Unemployment Rates in Region See Slight Decline

By Benjamin Cox on February 5, 2025 at 5:26am

One county in the region saw a large uptick in unemployment over the month of December, according to statistics released on Friday by the Illinois Department of Labor. Scott County is just under 6% unemployment, that’s nearly 2 points higher than surrounding counties over that month. Morgan, Macoupin, Greene, Sangamon all recorded under 4% unemployment […]

Brown Co. Sheriff To Again Have Coverage in Versailles

By Benjamin Cox on February 5, 2025 at 5:24am

A Brown County village will once again have police coverage starting this month. Brown County Sheriff Justin Oliver said Versailles will once again have consistent law enforcement presence by county deputies. WGEM reports that a new contract agreement between the village board and the county will have deputies covering patrol in the village for 20 […]

Wabash Green Toyota Dealership Breaks Ground on $11 Million Expansion

By Benjamin Cox on February 5, 2025 at 5:20am

A Springfield automotive dealership on Wabash Avenue announced a major expansion on the west end of Springfield on Monday. Green Toyota is planning an $11 million project intended to significantly modernize and expand its showroom, service area, and customer amenities. The groundbreaking for the major expansion and renovation project took place Monday morning at 3901 […]

Pike County Approves Pay For Backlog of Audits, Working Through FY25 Budget Shortfall

By Benjamin Cox on February 5, 2025 at 5:16am

The Pike County government is trying to set its financial house in order. The Pike Press reports that the county board approved paying nearly $300,000 to Springfield auditor Sikich LLP to perform the backlog of 3 financial audits that have failed to take place over the previous 3 fiscal years. By law, a county or […]

New Daycare Opens In Pleasant Plains School District

By Benjamin Cox on February 5, 2025 at 5:15am

People living in the Pleasant Plains area have a new option for child care. Kardinal Kids, owned by Kasi and Ryan Maisenbacher, opened their doors on Monday at 260 South Bradfordton Road. The property, just west of Route 97, has a Springfield address but is in the Pleasant Plains school district. Kasi Masienbacher told the […]

Jacksonville Fire Department Praises Teen’s Quick Thinking In Saving Family Home

By Benjamin Cox on February 5, 2025 at 5:10am

The Jacksonville Fire Department has given praise to a teenager who saved his family’s home from a tragedy on Sunday night. Jacksonville Police and Fire were called for a fire in a basement of a home at approximately 8:45 Sunday night at residence in the 400 block of James Creek Lane. Fire officials say the […]

Jacksonville CPAA Introducing Bass Tournament To Fund Local Scholarships

By Benjamin Cox on February 4, 2025 at 11:37am

A new fishing tournament at Lake Jacksonville hopes to raise proceeds for a new scholarship program to benefit local enforcement. The Jacksonville Citizens Police Academy Alumni will host a bass tournament on April 26th at Lake Jacksonville. The event, coordinated by fundraising chairwoman Cindy Beddingfield and organizer Glenn Robson, is designed to bring a minimum […]

January Weather

By Gary Scott on February 4, 2025 at 10:18am

Temperatures were down, and snowfall up in January. Normal snowfall for January hits around 5 and three quarter inches. But, the snow totaled 11 and 3 tenths inches last month. That’s close to six inches more than normal. It was fueled by the 8 inch snowfall on the 5th and 6th. And, we were snow-less […]

Members Needed for Citizen Committee Aimed at Providing Guidance on JDC, Norris Hospital Solutions

By Jeremy Coumbes on February 1, 2025 at 6:49pm

The Jacksonville Developmental Center tops the list of blighted and vacant area properties at the center of a new citizens ad hoc committee currently in development. Moving Jacksonville Forward aims to provide guidance from area citizens to the City of Jacksonville, Village of South Jacksonville, and Morgan County Commissioners on the direction of blighted properties […]

One Person Injured In Two-Vehicle Crash on Old 36 Friday Night

By Benjamin Cox on February 1, 2025 at 12:52pm

Multiple agencies responded to a reported two-vehicle head-on collision on Old Route 36 Friday night. According to a report from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, a Kia Sorrento driven by a 17-year old female juvenile is alleged to have been unable to negotiate the dogleg in the road on Old 36 at Orleans Road at […]