A proposed project aimed at bringing supportive housing to Jacksonville took another step forward this morning.

The Morgan County Commissioners approved an ordinance providing for $100,000 in ARPA funding for the Tendick Street apartment project. The vote was 2-0 with Commissioner Mike Wankel abstaining from the vote.

Springfield area developer and Jacksonville native Mike Niehaus has proposed building a 22-unit permanent supportive housing complex on the site of the former Hillcrest Mobile Home Court in the 1100 block of Tendick Street.

According to Niehaus, the $6.2 million project could have 90% of the cost funded by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, but he has to secure funding for a 10% match in order to apply.

Commissioner Ginny Fanning says, the $100,000 in funding did not come from the bulk ARPA funding the county received early on, and instead comes from additional funds earmarked for this kind of project.

“This was another opportunity that was given to the county to apply for, and we did. So we had one hundred thousand that was set aside through the ARPA funds that were meant for homeless or people who need housing, and that’s one of the ways that this money could be used.

Obviously, there are other funds for other uses, but this was set aside for housing and we felt this was a wonderful opportunity to put that one hundred thousand toward this project.”

According to the IHDA guidelines, the project would provide housing for the homeless, low-income persons with disabilities, as well as other special needs populations including people with criminal records and military veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The City of Jacksonville approved $200,000 in funding for the project earlier this month. Niehaus says the municipal commitments mean they are a little over 50% of the way toward the goal of a 10% match.

“This is another great step in the right direction in bringing some solution to the problem of homelessness in Jacksonville, and I think it’s a strong show of support from the county and the city both, that we do need to do something to solve this problem.

We’re just over halfway. We’ve got a few places to keep digging for the rest of the funding. But we are hoping to hear from Blue Cross Blue Shield to finish that, and hopefully, we will hear from them this week.”

Niehaus has previously designed and helped build Prairie Estates, Gilmore Estates, and the Downtown Commons in the Jacksonville area. He has also overseen new housing developments built in Roodhouse and Greenfield within the last 5 years, as well as a project similar to this one that opened in Springfield earlier this year.

The application is due into the IDHA by January 16^th, with approval or denial being issued on April 19^th. Nehaus says if all is a go, the plan is to start construction next fall.

The Jacksonville Community Development Office has announced a portion of Westbound Morton Avenue will be closed to traffic next week.

The north lane located at 1110 West Morton Avenue will be closed for the construction of new approaches for the new Starbucks that is currently under construction at the site of the former Walker Lincoln Mercury dealership.

The north lane, going west, will be closed from 6:30 am Tuesday, January 2nd to Friday, January 5th, or until the approaches are completed.

Motorists are asked to please use caution when approaching Morton and Lincoln while using the westbound lanes.

Jacksonville Police are investigating a recent vehicle break-in.

According to a police report, officers were called to the 200 block of South Prairie Street at approximately 10:30 Friday night after a resident reported her vehicle had been broken into and multiple items were removed.

The incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department at 217-479-4630 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott, and Cass Counties by calling 217-243-7300.

More information has become available on a recent burglary of a Jacksonville ambulance.

Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott, and Cass Counties are requesting information to assist the Jacksonville Police Department in their investigation of the recent incident.

Sometime between Saturday, December 2^nd, and Monday, December 11^th, unknown person(s) entered a parked ambulance in the 500 block of South Main Street in Jacksonville. According to police reports, several drugs were then removed and the interior was damaged.

The police are asking that anyone who has information concerning this incident or any other crimes within the three-county area submit an anonymous tip online by going to the Morgan, Scott, Cass Crime Stoppers Facebook page and clicking the Contact Us button, or calling Crime Stoppers at 217-243-7300.

Tips may also be submitted anonymously by texting to the word CRIMES, (274637). The first word of the text tip must be “payout”. Crime Stoppers says if your tip leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward.

Holiday shoppers wanting a break from the hustle and bustle can take a break with a ride around the downtown square this weekend.

Horse-drawn carriage rides are returning to downtown Jacksonville this Thursday through Saturday. The rides are being provided by Scott Robinson of Robinson Farms.

Jacksonville Main Street Executive Director, Judy Tighe says carriage rides were a popular attraction during the Mistletoe Market earlier this month, so they are trying it again as the holiday shopping season is in the final stretch this weekend.

“So come downtown, get some last-minute shopping done, and grab a carriage ride- how romantic is that? Enjoy the lights and the advent calendar at The Farmers State Bank, and all the great stores and use up those coupons from the Santa Hats.

There are still just a few available, so if you need some, get ahold of Lisa [Musch] at the Chamber of Commerce, or myself, or Brittany [Henry] at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, or even at Farmers State Bank. So you can swing in, grab a hat, run around use some coupons and just enjoy the final week leading up to the holiday.”

The weather heading into Christmas looks to be unseasonably warm so Tighe says it’s a great chance to enjoy a ride downtown at a slower pace.

The cost for the horse-drawn carriage rides is $5.00 per person with a $20.00 minimum, cash accepted only. Rides will be running this Thursday and Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and Saturday from 2:00 to 4:30 pm.

Tighe says the rides are just another example of why downtown is a special place to be during the holidays and everyone involved downtown is thankful for the support that has been shown throughout the past year.

“As always, thank you for supporting our small businesses and the impact they make on our community. Have a happy and safe holiday season. Come back downtown for New Year’s Day and enjoy that fun tradition that is unique to Jacksonville. We’ve got a lot of one-of-a-kind things in our downtown. It’s a great place to be during the holidays.”

To find out more information about the horse-drawn carriage rides this weekend, contact Jacksonville Main Street Event Coordinator, Melissa Hebron by text or email at (217)-473-5081 events@jacksonvillemainstreet.com or Scott Robinson at (217)-971-3450.

For more information about all the events happening downtown, go to jacksonvillemainstreet.com or the Jacksonville Main Street Facebook page.

The surviving victim of a pair of shootings in Cass County last week remains hospitalized.

Cass County Sheriff and County Coroner, Devron Ohrn released an update this afternoon on the shootings that left three people dead and one critically injured in Ashland and the Philadelphia township last week.

Officers responded to a home in rural Philadelphia Thursday night for a call of a man who had been shot. Police found the victim, a 20-year-old male resident who was treated at the scene before being transported to an area hospital where he remains in the intensive care unit.

A female victim was found and pronounced deceased in the Philadelphia residence. Information provided by the male victim led police to a residence in Ashland where two more female victims were discovered.

A suspect was identified and he was found deceased inside of his vehicle on North Main Street in Jacksonville of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Autopsies were conducted on the female victims, and according to Sheriff Ohrn today, 19-year-old Autumn Bell of Ashland, who was found in the Philadelphia residence, and her unborn child both died as a result of a gunshot wound.

53-year-old Christina Bell, and 16-year-old Alaria Bell, both of Ashland and found in the Ashland residence both died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to preliminary autopsy results.

Ohrn says in the announcement that it will likely be the last press release on the incidents from his office. He is asking the public to continue to offer prayers and support to the victims as well as their families and friends at this time.

Funeral arrangements have been announced for the victims. A visitation will be held for Christina, Autumn Bell, Alaria Bell, and unborn granddaughter Mariposa Pena, from 9-11 AM this Saturday, at the Virginia United Methodist Church.

A memorial service will be held after the visitation. Following the visitation, a burial will be held for Autumn, Alaria, and Mariposa at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia.

Private graveside services for Christina will be held at a later date at Ashland Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to an education fund that is being set up for Christina’s son Jonathan Bell in care of Havana National Bank. Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Virginia is in charge of arrangements.

More information including the identity of the victim has become available on a fatal pedestrian versus vehicle crash from last night.

According to an update by the Jacksonville Police Department this morning, at approximately 5:30 last night, police and EMS responded to the intersection of Dunlap Court and West College Avenue for a report of a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle.

Officers arrived to find a female laying in the roadway, and along with Jacksonville Fire Rescue and LifeStar EMS, rendered aid on scene before she was later transported to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital.

According to the update this morning, the preliminary investigation determined that the female victim had been struck by a vehicle and then a second vehicle traveling a short distance behind the first swerved to miss debris from the accident and also struck the victim in the roadway.

According to the report, the driver of the first vehicle briefly left the scene before calling 911, turning around, and returning. The driver of the second vehicle remained at the scene according to the report.

21-year-old Tanner Birch of Jacksonville was charged with failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian at a crosswalk, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

According to an update by Morgan County Coroner, Marcy Patterson this morning, the female victim, 58-year-old Melinda Heaser of Jacksonville was transported to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased.

An autopsy was scheduled for today at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. The incident remains under investigation by the Jacksonville Police Department.

Both the Jacksonville Police Department and Coroner Patterson are extending their sympathies to all affected by this tragedy.

Water rates are going up in Jacksonville, but not by much according to officials.

The Jacksonville City Council approved the 2024 Municipal Utility Department’s 2024 budget along with an increase in the water rates during regular session last week. The increase comes a year after the city approved a hike in the rates last December, but officials say this current increase is less of a burden.

Mayor Andy Ezard says as the city works to improve the water and sewer infrastructure, an adjustment to the rate was inevitable. “We took a big hit probably five or six years ago when we built the new water plant and we let the community know at that time that it was a one-time- really we’re going to have to up em’. Since that’s happened we’ve done an excellent job of trying to remain as minimal as possible with increases.”

Under the new rates, a customer who uses at or below the minimum charge of 2,000 gallons per month will see their rate go from $46.10 to $48.62 per month, an increase of $2.52. Average users in the City of Jacksonville consume approximately 5,000 gallons per month. Those rates currently sit at $82.79 and will go up $5.91 to $88.70 on average.

Ezard says the small bump was needed to help cover all of the improvements the city has made so far and the major projects currently under construction or on the horizon. “We felt with all the infrastructure, the improvements we’re making, the sewer plant upgrades that we are doing in a phased approach, and running the water department the way we want to, that these are appropriate increases. And we hope the community understands because we’ve got great capacity and our water quality is at the top of the list as well.”

In September the city broke ground on a new headworks station at the wastewater treatment plant, the first step in a three-phase, multi-million dollar project to bring the plant up to new federal standards.

Currently, the plant is not able to process the appropriate amount of sludge to meet IEPA standards, and the US EPA has set new phosphorus limits the plant will have to comply with starting in 2025.

Jacksonville’s current wastewater plant was constructed in 1971 with the last major update coming in 1988.

The identity of a Jacksonville woman who was killed in a vehicle versus a pedestrian Monday evening.

According to a press release by Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson this morning, 58-year-old Melinda Heaser of Jacksonville was pronounced deceased at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital last night.

At approximately 5:30 last night, Jacksonville Police, Jacksonville Fire Rescue, and LifeStar EMS responded to a call of a vehicle versus pedestrian crash at the intersection of Dunlap Court and West College Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers found a female unresponsive in the roadway. Aid was rendered at the scene before Heaser was transported to the hospital where Patterson says she succumbed to her injuries.

An autopsy was scheduled for today at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. The incident remains under investigation by the Jacksonville Police Department.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the police department at 217-479-4630 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 217-243-7300.