A Springfield firefighter is out of the hospital after a barn fire on Friday.

According to WMAY, the firefighter was treated for overexertion while battling the blaze in the 7100 block of Old Jacksonville Road on Friday afternoon.

The fire was especially difficult to contain due to live ammunition being stored in the barn exploded due to the heat of the blaze, limited water supplies had to have nearby fire districts tank water to the scene, a nearby propane tank and home were constantly being monitored in high winds, and a downed power line.

No other injuries were reported from the fire. There’s no word yet on a cause.

Five Pike and Scott County high school seniors have received $1,000 scholarships offered through the Two Rivers Farm Bureau Foundation.

Peri Andras and Anna Sellars of Winchester, Nate Scranton and Raegan Smithers of Pittsfield, and Kaylee Spencer of Griggsville-Perry have been awarded. All five plan to enter either agricultural or animal science related fields upon graduation.

Smithers was the recipient of the Rod Webel Scholarship, which was established by Webel’s family in honor of his years of service to the Farm Bureau and Pike County’s agricultural community.

Spencer was the recipient of the memorial Wayne Riley Scholarship. Riley was also a Pike County ag leader and formerly the FS Director in Griggsville.

All the scholarships are awarded through the Two Rivers Farm Bureau Foundation which is the charitable arm of the Pike-Scott Farm Bureau.

Multiple fire departments in Sangamon County spent the afternoon battling a barn fire.

Initial reports about a barn fire came in around 11:45AM Friday from the 7100 block of Old Jacksonville Road just west of Springfield near Farmingdale.

The caller who reported the fire said the barn was approximately 50 feet from a residence. Springfield firefighters reported heavy smoke from the location while en route.

Upon arrival, firefighters learned about possible live ammunition and a propane tank near the area. Reports of some of that ammunition going off in the area were heard by eye witnesses. Firefighters then advised the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office to shut down Old Jacksonville Road in both directions.

Mutual aid was rendered to the scene by Loami, New Berlin, and Chatham Fire Departments.

Also complicating the scene was a downed power line, Ameren was dispatched and power was cut to both structures a little after 1:30PM.

Both lanes of Old Jacksonville Road reopened around 2:35PM as knockdown of the fire continued. A backhoe was brought to the scene to spread out debris to finish off suppression efforts.

An unidentified firefighter was injured and taken to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries.

This story will be updated.

Cass County residents and local representatives raised enough of a ruckus this past week about the deterioration of Illinois Route 125 that Illinois Department of Transportation officials are attempting to fix the road.

Several reports of large potholes and damaged or disabled vehicles from those potholes prompted residents in Beardstown and Virginia as well as local officials to raise concerns with IDOT to get the road fixed sooner rather than later.

The Cass County Star Gazette reports that Beardstown Mayor Tim Harris was contacted by IDOT this week letting him know that emergency resurfacing work will occur at the intersections of Route 125 at the Arenzville Road and Route 67 intersections. The road work is expected to be completed by the end of April.

State Senator Jil Tracy commented on her Facebook Page last Friday that after hearing from local residents and businesses and working with IDOT officials, she was pleased to announce that the roadwork will begin.

Calhoun County’s most notable eatery will be making a return soon.

Final preparations are being made for the Barefoot Restaurant at a new location. The famed Illinois River eatery located north of Hardin on Illinois Route 100 closed in 2019 after historic flooding.

The Barefoot was originally called Melody Trail Harbor and was established in 1958. Later it was named The Barefoot because of boaters coming right off the river and eating barefooted and in their swimsuits. The original building was destroyed in the 1973 flood, and a larger, elevated building was built on the ruins of the old one that same year. The building continued to battle closures off and on due to the river’s flooding over the next 40 years.

Riverbender reports that Brian Matthews and Kelly & Phil Sievers have purchased the namesake, recipes, and menu from previous owner Judy Herter. The restaurant will also be making a move out of the flood plain into the former Illini Medical Building in Hardin at 106 Water Street.

Known for its fish, fried chicken, and immaculate view of the Illinois River, the new owners are making some additions to the new location to accommodate a larger dining area and kitchen.

According to Riverbender, a grand opening is expected within the next few weeks.

A Freeport, Illinois man who has spent the last several decades impersonating Abraham Lincoln throughout the state and the country has pled guilty to producing child pornography and patronizing a prostitute.

64 year old George A. Buss pled guilty to the charges in Stephenson County Court yesterday. Buss was arrested by police at his home in August 2020 following a six-month investigation that began in February 2020.

Buss, a retired teacher, has been a Lincoln impersonator since 1986. Buss came to Illinois College in February 2020 as a part of the Lincoln Heritage Cultural Area tour of a show entitled “Lincoln: The Great Communicator.”

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 nonconsensual dissemination of a sexual image in September 2020 and was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Buss’ sentencing in the case is scheduled for June 1^st. Buss could possibly face up to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He will now have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

Apex Clean Energy is moving into Cass County. The Cass County Star-Gazette reports that the wind developer has set up an office in Virginia ahead of preparations to build a 250-megawatt project.

Apex, notable for the Lincoln Land Wind project development in Morgan County, is planning on putting up 80-86 wind turbines in an area south and southeast of Virginia, between Virginia and Ashland.

The project has been called Gray Fox Wind.

Public Engagement Manager Max Jabrixio told the Star Gazette that they are in the beginning phases of the project by getting the proper permits, and if all goes according to their schedule, the wind farm would begin operations sometime in 2026.

According to the project’s website, the wind farm will have a 30-year lifespan and according to Jabrixio, will generate approximately $2.25 million in property tax revenues with 60% allegedly going to the Virginia School District.

The Gray Fox Wind Office is currently located at 125 East Springfield Street in Virginia. Jabrixio says the office is open to the public every Friday morning from 8AM to Noon for coffee and donuts so people can come in and ask questions.

Jacksonville Police arrested a Springfield man after a single vehicle crash this morning.

Police were called to the intersection of Lincoln and West Morton Avenue at 4:01AM. Witnesses told police that two subjects had fled the scene on foot eastbound.

Upon arrival, police arrested the driver of the vehicle, 20 year old Alex J. Nossem of Springfield, for driving under the influence, illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor, and improper lane usage.

According to police reports, Nossem had been traveling westbound on Hoagland Boulevard when Nossem allegedly ran through the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Hoagland and struck guide wires. The vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage and was towed from the scene.

No injuries were reported.

46 Employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections from 18 separate correctional facilities are suing the state over Covid-19 testing and vaccination mandates.

A lawsuit filed in Christian County Circuit Court requests a temporary restraining order. Attorney Thomas DeVore contends in the filing that under Illinois law, “an individual may refuse to receive vaccines, medications or other treatments.” It also says that the individuals named in the lawsuit that employees must receive due process from their local health departments to be mandated to test or receive the vaccine as a public health risk.

The Center Square reports that the Department of Corrections was one of the last holdouts of state employees’ requirements to be vaccinated as a condition of employment last Fall. Governor J.B. Pritzker and unions negotiated through interest arbitration and in December agreed IDOC employees should be mandated to get the vaccine.

The lawsuit contends that the employees represent in the suit were not a part of those negotiations. Jacksonville Correctional Center and Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling are among the 18 facilities that have employees represented in the suit.

Fourth District Appellate Court Justice Peter Cavanaugh may have already dealt the suit a crucial blow of any type of success yesterday ruling that employers whether public or private can mandate testing and vaccination to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Cavanaugh cited in his opinion the recently-passed General Assembly amendment that it was not a violation of the Right of Conscience Act for any employer to take measures calculated to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The opinion was in regard to three other separate cases similar to the Christian County case.

A hearing is set today.

Prairieland United Way got together last night to celebrate the wrap up of the 2021-2022 annual campaign last night. The goal for the campaign was just a bit over $460,000. This year’s campaign surpassed that raising $462,000.

Executive Director Karen Walker says the campaign really came together in some tough moments down the stretch. She says she was really proud of the way members of the United Way, past and present, came together

Prairieland United Way Board President Lisa Stambaugh says the board was worried that they were going to have to make cuts to allocations this year. Stambaugh says thanks to the radio-thon and late donation push by several long-time supporters of Prairieland United Way, they were able to meet and surpass this year’s goal. Stambaugh says that they will have to take this year’s circumstances into account when they begin planning for this coming year’s campaign in the next few months.

During the celebration last night, Prairieland United Way also recognized the Helen Baldwin Award winner, which goes to a long-time Jacksonville community supporter and public servant. Andy & Lori Smith of Bound-To-Stay-Bound Books were chosen as this year’s winner.

Jacksonville Memorial Hospital was recognized for its contribution as the business the contributed the most money to the campaign this year.

Prairieland United Way also announced this coming year’s campaign co-chairs. The 2022-2023 co-chairs will be Stephen & Cammie Symons.

Allocations from this year’s campaign will go out later this Spring