The second person connected to a murder of a Jacksonville man outside of Indianapolis, Indiana has pleaded guilty to charges in connection to his death.

Morgan County, Indiana Chief Prosecutor Steve Sonnega said in e-mail communication this morning that 26 year old Britney D. Overton of Indianapolis has pleaded guilty to robbery resulting in serious bodily injury in connection to the 2019 murder of Alex D. Jackson, formerly of Jacksonville.

Overton testified against 20 year old Justin M. Blake, also of Indianapolis, during his murder trial back in February. Blake was found guilty of murder and robbery by a jury and was sentenced to 61 years in prison.

Jackson’s body was found in a ditch along Mann Road in northern Morgan County, Indiana on September 13^th, 2019 by authorities. Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide after detectives and an autopsy had found he had died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. Overton and Blake were charged almost 2 years later after Blake confessed to the murder to a family member and was later reported to police.

According to WTHR in Indianapolis, in Overton’s testimony at Blake’s trial she said she had been friends with Jackson and had been in a casual sexual relationship with Blake for a short time. According to testimony, Overton said that Blake and Jackson maybe had met once prior to September 8, 2019, which is the date that Jackson was murdered.

Sonnega says that Overton is facing 10-30 years in prison based upon the plea agreement. Sonnega says that the prosecution’s case ran into some tough evidence issues to tie Overton into her role in the murder. Sonnega believes it’s a good agreement based upon what the prosecution would have had to prove at trial.

Overton is due to be sentenced on June 9^th.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control and Canadian health officials are asking you to check your refrigerator for strawberries.

The FDA, CDC, Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are looking into organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo and HEB purchased between May 5 and April 25^th that may contain the Hepatitis A virus.

The products were sold at Aldi, Kroger, and Wal-Mart among other retailers throughout the country. Consumers, restaurants and retailers are advised not to sell, serve or eat these strawberries. A total of 17 cases in California, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Canada are currently being investigated.

Anyone unsure of the brand of strawberries they purchased or where they purchased them, should throw their strawberries away.

According to the FDA, symptoms of hepatitis A infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. In some instances, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic. Illness onset is usually between 15-30 days of ingestion of contaminated food.

The FDA says the investigation is ongoing and additional products may be included. The FDA urges you to contact your healthcare provider if you believe you have eaten these strawberries in the last 2 weeks.

Three Republicans have filed a lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections saying the state should not count mail-in ballots that arrive to an election authority after the date of an election.

The suit was filed by 12^th District Congressman Mike Bost, former State Representative candidate Laura Pollastrini from DuPage County, and another former State Representative candidate and GOP Presidential elector in 2020, Susan Sweeney of Park Ridge.

The suit asks a judge to prevent election authorities from counting mail-in ballots that arrive in the days following in-person voting, arguing that a ballot “is not a legal vote unless it is received by Election Day.”

Illinois law directs local election authorities to count ballots postmarked by the date of an election and received within two weeks of the election.

If the lawsuit is found in favor of the GOP members, the strict deadlines could be particularly onerous for members of the military who sometimes have issues with mail collection and distribution, particularly in service overseas.

The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer is coming to Cass County.

The Cass County Star Gazette reports that Tractor Supply Company, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennesseee, has announced they are building a new store in Beardstown.

The company purchased property on Illinois Route 125 just east of Wal-Mart from the Colwell Family to build a brand new approximately 15,500 square foot retail space, with the hopes of opening sometime this Fall.

Tractor Supply Company representatives told the Star-Gazette that the new store will provide approximately 15 new jobs, with at least half of those being full-time positions.

A Greenfield man has been sentenced to prison for a rash of crimes back in February.

36 year old Clinton L. Elliott of Greenfield pleaded guilty to a single count of residential burglary on Wednesday in Greene County Court.

Elliott was arrested by Greenfield Police on February 14^th. According to charging documents, Elliott entered a residence in the 500 block of Mulberry in Greenfield and attempted to take in possession a 2008 Buick Sedan. The documents further say that Elliott also tried to set the vehicle on fire and then subsequently also tried to set a 2002 GMC van on fire owned by another resident in the area. Elliott was charged on February 14^th with the original charge plus two counts of arson and a single count of felony theft of property between $500 and $10,000.

Nine days later Elliott was indicted in nearby Jersey County on possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia charges. Elliott is next due in court on the Jersey County charges on June 6^th.

Greene County Circuit Judge Zachary Schmidt sentenced Elliott to 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, up to 1 year of Mandatory Supervised Release, court costs, and restitution in the amount of $7,551.38 to the victim. All other charges in Greene County were dropped per the plea. Elliott was credited with 97 days served in the Greene County Jail.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Virginia man on Wednesday for cruel treatment to animals.

According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched on Wednesday evening to an address in Virginia or a report of animal neglect.

According to KHQA, the caller reported a man was using an object to beat a German Shepard outside of his home. Additionally, deputies said they discovered additional evidence that other mistreatment of the dog had happened days before.

Deputies then arrested 24 year old Enrique Rangel of the 200 block of Sylvan Street in Virginia for citations of animal torture and animal cruelty. First offenses for both crimes, according to Illinois law, are misdemeanors unless aggravating factors are seen by the court.

Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn said on the Sheriff’s Department Facebook Page that people who don’t have the means to properly care for their pets should not have one.

Rangel is currently being held without bond at the Morgan County Jail. Charges and a court date have not been set as of Friday morning.

The Cass County Health Department is moving its Beardstown facility.

The Cass County Star Gazette reports that the health department recently purchased the former Myers & Myers CPA building at the corner of 15^th and Wall Streets in Beardstown. The current facilities are housed near Heritage Manor in Beardstown at 8590 Lukes Drive.

Myers & Myers members told the paper that they are moving into a new location on State Street in downtown Beardstown in the next couple of weeks.

Cass County Health Department Administrator Teresa Armstrong told the Star Gazette that the health department had run out of space. The Health Department is expected to take possession of the building on June 30^th.

Armstrong also told the Star Gazette that the Health Department is going to work with a project manager to develop a site plan and let bids within the next two months to redevelop the property.

The new facility will have 8 exam rooms, more than doubling their current space, and will have expanded space for behavioral health. There may also be plans for a drive-thru for testing and flu shots at the location. Armstrong also says that some offices from the Virginia location will be relocating to the new Beardstown site once it’s completed.

The first MacMurray College Foundation and Alumni Association reunion will be held next month.

Organizers are needing a head count for those wishing to come to paid events at the reunion. The reunion is being held June 17th-19^th with various events throughout Jacksonville.

The weekend kicks off with a Golf Scramble at K’s Creek Golf Club from 12-4PM on Friday, June 17th Interested parties should call or email K’s Creek to reserve a tee time. A reception at Water’s Edge Winery will follow from 6-9PM. An informal alumni gathering will also be going on at Bahan’s Tavern from 6PM until time of close.

A breakfast at McClelland Dining Hall will be held the following morning from 9-10:30AM. People are being asked to register for this breakfast by June 2^nd. An alumni dinner at 6:30PM that evening is also asking for people to register by June 2^nd.

The Belles Lettres Sorority will also have a breakfast at 10:30AM Saturday, June 18^th. Reservations for alumni members of the sorority need to be sent to Sharon Mather at slmather13@gmail.com.

The Alumni Association also announced yesterday that members of the final class at the college from 2020, a complimentary ticket is being offered to the Saturday evening alumni dinner. Guests of members of the Class of 2020 are asked to register and pay on the association’s website.

The weekend will be bookended by a ceremony at Annie Merner Chapel on Saturday afternoon at 4PM and then a Memorial Service for the the late Dr. Allan Metcalf at the chapel at 11AM Sunday, June 19^th.

Questions can be directed to Foundation Chair David Ekin by calling 314-229-1773 or emailing info@MacAlumFoundation.org.

ImpactLife says that the Blood Emergency Response Corps was activated at 7:30 this morning in response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. 19 children and 2 teachers are reported to be dead in the shooting.

ImpactLife says BERC centers that are on call this week are sending units of type O negative red blood cells to support patient needs at hospitals in the affected region.  These units will help replenish what was used in the immediate aftermath of yesterday’s shooting.

ImpactLife is reaching out to all eligible and potential blood donors to ask that they schedule appointments for donation in the days leading up to Memorial Day or the week following. All blood types are needed and especially type O-negative and O-positive, where single day and 3-day supplies respectively were held locally.

BERC members are expected to give updates later today on the blood supply situation.

To schedule, call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401, visit www.bloodcenter.org, or download the IMPACT mobile app.