Mohr Sexual Assault Victims Sought
By Gary Scott on March 30, 2026 at 10:18am
The FBI office in Springfield is looking to identify victims of a church leader in central Illinois. 54-year-old Michael Mohr of Springfield was charged in late January in Springfield with one count of producing child pornography. A second count of possession of child pornography was added later. A court affidavit alleges a search of Mohr’s […]
Council begins the Comprehensive Planning process
By Gary Scott on March 30, 2026 at 10:04am
Jacksonville mayor Andy Ezard says the proposed comprehensive plan for the city is a must. The Jacksonville city council last week approved $105-thousand to fund a comprehensive plan from Greg Sutton of TEC Consulting in Naperville. Ezard knows Sutton through the city’s lobbyiest. He says this will not be a complaint session. He says public […]
Changes for WLDS
By Gary Scott on March 30, 2026 at 6:37am
A drop in ad sales has forced WLDS to make programming changes starting April first. This is no April Fools joke. Management has had to lay off or cut back very good people. To Michael, Harold, David, and John, Thank you. This is NOT based on your work performance. Starting Wednesday, April 1st, the number […]
Baylis Woman Pleads Guilty but Mentally Ill to break in
By Benjamin Cox on March 30, 2026 at 5:28am
A Baylis woman has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to multiple felony charges in Pike County Circuit Court. 28-year-old Madelyn Syrcle entered the plea on Tuesday before Judge J. Frank McCartney. The charges stem from two separate incidents in December of last year. Court records indicate Syrcle pleaded guilty to a Class 1 felony count […]
Winchester man arrested for alleged arson
By Benjamin Cox on March 28, 2026 at 9:14am
Multiple area agencies responded to a garage fire early yesterday morning in Winchester resulting in one arrest. Fire fighters, Scott and Morgan County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Winchester Police were called to a garage fire at 1265 Mason Lane in Winchester at 5:20 a.m. on Friday. Upon further investigation, authorities believed the fire to have […]
Former Pike-Scott Farm Bureau Director Blake Roderick passes away
By Benjamin Cox on March 28, 2026 at 9:10am
West Central Illinois is mourning the loss of a longtime agricultural leader and community advocate. Blake Roderick of Pittsfield passed away Friday at the age of 69, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Roderick dedicated more than four decades to serving the agricultural community. He began his career in 1981 with the Sangamon County Farm […]
Two Most Wanted
By Gary Scott on March 27, 2026 at 11:58am
Morgan County Crimestoppers has identified two men as the area’s most wanted this week. One lives in Jacksonville and the other in rural Waverly. 40-year-old James Havens is wanted for aggravated battery, theft, retail theft, criminal damage to property, crime trespass and resisting police. Havens is described as a black man, weight 145 pounds and […]
93 Shatters Record
By Gary Scott on March 27, 2026 at 11:45am
Yesterday was the earliest Jacksonville has ever seen a 90 or better reading in a calendar year. WLDS-WEAI weather records date back to 1927, and we found no 90 or better readings in the first three months of any year. Jacksonville hit an official high of 93 yesterday, shattering the old mark of 86 in […]
City Wide Garage Sale in late May
By Gary Scott on March 27, 2026 at 10:30am
Jacksonville’s city wide garage sale is a little over a month away. This is the 6th year for the garage sale. The brainchild is alderwoman Eren Williams. Williams says the garage sale runs over the Memorial Day Weekend. The dates are May 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. The city will advertise all garage sales that will […]
Child Falls into Lake Petersburg
By Gary Scott on March 27, 2026 at 7:04am
A tragedy was averted in Menard County yesterday morning after a report of a child who fell in Lake Petersburg. No identities were released, but Menard County authorities received a call about 10 that a 2 year old girl had fallen in the lake and was not breathing. Menard County deputies, the Menard EMS and […]
