Jax Council Approves Solar Field First Reading
By Gary Scott on August 10, 2026 at 7:50pm
There was little discussion tonight as the Jacksonville city council approved first reading of a rezoning ordinance that would allow a solar field to be located east of Black’s Lane. Discussion about the ordinance last month prompted a lot of talk among aldermen, and several people spoke out against the rezoning. Aldermen […]
Weekend Grooming Arrest Sparked by OPI
By Benjamin Cox on August 10, 2026 at 10:26am
More information is available about the arrest of a Jacksonville man over the weekend after a pair of private online groups targeting suspected sexual predators conducted a sting operation on the city’s east side. 58-year-old Michael Napientek was arrested by Jacksonville Police on Saturday at Casey’s on East Morton Avenue. Napientek was cited for alleged […]
Jax School Year Starts this week
By Gary Scott on August 10, 2026 at 6:01am
Teachers report for school year prep tomorrow in Jacksonville school district 117. Students’ first day of classes will be Thursday. Jacksonville school district superintendent Steve Ptacek says the staffing level is in pretty good shape for the 2026-27 school year. He says the teacher shortage in this area seems to be improving. Ptacek credits the […]
Springfield man killed in early morning motorcycle crash on Old State Road
By Benjamin Cox on August 8, 2026 at 8:53pm
A Springfield man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Morgan County early Saturday morning. Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson’s Office reports that 43-year-old Jeffrey Conn of Springfield was traveling westbound on Old State Road, just east of Wallbaum Road, at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday when his motorcycle left the roadway and crashed into a […]
Two Most Wanted
By Gary Scott on August 8, 2026 at 8:40am
Two men pop up on the Crimestoppers most wanted list this week. One of the two is identified as 53-year-old Chrstopher Mead. He is a white male, who stands 5-10 and weighs 150 pounds. Mead is wanted for meth delivery, criminal trespass, and criminal damage to property, burglary and retail theft. […]
JHS Cell Phone Ban
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 10:21am
Jacksonville school district 117 superintendent Steve Ptacek says there is little difference between the new state law banning cell phones at schools, and the ban the Jacksonville school board approved in the spring. Ptacek says the ban on cell phones has been in place at the grade school and middle school level for about 6 […]
South Jax Budget OKed-Lose Trustee
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 10:13am
The South Jacksonville village board approved a new budget last night. Village president Dick Samples says the budget stretches from May 1st through April 30th next year. Samples says the budget has been adjusted upward. He says the budget runs about 3-percent higher than a year ago, and he praised department heads for holding the […]
Crimestoppers-Downtown Break In
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 10:05am
Morgan-Cass-Scott Crimestoppers is reaching out for help in an investigation of break in at a downtown restaurant on the south side of the Jacksonville square. Police were called to the Brickhouse Bar-B-Q Tuesday night, after getting a report of someone swinging a golf club at the front door. Police say a person or […]
Nearly Two Week State Sales Tax Holiday Starts today for Back to School
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 6:25am
Illinois has set aside a week long back to school state tax holiday. The event starts today. Don O Brien of the Better Business Bureau says it’s a great time to shop for school supplies. He says there is a limit to what is sales tax exempt. The event actually runs through the 16th. The […]
Info sought in 39 year old search of Auburn woman
By Gary Scott on August 6, 2026 at 7:00pm
Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies are asking for help in the 39-year search of a missing Auburn woman. Deputies say 22-year-old Brenda Bottoms was last seen getting into a car on North Fifth Street in Auburn in June of 1987. The sheriff’s office began reviewing the case files in 2025. Renewed questioning of witnesses […]
