A renowned Abraham Lincoln impersonator and former high school teacher will avoid state prison time after pleading guilty to child pornography and patronizing a prostitute back in April.

64 year old George Buss was sentenced to 4 years of adult probation, a $1,000 fine, and sentenced to 120 days in the Stephenson County Jail, and ordered to pay for court assessments as well as to have sex offender evaluations and follow up on the child pornography charge. Buss must also register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

Buss was also sentenced to 30 months of probation and an alcohol evaluation concurrently for the prostitution solicitation charge.

Buss was arrested by Freeport Police on August 28^th, 2020 at his home after a six-month investigation. According to court records, Buss was in possession of a video of children engaged in sex acts.

Since 1986 the retired Freeport High School teacher has portrayed Abraham Lincoln all over the United States and was the official Lincoln impersonator for the annual reading of the Gettysburg Address at the Gettysburg National Military Park. He performed at Illinois College as recently as February 2020.

22 year old Tyler Dotson, of Leaf River was also charged in connection to the investigation into Buss for two counts of dissemination of child pornography. Dotson plead guilty to one count of reproduction of child pornography and three counts of non-consensual dissemination of a sexual image in September 2020 and was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

A portion of West Morton Avenue will be a work zone for part of this summer as the City of Jacksonville replaces water mains.

Jamie Headen, Principal Civil Engineer with Benton & Associates updated the Jacksonville City Council on May 23rd about the city’s utility department’s effort to continuously update troublesome and old water mains throughout the city.

The council voted unanimously to approve a bid for work to update mains along a section of West Morton Avenue and one on Finley Street that have been problematic several times over the last five years: “We will be replacing water main on West Morton Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to about Prompt Care, in that range. Water main in that area has been breaking a lot over the wintertime. There have been many breaks in that spot so we are going to get that replaced, but also on Finley Street, as well. Then, we will potentially put Prospect Avenue on the list for future years depending upon the budget. This is part of Superintendent Rick Hearin’s yearly program of trying to get the water mains that need replaced the most, and get as much bang for the buck on the dollars we spend.”

Headen expects the work to begin later this month and be completed by September.

The City Council also approved a bid to resurface the Forrest Park area as well accepting a bid for the next step in the rehabilitation and renovations at Veterans Park.

Parks Superintendent Adam Fletcher says the next phase at Veterans Park will give better access to people and their pets: “This is a project that we started 3-4 years ago, and we’ve slowly been doing improvements in the park. In Phase I, we did a bunch of sidewalks throughout the park. Those were a big hit with people trying to get access to the park. This part of the project we are going to be improving the parking situation so that there is an actual parking area on the west end of the park. Then, we will be expanding the dog park that’s on the east side of the park to fill up a little bit of empty green space on that side of the park that’s not really used for anything else right now. With us just expanding that fence just a little bit, it’s going to almost double the size of that little dog run on that side of the park.”

Fletcher says moving forward the plan is to come up with ideas to update the playground and converting the old tennis courts into pickle ball courts.

Also at the May 23rd City Council meeting, the council approved the hire of two new patrol officers for the Jacksonville Police Department following the resignation of one officer and the retirement of another.

A probationary hoseman to fill an open position on the Jacksonville Fire Department was also approved, as well as a bid to purchase a new rescue truck. Fire Chief Doug Sills says the truck will be ready in 2023 and come out of the 2023 budget, but his department needed to go ahead and reserve the chassis and cab now due to supply chain issues so that it can be ready for delivery to the department next year.

Scott County residents won’t have to travel very far this weekend to find something to do. The Winchester Civic Group is keeping a new event-filled weekend held over from last summer. The Play Local & Enjoy Winchester initiative will be held this weekend, starting with the monthly Farmer’s Market and Music in the Park on Thursday.

Winchester Civic Group spokesperson John Paul Coonrod says its the 7^th year of the highly successful Music in the Park series. He says the only changes this year is that food will now be served closer to time of the music at 6:30, with music set to run from 7-9PM. The Farmer’s Market will run prior to the concert from 4-6PM. Coonrod says the concert line-up features a few new names this year – Balkan Duo on June 9th, which is a violin-piano duet and Springfield singer-songwriter Josie Lowder on June 16th. Old favorites of the music series Ben Bedford, Tom Irwin, Stuart Smith, Reverend Robert, and Jeff Newman’s Portable Beat will all return.

Returning act Levi & Jacqueline will be this Thursday night’s entertainment.

Coonrod says Friday will have discounted bowling at the Winchester Bowl from 6-9PM. Starting at dusk on Friday, the local Oddfellows chapter will host a movie in Douglas Park.

Saturday, June 4^th in Winchester a 5K run, walk, or ride will be held starting at 8AM with registration in Monument Park. The Winchester Swimming Pool will also have discounted swimming for the day. The evening will be topped off on Saturday with a bags tournament at 4:30 in Monument Park. A two-person team costs $25, with prizes for first, second, and third.

Sunday will have discounted golf at Plum Creek Golf Course. Coonrod says that the civic group is hosting an escape room at the Winchester Library Sunday from 1-9PM. Cost is $50 per team of 2-10 people. Coonrod says people must call the library ahead of time to preserve a time slot at 217-742-3150. Coonrod says that the Civic Group has really worked hard behind the scenes to make this a great kickoff to the summer in Winchester.

To find out more information, visit the Winchester Civic Group Facebook Page.

Jacksonville’s second Central Park Market returns to the Downtown Square this Thursday.

Weather brought the market inside for it’s first showing at the beginning of May, but market organizer Colleen Flinn says that the weather looks to cooperate this time around: “We will get to be outside this time. We are adding about 10 new vendors and have several returning vendors. We have a couple of new food vendors coming, as well. Being outside is going to be really good for the market.”

Organizers of the Central Park Market have been highlighting past and new makers joining the market on their Facebook Page throughout the month of May. Brick & mortar business on the square will remain open from 4-8PM during the market and will also be participating in the Cocktail Contest. Music from Giana Hines and Jeff Newman and food trucks from the area will also be sprinkled throughout the outdoor market for people to enjoy.

The Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau has also brought back the #shopsmall Game Card for a chance to win $50 and swag. Those wishing to participate should stop by the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau on East State Street to pick up a card during business hours.

Flinn says it’s a way to boost traffic on the square and spotlight local new or established makers. She says she and fellow organizer Jess Lynn of Green Haven Company all started their businesses through markets like this one: “We all started super small. Jess and I started at markets and we’ve just grown from there. Jess has a couple of brick & mortar locations now, and Nothing Fancy does wholesale business out of Jacksonville. This is definitely way we can give back to that community that helped us start out, and still have that feel of community with our own customers.”

The Central Park Market will be held Thursday from 4-8PM on the Downtown Square in Jacksonville. For more information or to become a vendor for the market held the first Thursday of every month until September, email centralparkjaxil@gmail.com.

The Chandlerville Fire Department recently received a private donation of a piece of tactical equipment that they’ve been seeking since the Fall.

The Chandlerville Fire Department received a rescue grant from the Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau last Fall to help the department assemble various tools and equipment for tactical rescues in grain bin and agricultural emergencies.

Yesterday, the Sandidge Family Farms donated a $1,200 Turtle Plastics rescue tube to the department. Courtney Sandidge says they heard about the need from a family friend who works for the fire department: “A friend of ours who is on the fire department told us about how they were working on getting a grant and that it would get some of the equipment but they still needed the tube. Since we farm and there is need for it in the area, we thought we should just go ahead and donate the tube to them, so that way if we ever need it in the future, they would have it.”

Sandidge says that she and her husband farm mainly corn and soybeans on 6,000 acres in Cass County. Sandidge says that Rihanna Dennis pointed them toward the exact tube the department needed to a website for its purchase, so that they could ensure that neighbors and their own farm would be able to be protected in a grain bin emergency: “We are all just kind of a community wanting to help each other. If the tube can help save a neighbor, a friend, or someone we don’t know; it was well worth the money.”

Chandlerville fire officials say they are hopeful that they never have to have the sleeve in an emergency, but they are extremely glad and grateful for the donation of an invaluable tool.

Dot Transportation in Mt. Sterling is doing what it can to combat the shortage of truck drivers. Dot Transportation recently launched their own in-house truck driver training school where students can earn their Class A Commercial Driver’s License while getting paid.

Tim Eckhardt, Director of Safety for Dot Transportation says that Dot isn’t a for-hire school so they have to follow new federal regulations for CDLs that were released in February during the training: “We are hiring for a Class A CDL. We are also training people for HAZMAT and tanker endorsements, as well within the first 4 weeks of the training. It’s a four-week program to get your CDL that’s a skills course, over-the-road driving, and then, classroom hours. Then, on Week Four, is when they are testing out to get their Class A CDL.”

Eckhardt says that the five in-house instructors at the five locations for the program have years of experience of over the road trucking and also meet all federal regulations to be an instructor. Eckhardt says that Dot Transportation has struggled, like many in the trucking industry to fill driver positions, so they began piloting the program last year in Williamsport, Maryland: “We struggle to hire. We piloted this program out there and were very successful. I think through about 9 months last year, we ran close to 22-23 students through the program. Last fall, we made the decision to start rolling this out fleet-wide. As of now, we’ve got 5 locations. We are in Maryland, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Mt. Sterling and we’ve got some other locations that we are working through the process of getting set up.”

Eckhardt says that the program has created a pipeline of current employees or people wanting to work for Dot to get right into the driver’s seat making $750 a week while taking the class: “There’s no cost to the program. Basically, we ask people to sign a 2-year commitment of employment. Starting pay is $750 a week. It’s an average of a 12-week program. The first 4 weeks obviously are going through the program getting your Class A CDL. After you get the Class A CDL, then you move on to the traditional 8-week training program, which is 2 weeks in classrooms and another 6 and possibly more weeks on the road. All of that is paid at $750 a week, and then once someone is released once their certified to go out on their own. Then, that’s an activity-based pay. I believe the average driver made around $96,000 last year. There’s a lot of upward mobility and a lot of opportunity to create a very good paying job and income.”

He says that Dot Transportation is currently attempting to fill at least 150 new driver positions by the end of the year. More information can be found by visiting this website.

Did you have a remote court hearing during the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, the Illinois Supreme Court wants to talk to you.

District 1 Appellate Court Justice Mary K. Rochford says a task force under the Illinois Judicial Conference is surveying the public and legal professionals about remote court proceedings: “The answers will guide our work and help to ensure that remote proceedings remain a vital part of our court system in a fair and just way, and address any concerns that may come to light.”

Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission Spokesperson Sarah Song says the surveys will ask about advantages and drawbacks of remote hearings for particular types of proceedings and cases: “The surveys also focus on whether certain types of cases or certain types of court proceedings should continue to offer the option to appear remotely either by phone or by video conference technology such as Zoom or WebEx.”

The Task Force, created in March of this year, is composed of circuit judges, trial court administrators, circuit clerks, and practicing attorneys and makes recommendations to the Supreme Court about potential rule and policy changes and trainings to further the use of virtual methods for conducting court business.

To participate in the survey, visit this link. The surveys will be open until June 23rd.

For further information, contact Communications Director to the Illinois Supreme Court Chris Bonjean at 312-793-2323 or via email at cbonjean@illinoiscourts.gov.

Young people who would like to take on a babysitter job over the summer will be able to get some crucial training in Jacksonville coming up soon.

Jacksonville Memorial Hospital’s Safe Sitter program returns on Tuesday, June 7^th from 9:30AM – 3:30PM.

JMH’s Lori Hartz says it gives important training to 11 to 15 year olds who want to watch younger siblings or make extra money babysitting: “We offered these classes prior to Covid on a regular basis, maybe 5-6 times a year. Since we are sort of opening back up post-Covid, we are going to host classes this summer – one on June 7th and one on July 20th. Classes are taught by our Registered Nurses at the hospital. Students receive an introduction to CPR. They learn about safety at home, how to recognize dangerous situations, how to avoid risk when it comes to strangers, how to prepare for a job babysitting making sure they receive a phone number from the parents and knowing how to connect to someone in case of an emergency. It’s a really valuable class for these young teens and serves both of the purposes of keeping themselves safe at home and younger siblings or children they are watching in a babysitting situation safe.”

Hartz says the class is very hands-on as students use manikins to practice lifesaving skills, such as CPR and choking rescue. Through role play, games, and other activities, students learn how to handle everyday situations that could present a risk to children’s safety, such as what to do when severe weather happens.

The Safe Sitter Class is limited to 20 of the first individuals who register and pay. Hartz says the classes tend to fill up quickly.

The cost is $35, which includes a textbook and lunch. To enroll in one of the upcoming Safe Sitter classes, register online at memorial.health/safe-sitter. Payment for the classes can be dropped off at the front desk in the main lobby at the hospital at 1600 West Walnut Avenue to the attention of Lori Hartz.

Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon is ruling a Macoupin County toddler’s death in December as a homicide.

WICS Newschannel 20 reports that 2-year old Jordan Whitaker of Virden died December 7^th from abdominal sepsis at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Allmon says the boy suffered a traumatic rupture of his intestine due to child abuse.

Allmon says he is ruling the death a homicide. Illinois State Police say they are currently investigating the death.

Illinois House members met jointly with Public Utilities officials yesterday to discuss and hear testimony on anticipated electricity rate increases for Ameren-Illinois customers beginning next month.

Ameren-Illinois alerted customers in email and via the postal mail on Wednesday that global market pressures, inflation, and the closure of coal-fired electricity generation facilities are causing increasing power supply costs.

In the email, Ameren says the average residential customer is expected to see an increase of approximately $52 per month on the supply portion of their energy bill. The actual impact will depend on the amount of energy used.

Ameren emphasized in the email that it does not control supply prices and does not generate revenue on energy supply.

State Representative Tim Butler of Springfield says more hearings need to occur and he wants to hear what Governor J.B. Pritzker is doing about the issue: “I know we have talked about maybe having more of these hearings throughout the summer. I would encourage the Governor’s Office to testify at these, as well, given the fact the governor is staking much of his legacy on the energy legislation that has been passed under his watch. I would really like to hear from the Governor’s Office on some of these issues.”

Butler and the Illinois House Energy/Environment and Public Utilities Committees are working to discuss options to protect customers from bearing the brunt of some of the changes in the energy sector and ongoing fluctuations in the supply market.

Early this Spring, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO signaled to the possibility of rolling blackouts because of a shortage of electrical generation by about five gigawatts, with the shortfall growing even greater next year.