a five year sentence on drug and weapons charges when he died in […]
Two Most Wanted
By Gary Scott on May 8, 2026 at 11:37am
The search for a couple of suspects wanted here is being aided this weekend by the Morgan-Cass-Scott County Crimestoppers. One of the suspects is 20-year-old Madison Schwalb of Meredosia. She is wanted for meth possession and retail theft. Schwalb is described as a white female, standing 5-9 and weighing 140 pounds. She has long brown […]
