Two Most Wanted
By Gary Scott on July 13, 2026 at 10:42am
A Morgan County man and a Cass County man are being sought with the help of Crimestoppers this week. One of the defendants is 45-year-old Cornelius Nick Handy. Handy is wanted for two counts each of meth and drug paraphernalia possession. Handy is a black male, standing 5-9 and weighing 140 pounds. He has black […]
Commissioners Clash over Agenda
By Gary Scott on July 13, 2026 at 10:31am
Voices were raised as two commissioners clashed on an agenda request at this morning’s Morgan County board meeting. Commissioner Michael Woods cited procedures and Roberts Rules of order in his request to include the agenda item, “other business.” Chairman Mike Wankel took issue when Woods brought up the request several times, as Wankel attempted to […]
Spann Gets Probation for Criminal Sexual Abuse
By Benjamin Cox on July 13, 2026 at 10:13am
A Pittsfield man originally charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in Pike County Circuit Court. 29-year-old Nicholas Spann pleaded guilty last Tuesday to one count of unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony, and one count of criminal sexual abuse, a Class A misdemeanor. In […]
Castleberry Gets Probation for Child Porn
By Benjamin Cox on July 13, 2026 at 10:11am
A Jacksonville man arrested last year in a child pornography investigation by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office has been sentenced in Morgan County Court. 29-year-old Austin Castleberry entered a negotiated guilty plea last Tuesday in Morgan County court to one count of possession of child pornography. Castleberry was sentenced to four years of probation, and […]
Homeless Survey in Jacksonville
By Gary Scott on July 13, 2026 at 7:05am
The Jacksonville Salvation Army will begin training crews to survey the homeless this week. Salvation Army Captain Justian Corliss has been quietly working behind the scenes with others to help find a solution to the homeless problem in Jacksonville. He believes it’s vital to find out the needs of the homeless, and how they arrived […]
Blacks Lane Rezoning Monday night
By Gary Scott on July 12, 2026 at 6:42pm
The Jacksonville city council will handle a couple of rezoning matters, and welcome a new chief of detectives for city police tonight. The council will be asked to rezone property at 469 South Clay from residential to business. The other rezoning request is being questioned by nearby residents. Residents of Prairie Knolls on Blacks Lane […]
Jax Wants You to Complete the Survey
By Gary Scott on July 10, 2026 at 11:35am
Jacksonville city officials are encouraging the public to help plan the city’s future. Jacksonville community development director Brian Nyberg says he would like to hear from residents, business owners, property owners and community stockholders. Nyberg says this survey will help determine Jacksonville’s comprehensive plan for the next 10 to 20 years. He says this will […]
New Multi Purpose Building Decided at Winchester
By Gary Scott on July 10, 2026 at 11:04am
The new multipurpose building for the Winchester school district has a name. The Winchester school board met in special session last night to review and award bids for the construction. The building will go next to where the district is tearing down the gym, which is expected to be finished within the week. Winchester school […]
Nov Ref on Data Centers?
By Gary Scott on July 10, 2026 at 6:57am
Two Morgan County groups are pushing for a November referendum that would impose restrictions on the construction of data centers in the county. One group is called Accountability for Data Center Development, and the other is Indivisible-Jacksonville. In a press release, the groups say they are concerned about the local expansion of a data center […]
Federal Indictment Filed Against Champaign-area State Rep and Champaign County Clerk
By Benjamin Cox on July 9, 2026 at 1:21pm
An Illinois state representative and her husband, the Champaign County Clerk, are facing federal criminal charges. A federal grand jury has indicted State Representative Carol Ammons, a Democrat from Urbana, on multiple counts of wire fraud and making false statements. Her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, is charged with obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors […]
