Jax May Buy Farmland
By Gary Scott on November 25, 2025 at 7:04am
The Jacksonville city council approved a resolution that puts in motion plans to buy farmland on Massey Lane East of the Delaney subdivision. The resolution would enable the city to tap into a $2-million grant for the land. The city would need to come up with a match of 25-percent. But the action comes before […]
Homeless Effort Picking up Momentum
By Gary Scott on November 25, 2025 at 7:03am
Optimism is growing about a group’s effort to find some sort of shelter for the homeless in Jacksonville. That feeling came out of last night’s special studies committee meeting prior to the Jacksonville city council meetings. Alderman Joe Lockman says the effort has been loosely organized by the Jacksonville Area council of churches in Jacksonville. […]
Health Insurance Driving Jacksonville Tax Levy
By Gary Scott on November 24, 2025 at 5:55am
The Jacksonville city council is still wrestling with the 2026 tax levy. The finance committee settled on a recommendation for a 4-percent increase in the tax levy at a meeting last Monday. The consternation this year is the fact that the city’s previous health insurance provider, Health Alliance, announced it will cease operations January 1st. […]
Boil Order for Area West of Westgate
By Harold Smith on November 24, 2025 at 5:43am
A portion of the west end of Jacksonville is under a boil order until further notice. The Jacksonville Office of Emergency Management announced Sunday night a boil order has been issued until further notice for all properties in the city limits on and west of Westgate Avenue. Among those in the area affected by the […]
One Killed in Pike County Plane Crash
By Harold Smith on November 24, 2025 at 5:23am
An investigation has begun into a fatal plane crash in Pike County Sunday night. In a press release, Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood reports deputies were notified of a possible plane crash about 9:45 last night in a field north of Interstate 72 west of Exit 35, north of Pittsfield. When deputies arrived on the […]
Local Priest Dies after surgery earlier in St Louis
By Gary Scott on November 20, 2025 at 1:59pm
It was announced today to the local Catholic Community that the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Jacksonville died earlier over the noon hour. Father Joe Ring died at about 12 noon today in St Louis. He was the lead priest for Our Saviour Catholic Church. He had gone in for heart surgery on […]
Shop Small, Win Big
By Gary Scott on November 18, 2025 at 6:34pm
A new promotion to push the shopping experience in Jacksonville is being launched later this month by the Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. It’s called “Shop Small, Win Big” It launches Black Friday, the day of after Thanskgiving. Brittany Henry, the JACVB executive director says shoppers who spend $25 or more at any small, […]
Political Sign Laws
By Gary Scott on November 18, 2025 at 10:34am
Tis the political season, prompting Jacksonville city officials to remind everyone about the rules for post political signs. Bryan Nyberg, Jacksonville’s community development director, says he is already getting calls, and complaints about the signs. And, Nyberg says the laws are directed toward any signs, but particularly political signs. He says political signs are allowed […]
MacMurray Alumni Foundation announces new community grants
By Benjamin Cox on November 14, 2025 at 8:27am
For more than 170 years, MacMurray College was a cornerstone of learning, service, and community in Jacksonville, Illinois. And now, even though the classrooms are quiet and the campus gates are closed, the spirit of MacMurray continues to make a difference — thanks to a new grant program from the MacMurray Foundation and Alumni Association. […]
Homelessness Takes Center Stage for the Council
By Gary Scott on November 13, 2025 at 6:26am
The Jacksonville city council last night wrestled with the elephant that is in the big room of the city..homlessness. A packed commission room greeted 9 of the 10 aldermen as the council heard from several people. The list included Jada Lutzke, who is trying to organize a low barrier shelter in the city to be […]