Springfield Police are on the scene investigating a suspicious death in the 3400 block of Freedom Drive in Springfield’s west end.

According to an Illinois State Police District 18 bulletin at 12:12PM, authorities are looking for 33 year old Lamar M. Beck of Springfield as a potential homicide suspect. Beck is described as a black male, 5’11”, 232 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. Beck is believed to be driving an allegedly stolen Red 2013 Hyundai Sonata with the license plate DD68524.

According to the State Police bulletin, the alleged homicide occurred at The Sleep Inn located at 3407 Freedom Drive in Springfield’s west edge.

From Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon’s Office:
A 47 year old female was found deceased in a hotel in the 3400 block of Freedom Drive in Springfield. The death is considered suspicious in nature. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow. The death is being investigated by the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office and the Springfield Police Department.

This is a developing story.

One person was injured when a car crashed on Interstate 72.

The crash occurred in the eastbound lanes around 2PM near the Jacksonville Prison exit.

Initial reports to West Central Illinois Joint Dispatch reported a silver passenger car versus a semi tractor trailer.

This is a developing story. We will provide more information once it becomes available.

The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois is seeking a grant to attract more visitors to Historic Route 66 and revitalize and create landmarks along the legendary highway.

Riverbender reports that the tourism bureau has applied for a grant under the Route 66 Grant Program administered by DCEO and the Illinois Office of Tourism. If approved, the grant would fund the projects throughout communities along the Last 100 Miles of the historic highway in Illinois.

The grant funds are available to certified Destination Marketing Organizations in Illinois who represent and promote the Mother Road.

The projects include development of a mural trail that would have stops in Virden and Girard. The postcard-style, matching murals in 11 locations would highlight Route 66 facts.

Another project would be revitalization of the historic Macoupin County “Cannonball Jail”. Grant funds would be used to complete structural updates and parking lot repairs needed to reopen the historic jail to Route 66 visitors. The jail, located across from the famed “Million Dollar Courthouse”, was constructed after the American Civil War with surplus cannonballs placed between stones to make prisoner escape impossible.

The proposed projects are receiving support from local governments to state lawmakers all along the historic highway.

he Lake Jacksonville fishing season opens tomorrow.

The official open to camping season at the lake is April 1^st at 8AM and will close on October 19^th.

Boat stickers will be available for purchase exclusively at the concession building at Lake Jacksonville starting on April 1^st.

Lakes Superintendent Brett Gilbreth says this year is a return to normal at the lake: “Daily passes will be available on the west side of the concession building. 2021 season permits will be valid until we start selling the new ones on April 1st when we open up the concession building and the camping season. I don’t think there is anything really different. To be quite honest, I think we are kind of going back to where it was before Covid hit. I don’t believe we’re going to go through any restrictions that we have had in the last two years. Everything else is pretty well the same.”

The seasonal camping lease payment deadline is April 30th and a $50 late fee will be applied until May 5th. Lease payments won’t be accepted after May 5th. Lots at the lake that are not paid for by May 5th will be entered into the 2022 permanent camper lottery which will be held on May 14th at 10AM at the concession building.

Hours of the concession stand and shower house at Lake Jacksonville are Monday through Thursday 8-6. Fridays and Saturdays 8-8, and Sundays 8-4. The concession building will be closed April 17th for the Easter holiday.

For more information or questions, contact Gilbreth at 217-408-8771 or via email at bgilbreth@jacksonvilleil.gov.

Jacksonville’s gas prices are feeling the crunch from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The average cost for a gallon of gas in Jacksonville is $4.43 a gallon, the highest its been since at least 2008. It’s a penny higher than the state average of $4.42 a gallon, and 26 cents higher than the national average of $4.17. Eight of the 14 reporting stations have $4.59 a gallon listed as their price today. The lowest listed Jacksonville price is $4.19 a gallon.

Only one county in the region is reporting gas prices under $4 a gallon. Scott County is coming in at $3.93 on average today, according to AAA.

Last week, the International Energy Agency announced a coordinated release of 62 million barrels of crude oil from its 31 member countries’ strategic reserves, including the U.S., Germany, Canada, South Korea, and Mexico, to help counter the impact of rising crude prices. This amount—half of which is expected to come from the U.S.—is the largest coordinated release since IEA was founded in 1974. Despite this announcement, the impact on pricing has been limited given that the amount of oil planned for release is small in comparison to the amount that flows daily from Russia to other countries around the globe.

Barrels of crude oil were trading at just under $100 a barrel today during the opening of the stock market.

The market is going to be roiled further after President Joe Biden announced this afternoon a ban on the import of Russian energy products.

The instability of the market coupled with domestic oil production’s ramp up to meet demand will likely see the current trend at the pump to continue long as crude oil prices climb and the war in Ukraine continues.

A Jacksonville woman is headed to prison after pleading guilty to aggravated driving under the influence.

41 year old Beth E. Atkins pled guilty to the charge in Morgan County Court yesterday. The charge stems from a December 29^th, 2020 car crash in which Atkins hit a parked car and a house in the 600 block of South Diamond Street.

According to police reports, several 9-1-1 calls were placed around 9PM on December 29, 2020 after witnesses reported a black Chevy Cruise driving recklessly at the intersection of South Diamond and Anna Street. Atkins’ vehicle sideswiped an unoccupied park car, then continued north on South Diamond, exiting the roadway to the right striking a street sign. Atkins then made an improper right turn onto Anna Street from South Diamond and struck a house located at 542 South Diamond. Atkins then backed into a Jacksonville Police squad car with its lights activated, causing her vehicle to become inoperable.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Atkins was sentenced to one year in the Illinois Department of Corrections, up to 1 year of Mandatory Supervised Release, a $500 fine, plus fees and court costs. Atkins was credited for 20 days served in the Morgan County Jail. All other traffic citations were dropped per the plea.

A Virginia, Illinois man arrested by Illinois State Police in June for multiple charges of child pornography and sexual abuse is heading to prison.

20 year old Devan J. Rice pled guilty to one count of child pornography in December. In March of last year, ISP Division of Criminal Investigations Zone 4 launched an investigation into Rice after a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old told police in separate interviews that they had been in a sexual relationship with Rice. During the investigation, police reportedly learned that Rice had been in contact with several other juvenile girls through social media. According to ISP, Rice requested nude photos from several juvenile victims through social media messages.

Rice was also linked to the messages allegedly sent by former Virginia Police Chief Bryce Kennedy. Kennedy eventually resigned from the position after social media messages were made public. Rice’s involvement in Kennedy’s case were made public in January when Kennedy received employment with the Grandview Police Department near Springfield. According to reports, Rice disseminated the messages in an effort to get back at Kennedy for writing him a cannabis possession ticket.

The investigation into Rice involved Jacksonville Police, Beardstown Police, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Advocacy Network for Children, DCFS, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.

Rice heard victim impact statements from both of the victims’ mothers and also presented two character witnesses prior to today’s sentencing by Cass County Judge Timothy J. Wessel.

Rice was sentenced to 7 ½ years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 4 years of Mandatory Supervised Release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 county fine plus court costs. Rice will also have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

A local man has won a national award for saving a family from a burning vehicle.

Gerald “Andy” Wright accepted the 37^th Goodyear Highway Hero Award during a news conference Sunday at the 2022 Technology & Maintenance Council in Orlando, Florida.

While driving on Illinois Route 3 in the Metro East, Wright encountered a vehicle that was on fire following an accident. Equipped with nothing more than a fire extinguisher and load bar, Wright sprung to action and quickly suppressed the fire as best he could until the extinguisher ran out. Wright then proceeded to break the vehicle’s sunroof and helped pull the trapped occupants out of the vehicle to safety. By the time all riders had been removed, the car was fully engulfed in fire.

Wright received a significant monetary reward and other custom prizes from Goodyear. The program has been in existence since 1983. It celebrates professional truck drivers who act selflessly for the good of others on the highways across North America.

Wright currently serves as the Fire Chief of the Alexander Fire Protection District.