The Jacksonville Kiwanis announced Saturday the release of funds to the Jacksonville Roller Hockey League. The donation of $10,000 comes from the proceeds of this year’s Braggin’ Rights BBQ.

Tina Hungerford of the Roller Hockey League says that the funds were going to be put to immediate use to pay for rehabilitation of the Olsen Memorial Roller Hockey Rink in Nichols Park: “The donation is actually going towards completing a project that just got completed on Saturday. Complete Asphalt Service Company out of Pittsfield grouted, filled, leveled, and sealed all the cracks in the rink’s surface. Then, some parent-volunteers are going to be going out there over this next week to do some other repairs. Then, we have ordered sport-court tile, which is another piece of the renovation of the rink that’s going to be flooring that’s going to be installed.”

Hungerford says the flooring is all-weather and is like a tile that can be replaced if a piece or section goes bad. Hungerford says with the renovations coupled with donations from other Jacksonville groups, the hope is to eventually host regional roller leagues for games and tournaments to promote more sports tourism in Jacksonville.

Hungerford says the Roller Hockey League is extremely thankful to the Kiwanis for making them the chosen chairty for this year’s BBQ: “It was definitely more than we envisioned and we couldn’t be any happier. We really appreciate the Kiwanis for this huge donation as well as all the other organizations that have helped us, the City of Jacksonville’s Parks Department, and the Jacksonville Children’s Foundation.”

To find out more about the Jacksonville Roller Hockey League or to get your children involved in the local roller hockey league, find them on Facebook.

A Virginia, Illinois man is heading to prison after pleading guilty to possession and dissemination of child pornography.

40 year old Jared A. Logsdon pleaded guilty to four separate charges of child pornography today in Cass County Court.

In April 2020, the Illinois State Police’s Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 4 agents initiated an investigation into Logsdon’s online activities after learning that a subject was distributing child pornography via a social media application. During the course of the investigation, ISP Investigators assigned to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force gathered evidence supporting the issuance of a search warrant at Logsdon’s residence. Logsdon was arrested without incident by ISP troopers, ICAC taskforce members, and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies at his residence subsequent to the execution of the warrant.

In March in Cass County Court during pre-trial hearings, Logsdon was evaluated for mental fitness at the request of his defense counsel prior to the plea agreement and was found fit to stand trial by Dr. Terry Killian.

Cass County State’s Attorney Craig Miller explains the 9 charges that were brought against Logsdon at the time of his arrest: “Count 1 & 2 are Class X felonies and specifically are child pornography either disseminating pictures or obtaining those pictures. The reason those are Class X compared to the Class 1 & 2 felonies like the rest of the charges are, is if the state was able to prove that the minor depicted in those images or videos is under the age of 13. The Class 1 felonies are essentially the same thing but it just lacks an element that the state needs to prove that the minor is under the age of 13, but rather simply some over the age of 18 is disseminating pictures or videos of someone who they knew or should have reasonably known was a minor.”

The two Class X felonies and 3 Class 2 felonies of child pornography reproduction were dropped per the plea. Logsdon plead guilty to 2 Class 1 felonies and 2 Class 2 felonies of child pornography production/dissemination/possession.

The Class 1 felonies carried a sentence of 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on each charge, which are to be served consecutively. The Class 2 felonies carried a sentence of 3 years in IDOC on each charge, which are also to be served consecutively – resulting in Logsdon’s full term in IDOC being 18 years in total. Logsdon will also have 2 years of Mandatory Supervised Release and must register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life upon release. Logsdon was given credit for 168 days served in the Schuyler County Jail.

The Waverly Old Fashioned Picnic returns on Thursday.

Conner Family Amusements of Beardstown will host the carnival this year. Single ticket rides are $1. Wristbands, good for one day are on pre-sale right now and will be valid for one night each. The Journal Courier reports that the wobble wagon ride will make its return this year.

Bingo will also be returning to the picnic this year in the form of a tournament. Money raised from the tournament will go to Jared’s Keepers, a teen suicide awareness, education, and advocacy group.

Saturday at 10AM will step off the Waverly parade, starting at Waverly Elementary. Entries are still being accepted. Entries are also being accepted for the Power Wheel Demo Derby, another returning favorite on Saturday at 1:30PM.

Returning favorites for the picnic will be a mud volleyball tournament, a bags tournament, the Miss Waverly pageant, the Precious Baby contest, and a washers tournament. Featured entertainment on the Main Stage will be the pageant on Thursday at 7PM, Rogers & Neinhaus at 7PM Friday, Gracia Harrison from 4:30-6PM on the Main Stage followed by Tre Twitty & Tayla Lynn Finger – the grandchildren of famous country stars Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn.

Pre-sale of ride wristbands are still ongoing but running low. You can save $10 off the price by visiting the People’s Bank & Trust, Penny’s Garden Party, and the Wagon Wheel Tavern.

For a full list of events or for more information visit waverlyoldfashionedpicnic.com or find them on Facebook.

The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office has announced charges against a man for numerous felonies after an attempted vehicle invasion at Target on Freedom Drive in Springfield this past Thursday.

70 year old Ira E. Smith of Springfield has been charged with vehicular invasion, false impersonation of a peace officer, aggravated battery, driving under the influence of alcohol, and unlawful restraint.

Charging documents released by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office allege that Smith blocked in a vehicle with his truck at a parking spot in front of the Target store, located in the 3400 block of Freedom Drive, in Springfield’s west end. The documents go on to allege that Smith then approached the blocked in vehicle and falsely identified himself to the female driver as a federal agent. The documents say that he then grabbed the victim and attempted to remove her from the vehicle, which was also occupied by 2 young children. Bystanders intervened in the incident prior to Springfield Police arriving to the scene.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright said in a press release that thanks to the intervention of a Target store employee and other bystanders, the victim and her children’s safety were ensured.

Smith remains held on $300,000 bond at the Sangamon County Jail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Sangamon County Court on Thursday, August 4^th.

Illinois is awarding nearly 150 new adult use cannabis dispensary licenses, including one that will allow a Jacksonville dispensary to open its doors.

149 conditional licenses were the first to be issued by the state’s recreational cannabis law late this week. The awarding of the licenses are based off of 3 lotteries conducted last year. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary Mario Treto says the awardees reflect the state’s commitment to equity with the new awardees being 41% majority black-owned and 4% Latino-owned.

Kush21 partner Kenny Pleasant’s Jacksonville conditional dispensary license was listed as an awardee. Pleasant secured a zoning permit for 1112 Veterans Drive back in March as the first storefront for Kush21 outside of his native state of Washington. Pleasant told the Journal Courier back in June that he hopes to have his doors open by the end of this year.

An email to Pleasant about the news on Friday has not been returned to WLDS for comment.

After the state issues the conditional license, the state will conduct background checks of principal officers. Licensees will have 180 days to select a physical storefront location and obtain the operating license. The pace of operation licensing will be determined by how quickly applicants’ compliance checks can be verified by IDFPR.

With this first wave of strictly recreational licenses, the state will more than double its adult-use retail cannabis facilities in Illinois. Dispensaries that are currently open in the state were a part of the state’s original medicinal cannabis shops.

Beardstown’s Hardee’s was recently represented in a special competition in Springfield.

The State Journal Register reports that 29 year old Sharia “Shae” Medina, the Beardstown Hardee’s official biscuit maker, recently competed at the regional Hardee’s Biscuit Baker Competition in Springfield.

Medina squared off last week against competitors from Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana in the contest in hopes of competing for the national title in Franklin, Tennessee (where the company is base) and the chance at a $10,000 grand prize.

Contestants had a set time to make a pan of biscuits judged on appearance, weight, diameter, height, texture, taste and color. Judges also factored in bakers’ appearance, knowledge of the biscuit procedure and how they set up their biscuit station.

Medina scored just below the cut for the national championship in 6^th place.

For the second time in less 3 months, the State of Illinois has yanked a popular online vehicle retailer’s license to sell cars in the state.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office pulled Carvana’s license on May 10^th over complaints from customers over not receiving their registration or titles in a timely fashion. The company’s license was reinstated on May 26th, with strict conditions.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, Carvana violated the May 26^th conditions by conducting business in a manner that violates law. According to a release from Jesse White’s Office, the retailer issued temporary license plates of another state to Illinois residents in violation of the May 26^th court order. The retailer also issued the temporary plates without going through a licensed remitter and failed to process title and registration work the the Secretary of State’s Office upon sale to Illinois-based customers.

The Illinois Secretary of State Police reinstated the temporary suspension order on the company’s ability to sell cars on Monday. According to the Secretary of State’s office, vehicles that have already been purchased, but not yet delivered will still be delivered during the suspension. Carvana will not be allowed to do business until all titling and registration issues are resolved for good, according to communication from the Secretary of State Police.

If a consumer has issues with their title and registration with a vehicle they purchased through Carvana, they may contact the Illinois Secretary of State Police at 630-693-0551 to file a complaint and Secretary of State Police will provide assistance in getting the title transferred.

The Canton Police Department is asking for your assistance in locating a missing teen who may be traveling through the area on the way to Texas.

Canton Police put out a bulletin Saturday evening for 17 year old Elisha A. Putnam who was last seen at the Country Club Apartments in Canton. Putnam stands approximately 5’6” tall, weighs 130 pounds, has blonde hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin. She also has a nose ring and may be carrying a backpack of unknown color. No photos have been provided.

It is speculated that she may be en route to Havana and eventually on her way to Texas in a blue 2000 Dodge pickup license #3363126B. She may be accompanied by her boyfriend, Dakota Langdon.

If anyone has any information about her whereabouts or may have seen her or the vehicle mentioned above, please call the Canton Police Department at 217-647-5131.

A Beardstown man is headed to the Illinois Department of Corrections for stealing copper off of agriculture equipment.

43 year old Christopher R. Welker of Beardstown was sentenced to two consecutive 18-month sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections on two separate cases.

According to court records, Welker was arrested by Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies on October 27, 2021 for theft of between $500 to $10,000. According to States Attorney Craig Miller, Welker stole a Honda Motorcycle from a residence in Beardstown. The charge was amended in court yesterday to theft under $500 due to an open plea entered by Welker.

The second case stems from March 12^th when Welker was charged for a single count of criminal damage to property between $500 and $10,000. According to a Journal Courier article at the time, Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn had been investigating copper thefts in the county since November 2021 where several irrigation systems had been damaged in efforts to steal copper wiring off of the field systems. Ohrn says the copper was then resold for approximately $200. Ohrn estimated damages to multiple systems across the county in the range of $7,000-$8,000 at the time of Welker’s arrest.

A third case of possession of methamphetamine less than 5 grams was also dropped per the plea.

Due to the open plea yesterday, Welker was also fined $200 for each charge and ordered to pay fines, fees, and court costs. Welker was also ordered to pay $9,000 in total to multiple complainants in the criminal damage case. Welker was given credit for 151 days served total for both cases.

Five County Sheriffs have joined Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell in ongoing litigation over delays in transferring county jail inmates to suitable mental health treatment.

Campbell filed the suit against the Illinois Department of Human Services, DHS Director Grace Hou, and Governor J.B. Pritzker seeking a temporary restraining order in Sangamon County Court on July 7^th over mentally ill county jail inmates not being transferred into DHS custody in a timely manner.

An amended complaint was field yesterday adding Knox, Madison, Rock Island, Macon, and McLean to the list of complainants in the case. A hearing on the TRO and motions in the case will be held on August 1^st in Sangamon County Court.

A request for comment from Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright was denied because of an inability to comment on current county litigation. Wright says that Sheriff Jack Campbell is also unable to comment publicly at this time.

According to WMAY, for the third time in a week, DHS has been ordered to appear in a Sangamon County courtroom and show cause why it should not be held in contempt of court over the transfer delays. The latest order handed down on Wednesday involves an inmate in Sangamon County who was found mentally unfit to stand trial back in May and has been awaiting a transfer to the McFarland Mental Health Center ever since.

Two contempt hearings are set for late next week, with the third scheduled for August 1^st, unless the inmates are transferred before then.