The opening of the 2025 season out at Lake Jacksonville is just around the corner, and the Jacksonville Parks and Lakes Department has announced the full start-up schedule.

The fishing season will open for Lake Jacksonville starting Monday, March 10, 2025. 2024 season boating permits are valid until April 1,2025. Daily permits are available on the west facing exterior wall of the concession building for $11.00.

Lake Jacksonville will open to camping April 1, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. and close for the season October 15th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

The City Clerk’s office will not be selling boat permits. All boaters must purchase a 2025 season boat permit exclusively at the concession building at Lake Jacksonville starting 8:00 am April 1, 2025.

The seasonal camping lease payment deadline is April 30^th. A $50.00 late fee will be applied until May 5^th, 2025.

Jacksonville Lake management will not accept payment after May 5, and lots that are not paid by the deadline will be entered into the 2025 permanent camper lottery held on May 10^th, 10:00 a.m. in the concession building. Lake officials say the lottery is for current camping lease holders only.

Anyone with questions can contact Jacksonville Lakes Superintendent Brett Gilbreth by calling 217-479-4646.

A rural Beardstown residence narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire Friday night.

According to a release by the Beardstown Fire Department on social media, at approximately 5:46 p.m., the fire department crews were dispatched to a rural Beardstown address on Redwood Lane for a reported grass fire.

While firefighters were en route, they were updated that the fire had extended to a detached garage, and upon arrival, firefighters found the detached garage was fully involved and the deck attached to the house was starting to ignite. The yard, and a wooded area adjacent to the garage were also on fire.

Beardstown Fire Department officials say firefighters were able to quickly attack the garage fire and limit extension to the house. Once the deck and garage fires were controlled, they were then able to extinguish the fire in the grass and adjacent wooded area.

No injures were reported and damage estimates were not made available. The Beardstown Fire Department was on scene for approximately an hour and a half and were assisted by the Beardstown Ambulance Service, the Arenzville Fire Department, and the Beardstown Police Department.

Jacksonville Police are investigating a possible burglary in an unoccupied home.

Officers were called to the 300 block of Hooker Street on Friday morning after a complainant told West Central Joint Dispatchers they found the back door of an unoccupied residence open.

According to the report, forced entry was possibly used to gain access to the residence. No details on if anything was removed from the premises were included in the report as of press time.

Jacksonville Police are asking anyone who may have information on this incident to contact the investigations division by calling 217-479-4630, or by leaving an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott, and Cass Counties by calling 217-243-7300.

Tips may also be submitted electronically online via morganscottcrimestoppers. com, or on the Morgan, Scott Cass, Crime Stoppers Facebook page.

Jacksonville Police are currently investigating a possible shots fired incident that occurred Friday afternoon.

A complainant to West Central Joint Dispatch reported that at approximately 4:30 pm Friday, multiple shots were fired from a silver sedan in the 600 block of North West Street.

According to a Jacksonville Police report, the sedan was driven by a black male weighing approximately 205 pounds and was last seen fleeing in the direction of the Circle K convenience store on North Main Street.

Jacksonville Police are asking anyone who may have information on this incident to contact the investigations division by calling 217-479-4630, or by leaving an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott, and Cass Counties by calling 217-243-7300.

Tips may also be submitted electronically online via morganscottcrimestoppers.com, or on the Morgan, Scott Cass, Crime Stoppers Facebook page.

Illinois State Troopers are on scene of a serious crash on IL Rt 97 at this hour.

According to a preliminary report by the Illinois State Police, Troop 6 responded to Illinois Route 97 just east of the Illinois Route 125 junction near Springfield, at approximately 2:26 this morning for a two vehicle crash. ISP officials say one person was pronounced deceased on scene.

Lanes in both directions were shut down for more than six hours for the crash investigation. All traffic has reopened to travel at this time. ISP officials say no further information is available. WLDS News will bring you more information when it becomes available.

A Jacksonville organization will be giving attendees a taste of Old Hollywood during an upcoming fundraising event.

The Bob Freesen YMCA is hosting its key fundraiser of the year on Friday, February 21, at 6 PM at Hamilton’s in Jacksonville, Illinois. The event will feature an Old Hollywood theme with a glamorous red-carpet experience.

The evening will feature a $10 wine pull, a live auction with volunteer auctioneer Jess Spradlin, and a silent auction. Guests can also look forward to a lively performance by The LustreLights, one of St. Louis’ hottest new dance bands, sponsored by Walton Appliance. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served, and a cash bar will be available.

Organizers say the event aims to build strong kids, strong families, and a strong community. All proceeds will benefit YMCA membership assistance and other programming for the Jacksonville community. The Soirée Chairperson is Liz Tracey.

Tickets are available for $40 per person and can be purchased at the YMCA or online at the Bob Freesen YMCA Facebook page.

Major community sponsors include Rabbi Rob and Lauren Thomas, Don and Wanda Tracy Charity Fund, Tracy Family Foundation, Bound to Stay Bound Books, and Jacksonville Memorial Hospital.

For more information contact YMCA Director Joyce Bruett at 217-245-2141 or email joycebruett@gmail.com.

A Boil Order is in effect for all Exeter-Merritt Water Cooperative customers that are served by the City of Bluffs Water Supply.

The Boil order is due to electrical issues at the Exeter-Merritt pump station. There was no water main break.

This Boil Order is in effect until further notice.

Consumers should boil water for Drinking, Cooking, or making ice. Culinary water should be boiled for at least five (5) minutes prior to consuming.

For more information, please contact the Water Cooperative at 217-742-8559

Artists and vendors are being sought for a bazaar and art fair at a downtown Jacksonville coffee house later this year. The Soap Co. Coffee House, located at 207 Sandy Street, will be home to the Vignette Bazaar Art Fair on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Event organizer Connor Meek says the event aims to provide a unique platform for local artists of all mediums to showcase their talent in a vibrant and welcoming community setting.

“We’re trying to get some interesting local artists to come and put together a show that in totality, doesn’t necessarily have a theme. But hopefully, each artist is going to bring a very interesting vignette with their display. Hopefully, we will have a lot of people coming through and getting to experience all of these artists’ little worlds that they have created.

The event is completely free for the public and artists who apply. There will be a jury process for them, but for those artists who are selected, there will be no vendor fees given to them either.”

Meek says there would be no event without artists donating their valuable time, and that is all he and the other Bazaar organizers are asking for. He says artists are invited to apply now to secure their spot at the fair. “We are currently looking for artists. For anyone wanting to apply, we have a Facebook page up, Vignette Bazaar with my email, or reaching out to me personally and will get you an application.”

Local businesses and individuals are also encouraged to support the event by becoming a sponsor. Meek says sponsorship provides a fantastic way to advertise your business brand while supporting the arts in Jacksonville.

For more information or to register as an artist or sponsor, email Conner Meek at conner2626@gmail. You can also find out more by visiting the Vignette Bazaar Facebook page.

Jacksonville Police are investigating a pair of burglary incidents that occurred this week. Jacksonville Police responded to the Main Street Trading Company located at 305 South Main Street at approximately 3:45 am Friday for a report of a break-in.

According to police reports, an unknown person broke out a window, made entry into the business, and removed an undisclosed number of items. Police indicated the suspect remained unknown at the time of the report.

Jacksonville Police are also investigating a rash of recent break-ins at Lake Jacksonville. Officers were called to the 2100 block of New Lake Road this past Sunday for a report of a camper that had been forcibly entered. In the initial report, officers found the door lock to the camper had been damaged and the door left open, however, it did not appear as if anything had been removed.

Upon further investigation, authorities discovered four campers on Point 7, and one on Point 3 had all been forcibly entered. No further details were provided in police reports released on Friday. This is a developing story and WLDS News will bring you more information when it becomes available.

The Jacksonville Police Department asks anyone with information on this incident to contact the investigations division by calling 217-479-4630. Anonymous tips can be reported to Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott, and Cass Counties by calling 217-243-7300, or online at morganscottcrimestoppers.com or the Morgan, Scott, Cass Crime Stoppers Facebook page.