The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced intermittent lane closures of Illinois Route 108 in Carrollton for the remainder of the month.

The closures will be in effect between the west city limit and east city limit of Carrollton beginning on Monday, May 16th, weather permitting.

Two-way traffic will be maintained by the use of flaggers. Motorists are asked to allow for more time traveling in the area and to be aware of changing conditions.

The work is for pavement maintenance on the highway. IDOT says the work should be completed by the end of the month.

GasBuddy’s price report this week says unleaded jumped 19 cents in Illinois this week. Prices have been on a constant rise since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th.

GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan told WJBC this week that the trend isn’t going to subside any time soon: “There’s not much downside coming, and that has been brought on by the fact that demand is high. Refineries – that’s a whole different boat, as well. The refining capacity in the U.S. is down by a million barrels per day compared to 2019. That’s really what’s kind of creating somewhat of a disconnect between oil and refined products like diesel and gasoline.”

The cheapest gallon of gas in Jacksonville is $4.34 a gallon. AAA says the average cost in Morgan County this week is $4.53 a gallon. Scott County was at $4.38 a gallon just two days ago but has gone up four cents. Brown County has the cheapest gas in the region at $4.34 a gallon. Illinois’ state average is $4.80 a gallon, with the national average sitting at $4.43 a gallon – both record highs.

According to GasBuddy, Illinois has the sixth highest cost for unleaded fuel in the nation, while Illinois’ diesel prices at $5.27 a gallon are the 10th cheapest.

Neighboring Missouri’s prices average at $4.02 a gallon.

The cursed buffalo gnats have made their return with the warm temperatures.

The City of Chicago reported unusual, huge swarms of the insect last week moving into the city.

Dr. Larry Zettler, Professor of Biology at Illinois College, says that he’s noticed a few out in Jacksonville already and expects more as the temperatures warm: “Last year, to me, didn’t seem as bad as previous years. I think they are out now. I’ve noticed a few in my yard here in Jacksonville. I was in Menard County recently and they were out there. I think they are going to be out in the same amount as last year, which is my guess. I think you’ll see some and those who are sensitive to their bites will notice them more. I think we are having a late start. I think that it was cooler towards the end of this Spring with a lot of rain. I’ve noticed that their numbers here in town seem to go up when there is a lot of strong south or southwest winds when it starts to warm up. The flowers that open and the chicks in the nest are a source of food for them, so that’s all happening now. The males pollinate the flowers. The females, the biters, are usually the ones who attack birds and nestlings, as well as people.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health says that the insect’s bite isn’t known to transmit disease into humans, however, some people are heavily allergic to their bites which could cause anaphylaxis.

According to the University of Illinois Extension Office, buffalo gnats are most active on calm days, just after sunrise and just before sunset. Individual adults will live for several weeks. Fortunately, once water temperatures start to reach the mid-70s, eggs will stop hatching, and adult populations will begin to decline.

To avoid bites, wear light colored, long-sleeve shirts and pants. Wear clothing that has zippers instead of buttons. DEET repellents and vanilla have been shown to be effective.

Jacksonville Police are investigating numerous vehicle burglaries reported yesterday throughout the city.

The first report came in at 6:24AM yesterday from the 900 block of West Chambers Street. The complainant advised between 7:45PM Wednesday and 6:24AM yesterday that an unknown individual or individuals entered their unlocked vehicle and took a laptop and a black change purse.

The second report came in at 7:12AM from the 900 block of West College Avenue. The caller reported that between 9PM Wednesday and 7AM yesterday unknown individuals entered their truck and removed a phone charger.

A third report was received from the 200 block of Prospect Street at 7:39AM yesterday. The caller reported unknown suspects entered one of their vehicles and rummaged through it and then entered a second vehicle and took a Toyota key fob.

A fourth report was report was received at 8:16AM from the 500 block of Rosedale Boulevard. The complainant reported property being removed their vehicle between the hours of 8PM Wednesday and 7AM yesterday.

A fifth report was received from the 1000 block of West College Avenue at 9AM yesterday. The complainant said someone had entered their vehicle overnight between the hours of 1:30AM and 7AM.

Officers spoke to a vehicle owner in the 1200 block of Parnassus Place at 9:56AM yesterday about unknown subjects entering their vehicle over night. The complainant said nothing was taken but were simply making officers aware of the incident.

Officers were then called to a residence in the 1100 block of West State Street at 10:29AM yesterday. Upon arrival, a complainant reported that someone had entered their vehicle and taken an undetermined amount of personal property.

The final call asked officers to return to the 500 block of Rosedale Boulevard to a separate residence at 5:50PM. Upon arrival, officers investigated a break in to a garage where the complainant reported that several items were removed from their vehicle.

Police wish to remind residents to keep valuables out of sight in a vehicle or take belongings inside or with them, especially at night. Police also wish to remind residents to lock their vehicles regardless of the time of day.

If you have any information about these incidents, please call the Jacksonville Police Department at 217-479-4630 or leave a tip anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 217-243-7300. Tips may also be submitted anonymously via text message at 274637. The first word of the text tip must be “payout.” If your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

The Virginia City Council has filled a vacancy on the city council .

The Cass County Star-Gazette reports that aldermen approved the appointment of Janet Martin to the council. Martin will fill out the remainder of the term in Ward 3.

Jason French resigned from the position last month in a letter to Mayor Randy McClure.

The council also approved the hiring of Kayla James as deputy City Clerk and Amy Knous for water collector.

In other business at this Monday’s meeting, the council approved $215,000 worth of appropriations from the Motor Fuel Tax to cover the repaving of East and West Streets. The project will not cover all side streets and alleys.

Engineer Anthony Miller also presented the council with information to possibly pursue funds from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program to make improvements to the Virginia Square.

The council also announced the public pool will open Memorial Day weekend.

One of Jacksonville’s long-term care facilities has new ownership.

The Journal Courier reports that Lavender Ridge in Jacksonville was part of a $6.7 million purchase by StoneBridge Senior Living. The purchase also included locations in Effingham, Mt. Vernon, and Olney.

According to the report, StoneBridge now owns 22 properties across Missouri, Arkansas, and now Illinois.

StoneBridge is a family-owned company started more than 50 years ago by Gloria Lierman, who was a nurse. The St. Louis-based business is not expected to alter services at their Jacksonville location.

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department arrested one woman yesterday on drug charges.

At 8:28 last night, Pike County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a court-authorized search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of West Fourth Street in Baylis.

According to a press release from Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood, subsequent to an investigation, over 50 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, methamphetamine-related drug paraphernalia, and hypodermic syringes were located and seized.

35 year old Laura J. Syrcle was arrested as a result of the search warrant and has subsequently been charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes, and three other outstanding Pike County warrants for drug charges and theft.

Syrcle is currently lodged at the Pike County Jail.

The Jacksonville Police Department is seeking the public’s help in solving a vandalism case.

According to police reports, unknown individuals damaged several windows on the north side of a business located in the 200 block of South Mauvaisterre around 8:30 in the evening on Sunday.

The police are asking if anyone has any information about the incident to submit a tip to the Morgan Scott Cass Crimestoppers by going online to their website and clicking on the leave a tip button on the home page or by calling 217-243-7300.

Tips may also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers mobile app or via text message. Text your tip to the number 274637. The first word of the text tip must be “payout.”

Remember if your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced updated consumption advisories today for fish caught in Illinois waters.

These changes are the result of continued sampling by the Illinois Fish Contaminant

Monitoring Program.

IDPH issued 7 new site-specific methylmercury advisories adding the White Hall Reservoir to the list. A statewide methylmercury advisory remains in place for all Illinois waters.

The statewide advisory cautions sensitive populations, namely pregnant women and young children, to eat no more than one meal per week of predatory fish, unless more restrictive site-specific advisories are in place due to elevated methylmercury levels.

For pregnant women, methylmercury exposure can cause impaired neurological development in babies.

For more information, fish advisories can be viewed on the IDPH fish advisories website.