Jacksonville Memorial Hospital raised the banner yesterday afternoon, in recognition of donor awareness month.

The purple flag was pulled up the pole at the entrance to the hospital.

Sarah Weaver with Gift of Hope says both parties in an organ donor exchange feel proud once a connection is made

She has heard from families whose loved ones have made the donations, and Weaver says they feel a little bit better about the closure of their lives.

Courtney Welch with Saving Sights says the gift of eyes can help so many people.

She says one cornea have help two people.

She says the donor’s families see it not just as an end of one life, but a new beginning for someone else.

May is organ donor month. Morgan County coroner Marcy Patterson works closely with both groups, and is a supporter.

Both groups say nearly 5-thousand Illinoisans in Illinois and Northwest Indiana are waiting for an organ transplant.

Jacksonville Main Street has declared the unofficial start of summer tomorrow with Blues and Brews downtown.

The festival will run from noon to 4. Jacksonville Main Street’s Judy Tighe says the event is free, and a good opportunity for sit and relax.

Tighe says the musical lineup is good.

John Drake performs at 12 noon, followed by David Berchtold, Robert Sampson, and Devin Williams.

Tighe says the festivities include Beer Pong.

Tighe says this will not be your normal beer pong game. This will be a giant beer pong game.

The event is free, and food and beverages will be sold.

Tighe says the summer concert series will open the final Friday in May..on the 29^th. And, she says all concerts will be three hours long.

What appears to be an attempted break in is the crime of the week from the Morgan-Cass-Scott Crimestoppers.

Jacksonville police are investigating a criminal damage to property complaint on East Oak.

Police says the incident happened in the 100 block of East Oak sometime between 7 PM April 20^th, and 7:45 AM April 21^st.

Police say someone damaged a lock and entry door at an exterior shed at the residence. Officers are unsure if anything was taken.

Police ask that anyone who might have knowledge of this incident is urged to contact Crimestoppers at 243-7300, go the website, or Facebook page.

All tips are anonymous, and cash rewards are given in instances where arrests are made.

A North Greene school bus crash north of Carrollton yesterday afternoon left students and a staff member injured.

State police say 11 students and one staff member were taken to a hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries.

Police say the bus was northbound on 67 when a southbound vehicle crossed the center line on a curve.

Troopers say the bus driver took evasive action, leaving the right side of the roadway and hitting a ditch embankment. The bus ended up rolling onto its side.

All lanes of 67 was shut down after the crash, and reopened about 8 last night.

As a result, a mock DUI traffic crash re-enactment for the students at the Greene County fairgrounds was cancelled.

North Greene superintendent Jackie Kuchy says counselors will be available for staff and students if needed today.

A Sangamon County man has been sentenced to prison in Morgan County court for stealing from a construction site in Waverly.

The sentence against 42-year-old David Bennett of Springfield was handed down yesterday in court.

Bennett was sentenced to 5 years in the department of corrections.

He was arrested in connection with the theft of equipment from T and T Construction from a site on Elm in Waverly in October of 2024.

Bennett had failed to appear in court until earlier this year.

Bennett will serve this sentence at the same time of a similar sentence in Tazewell County.

The threat of flooding is becoming a little more serious along the Illinois River.

A flood warning goes into effect tonight, and will continue through Wednesday of next week. That was issued today by the National Weather Service out of St Louis.

The threat from the Illinois River at Meredosia is to the Meredosia boat dock when the river level hits 17-point-4 feet. Flood Stage is 17 feet. The river is expected to crest at Meredosia Friday morning at 17-point-8 feet.

At Beardstown, seepage problems begin at the Lost Creek Drainage and Levee District when the river hits 18 feet. A crest of 18-point-2 feet is expected there early Friday afternoon.

The Beardstown location had a river stage of 17-point-4 this morning. Meredosia was at 16-point-2 feet last night.

A 24 hour flash sale is planned for the Illinois State Fair one week from today.

The flash sale will run from 12 midnight on May 5^th to 11:59 that night.

Fairgoers can purchase adult admission books for $30, a $15 savings off the regular price.

The flash sale is part of the fair’s 100 days out celebration.

Admission books can be bought online at StateFair.Illinois.gov and there is a limit of 10 per transaction.

People can also buy the books in person at the Emmerson Building from 8 to 4 next Tuesday.