A trial for a Palmyra, Missouri man captured in Petersburg after a statewide manhunt in connection to a murder last year has been set.

According to Muddy River News, 35 year old Raymond D. Gum appeared today in court to face charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm. The charges stem from the death of 34 year old Crystal Cooper, who was found dead outside of her home in a parked car in Palmyra, Missouri on September 3, 2021. Gum and Cooper reportedly were in a relationship at the time but not living together.

Gum was arrested the following day at a residence in Petersburg by U.S. Marshals and Menard County Sheriff’s Deputies. Gum faces life imprisonment if he is found guilty of the first-degree murder charge. According to the report, Marion County, Missouri prosecuting attorney Luke Bryant says he will not seek the death penalty.

Gum pleaded not guilty to the charges on January 5^th and after a series of motions, had his case moved to Shelby County, Missouri. Court proceedings say that a plea agreement is allegedly in the works.

A pretrial date was set for June 22, with a three-day trial scheduled to begin July 19. Gum is being held in the Marion County Jail on $1 million bond.

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine filed felony theft charges on Thursday against the treasurer of a Madison County softball organization.

Riverbender and Fox2 News report 37 year old Heather S. Sullivan of Roodhouse is charged with stealing approximately $64,200 from Esprit Metro Fast Pitch between Aug. 1, 2021 and March 7th.

Sullivan currently remains jailed in Madison County on $80,000 bond. The case was investigated by Glen Carbon Police and Assistant State’s Attorney Bruce Reppert. No court date has been scheduled according to court records and no further information has been released.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says a cougar roaming West Central Illinois continues to roam near Springfield’s west end.

IDNR detected a mountain lion on the west side of Springfield yesterday after monitoring the animal through telemetry from a GPS unit attached to it by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission last year as part of a research project studying mountain lions’ migration patterns. The animal was detected in a wooded area less than an eighth of a mile from Old Jacksonville Road in Springfield. IDNR had hoped the animal would move along overnight Wednesday, but it has not according to witnesses in the area and a report by the State Journal Register.

IDNR officials warn the public to leave it alone, as it has not yet posed a threat to anyone or any property. However, if you do come into contact with the animal, IDNR suggests to stand tall, wave your arms, throw an object and yell while also slowly backing up and keeping one eye on the animal. Do not play dead. Always attempt to fight the animal off.

If you believe that you, your family, or your property appear to be in imminent danger from this animal, immediately call 9-1-1 or call IDNR Conservation Police at 217-493-3073 or you can report a sighting using this link. More information about Cougar/Mountain Lions and sightings in Illinois can be found by visiting Wildlife Illinois.

The Illinois State Police have announced the arrest of a Cass County man on child pornography after a year-long investigation.

The Illinois State Police report that DCI Zone 4 Investigators initiated an investigation in August 2021 after learning a subject was distributing child pornography through an online platform. During the investigation, ISP agents assigned to the Illinois Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force gathered evidence to support the arrest of 37 year old Kyaw B. Tun of Beardstown.

On Tuesday, the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a single-count criminal information charging Tun with possession of child pornography, a Class 3 felony. Tun was booked into the Morgan County Jail by Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies after the warrant was executed at his residence. He is currently being held on $100,000 bond (10% to apply).

The Illinois State Police encourage anyone with further information about this arrest to contact ISP DCI Zone 4 Investigations at 217-782-4750 or anonymous tips may be left with the Morgan-Scott-Cass Crime Stoppers at 217-243-7300.

Tun is next due in Cass County Circuit Court for a first appearance on Monday, October 31st.

The North Greene School District is applying for building funds from the state to add more to their Early Childhood programs.

The Illinois State Board of Education has made $100 million available statewide for grants to public schools to either start a program or expand their current offerings with new construction.

Grant recipients are required to provide 3-10% of the total cost of the project in matching funds based on the school’s Tier level. North Greene is considered a Tier 1 school and would only be required to provide 3% matching.

The Greene Prairie Press reports that the North Greene School Board approved applying for a $7 million grant to expand the district’s current Early Childhood offerings at the District Office, site of the former White Hall Elementary. The grant would require North Greene to pay in $220,000 to the project.

The renovation would include adding a multi-purpose room, cafeteria, and more office space and renovate the north end of the building. The new construction would renovate 12,000 square feet of space and add on 12,000 square feet of space.

The building would house Pre-K, early childhood, and the district’s Bright Futures Family daycare program. Superintendent Mark Scott said during the October 19^th meeting that the district wouldn’t be adding additional staff but put them all in the same location to coordinate services.

Funding through the state will be released in two traunches. The first $60 million will be awarded later this Fall, with the $40 million to be decided some time next year.

Fire severely damaged a detached garage and its contents in western Sangamon County on Tuesday night.

WMAY reports that the homeowner was in his house in the 3600 block of Lincoln Trail, about two miles northwest of Brafordton, when they say they saw what appeared to be lightning hit their detached garage causing it to catch on fire.

According to the report, the two-car structure contained several vehicles, and the fuel in them contributed to the spread of the fire. Crews from Springfield and Pleasant Plains responded, but the garage was destroyed and its contents, which included a new pickup truck, electric motorcycles, and a number of tools were heavily damaged or completely destroyed.

WAND-TV News reports that 911 Control could not find any hydrants in the area, so a tanker was requested and dispatched from Pleasant Plains. A water supply was later found and used. Several dry chemical extinguishers were used to put out the fires and the gas-powered vehicles.

The fire remains under investigation by the Springfield and Pleasant Plains Fire Departments.

Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties are requesting information to assist the Jacksonville Police Department in their investigation of a recent burglary.

Sometime between 4:30pm on October 20th and 7:30am on October 21st, unknown person(s) damaged a door to an equipment shed of a business located in the 1200 block of Lincoln Avenue.

Upon entry, several items were removed. Among the items taken were a Stihl Gas Edger, a Stihl Gas Leaf Blower, a Stihl Gas Hedge Trimmer, a Echo Gas Weed Trimmer, a Craftsman Power Washer, and a Ryobi Drill Set along with various hand tools.

The police are asking that anyone who has information concerning this incident to submit a tip online by going to www.morganscottcrimestoppers.webs.com and clicking the leave a tip button on the home page or calling Crime Stoppers at 217-243-7300. Tips may also be submitted by texting 274637. The first word of the text tip must be “payout.”

Crime Stoppers says if your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

PORTA Jr.-Sr. High was placed on a soft lock down this afternoon after a threat to a student was issued over social media.

The Menard County Sheriff’s Office reports that at approximately 1:15 sheriff’s deputies and PORTA Jr.-Sr. High School officials were notified of the threat being received by a student.

WICS Newschannel 20 reports that the threat was made to a specific student and claimed a person was to cause harm at the school around 1:30 p.m.

Menard County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with Petersburg Police Officers and officers from IDNR Conservation Police immediately responded to the school. A soft lockdown was enacted by school officials, while deputies and officers secured the building. Deputies and officers were unable to locate any threats at the school, therefore students were allowed to dismiss at the planned time of 2:00pm.

The incident remains under investigation by the Menard County Sheriff’s Office, as deputies are continuing to work to identify the originator of the message. If you have any information, you can contact the Menard County Sheriff’s Office at (217) 632-2273 or the Petersburg Police at (217) 632-2251.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is continuing to monitor the movement of a cougar through the area.

On Monday, IDNR had confirmed sightings of the animal moving into Cass County. Today, IDNR Conservation Police Captain John Williamson says that telemetry from a tracking monitor on the animal had placed it on the west side of Springfield. According to witnesses, the cougar was last seen in the area of Veterans Parkway and Old Jacksonville Road.

IDNR says that the telemetry unit’s coordinates placed by the Nebraska Conservation Office on the animal has allowed them to monitor the animal’s movements without interference. Williamson says that he hopes the animal will decide to go around the City of Springfield rather than attempt to cut through the city.

IDNR says that cougars/mountain lions routinely travel at night. Officials say not to approach the animal. f the cougar sees you, stand your ground; look as large as possible by standing up straight and putting your arms up in the air and slowly back away. If possible, go inside a building or get into a vehicle. If a cougar makes contact with you, always try to fight it off. Throw rocks, use sticks. Do not play dead.  

If you have any information or trail cam footage of the cougar, you can contact IDNR Conservation Police Captain John Williamson directly at 217-493-3073 or you can report a sighting using this link. More information about Cougar/Mountain Lions and sightings in Illinois can be found by visiting Wildlife Illinois.