llinois Department of Transportation workers are under scrutiny after a Greene County man says he caught crews dumping deer carcasses near Apple Creek late last month.

Robert Schollmeier of rural Greene County posted photos to Facebook on February 22nd showing IDOT trucks on the Belltown Bridge in the Apple Creek bottoms appearing to dump deer carcasses over the side of the bridge two days earlier. Schollmeier says he had suspected similar activity had happened before, which prompted him to document the scene.

According to Schollmeier, some of the deer remains — along with a rubber glove — ended up in the water below. He told River County News that he contacted the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Conservation Police, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency about the incident.

By February 24th, Schollmeier says the pile had been cleaned up.

IDOT officials confirmed they were made aware of the complaint and issued a statement to River County News saying maintenance crews had been temporarily keeping roadkill in the location until it could be incinerated, citing an abundance of deer carcasses this spring. The department says the animals have since been removed for proper disposal and staff have been instructed not to use that location again. The agency also apologized for any concern caused.

Schollmeier questions whether there will be any repercussions or whether the practice will simply move to a less visible location. As of now, none of the other agencies contacted have issued public statements.

A 22-year-old Springfield man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly brandishing a weapon, fleeing from police, and crashing into another vehicle late Tuesday morning in Jacksonville.

According to the Jacksonville Police Department, officers were first dispatched at 11:53 a.m. to the area of West Independence Avenue and North Main Street for a report of aggravated assault. Police say Jacorrunta K. Robinson allegedly brandished a weapon at a victim before leaving the scene in a burgundy vehicle.

Just minutes later, at 11:59 a.m., officers responded to a crash at North Church and West Walnut streets. Authorities say Robinson, driving northbound on North Church Street, improperly changed lanes, sideswiped another vehicle that was stopped in traffic, and then continued eastbound on West Walnut Street without stopping. No injuries were reported. The other driver, identified as 44-year-old Alban Haxhinasto of rural Jacksonville, was not hurt. Robinson was later cited for leaving the scene of an accident.

Police say the incident escalated shortly afterward. At approximately 12:19 p.m., officers located Robinson in the 800 block of North Main Street. Authorities allege he fled from police in his vehicle and then attempted to run from officers on foot before being apprehended during a foot pursuit.

During the arrest, officers say Robinson was found in possession of a firearm. Police report that Robinson is a convicted felon and that the firearm’s serial number had been scratched off.

Robinson was arrested and is facing charges including aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, defacing identification marks on a firearm, aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and resisting a peace officer.

He was taken into custody pending formal court proceedings.

First responders in Cass County are being recognized following a house fire in Beardstown last week.

According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, on February 26th, the Beardstown Fire Department, Beardstown Police Department, and Cass County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residential fire in the city. When deputies arrived on scene, they were informed that puppies were trapped inside the burning home.

Deputies, along with Beardstown police officers and firefighters, worked quickly to rescue the animals from the structure. Photos released by the sheriff’s office show Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Sam Reller alongside Beardstown police and fire personnel carrying the puppies to safety.

The sheriff’s office called the incident tragic, but said it highlights the dedication first responders show every day — not just in Cass County, but across communities nationwide. Officials added that acts like this are not rare, but part of the daily commitment made by emergency personnel.

Four puppies survived the fire and have since been taken in by PAWS in Jacksonville. The dogs appear to be Labrador mixes and are now in their care for severe burns.

PAWS is asking for community support to help with the puppies’ needs. Donations can be made through PayPal at PawsJacksonville@yahoo.com, through Venmo at @PawsJackson, or by mail to 400 West Walnut, Jacksonville, Illinois, 62650.

Anyone wishing to help can also find more information on the PAWS Jacksonville Facebook page.

A Beardstown woman has been reported missing, and her family is asking for the public’s help.

33-year-old Alexis Bennett, formerly of Beardstown, was last known to be in the East St. Louis area near a homeless shelter. Family members say she does not have her identification or her medication and has not been heard from since February 9th.

Bennett is described as a white female, five feet three inches tall, weighing between 120 and 130 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She can be identified by a dreamcatcher tattoo on her right shoulder and a hummingbird tattoo on her left foot.

Anyone with information about Alexis Bennett’s whereabouts is asked to call 217-204-8265.

A Jacksonville man is facing federal drug charges following an indictment by a grand jury in the Central District Court of Illinois.

Thirty-four-year-old Marquise Jackson is charged with two counts of distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Morgan County in July and August of 2025.

According to federal court records, Jackson was served with an arrest warrant on February 19th and was ordered detained by the federal court on February 25th pending trial.

Online Morgan County court records show Jackson has prior felony convictions dating back to 2009, including previous prison sentences for narcotics offenses and reckless discharge of a firearm. He also has additional felony cases currently pending in Morgan County Circuit Court.

Jackson is scheduled to return to federal court March 30th for a pretrial hearing.

An Oregon man first busted in Morgan County in 2017 has now been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a massive cross-country marijuana conspiracy.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, 38-year-old Robert Fiels of City Falls, Oregon, was sentenced to 70 months behind bars by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana.

Federal prosecutors say Fiels acted as a primary source of supply in a drug trafficking operation that moved marijuana and marijuana-based products across the country, including into Western New York.

The case has strong ties to Morgan County. On December 31st, 2017, local law enforcement and federal agents recovered approximately 1,000 pounds of marijuana from an RV stopped at Love’s Truck Stop in South Jacksonville. Authorities say the load belonged to Fiels and was being transported for distribution across the United States.

Investigators say the broader conspiracy stretched from late 2016 through mid-2019. During that time, Fiels allegedly trafficked roughly 1,800 pounds of marijuana to a single individual. Authorities also seized large amounts of suspected drug proceeds during multiple traffic stops and searches in Illinois, Indiana, and Oregon.

The Morgan County seizure was part of a multi-agency investigation that included Homeland Security Investigations, the Illinois State Police, the Oregon State Police, and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, among others. The lengthy investigation and prosecution involved several local officers traveling across the country to testify and help investigate the case.

Several co-defendants in the case were previously convicted and sentenced.

Fiels will now serve just under six years in federal prison as a result of the investigation that first surfaced locally in Morgan County nearly nine years ago.

Illinois’ U.S. Senators are backing a Central Illinois prosecutor for a top federal position.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth announced support this week for the nomination of Gregory M. Gilmore to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, according to reporting from WGLT in Normal and official Justice Department information.

Gilmore has been serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District since January 2025 following the retirement of his predecessor, Gregory K. Harris. In his career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he has spent more than 30 years as a federal prosecutor, including leadership roles and over two dozen cases tried to jury verdict.

This week the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Gilmore’s nomination by a 20-to-2 vote, with Durbin telling colleagues that both he and Duckworth provided traditional “blue slip” endorsements as part of the vetting process. The senators say a bipartisan screening group recommended Gilmore, and that he’s well-qualified for the position.

Durbin also noted consultations with the White House and Republican U.S. Representative Darin LaHood on the nomination. With committee action complete, Gilmore’s nomination now moves to a full Senate vote.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has appointed Gina Sheurman to serve as a member of the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority. The appointment awaits confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

Sheurman currently is Executive Director of the Pike County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation in Pittsfield. She has been involved with the Pike County Chamber and EDC for many years and has previously led community business initiatives in the region.

Prior to that position, she worked as Human Resources and Compliance System Manager at Farmers State Bank.

Sheurman continues to hold leadership roles with John Wood Community College, serving as a previous President of the Southeast Advisory Committee and the College Foundation. She remains a member of the JWCC Foundation as a past president.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Public Relations from Quincy University and her Master of Business Administration from University of Illinois Springfield. She has also previously served as a volunteer in the Griggsville-Perry school district.