A Pike County volunteer fire department has received a one-time grant from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall.

The Hull-Kinderhook Fire Department received $7,600 as one of 35 other recipients of the one-time COVID-19 Relief Grant.

A total of $316,000 worth of awards were announced yesterday. Under this one-time grant opportunity, eligible Illinois fire departments could receive up to $15,000 in order to make up for lost donation revenues stemming from their inability to host local fundraising events during the periods of quarantines last year.

The fundraising efforts are often used to pay for fuel for fire trucks, utilities, and insurance among other miscellaneous costs.

The OSFM collaborated with the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) who helped assemble a special committee to review the grant applications utilizing a blind review needs-based analysis.

The grants were financed through the Illinois Fire Prevention Fund, a non-general revenue fund that is supported primarily by a 1% assessment of the gross fire risk premium receipts of all insurance companies operating in the state.

A Jacksonville family is awaiting a trial to move forward in the State of Indiana.

19 year old Justin M. Blake and 25 year old Britney D. Overton of Indianapolis were arrested in October of last year, 13 months after the body of Alexander D. Jackson, a former resident of Jacksonville and 2014 graduate of JHS, was found dead near a roadway near the Indianapolis suburb of Mooresville on September 13, 2019. A rental car Jackson had been driving was discovered wrecked in Indianapolis a day before his body was found. Authorities believe that Jackson had been shot in the head four days prior to his body being found.

Blake is charged with two counts of murder and one count of robbery. Overton is charged with one count each of murder and robbery in connection to Jackson’s death. Both are scheduled to at least see trial by December. Blake is next due in court for a pre-trial hearing on November 22nd.

Morgan County, Indiana State’s Attorney Steve Sonnega told WLDS News via email that the trials were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and a number of pre-trial motions, but are now ready to move forward.

Jackson was living and working near Indianapolis while studying environmental science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis prior to his death.

WTHR in Indianapolis reports that court documents indicate the homicide might have stemmed from a dispute over money Jackson was accused of taking from Overton’s sister. According to charging documents, Overton reportedly tried to get a gun a few days before Jackson’s death, and she removed him as a friend on Facebook minutes after police believe he was killed.

Blake and Overton remain in the Morgan County, Indiana jail pending trial.

Greene County residents no longer have a chance to order groceries from County Market. The Greene Prairie Press reports that County Market has pulled their mobile trailer out of Carrollton this week.

Carrollton Mayor Mike Snyder announced Monday that County Market had pulled the trailer because orders had diminished and it was no longer profitable for the company to ship over orders from their store in Girard.

County Market approached Carrollton city officials back in May after the Kroger stores in Carrollton and White Hall closed about bringing the trailer in for a trial of the service. The service allowed customers to order their groceries from a mobile app that would then be delivered from Girard twice a week to the trailer in Carrollton.

According to the Greene Prairie Press, the trailer was actually a market study for Niemann Foods, the company that owns County Market, to see if building and operating a store in the city would be economically viable.

Boyd Hospital had given the trailer a three month lease at the former IGA location south of the square; and according to the Greene Prairie Press, local businesses and a number of individuals were paying electricity costs for the trailer to remain in operation.

Snyder says the fact that people had to order online, couldn’t pick out certain items on their own, and that people had to meet a $30 minimum order was likely the reason things failed. Snyder says he believes many in Greene County have adapted and found new ways to buy groceries either by using the options available or by going out of town.

The Morgan County Health Department has reported the 119^th COVID-related death today.

The Health Department received confirmation of the death of a woman in her 60s at a hospital from COVID-19 on August 31^st.

The Health Department is also now listing DD Homes in outbreak status with 2 confirmed positive cases.

Overall, the Health Department reported 12 new positive cases of the virus today. Morgan County currently has 70 active cases with 5 of those currently hospitalized.

The Cass County Health Department also reported their 40^th death in that county due to COVID-19 yesterday. Cass County also reported 11 new positive cases of the virus yesterday, with 73 cases currently active overall. There are currently 5 individuals from Cass County currently hospitalized.

The Greene County Health Department reported 7 new positive cases today, bringing their active case count to 12 overall.

The Pike County Sheriff’s Office has announced that 3 individuals were arrested on Monday in Pleasant Hill after traffic stops.

Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood says the first traffic stop was conducted by deputies at 7:28PM Monday on a 1998 Mazda on South Main Street in Pleasant Hill. Subsequent to an investigation, deputies arrested the driver, 50 year old Lisa M. Dempsey of Louisiana, Missouri on the following charges: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Hypodermic Syringes, Unlawful Possession of Adult-Use Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle, Illegal Transportation of Alcohol by a driver, and loud exhaust. Deputies also arrested a passenger in the vehicle, 36 year old Jarred M. Ingram of Louisiana, Missouri on the following charges: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Hypodermic Syringes, Unlawful Possession of Adult-Use Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle, and a Pike County, Illinois failure to appear in court warrant. Both are lodged at the Pike County Jail.

Later on Monday, at 10:15PM the Pleasant Hill Police Department with the assistance of the Pike County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop in the 800 block of West Quincy Street in Pleasant Hill on a 2014 Chevrolet truck. Subsequent to an investigation, police arrested the driver, 36 year old Desirae A. Howland of Pittsfield on an outstanding Pike County, Missouri warrant. According to Greenwood, Howland was transported to the Pike County Jail where she was later found to be in possession of methamphetamine. She has since been charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Bringing Contraband into a Penal Institution. She also remains lodged at the Pike County Jail.

The Old State Capitol in Springfield reopens to the public today.

The building has been closed to visitors since last spring to facilitate work on a repair and restoration project. The project, managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board, included installation of a new roof on the drum that supports the Old Capitol dome, along with restoration work on the drum columns and drum windows.

While work on the exterior of the building continues, painting of the interior of the drum, plaster repair and painting of interior ceilings and walls has been completed. While the Old State Capitol was closed to visitors, IDNR State Historic Sites staff installed a new education gallery and video room that will expand visitor experiences. A new 11-minute video highlights the historical significance of the Old Capitol, as well as the building’s relevance today. The video is also available on the Old State Capitol webpage.

The Old State Capitol will be open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. All visitors will be required to observe current guidance from the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health regarding face coverings and social distancing.

The Village of South Jacksonville is feeling the woes of the U.S. Postal Service slow down.

The Village announced on their website today that bills for water & sewer customers may arrive later than normal due to delays with the U.S. Postal Service.

Village Works Superintendent John Green says that the bills did go out on the first of the month, as mandated by village ordinance, but the USPS has not delivered them yet; and they currently cannot locate where they are after going through their sorting facility in Springfield.

Village residents are urged to call Village Hall at 217-245-4803 if they want to know their bill total or have any questions.

The Jacksonville Parks & Lakes Department has announced that Jacksonville Lake will close next week for the season.

The final day of camping and fishing at Lake Jacksonville will be Wednesday October 13^th. All gates and points will be locked by 8:00 a.m. Thursday October 14^th.

Lake Jacksonville will open to fishing March 1, 2022 as long as the lake is free of ice. The 2022 camping season will begin April 1, 2022 and run until October 19, 2022. The late winter campsite check will be announced at a later date.

Any questions or concerns can be made to Jacksonville Lakes Superintendent Brett Gilbreth at 217-479-4644.

The Jacksonville Lakes Staff would like to thank all of their customers for making 2021 an enjoyable season and extend best wishes for the holidays.

A member of the Jacksonville Marching Band may be on your TV this Thanksgiving.

JHS Senior Drum Major Lorissa Gertz has been selected to appear in Macy’s Great American Marching Band for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 25th.

Gertz says she was encouraged to audition after attending the Smith Walbridge Drum Major Camp this summer. Auditions were handled through an online application, plus a 3-to-6-minute-long YouTube video audition.

Gertz says she’s been practicing to be ready to go next month: “I have to get my music first. They have yet to send me my music, but I have been practicing on that. We are going to do a lot of marching in the parade. I think 3 miles is the whole length of the parade, so I’ve just been working on my technique right now.”

Gertz says that getting accepted was a surprise for her and her family: “It was a really big honor just to be able to audition. It was kind of a joke in my family, ‘So if you make it, we all get a vacation to New York City.’ Well, I made it so we are all going to go to New York City, which is exciting. Actually, there is training before the parade, so we are going to fly out on [November] 20th.”

Gertz says she will be custom fit for the GAMB uniform to march in the parade. She says that Macy’s will also give members of the group a tour of New York City to see a couple of Broadway shows and eat at a couple of well-known restaurants as a part of being selected. Gertz says she’s extremely excited to be a part of the Great American Marching Band and is proud to represent Jacksonville.

Gertz is the daughter of Monica and Casey Hummer of Jacksonville. In addition to marching band, she’s also involved with orchestra and theater, and is a member of the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society at JHS, according to The Source. In the community, she’s involved with a Jacksonville youth committee and her church. After graduating, she plans on attending Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in anesthesiology.

Gertz is attempting to raise $5,000 ahead of her trip to help fund housing, uniforms, food, and other travel expenses. You can visit this link on GoFundMe to contribute She is currently up to $840. Gertz says any extra funds to help her to appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 25^th would be greatly appreciated.