JHS Cell Phone Ban
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 10:21am
Jacksonville school district 117 superintendent Steve Ptacek says there is little difference between the new state law banning cell phones at schools, and the ban the Jacksonville school board approved in the spring. Ptacek says the ban on cell phones has been in place at the grade school and middle school level for about 6 […]
South Jax Budget OKed-Lose Trustee
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 10:13am
The South Jacksonville village board approved a new budget last night. Village president Dick Samples says the budget stretches from May 1st through April 30th next year. Samples says the budget has been adjusted upward. He says the budget runs about 3-percent higher than a year ago, and he praised department heads for holding the […]
Crimestoppers-Downtown Break In
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 10:05am
Morgan-Cass-Scott Crimestoppers is reaching out for help in an investigation of break in at a downtown restaurant on the south side of the Jacksonville square. Police were called to the Brickhouse Bar-B-Q Tuesday night, after getting a report of someone swinging a golf club at the front door. Police say a person or […]
Nearly Two Week State Sales Tax Holiday Starts today for Back to School
By Gary Scott on August 7, 2026 at 6:25am
Illinois has set aside a week long back to school state tax holiday. The event starts today. Don O Brien of the Better Business Bureau says it’s a great time to shop for school supplies. He says there is a limit to what is sales tax exempt. The event actually runs through the 16th. The […]
Info sought in 39 year old search of Auburn woman
By Gary Scott on August 6, 2026 at 7:00pm
Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies are asking for help in the 39-year search of a missing Auburn woman. Deputies say 22-year-old Brenda Bottoms was last seen getting into a car on North Fifth Street in Auburn in June of 1987. The sheriff’s office began reviewing the case files in 2025. Renewed questioning of witnesses […]
Big Eli Story Featured on Main Street 250
By Seth Gabriel on August 5, 2026 at 12:32pm
Jacksonville Main Street will be one of many from the Main Street network included in an online storytelling initiative. To celebrate America 250, Main Street America has launched the Main Street 250 Storytelling Map, where more than 250 historical stories from across the Main Street network can be read. Judy Tighe of Jacksonville Main Street […]
Hot July
By Gary Scott on August 5, 2026 at 10:04am
July was a hot month, and the rain spigot was turned down. The average temperature reading for July was 77 degrees. That’s over 2 degrees hotter than normal. The stickiest day of the summer, easily, was the 26th, with a month high temperature of 97, and humidity levels that pushed the feels like reading to […]
Two Get Jail Time
By Gary Scott on August 5, 2026 at 9:37am
Two people were sentenced to jail time in Morgan County court yesterday. 64-year-old Lester Prier of Springfield admitted to two counts of burglary. A third count of theft was dropped. Prier was arrested for the January 2024 burglary of the AM-PM Convenience store on route 104 at Franklin. Prier was given 30 days of periodic […]
Jax Kiwanis Gives $3-thousand Gift
By Gary Scott on August 4, 2026 at 9:58am
The Jacksonville Kiwanis Club made a donation over the weekend to a project that could benefit families faced with spina bifida surgery. The donation of $3-thousand was made during the Illinois-Eastern Iowa Kiwanis District Convention. The money will go to support the development of a fetal surgery training model. Kiwanis International is trying to raise […]
New United Way Campaign
By Gary Scott on August 4, 2026 at 6:53am
This year’s Prairieland United Way Campaign will open later this month with six local women serving as co chairpersons. The campaign kicks off August 20th with the theme of Friends United. The co-chair people include Jennisa Ezard, Brittany Henry, Jennifer Pool, Lisa Watson, Jeni Rajaguru, and Julie Finn. The goal this year is $500-thousand. A […]
