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Main Street Annual Meeting to Celebrate 2023, Kicks Off 2024

Area residents are invited to help celebrate all things downtown in Jacksonville next week.

Jacksonville Main Street will be hosting its annual meeting next Thursday evening at The Plaza downtown. Jacksonville Main Street Director, Judy Tighe says the event gives everyone the chance to celebrate 2023 while getting excited for 2024.

It’s going to be at The Plaza at 6:00 pm and it’s free, so come and get a little taste of Jacksonville. We will have a cash bar there of course and we will have a brief little meeting to elect our new officers and review some 2023 things that we have to do, and then spend the rest of the time socializing and snacking on some good food.”

Tighe says the food offerings this year will be provided by different local restaurants. She says it will be hard to top the success and growth that downtown saw last year, but it is already looking for a good start with events coming up soon.

It was a great year, it really was. People kind of fully woke up out of the pandemic and were ready to get out and were feeling a whole lot better about just everything in general I think, and it really showed.

Businesses did very well and hey there is a lot of stuff going on after February 1st downtown. There’s Gallentine’s, with more than twenty retailers participating in that. And first of all, we have to celebrate the fact that I can say there is more than twenty retailers downtown. Those of us that have been around for a minute know there was a period that it wasn’t that much, so that is a great thing.

Then coming up on the 10th is the Downtown Bar 2 Bar, and that will benefit the Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen this year. So sign up at one of the bars get your team together and have fun while supporting the community at the same time.”

The 2024 Jacksonville Main Street Annual Meeting is next Thursday, February 1st at The Plaza starting a 6:00 pm. The event is free, however, people are encouraged to register ahead of time in order to gauge how much food will be needed. To register, contact Marcy Patterson by calling 217-243-3857, or emailing her at marcy@mlpatteron.com.

Village Considering Measure Holding Bus Companies Liable for Abandoning Migrants

The Village of South Jacksonville is contemplating an ordinance that would hold transportation companies accountable if they drop off migrants without prior notice.

South Jacksonville Chief of Police Eric Hansell spoke with the Village Board of Trustees during their committee of the whole meeting on Thursday about the potential issue.

Hansell says after seeing other communities farther north enacting ordinances after migrants had been abandoned with no warning or plan when they got there, he felt the village needs to be proactive before it happens locally.

What our ordinance would do is hold the transportation responsible for the people that they are dropping off. It doesn’t prohibit it, but what it does do is requires them to fill out an application, about five days prior to arrival, explaining what they are doing and what resources and what location these people are being dropped off at.

So they are not being abandoned at Love’s Truck Stop when it’s negative four degrees out. Again we don’t have a problem with anybody coming here. What we have a problem with is abandoning a human being at a location that they are not familiar with no resources as far as food, shelter or basic sanitary needs.”

Hansell says the main issue is not having enough ready services able to handle the intake of a busload of people at one time who may also have a language barrier that would delay aiding them that much more.

He says the transportation companies should be held accountable for not having a plan in place. “Because where do I go with somebody like that if we got twenty or thirty people who were dropped off from a bus? I don’t have the resources, I don’t have housing, I don’t have food. It just requires [the company], it makes them liable for where they are going to go. Have a plan in place and we are totally okay with it if that is the case.

The motor carrier could be fined up to twenty-five hundred dollars and the bus could be impounded. That’s what we are looking at right now, things like that.”

The draft ordinance is modeled after similar measures being considered or passed in northern Illinois nearer to where thousands of migrants have already been dropped off with no warning by buses in the Chicago area.

The ordinance is currently under review by Village Attorney Rob Cross and could be acted upon at the next regular meeting in February depending on the advice of council.

Hansel says the ordinance is not about keeping people out of town, it’s aimed at trying to keep people safe. “It’s not you can’t come here, we welcome everybody. It is you can’t bring people into town and abandon them and leave them behind with nothing.

That’s what we’re against, it’s not immigration, it’s not people coming into town, it’s the abandoning of people with no resources and leaving them behind, we don’t do that. We have laws that prohibit you from abandoning an animal out in public and why wouldn’t we have something that protects a human being?”

A similar measure proposed in Cass County by the county board was recently tabled after both the Cass County Sheriff and State’s Attorney raised concerns saying that no migrants had been dropped off in Cass County from another state.

Hansell said during Thursday’s meeting that with the village’s close proximity to the interstate, some measure of protection from people being abandoned should be put in place.

Jacksonville African American History Museum Suffers Water Damage After Pipe Bursts

An area museum needs some major help after a pipe burst during the deep freeze last week.

The Jacksonville African American History Museum will remain closed until further notice after a water pipe burst on the second floor of the historic Asa Talcott House which serves as home to the museum.

Art Wilson with the museum says the museum was fine when he checked it on Tuesday, however, when one of the volunteers and a plumber went in to replace a toilet on Thursday, they discovered a large amount of water coming from the upstairs.

Wilson says some pretty extensive damage occurred to the home itself. He says the insurance adjuster has told them that at least two of the floors will need to be completely replaced in the affected area due to the amount of damage done to the wood.

Which is unfortunate because those floors are original to the home. The bathroom is going to have to be totally redone, the ceiling plaster fell out of that. Upstairs, it started in the laundry room so there wasn’t a whole lot of damage besides the floor that flooded.

Luckily it didn’t go into the children’s room or the other room where we had just put new carpet in. Two rooms and three ceilings are probably going to have to be replaced, and the kitchen flooring too. All that is going to have to be replaced because the water got up underneath the tile. So that’s what we are looking at right now.”

Wilson says the most fortunate part was that none of the exhibits suffered any damage due to the flooding. “Just minor things but things that are still important. We had children’s books and a few other things that got damaged but none of the exhibits on the walls.

The giant Harriet Tubman painting that was done by a friend of mine, we took it down and moisture was just starting to come through the brick. So it was a good thing that it didn’t just come watering out of the brick at the fireplace and damaged that painting.”

Wilson says they believe that the museum’s insurance should cover the majority of the costs, but they are still searching for a contractor to assess the extent of the damage before any work can begin.

He says they also need to be mindful of the age of the home and hope to disrupt as little of the original building as possible in the process. The home was built in 1833 with the affected addition having been built in the 1860s.

Wilson says that even though no main exhibits were damaged, and the museum does have insurance coverage, some things need to be replaced that the public could assist with.

Any kind of support that the people want to give would be great. We are still needing some bookshelves. We’re getting some shelves made for the children’s room, but we still need more shelves.

Definitely, if anyone has cultural books that children can read it would be great. The race doesn’t matter in the book, just that it’s cultural so kids can learn about other races and just everybody. Those would be nice because those were what got damaged as far as stuff that we can’t just go out and replace immediately.”

The Jacksonville African American History Museum opened in the summer of 2022 and is a non-profit organization that relies solely on donations from the public to stay in operation.

The museum is located at 859 Grove Street in Jacksonville and is open for tours starting in May each year and by appointment during the winter months.

Anyone who wishes to donate or has books to help resupply the children’s room can contact Wilson by email at jvilleaahm@gmail.com.

Spfld Man Arrested Three Times in Nine-Hour Span by JPD Friday Morning

An employee of Jiffi-Stop in the 800 block of West Morton Avenue called police just after midnight Friday morning advising that a man with a Nike jacket on was inside the store causing a disturbance and refusing to leave.

Upon arrival, officers located and arrested 31-year-old Jalen R. McBride of Springfield for criminal damage to property after police say he damaged a store credit card reader.

McBride was also cited for criminal trespass to vehicles from a previous investigation. McBride was later released with a notice to appear.

Officers were called back to the Jiffi-Stop just before 7:00 am after an employee reported a man described as wearing a white jumpsuit was in the store who was not allowed to be there.

Upon arrival, McBride was found and arrested for criminal trespass to property for being in the store after he had been issued a letter of no trespass. He was again issued a notice to appear in court and was released from the Morgan County Jail.

Approximately two hours later at ten minutes after 9:00 yesterday morning, police responded to the 200 block of West Court Street in the vicinity of the jail for a report of a disturbance.

Upon arrival, McBride was arrested for domestic battery, after according to a police report, he threw a traffic cone at his ex-girlfriend that struck her in the arm. McBride was also arrested for criminal trespass to property for coming to her residence after he had been served a letter of no trespass for the property.

He now remains held at the Morgan County Jail this morning pending an appearance in court.

-Ben Cox contributed to this story

Village Zeroing in on Water Rate Increase, to Stay on City Water Till Further Notice

The picture of what a water rate increase would look like in the Village of South Jacksonville is starting to come into focus.

The Village Board of Trustees continued the discussion of a water rate increase during their committee of the whole meeting last night. Village President Dick Samples told the board last night that the village is still using Jacksonville water because the village’s water treatment plant is still months away from being back online.

The last time water rates were raised in the village was in 2004. Samples says the recent rate increase by the city means the village is now buying water from the city for $10.58 per 1,000 gallons, and only charging village residents $5.10.

Samples suggested raising the rate to $12.00 per 1,000 gallons and adding hook-up and maintenance fees, similar to what the city charges. The increases would have increased the average bill by $35.00.

After a lengthy discussion by the board, a lower rate increase was settled on as several trustees bristled at increasing the rates that much.

Trustee Paula Belobrajdic-Stewart said she understands several past boards have failed to increase the rates to keep up with rising costs, but it was not fair to the residents to put that burden on them all at once.

Samples says now the tentative rate that will be considered by the Trustees during the February meeting will be more palpable for village residents. “It appears that we are going to charge twelve dollars per thousand (gallons) for the first two thousand, and anything over two thousand gallons of consumption will be prorated down to eight dollars per thousand gallons.

It would be an increase of fourteen dollars [per month] for the basic consumption and roughly four to five dollars more for anything over two thousand gallons per thousand-gallon unit.”

Samples says something needed to be done to slow the continued revenue losses the village is seeing in the price difference. He says he believes the rate increase is needed as the village will likely be staying on the city’s water for an indefinite amount of time.

Until we can come up with a product that is as comparable as what Jacksonville is supplying us, then I see no reason to go back to our supply. Which truthfully was to me an inferior product versus what the City of Jacksonville is providing us now.”

Currently, the average water consumer’s bill in the village is $50.36, and under the new rates, the bill would increase by roughly $14.00 as opposed to the $35.00 they would increase if the village matched the rate and fees to account for the cost from the city.

Samples says due to supply chain issues alone, it could be as much as six months before the village’s water treatment plant is back online.

LLCC Jacksonville to Host Open House

Prospective college students can find out more information during an open house event next month in Jacksonville.

The Lincoln Land Community College Outreach Center in downtown Jacksonville will be hosting an open house event on Monday, February 19th.

Anyone interested in starting or going back to school is invited to attend the event. Lincoln Land officials say visitors can speak with faculty and staff, view exhibits, tour select areas of campus, learn about the basics of college and choosing a major, and apply for admission at the event.

LLCC President Charlotte Warren says in the announcement, that whether a student is looking to earn a degree or train for a hands-on career, they are invited to join them at this event to explore majors, and the low-cost and personalized services that help students reach their goals.

The open house in downtown Jacksonville is just one of several that will run the same day at locations in Litchfield, Taylorville, and the main campus in Springfield.

The event runs from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Monday, February 19th. Officials say registration for the event is encouraged and available at llcc.edu/open-house or by calling 217-786-2292.

Waverly Fire Protection District to Appear on March Ballot

Some area residents will have a choice when it comes to fire and EMS during the upcoming election.

The formation of a Waverly Fire Protection District will be on the March Primary Election ballot The Waverly Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad requested for a full fire protection district to be formed in the wake of increasing financial and worker strains.

Waverly Fire Chief Jason Shumaker says the all-volunteer organization is 90 to 95% funded solely by donations. “With the way things are changing like the population and everything, a lot of those that were big contributors to the department have died off or left the area, and therefore a lot of our donations have dried up.

We’ve been fortunate to have some businesses that have been able to donate some money off and on. But still, it takes a lot to keep things going to update equipment and that sort of thing. So unfortunately we’ve had to seek a different route and this is the way we ultimately had to go in trying to get a fire protection district.”

Schumaker says Waverly Fire and EMS now handles more EMS calls than fire calls on average, with an estimated 100 to 120 in 2023, and with the continued shortage of EMTs and Paramedics area and nationwide, that need is expected to continue to grow.

The group has two ambulances as well as a rescue vehicle at their disposal, and Shumaker says the calls for EMS and fire have continued to increase. “There’s times we’ve had to respond to neighboring areas because they are not available.

We’ve been to Murrayville, we’ve been into Sangamon County, and had to go over to Virden once when they had the big accident on the interstate. We were the coverage for that area because everybody was tied up over there so we were mutual aid for that. We’ve been on standby with the fire department to go into Loami for fires. So ambulance-wise we do that. Fire department-wise we go into Sangamon County and Morgan County for mutual aid, anywhere they call us.”

If approved by the voters, just under a 0.4% tax would be added annually to fund the Waverly Fire Protection District with both equipment upgrades and personnel needs, as well as increasing insurance costs.

Schumaker says the funding for a fire protection district would not only help keep the fire department equipped but would also aid in providing as much 24-hour ambulance service as possible.

He says as a resident of the area, he sympathizes with those who do not want to pay yet another tax however, he also wants to make sure that local fire and ambulance service can be provided to his community. “I’m included in that because I live there in town. So I have to look at it on what’s best for me and my family and my neighbors. A little bit of extra once a year to know that we’re going to have that coverage and availability for someone to be here potentially, versus not having the service at all.

I have to look at it in that way and I really hope that the citizens do too. Because our reward is going to be that we have the service there to help us when we need it versus not knowing if it’s going to be someone from there in town coming if we have the funds to continue if we had to go a different route, or if it is a neighboring department coming in and having to wait for them.”

The Waverly Volunteer Fire and EMS is in the process of scheduling some town hall meetings to help answer any questions residents have on the fire protection district and the proposed tax needed to fund it.

Shumaker says an announcement of when and where those will be held will hopefully be made available soon.

Spfld Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Bomb Threat Bank Robbery

A Springfield woman who walked into a Central Illinois bank indicating she had a bomb with her was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday.

Back in October of 2021, 44-year-old Heather Horrighs and 52-year-old Theodis Parnell, both of Springfield, were arrested in connection to a Sherman, Illinois bank robbery that occurred in September of that year.

According to a federal complaint following the arrest, Horrighs entered the Alliance Community Bank carrying a box with a note attached to it. The note claimed the box contained a bomb and demanded money.

Parnell was accused of acting as an accomplice and getaway driver. The pair made off with nearly $13,000 in the robbery.

Horrighs pleaded guilty to bank robbery in January of last year, and on Wednesday of this week was sentenced to serve four and a half years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Parnell has already been sentenced to serve years and three months in federal prison.

Both Horrighs and Parnell faced up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Tools, Jordan Golf Shoes Stolen in Jville Burglary

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

Sometime between Sunday, December 31st, and Monday, January 8th, unknown person(s) broke a window to gain access to a garage located in the 200 block of Finley Street and removed several items. 

Among the items taken included a Green Ryobi 40V battery charger, a black & green Ryobi Impact driver drill, a Black & green Ryobi 18V power Inverter, a Black and green Poultan chainsaw, and two pairs of Jordan golf shoes.

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 or calling Crime Stoppers at 217-243-7300.

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

No One Injured After Dog Alerts Family of Structure Fire

A Greene County family could have lost everything in a structure fire last night had it not been for a family pet.

The Roodhouse Fire Department was called for a report of a structure fire in a residence just south of the fire station at 1267 North US 67, at approximately 10:15 Wednesday night.

Fire Chief Terry Hopkins says the fire was contained to an attached garage and a preliminary investigation indicated a possible cause of the blaze. “It was something electrical in that corner, in that southeast corner, and I don’t know exactly what was in there, what was plugged back in there. But that’s where it started and made a perfect V triangle right up the side of the wall and got into the attic.

Of course when it got into the attic and blew out the eave boards and everything, well then it got air and really started roaring. But we had already been there and we got it going on the downside pretty fast on that.”

Hopkins says the fire would have been much worse had it not been for the efforts of one of the smallest members of the family. “Their little dog is what woke them up. The smoke alarm didn’t go off until after they called the fire in. But it was a newer house so it was tight. The fire was in the garage and even with it closed up it was struggling for oxygen to get a burn going.

If it had been an old garage where it has some air coming around the doors and stuff, we’d have probably lost the whole south end of it. But as it turned out there is quite a bit left. I believe both vehicles are if not totaled at least real close to it I think.

Of course, they were in bed and their little dog got them up. So I told them they need to get that little dog some dog biscuits, he needs treats. He done a good job.”

An estimate of damages was not available as of press time. Hopkins says the fire was contained to the garage however, the house sustained significant smoke damage.

The White Hall Fire Department also responded as mutual aid and was on scene for approximately one hour. The Roodhouse Fire Department cleared the scene a little over an hour and a half after arrival.

Ben Cox contributed to this story.