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 […]
South Jax to hold Hearing on rural fire fees
By Gary Scott on May 8, 2026 at 10:50am
The South Jacksonville board of trustees will need to hold a hearing before acting on a proposed rate hike for rural fire protection. That bit of news came out of last night’s village board meeting. South Jacksonville board president Dick Samples says the hearing date is set for the third Thursday of this month. He […]
Lowe Gets 3 Years in Greene
By Gary Scott on May 8, 2026 at 10:08am
A Sangamon County man was sentenced yesterday to a prison term on a traffic charge in Greene County court. 41-year-old Dennis Lowe of Springfield was given 3 years in prison for a class 4 felony…driving with a revoked license from prior convictions. Judge Zachary Schmidt handed down the sentenced after Lowe had originally pled guilty […]
Crimestoppers and the Scooter Theft
By Gary Scott on May 7, 2026 at 11:07am
Morgan-Cass-Scott Crimestoppers is asking for the public’s help in the theft of a scooter this past week. Police are investigating the theft of a mobility scooter on North Clay Court. Officers say the scooter was taken between 9 AM Saturday, and 9 AM Sunday from outside a home in the 300 block of North Clay […]
Lawson Arrested for Kidnapping
By Gary Scott on May 7, 2026 at 10:40am
A Pike County woman has been arrested in connection with a domestic situation in Barry this week in which she allegedly fled the state with children. Pike County sheriff David Greenwood says 37-year-old Marissa Lawson of Barry is accused of forcing her way into a home in Kinderhook Monday evening, and physically assaulting an elder […]
Drug Sentences Handed Down in Morgan County
By Gary Scott on May 7, 2026 at 9:55am
Four people were sentenced to prison in Morgan County court yesterday. 37-year-old Dale Smith of Roodhouse was sentenced to 9 years in prison in connection with his arrest for a traffic violation in April of last year. Smith was arrested at the time for meth possession.. Smith pleaded guilty to meth possession, and was sentenced […]
