South Jacksonville to get a New Truck Wash
By Gary Scott on March 20, 2026 at 10:10am
The South Jacksonville village board heard about plans last night for a locally owned truck wash facility. The presentation was made by Hutchison Engineers, and the proposed facility would be located on the west side of the Luv Truck Stop on Magnolia Drive. It is estimated to cost about $2 and a half million. President […]
Green Pastures Fundraiser
By Gary Scott on March 20, 2026 at 10:07am
A major fundraiser for the Green Pastures Christian Retreat Center and Campground will be held Sunday in Jacksonville at K’s Creek. The over 40-year-old grounds along the new 67 northwest of Jacksonville needs improvements and updates, some of which has already occurred. Travis Deaver is the president of the Green Pastures board. Deaver says the […]
New Grade School Slowed by Weather
By Gary Scott on March 20, 2026 at 10:03am
Construction is lagging a little for the new Murrayville Woodson Grade School at Watertower Road and the Woodson Winchester Blacktop. Assistant superintendent Matthew Moore told the school board Wednesday night says the lag is caused by the cold, and wet weather over the last couple of weeks. Moore says it’s not a major concern this […]
AAA: Average IL Gas Price Up to $4.04
By Harold Smith on March 19, 2026 at 9:54am
As if you didn’t know it already, the world situation has caused a lot of pain at the gas pump, across the nation and here in western and central Illinois. Since the last time we checked regular unleaded gas prices a week ago, Triple-A reports the statewide average for a gallon of gas in the […]
Hearing Ahead for Inmate Who Wants Prison Sentence Vacated
By Harold Smith on March 19, 2026 at 9:50am
Court hearings are moving forward in Morgan County in the case of a Pontiac, Illinois man who has spent the better part of the last two decades trying to have a plea deal and prison sentence vacated. The Journal Courier reports that 46 year old Shon Watts was serving a 12 year sentence in the […]
Elections Results in Pike, Sangamon Counties & PORTA School Referendum
By Harold Smith on March 18, 2026 at 9:45am
There were a number of contested races and issues in the Illinois Primary Election Tuesday. In Pike County, incumbent County Treasurer Scott Syrcle won over challenger Susan Pitchford by a vote of 1,340 to 1,069. Voters in Pike County also selected five County Board members from a field of eight candidates. The leading vote getter […]
Cass-Greene-Scott Elections
By Gary Scott on March 18, 2026 at 6:21am
Turnouts were much better in the nearby counties. Forty 2 percent of Scott County voters turned out yesterday. Scott County chief deputy Bob Smith won the republican nomination for sheriff there with 591 votes. Winchester chief of police Steve Doolin had 544 votes, and Caleb Handy was a distance third with 173 votes. The republican […]
Hacker Nominated on GOP Ticket
By Gary Scott on March 18, 2026 at 6:19am
A former police officer had a big win in the election yesterday in Morgan County. Greg Hacker, retired from the Illinois State police after serving with Jacksonville police and Morgan county deputies, defeated Vickie Becker in the race for the republican nomination 1760 to 871. Hacker says the experience has been humbling. He says Vickkie […]
Jacksonville man injured after vehicle strikes building near Elks Lodge
By Benjamin Cox on March 17, 2026 at 5:39pm
Jacksonville Police are investigating a single-vehicle collision with a building near downtown Jacksonville around mid-day today. Officers were called shortly before 12:15 p.m. to the 200 block of West Morgan Street, where a vehicle struck a building near the Elks Lodge parking lot. Police say that 86-year old Harry F. Long, of the first block […]
EF-1 Tornadoes Rip Through Central IL Sunday
By Harold Smith on March 17, 2026 at 9:55am
As the National Weather Service continues to gather data from a severe weather system that moved through the area, it confirms that about a half dozen tornadoes did touch down in Central Illinois Sunday. The National Weather Service at Lincoln reports that EF-1 tornadoes were reported in the area of Nokomis and Pana, along with […]
