Sangamon County Coroner’s Office Earns National Accreditation for Excellence in Service
By Benjamin Cox on July 8, 2025 at 10:15am
The Sangamon County Coroner’s Office has earned national accreditation from the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IACME), a distinction that recognizes the office for achieving the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, and service to the public. The accreditation follows a comprehensive review process, during which the Coroner’s Office was evaluated against 285 internationally […]
Pageant Tonight at the Fair
By Gary Scott on July 8, 2025 at 6:30am
The Morgan County Fair officially opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 this morning. The highlight of the first night is the queen, junior miss and princess contest tonight. It follows the Talent show, which begins at 5 this evening. The Pageant is set to kick off at 7. Fairgoers will be charged $5 […]
Chapin Police, Local Authorities end standoff peacefully on July 5
By Benjamin Cox on July 7, 2025 at 2:35pm
Multiple agencies responded to a reported standoff at a residence in Chapin on the evening of July 5. According to a post on the Chapin Police Facebook page, at approximately 4 p.m. July 5, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, the Chapin Police Department, the Murrayville-Woodson Police Department, and the Jacksonville Police Department Special Response Team […]
Auburn Man identified from remains found near Wabash Avenue in Springfield
By Benjamin Cox on July 7, 2025 at 1:41pm
UPDATE: A handful of details have emerged about the discovery of an Auburn man’s body late last week in Springfield. Sangamon County coroner Jim Allmon says the remains were identified as that of 37-year-old Derek Wartenbe. Allmon says the corpse was scientifically identified during the postmortem procedure yesterday. Allmon said the preliminary autopsy findings showed […]
Former Greene County Sheriff Seeks to Return to the office in 2026
By Benjamin Cox on July 7, 2025 at 6:26am
A former Greene County Sheriff hopes to be re-elected to the office in 2026. Ben Picou, who was Greene County Sheriff from 1974 to 1982, announced his bid for election to the office over the weekend. Picou was one of the youngest county sheriff’s in the State of Illinois when he served Greene County at […]
Woods Announces Re-Election Bid for Morgan Co. Commissioner
By Benjamin Cox on July 7, 2025 at 6:20am
Dr. Michael Woods has announced his bid to seek election to the Morgan County Board. Woods made the announcement on July 4. Woods is the lone Democrat that’s an elected or appointed official in the county. “As your Commissioner, I pledge to continue rolling up my sleeves and working tirelessly on the vital issues that […]
Greene County authorities respond to bomb threat in Roodhouse
By Benjamin Cox on July 6, 2025 at 7:05pm
Few details are known at this hour but Greene County law enforcement and first responders responded to a bomb threat on the Roodhouse square late this afternoon. Roodhouse Fire & Police, White Hall Fire & Police, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County EMS were dispatched for a possible bomb threat in or around a […]
Moore Announces Re-Election Bid for IL-99
By Benjamin Cox on July 2, 2025 at 3:55pm
99th District State Representative Kyle Moore (R-Quincy) announced his bid for re-election to the Illinois General Assembly today. According to a press release, Moore says he is going to fight for more government transparency and conservative values. Moore touted the passage of the bill he authored this Spring, House Bill 1362, which allows smaller counties […]
Woman cited for public indecency, criminal damage to property after topless tirade
By Benjamin Cox on July 1, 2025 at 2:29pm
Jacksonville Police arrested a homeless woman last night after she allegedly went on a topless spree with a golf club. Officers were called to the parking lot of Ashley’s Home Furnishings in Lincoln Square in the 900 block of West Morton Avenue at approximately 11 p.m. The caller reported a naked woman was striking people […]
Versailles Man Sentenced to Prison in April on Sex Charges
By Benjamin Cox on July 1, 2025 at 10:59am
A Brown County man has been imprisoned for violent sex offenses committed between 2020 and 2024. Online court documents reveal today that Robert W. Crafton, Jr., 27, formerly of Versailles was sentenced to two consecutive 4 ½ year sentences in Brown County Circuit Court on April 7. Crafton was originally arrested in December 2021 for […]