New PCOA Leader
By Gary Scott on October 20, 2026 at 9:59am
There is a change in the leadership for an area seniors program. Nancy Thorsen is retiring as director of the Prairie Council on Aging after 19 years at the post. Breanna Pickens has been selected to replace her. Pickens has been at the PCOA for the past 8 years. Pickens says she is excited about […]
Jacksonville Area Hall of Fame Taking Nominations
By Gary Scott on October 19, 2026 at 10:56am
Nominations are being sought for the 2027 class of inductees for the Jacksonville Area Hall of Fame. Community members are encouraged to nominate people, living or deceased, who have made significant and lasting positive contributions to the Jacksonville area. Individuals who have been nominated in previous years but were not selected can be nominated again. […]
Early Filing Period for City Election next spring
By Gary Scott on October 19, 2026 at 10:45am
The city of Jacksonville will hold a filing period through this week for five seats on the Jacksonville city council. City clerk Angela Salyer has announced an amendment to the consolidated primary nomination filing period. Nominating petitions will be accepted starting today through next Monday. Anyone who files during this period will not need to […]
New Stop Sign May be coming on Comfort Lane and Magnolia
By Gary Scott on October 16, 2026 at 10:36am
The South Jacksonville talked about traffic control and the new park on Coronado Thursday night. The board only took action to approve $4-thousand grant to the Bruce Robson Memorial Fishing tournament. Board president Dick Samples says the stop sign behind Luv’s Truck Stop would be used to control traffic speed. He says it would make […]
Jeff Abell Presenting New Gym Plans to the Public This Week
By Gary Scott on October 16, 2026 at 10:31am
Winchester school superintendent Jeff Abell says it’s only fair that voters in the school district know the extent of the building of a new gym at the Winchester Grade School will cost before they vote. Abell has been making presentations to the school board, and in each community this week. He has been in Glasgow, […]
City of Jacksonville seeking RFQ for possible STAR Bond district for potential JDC site redevelopment
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:58am
The City of Jacksonville is seeking a master developer for a proposed STAR Bonds district aimed at attracting major tourism, retail and entertainment development. The city’s Development Office has issued a request for qualifications under the state’s STAR Bonds program, which allows eligible communities to use sales tax revenue and bonds to help finance major […]
Man sentenced for April standoff near JMS
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:50am
A Jacksonville man has pleaded guilty to a felony weapons charge stemming from an hours-long standoff near Jacksonville Middle School in April. 37-year old Thomas M. Loughary pleaded guilty Wednesday in Morgan County Circuit Court to possession of a weapon by a felon. He was sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. […]
Sangamon authorities seeking Burglary Suspect
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:35am
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a second suspect in a burglary at Mama Lee’s Sandbar on Mechanicsburg Road, east of Springfield. Forty-six-year-old Troy W. Rathbone of Riverton is wanted in connection with the July ninth burglary, when two gaming machines were damaged, resulting in more than 40-thousand dollars in damage. Phillip J. […]
IC Receives Workforce Grant
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:31am
Illinois College has received a $3 million federal grant to expand student support and career-readiness programs over the next 5 years. College officials say the Title 3 Strengthening Institutions Program grant will fund a new initiative called COMPASS, focused on helping students from their sophomore year through graduation. The program is said to provide additional […]
Ancil Glink Hired for FOIA by the city
By Gary Scott on October 15, 2026 at 10:10am
The Jacksonville city council last night hired a Chicago law firm to help with the crush of freedom of information act, or FOIA requests the city has received in the past three years. Mayor Andy Ezard says the number has jumped from about 400 two years ago, to 684 last year, and just over a […]
