A Virginia, Illinois man arrested for dissemination and possession of child pornography last month by State Police investigators will now be evaluated for mental fitness.

40 year old Jared A. Logsdon appeared in Cass County Court on Monday on a nine count information filed by the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office on January 18^th. The information accuses Logsdon of trading child sexual abuse images through a social media app. ISP Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 4 investigators began their investigation into Logsdon in April 2020.

Cass County State’s Attorney Craig Miller says that Logsdon’s counsel, Cass County Public Defender Denise Barr, believes that Logsdon may not be fit to stand trial: “The preliminary hearing was continued generally because of his counsel, who is the public defender here in Cass County. In talking with family, or individuals that know him, and the defendant himself, she has sort of bonafide doubt as to his fitness to stand trial, whether it be for mental health reasons or cognitive functioning. Because she believes there is a bonafide doubt, she is the one who raised that motion with the court and the court agreed and ordered Dr. Terry Killian to do some sort of psychological evaluation for fitness.”

Logsdon is next due in court on the defense counsel’s motion pertaining to fitness and general status on February 28^th.

The Prairieland United Way’s annual fundraising campaign is short of its goal by a significant amount.

Executive Director Karen Walker says the campaign is at 82% of its $460,000 goal. Walker says that Prairieland United Way will be partnering with WLDS/WEAI and County Market in hopes of filling the gap: “We are going to put together a weekend, last minute push to reach the goal. We will be out at County Market on Thursday, February 24th and then again on Friday and Saturday. We are fortunate that we are going to have a live remote out there with WLDS/WEAI to help us promote it and help us talk about why and what the need is. We are going to be joined by some of our past campaign chairs who are going to share some insight and share from their thoughts on how important it is to support the community.”

Walker is hopeful that small donations coupled with people who have not donated this year to the annual campaign will come out to the event. She stresses that all the money remains in the local area going to social service agencies and non-profit organizations who perform vital community services for the poor, elderly, and simply for those who need them. Walker says that Covid has once again hampered Prairieland’s ability to reach out to people this year: “I hope this will give us a chance to reach out and make sure everyone knows what we have going on and how important it is, and what is at stake if we don’t this goal…how many social services will be not funded and possible programs not being able to be offered to the community. It really is a big deal and something that we want to work hard to reach toward as much as we can to that goal.”

The live remote broadcast will be at County Market on Thursday, Feb. 24^th from 1-4PM, with Prairieland United Way staying through Friday and Saturday in hopes of reaching this year’s goal.

The Pittsfield Police Department have made 10 major drug arrests dating back to the middle of December.

Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Starman released details of the arrests yesterday in a press release. All of the arrests resulted in citations for possession of methamphetamine.

35 year old Jacob Frasier was arrested on December 18^th as a result of a traffic stop based upon an outstanding warrant for other charges. Officers found methamphetamine on his person during the stop. Frasier was re-arrested last Wednesday after Pittsfield Police were dispatched to a report of a dispute in the 900 block of West Adams Street in Pittsfield. During the investigation, it was learned that someone had fired at least two gunshots during or after the dispute. Frasier was later cited for one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and one count of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm. There were no injuries during this incident. The weapon was recovered and seized. Frasier remains lodged at the Pike County Jail.

43 year old Lisa Guthrie, 29 year old Sam Wells, 28 year old Zachary Banfield, and 26 year old Autumn Lenz were all arrested in the overnight hours of January 6^th and 7^th after the execution of a search warrant at a residence in the 600 block of North Dutton Street in Pittsfield. Officers located and seized methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia during the arrests. Wells ran from officers on foot and was apprehended after a short chase. All four later posted bond and were released. Lenz currently has an active warrant for Violation of a Court Order.

29 year old Devon T. Johnson was arrested on January 9^th as a result of a search warrant that was executed at his residence in the 600 block of Kandy Street in Pittsfield. Officers located and seized methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia. Johnson’s bond was set at $12,000. He is currently lodged at the Pike County Jail.

26 year old Jacob Holtz and 27 year old Sierra Sydney were arrested on January 26^th as a result of a search warrant that was executed at Hotlz’s residence in the 500 block of Kespohl Street in Pittsfield. Officers located and seized over 150 grams of methamphetamine liquid, methamphetamine product, and methamphetamine paraphernalia. Holtz’s bond was set at $100,000. He is currently lodged at the Pike County Jail. Sydney’s bond was set at $70,000. She is currently lodged at the Pike County Jail.

36 year old April Carnes and 40 year old Maegan Young were arrested on February 2^nd as a result of a retail theft investigation. At the time of the arrest for retail theft, officers located and seized methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia on both women. Young was also cited for Possession of Hydrocodone, Obstructing Justice, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Carnes and Young have since posted bond.

Chief Starman says that his department is continually seeking out those who are using and selling methamphetamine in Pittsfield. He urges anyone who is struggling with addiction to seek treatment and help.

A missing 14-year-old girl from Nauvoo who last seen about two months ago has been found.

According to the FBI, on December 13th, 14 year old Addison Windbigler traveled to Keokuk and was last spotted in that city on December 14th.

On Monday, the FBI Omaha-Quad Cities office joined other law enforcement agencies in Illinois and Iowa in the investigation and asked for the public’s help in finding Windbigler.

Today, the FBI reports that Windbigler was found uninjured in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI is not releasing any further information at this time due to an ongoing investigation.

The IHSA and Donate Life Illinois have teamed up to encourage high school athletes and their family members to sign up to be organ and tissue donors.

The “Say Yes” campaign launched on Monday to raise awareness, encourage donor registration, and celebrate Illinois student-athletes, their families and communities for saying “yes” to organ, tissue, and eye donation. Programs at all 44 IHSA finals events this year will promote “Say Yes” with information on how to register as an organ, tissue, and eye donor. Illinois donation officials, donor families and transplant recipients are taking part in a month long media blitz.

On-site donor education staff attended Competitive Cheer finals in Bloomington this month, and will be on-site to help fans register as donors at more IHSA finals events during the year.

New Berlin High School cheerleader Maddie Finch and Morton wrestler Cord Pearce are featured in programs at IHSA Competitive Cheer and Boys Individual Wrestling finals this month.

More student-athletes, coaches and IHSA staff throughout Illinois who became life-giving donors will be recognized at finals events and on social media throughout the year.

To learn more and register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, visit donatelifeofillinois.org.

A Northern Macoupin County store is awaiting a lucky resident to come forward and claim a major prize.

The Illinois Lottery announced today that a $2 million winning Powerball ticket was sold at County Market in Girard. The ticket matched all five numbers on the Saturday, February 12^th drawing, 8-10-21-41-62, to win the prize.

Girard County Market Store Director Jason James told Illinois Lotto that they are awaiting to see who out of the town’s some 2,500 people will come forward to claim the prize.

Retailers who sell winning tickets also have good reasons to celebrate as these wins bring their business a cash selling bonus of one percent of the prize amount. For County Market, that means a bonus of $20,000 for selling the winning ticket.

Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize.

The Illinois Lottery encourages all lucky winners to write their name on the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they’re ready to claim their prize.

Winners should visit IllinoisLottery.com/winning to learn how to claim their prize. Powerball is played every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday with the next prize draw taking place tonight at 9:59PM.

The Village of South Jacksonville has canceled the Board of Trustee’s scheduled committee of the whole for tomorrow.

According to communication, Village President Dick Samples has canceled the meeting out of an abundance of caution due to incoming inclement weather.

A tentative make up date will be announced at a later date.

Two Illinois Congressmen are asking President Joe Biden to end the federal public health emergency declaration. 13^th District Congressman Rodney Davis and 18^th District Congressman Darin LaHood signed on to a letter on Thursday to President Biden and and the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra immediately begin the process to unwind the Public Health Emergency in the country.

The letter calls COVID-19 “endemic” and that current government interventions surrounding the virus are “heavy-handed” and “are doing more harm than good.”

The letter recognizes that the public health emergency will need time to wind down and asks for President Biden to let Congress intervene to make certain policies like maintaining access to telehealth services get extended, especially for seniors and those with underlying health conditions.

The letter also says that pro-lockdown policies have been harmful, have proven to be a failure, and has caused mental and in some cases, physical harm to children.

Democrats in Washington D.C. Are also calling for the president to begin to chart a course in the next stage of battling the virus. Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations nationwide have begun to plummet in recent weeks.

House GOP members asked that Biden submit a plan to Congress by no later than March 15^th. Secretary Becerra last renewed the public health emergency designation a month ago. The GOP letter notes that the designation is set to expire on April 15^th.

Low-to-moderate income families and senior citizens needing assistance filing their 2021 income taxes can receive free help through several trusted programs across the State of Illinois. The Internal Revenue Service, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program, and Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program are providing free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in select locations statewide.

How taxpayer assistance is provided and when services are available varies by region, based upon several variables including COVID-19 conditions and volunteer capacity.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs offer free tax help for individuals making $58,000 a year or less, people 60 years of age or older, individuals with disabilities, and taxpayers with limited English-speaking skills.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program provides free tax assistance, with a special focus on taxpayers over the age of 50 or who have low-to-moderate income.

Availability is determined at the local or community level. AARP membership is not required to receive assistance.

Taxpayers can search for a free tax assistance provider closest to them by visiting IDOR’s website tax.illinois.gov. Individuals with questions should contact IDOR’s Taxpayer Assistance Division at 800-732-8866.

Taxpayers may also visit IDOR’s office in Springfield to receive assistance. Staff can help with any Illinois state income tax filing inquiries and are available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.