The Morgan County Commissioner paid out some sizable bills on Monday for their first meeting of the month of June.

Commissioner Chair Brad Zeller says that two large bills came out of the General Fund to start the month: “We have general fund bills in the stated amount of $98,477.02. With that, the two largest payments in that which is most of them is a payment for our joint dispatch quarterly payment of $41,765.90; and then, we also bought the sheriff a new SUV in the stated amount of $38,552.03. I would state that it was bought locally here at Westown Ford.”

Zeller says that the state bid and Westown’s bid were close, with Westown’s bid on the new SUV coming in slightly higher. Zeller says the decision was made to go with the Westown bid to keep the money local.

The other large bill came through a payout of American Rescue Plan money to the next traunch of bills related to the Morgan County Health Department’s renovation at the former Putnam-Springer building for $350,515.12. Commissioner Ginny Fanning says a final invoice for the building will be coming soon.

Zeller closed the meeting talking about the Health Department’s move to their new location: “We were told that the health department did get moved. They did get open with a few glitches, of course, with the phones and the Internet, which I guess is to be expected. I did speak to someone over the weekend that had the opportunity to go through the new location. Myself, personally, has not been in the building. I was going to wait until they got operating and got settled in before I personally go through or the board tours the building; but I did talk to someone who had the opportunity go through the new health department. They said that it was fabulous.”

The final, out of the ordinary bill was payout of health insurance costs in the amount of $95,370.32.

The first annual Spring Fling Carnival presented by the Village of South Jacksonville, Prairieland Heritage Museum, and the Four Rivers Special Education District was a large success.

South Jacksonville Police Chief Eric Hansell said during last Thursday’s Village board meeting that the kids who attended really enjoyed the small carnival and were fascinated by the village’s fire truck and new police squad car that made appearances at the carnival.

Village Carnival Committee Chair Paula Belobradjic-Stewart says that nothing but positive reviews have come in from everyone involved. She said during the meeting that it was one of the easiest events that she had ever help set up and organize.

She says if people liked this first outing to stay tuned: “We are definitely already looking at expanding the carnival. We had 6 rides this year. We weren’t sure what to expect. It was all put together very quickly and that’s not usually the way we plan events with the village. We are looking at doubling and possibly even more than doubling next year with 15 rides. We’re looking to bring in a ferris wheel, some carnival games, and Prairieland is also talking about incorporating maybe their train and one of their other attractions they have for kids. We are looking at making it the South Jacksonville Celebration, as well. This first time, if people enjoyed it, stay tuned because it’s going to be bigger and better. That’s our plan – to grow it and have more people to be able to enjoy more things at our carnival.”

Other ideas are possibly bringing a petting zoo to incorporate more of the Prairieland grounds and possibly adding more concession options.

The Village Board thanked the Village of South Jacksonville Police, Fire, and Utility departments for their presence and work on the event. They also thanked the volunteers with the Citizen’s Police Academy and volunteers with the Prairieland Heritage Museum for their assistance, as well.

Work and ideas on next year’s event will begin in December.

Five West Central Illinois police officers were presented valor and life saving awards today in Springfield by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police.

Those receiving FOP Valor Awards were Chapin Police Chief Steven Helmich, who is also a part-time South Jacksonville Police officer; Pike County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Lowry, who is also a part-time Meredosia Police officer; Pike County Sheriff’s Deputy Skylar Lambeth; and Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Rusty Richard. Pike County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Williams received the FOP Life Saving Award.

On March 26^th, Meredosia police attempted to pulled over Daniel Payne from Tennessee for a traffic stop but he fled, leading officers from several jurisdictions on a high-speed chase through Morgan, Pike, and Brown Counties. Payne crashed his car in Brown County during the pursuit and as officers approached the vehicle he opened fire, starting a gun battle with officers during which Helmich was critically wounded.

Officers Lowry, Richard and Lambeth were able to subdue Payne, and then immediately rendered emergency assistance to Helmich. Deputy Williams arrived on scene with a field tourniquet and applied it to Helmich, which is credited with helping to save Helmich’s life.

Payne is still being held on $1 million bond at the Schuyler County Jail. Payne will be arraigned on attempted murder charges on July 6th in Brown County Circuit Court.

Helmich, a resident of South Jacksonville, is still undergoing treatment but hopes to resume being a law enforcement officer later this Fall.

One of the women charged with the concealment of a homicide in rural Murrayville has waived their right to trial by jury.

37 year old Laura C. Acree waived her right to trial by jury in Morgan County Court this afternoon. Acree has been charged with concealment of a homicide and obstructing justice in connection to the murder of 32 year old Robert “Joey” Schofield in October 2020.

Acree is the wife of 36 year old Kenneth J. Acree, Schofield’s accused murderer. Laura Acree along with 29 year old Sara M. Schofield, the wife of Robert Schofield, were arrested in January 2021 after a nearly 3-month investigation into Robert Schofield’s murder and burial in a shallow grave on property on Gobbler Road.

Schofield’s whereabouts were unknown for approximately 4 days in early October 2020 before his body was discovered. An autopsy later revealed he had died from gunshot wounds.

Kenneth Acree is next due in court on June 24^th. Sara Schofield is next due in court on July 6^th. Laura Acree will be back in court on August 30^th.

Arcadia Care in Auburn was cited for two violations in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s First Quarter report for nursing home violations.

Both violations were listed as ‘A’ violations from the Nursing Home Care Act and processed between January and March of this year. An “A” violation pertains to a condition in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious mental or physical harm will result or has resulted.

The first violation was for failing to assess fall risks and failing to prevent falls for three patients. The second violation was for failing to provide adequate wound treatment and providing timely updates about wound deterioration to a physician.

Each violation carried a fine of $25,000. Arcadia Care in Auburn have been owners of the location since November 2021. The site is formerly known as Auburn Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.

A Jacksonville man currently in the Department of Human Services is still unfit for trial.

38 year old Larry D. Johnson was scheduled to appear in Morgan County Court this afternoon but had his presence excused. Johnson was found unfit to stand trial for the second time after an evaluation by Dr. Terry Killian in September of last year. 

Johnson is facing four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child stemming from incidents in 2018 with two separate victims. Johnson was arrested by Jacksonville Police Detectives in July 2019 after a lengthy investigation.

Public Defender Tom Piper told the court today that his client is making progress towards fitness. Morgan County Circuit Judge Chris Reif set a status hearing in the case for August 2nd to hear of any progress in Johnson’s case.

If Johnson is returned to fitness and stands trial, he could face a mandatory life sentence in prison. 

West Central Illinois may have the newest addition to the National Park system soon.

Four Illinois Congressman last year introduced House Resolution 820 to make New Philadelphia Historic Park a part of the National Park System. Chief sponsor, 18th District Congressman Darin LaHood, was joined by fellow Illinois Congressmen Danny Davis, Rodney Davis, and Mike Bost in introducing the legislation.

The act passed the House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks on May 11th by unanimous vote. It now awaits a vote from the full House of Representatives.

Located outside of modern-day Barry in Pike County, the site is where Free Frank McWhorter, a freed Black slave, first platted and legally registered the first town by a Black man in the United States prior to the Civil War. The town was established in 1836. The site is a registered National Historic landmark.

Executive Director of the New Philadelphia Association and Barry alderwoman Marynel Corton says that the park has major national historic significance: “It’s very important locally for heritage tourism, but it’s also very important for the nation. While this was a town that was multi-racial, in fact there were more Caucasian that lived there than African-Americans, it was started by an African-American who started out in life as a slave and then bought his freedom and ultimately bought 14 other family members’ freedom. There are only about 7% of sites in the National Park Service that are directly related to African-American history. For that reason, it is very important to the nation for this to become a National Park.”

Corton says the site could become a part of a whole heritage tourism corridor inner-connecting sites in Hannibal, Missouri, Quincy, Pittsfield, Jacksonville, Springfield, Petersburg and others in West Central Illinois: “We all could kind of work together to develop a group of historical, cultural sites that will educate people about all of our history and not just certain stories.”

Corton says that descendants for Free Frank McWhorter, who platted the town, are still living in the area and are a part of the site. She says that one of them is still a member of the Barry Baptist Church where McWhorter attended. At the end of May, a Looking for Lincoln marker was placed outside the church. Corton says that Lincoln sat in the legislature when McWhorter had to come before the General Assembly to secure his last name and rights to representation so he could legally plat the town. Congressman Rodney Davis spoke at the marker dedication and updated the public about the push to get the site designated a National Park.

The second tie-in to Lincoln comes via well-known 19^th Century photographer and Barry resident Calvin Jackson. Jackson photographed Lincoln on a Senate campaign stop in 1858 in Pittsfield.

Corton says she hopes that the federal government takes over the site so that McWhorter and the stories of New Philadelphia are not forgotten.

18^th District Congressman Darin LaHood visited Illinois College on May 26th to announce a $330,000 Community Project Funding grant to Illinois College for the creation of the online Master of Science in Nursing program.

LaHood was joined by Illinois College President Dr. Barbara Farley and Jacksonville Memorial Hospital President & CEO Dr. Scott Boston in the announcement at the Parker Science Building.

LaHood says it was easy getting the project funding over hurdles in the federal budgeting process: “When you think about Morgan County and Jacksonville, Illinois College plays such an important role in the community here. Obviously, when you look at the leadership and outreach that President Dr. Barbara Farley has and the community here and the impact that it has, it’s important to economic development. Illinois College is one of the largest employers here in Jacksonville. When you couple with the need out there for nurses in our community here locally and across the country, I think it makes a lot of sense.”

LaHood also mentioned an upcoming resurfacing and rehabilitation of Lincoln Avenue for $3.5 million secured through the most recent federal infrastructure and transportation bill.

LaHood says that he will ensure projects like these continue to come to Illinois despite the under count in the 2020 Federal Census: “We will continue to advocate for Illinois in the appropriations process. These two projects here, I think, are a reflection of the opportunities there are to get federal funding. Some of my colleagues haven’t necessarily wanted to do that. I think these programs are transparent. They are open. They are beneficial to the community. We have made a lot of reforms and changes there. Illinois is a big state – 13 million people. We are sixth or seventh largest in the country [in terms of population]. We need to do everything we can to get our fair share of federal funding through projects. I think these two projects are an example that helps out with safety and traffic flow and then, obviously, a need for more nurses.”

President Farley says that the nursing program has become one of the most popular majors at Illinois College: “We are working very closely with Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and Memorial Health in how we can partner to expand access to the nursing program. That’s going to be a really important factor for the students and for growth. This is our fastest growing opportunity of student majors. We are investing as a campus and looking for partners who want to help us in preparing nurses for our region.”

Congressman LaHood as well as members of the Illinois College Board of Trustees, Dr. Boston, and other members of community toured the new nurse’s simulation lab after remarks were given on May 26th.

For more information about the online Master of Science in Nursing program, visit online.ic.edu slash msn-in-nursing.

Covid-19 is still with us. Sangamon and Menard counties are now listed as high places of transmission of the virus, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Locally, Cass and Morgan among 29 other counties are listed at medium risk. Community level risk assessments are updated every Thursday.

Morgan County Health Department Administrator Dale Bainter says that despite IDPH listing the county at medium risk, numbers of hospitalizations and positive cases are beginning to tick back up: “We have seen a pretty significant increase over the last 7 days. We are some increase in hospital activity, but just an overall increase in the positivity, which is really concerning because I don’t think nearly as many people are getting tested. When we are seeing maybe 100 cases over 5-7 days, those were numbers that were very alarming to us over the past 2 years. If we are not testing as many people and we are seeing a large number of people positive, then Covid is still there. We need to continue to be cognizant of it. Remember the population that it affects the most while it’s spreading in the community. While it’s not everyone that it has a significant impact on, when it does impact that certain individual or vulnerable population, it can be severe.”

Bainter says that the most up-to-date information about Covid-19 is now found almost solely through IDPH’s website: “They are the ones updating that and are the keeper of the records right now. As the Covid effort has begun to ramp down and has been for several months, they have pulled more and more of the surveillance back to the state level. Contact tracing was pulled back to the state level. Monitoring of positivity rates are at the state level. You’ll see all of that on the IDPH website.”

Bainter says the Morgan County Health Department hopes to utilize their new location on East State Street’s more spacious capacity to still provide services like vaccination drives to help keep Covid at bay in hopes of seeing the pandemic eventually come to an end.

The identity of a man who drowned in a Pike County pond on Saturday has been released.

Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood has identified the decedent as 79 year old Gerald S. “Jerry” Stocker of Winchester.

According to a pres release, Stocker was pronounced deceased at the pond in rural Fairmont Township in Pike County on Saturday afternoon following a scuba diving accident while Stocker was performing maintenance on a drain pond.

Greenwood says an investigation remains ongoing. Services for Stocker are pending at Daws Family Funeral Home in Winchester.