The Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation will be under new leadership when the new school year starts this Fall. Executive Director Amy Albers has announced her retirement after 12 years. Albers will officially step down on August 10^th to transition into self-employment.

Albers says she’s enjoyed everyone and the mission of the Public Schools Foundation during her tenure: “As I’ve told the teachers, the administrators, and the District 117 staff, it has been a work of passion for me that will leave a little piece of my heart behind. They have been so wonderful to work with, and it has been so great to see how they take care of our students and how they want the best for them. It’s been just a joy to be able to help them do that.”

Beginning August 1^st, Leslie J. (Smith) DeFrates will become the new Executive Director. Albers says that DeFrates is the right person for the job: “Leslie’s parents were both educators in District 117. She has worked in education her whole life at the collegiate level. She will be wonderful. She’s someone who is taking this job for the right reasons. It’s not for any other reason than she wants to continue the work of the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation’s Board of Directors. She will be a wonderful addition.”

DeFrates’ experience spans an almost 30-year career as a higher education administrator working in multiple positions at both Lincoln Land Community College and the University of Illinois Springfield. She most recently served as the Associate Vice President at Illinois College where she sat on the President’s Cabinet and oversaw multiple areas of the College, including the President’s Office, facilities management, human resources, public safety, special projects, and was the liaison to the board of trustees. DeFrates has also been a member of the Public Schools Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2019.

The Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation asks that the Jacksonville community honor Albers for her years of service by making a donation to the Needy Student Fund in her honor.

To make a contribution, please send a check for the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation Needy Student Fund by August 1^st to the offices at 211 West State Street in Jacksonville. Please note “Amy Albers” in the memo section of the check.

Sangamon County authorities arrested a Springfield man late last week in connection to several burglaries in rural Sangamon County earlier this month.

32 year old Brian E. Hiler II of Springfield was arrested last Friday afternoon at his residence in the 1000 block of North Edmond Avenue after an execution of a search warrant.

Hiler was wanted in connection to 3 separate burglaries that occurred throughout the first weeks of June and late May. According to Springfield Leaks, on May 20^th, Sangamon County Deputies responded to a residence in the 5000 block of South Cantrall Creek Road, near Cantrall. The homeowner had encountered three subjects in a vehicle outside the residence. The suspects fled but the vehicle, a white 2003 Buick Rendevous, was abandoned and later located by deputies in the 100 block of Hawkeye Way in Springfield. The vehicle was seized and processed for evidence.

On June 1^st, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputies took a residential burglary report in the 8000 block of Staley Road, near Loami. Numerous items were taken from the residence, including an antique firearm, a coin collection, and a rock collection.

Last Wednesday, a burglary report was taken from a storage facility in the 3200 block of Sangamon Avenue in Springfield. A Shelby Cobra kit car, dirt bikes, and car engine parts were taken from a storage shed.

Subsequent to the execution of the search warrant last Friday at Hiler’s residence, Sangamon County Deputies and Detectives discovered the body chassis, and numerous parts to the Shelby Cobra kit car were found concealed on the property on Edmond Avenue in Springfield.

Additional items, believed to be stolen property, were also seized in an attempt to identify other victims. Detectives believe all these cases are related and the investigation continues. If you have further information about these burglaries, please call the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office at 217-753-6666 or the Menard-Sangamon Crime Stoppers at 217-788-8427.

Springfield Leaks reports that Hiler was released from the Illinois Department of Corrections in January and was on parole for a delivery of methamphetamine conviction. Hiler also has a lengthy criminal history throughout Central and West Central Illinois.

Hiler has been charged with residential burglary, burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of stolen property. Hiler is currently being held on $500,000 bond at the Sangamon County Jail.

Jacksonville Police arrested a woman from a domestic battery incident yesterday morning that occurred on Tuesday afternoon at a business.

Jacksonville Police and LifeStar EMS were called to an office of the Morgan County Housing Authority in the 200 block of West Wolcott Street at 3PM on Tuesday. A complainant had advised that a tenant had thrown bleach in an employee’s face and the employee needed medical attention. Upon arrival, officers learned that the suspect had also struck the employee several times before leaving the area. No further information about the incident is available in police records.

At 9:29 yesterday morning, police arrested the alleged suspect from the incident, 21 year old Altavia A. Underwood of the 800 block of Hoagland Boulevard at a residence in the 100 block of West Independence Avenue. According to police reports, Underwood fought with officers while being placed in handcuffs. Underwood was cited for domestic battery from the Tuesday incident and resisting a peace officer. She is being held without bond at the Morgan County Jail.

Area farmers and agricultural landowners with property prone to flooding and nutrient runoff will have the opportunity to enroll in a state land conservation program for the first time since 2015.

The Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) – administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency is set to reopen tomorrow. Funding for the program is coming through the Rebuild Illinois capital program.

Through Illinois CREP, federal and state resources are made available to program participants to voluntarily enroll in 14-to-15-year federal CREP contracts and a subsequent 15-year or permanent conservation easement with the State of Illinois. It expands the voluntary, incentive-based Conservation Reserve Program available through FSA to Illinois agricultural producers and landowners within the Illinois and Kaskaskia River watersheds.

Illinois CREP assists farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to improve water quality and conserve natural resources. Participants remove cropland and marginal pastureland from agricultural production and convert the land to grasses, trees or other approved vegetation. This improves water quality by reducing sediment and nutrients entering streams and rivers, and enhances fish and wildlife habitat in the project area.

In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments, a 50% cost-share payment for installing approved conservation practices, and incentive payments for certain practices. The State of Illinois provides a cost-share match in addition to a one-time payment for all land entered into an easement.

The Illinois CREP includes all or portions of 68 counties including Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Macoupin, Menard, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, and Scott counties.

Interested farmers, ranchers and agricultural landowners are encouraged to contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Farm Service Agency or their local soil and water conservation district for more information about enrolling in the program.

A rural Carrollton man turned himself into the Greene County Sheriff’s Office this morning after a warrant was issued accusing him of sexual abuse.

46 year old Ryan J. Breckon of rural Carrollton turned himself into the Greene County Sheriff’s Office at 9:34 this morning. Greene County Sheriff Rob McMillen says that an arrest warrant for Breckon was issued accusing him of of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse stemming from a 16-month investigation.

According to McMillen, an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office began in February 2021 where a victim between the ages of 13-17 alleged that Breckon, who was at least 5 years older than the victim, had sexual contact with the victim, in that Breckon is accused of touching the sex organ of the victim with his hand.

Breckon was an acquaintance of the victim and the victim’s family. Once the investigation was completed, it was turned over to the Greene County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Breckon has posted 10% of the $25,000 bond amount and was released later today from the Greene County Jail.

Breckon is due for a first appearance in Greene County Circuit Court on July 5^th.

A Carrollton teacher and coach was arrested by Carrollton Police earlier this month after a crash in Carrollton.

36 year old Blaine Hartwick was arrested by Carrollton Police at 4:30AM on June 4^th in front of Carrollton National Bank on Illinois Route 108. Hartwick was cited for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Leaving the Scene of a Crash.

Circumstances about the crash have not been released. Communications to the Carrollton Police Department have not been returned as of press time.

According to Greene County Jail records, Hartwick posted bond and was later released from the Greene County Jail.

According to Greene County State’s Attorney Caleb Briscoe, Hartwick has retained counsel who has filed a motion for substitution of judge in the case. Hartwick’s counsel has also filed for identification, sequestration, preservation, and production of police radio transmission recordings of both audio and video in the case.

Hartwick is currently employed at Carrollton High School as a teacher and the Head Coach for Girls’ Basketball.

Hartwick is due in Greene County Court on a first appearance with counsel on July 5^th.

Quincy officials are saying former President Donald Trump’s is visiting next weekend.

Muddy River News reports that Quincy Mayor Mike Troup says the city will learn the itinerary of Trump’s visit tomorrow.

Troup told the Quincy City Council last night that he believes Trump will arrive at Quincy Regional Airport on the evening of Saturday, June 25^th with a night-time rally at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon. Troup says that no one has asked the City of Quincy to make any special accommodations.

Trump’s visit would be the first to Quincy by anyone who has held the office of president since Barack Obama came for a two-day visit in April 2010.

NBC News reported in April that Congresswoman Mary Miller said Trump pledged to visit Illinois in June and campaign for her in her primary contest in the 15th Congressional District against fellow Republican Congressman Rodney Davis.

Pike County authorities arrested a violent sex offender from the State of Texas after juveniles reported a suspicious man on a bicycle in Barry on Sunday.

Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood reports that on Sunday at 6:34PM the Pike County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a suspicious person traveling on a bicycle in Barry. The complainant told police that her juvenile daughter and a friend were out walking around Barry when an older man riding a bicycle approached them and began speaking with them.

Subsequent to an investigation, 62 year old Robert W. Niffen of Houston, Texas was arrested on a Texas Department of Corrections parole violation warrant. The Texas Department of Corrections warrant listed Niffen’s original charges as aggravated rape and escape from a penal institution. The Texas Department of Corrections also listed Niffen as a violent sex offender absconder. Greenwood says that Niffen has a lengthy criminal history.

Niffen was further charged for obstructing justice after he allegedly provided a false name to officers and failure to register as a sex offender.

Niffen’s bond has been set at $150,000 for the new charges. Niffen’s Texas parole violation warrant has no bond. According to Pike County court records, no extradition hearing has been set as of press time.

The Illinois Prison Review Board is under fire for failing to notify a victim’s family about a planned clemency hearing for a convicted murderer.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board had been scheduled to hear a petition Wednesday from Robert Turner. Turner, formerly of Wilsonville, was convicted in 1986 along with his brother Michael Turner and Daniel Hines for the rape and stabbing death of then 16-year old Bridget Drobney of Downers Grove.

In July 1985, the three men used a flashing red light on their vehicle to pull Drobney’s car over and told her she had to go with them because she was speeding along a back road in rural Gillespie in southern Macoupin County. The case would later lead to a new state law sponsored by the late State Senator Vince DeMuzio making it illegal for the public to possess flashing red lights that impersonate police. Governor Jim Thompson signed the bill into law in July 1986.

Bridget Drobney’s body was found four days later in a corn field, twelve miles away from the initial encounter with the three men. Michael Turner confessed to the crime to his sister, who in turn, reported it to police. The younger Turner cooperated with police and was given a 5 year sentence for concealment of a homicidal death; Hines got life without parole; and Robert Turner, who admitted to killing Bridget as she pleaded for her life, was sent to death row. Former Governor George Ryan abolished the death penalty in Illinois in 2003, giving the older Turner a life sentence.

The Illinois Prison Project, which is allegedly representing Turner, says it is postponing the hearing. WMAY says the Drobney Family and other objectors to Turner’s clemency have been invited to a dialogue in the interim. The Drobney Family told the Chicago Tribune they do not feel that Turner has been rehabilitated or is remorseful for his crimes. There’s no indication when the clemency hearing might be rescheduled.