By Ben Cox
Franklin Community Unit School District #1 Board president resigns
Paul Bergschneider announced his resignation as both president and as a member of the Franklin School Board on April 11. Bergschneider’s resignation became official at the end of last month during their regular board meeting.
Bergschneider cited both family and business considerations as his reasons for leaving, according to reports. Bergschneider was in the midst of his second term. He has been president of the board for the past four years. The board also swore in incumbents Amy Bowman and Natalie Prince as well as newcomer Matthew Wells for their new term.
Waverly School District announces new superintendent hire
The Waverly Community Unit School District #6 Board voted unanimously last month to hire current Prairie du Rocher superintendent Rob Pipher as its new superintendent. Pipher’s contract begins July 1. Pipher replaces Fred Lamkey, who has been the district’s interim superintendent since Brandi Bruley resigned at the end of the 2024 school year to take the superintendent’s position in Taylorville. Pipher has been with Prairie du Rocher School District since 2020.
Morgan County final property tax multiplier announced
Morgan County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 0.9829, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law.
This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s overlapping taxing bodies into two or more counties. If there was no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.
Assessments in Morgan County are at 33.91% of market value, based on sales of properties in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2024 taxes, payable in 2025. Last year’s multiplier was 1.
The final assessment equalization factor was issued after a public hearing on the tentative factor. The tentative factor issued on February 27 was 0.9678. The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the number of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments/county assessor.
If the three-year average level of assessment is one-third of the market value, the equalization factor will be one (1). If the average level of assessment is greater than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be less than one (1). And if the average level of assessment is less than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be greater than one (1). A change in the equalization factor does not mean total property tax bills will increase or decrease. Tax bills are determined by local taxing bodies when they request money each year (known as a tax levy) to provide services to local citizens.
If the amount requested by local taxing districts is not greater than the amount received in the previous year, then total property taxes will not increase even if assessments increase. The assessed value of an individual property determines what portion of the tax burden a specific taxpayer will assume. That individual’s portion of tax responsibility is not changed by the multiplier.
Franklin student arrested for threatening a school shooting
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office has announced a student at Franklin schools has been arrested for threatening a school shooting. According to a press release, at 10 p.m. on Monday, April 21, Morgan County Sheriff’s deputies took a complaint from Franklin Schools superintendent Jeff Waggener. Waggener told deputies that a student had threatened to shoot up the school at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22.
Waggener said that he decided to call off school for the day due to the alleged threat. Deputies continued to investigate the threat throughout the night. On Tuesday, April 22, Morgan County detectives interviewed several individuals about the incident. Deputies were eventually contacted by a parent who believed their child was the person of interest in the case.
Detectives then responded to a residence in rural Alexander at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday. After speaking with the parent and the juvenile, the juvenile was taken into custody without incident and taken to the Morgan County Jail, where the juvenile was booked on a disorderly conduct charge and later released back to his parents. Juvenile probation has been contacted for further assistance.
Winchester man sentenced for throating slashing incident in Carrollton last summer
A Winchester man who is said to have slashed the throat of a Carrollton resident during a domestic disturbance last summer was sentenced to prison in Greene County Circuit Court on Tuesday, April 22. Austin Williams, 27, of Winchester, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, a Class 3 Felony, stemming from an incident that occurred on June 3, 2024.
According to a Carrollton Police Department report, Williams is accused of slashing the throat of Joshua Aguirre with a box cutter at a residence in the 100 block of Third Street in Carrollton. The injured male subject was transported to Boyd Memorial Hospital prior to officers’ arrival. Williams was later found and arrested by police and booked into the Greene County Jail. The case had gone through lengthy pretrial deliberations over Williams’ mental fitness. Following the guilty plea, Greene County Circuit Judge Zachary Schmidt sentenced Williams to 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Fines and court costs were waived per the plea.
Bob Freesen YMCA in search of new executive director
The Bob Freesen YMCA is in search of a new executive director. YMCA Board Chair Heather Leonard issued the following statement on April 22: “Joyce Bruett is no longer employed by the Bob Freesen YMCA. We as the Board of Directors thank Ms. Bruett for her service to our Y and wish her well in her future endeavors. We will be engaged in a thorough and thoughtful executive transition process over the coming weeks as we consider the best leadership path forward for our Y. In the meantime, we are grateful to our board of directors, our staff and our volunteers for everything they do each and every day to help our Y serve everyone in our community.”
Bruett was hired as the executive director on July 31, 2024. Bruett replaced longtime director Mary Henry who retired after 18 years.
Scott-Morgan Community Unit School District #2 announces new superintendent
The Scott-Morgan CUSD 2 Board of Education has selected Brandi Pennock as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools, according to an announcement released on April 23. Pennock will begin her tenure as Assistant Superintendent on July 1. She currently serves as the principal of Bluffs schools. Pennock is completing her superintendent licensure at Western Illinois University with plans to be completed in December 2025. Pennock’s selection was made after a statewide search was completed by the board over the last three months. Pennock will replace Dr. Kevin Blankenship, who is retiring at the end of the calendar year.
“We are pleased to welcome Brandi as the new superintendent of Scott-Morgan School District 2,” said Board of Education President Gary Westermeyer. “Her experience as our Building Principal and her familiarity with the district makes her an excellent choice to lead our district. She also shares our commitment to provide and expand the educational opportunities for our students.”
Pennock is a native of Pittsfield and has previously served as teacher and coach in the Pikeland and Barry-Western School Districts. She went on to become Principal at Western Junior High School and then at Pikeland Junior High before becoming Principal in Bluffs Schools in 2024.
“I am honored to have been selected as the next leader of the Scott-Morgan School District. I spent 27 years teaching and coaching in the region and I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue to lead the Bluffs District” said Pennock.
Pennock and Blankenship will work together for a transition of the administration at the end of the calendar year. Blankenship had been with the Scott-Morgan District since 2012, serving as a co-superintendent with the Winchester School District.
Crime of the Week: Theft from donation bins at Goodwill Outlet Store
Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties is requesting Information to assist the Jacksonville Police Department in a recent burglary investigation. Sometime between 6:30 p.m. on April 17 and 5:30 a.m. on April 18, unknown individuals used bolt cutters to obtain entry into donation containers at the Goodwill Outlet Store located at 100 Capital Way.
Several clothing items were then removed. Jacksonville police are asking if anyone has any further information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers by visiting the “Morgan, Scott & Cass Crime Stoppers” Facebook page. Leave a tip by clicking the “Contact Us” button at the top of the page or go to their official website, morganscottcrimestoppers.com, and click on the “Submit A Web Tip” option at the top of the home page. You may also call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 217-243-7300. Remember, Crime Stoppers just want your information and not your name. If your tip leads to an arrest or recovery of stolen property, you may be eligible for a cash reward.
Triopia School District getting new playground
Triopia School District officials announced on April 23 that the district will be getting a brand new playground over the summer. The current pea gravel and equipment will be completely removed and replaced with an inclusive poured surface on the west end, two new “big toys” on the west and north sides, a new swing set, toss & score game, balance beam, spinning chair and merry-go-round. District officials say that the iconic orange toy on the south side and all four basketball hoops are staying.
Cunningham Recreation out of Charlotte, North Carolina will be tasked with the construction. District officials say that the playground was made possible by generous community donations.
Jacksonville City Council meeting scheduled for April 28 canceled
City of Jacksonville officials have canceled the Monday, April 28 regular meeting. No reason for the cancellation was given. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Jacksonville City Council and Workshop Meeting will be Monday, May 12 at the Jacksonville Municipal Building.
The council will seat its recently elected members: Mayor Andy Ezard, City Clerk Angela Salyer, Treasurer Beth Hopkins, Ward 1 Alderwoman Darcella Speed, Ward 2 Alderwoman Lori Large-Oldenettel, Ward 3 Alderwoman Terrisa Lashmett-Heape, Ward 4 Alderman Brett Henry and Ward 5 Alderwoman Mary Watts.
GFL halts curbside recycling in Chapin
The Chapin Village Board informed residents at its April board meeting that GFL has halted curbside recycling in the village. Two recycling containers are now placed in the village to continue recycling efforts.
GFL is also cracking down on approved trash cans and they will only pick up garbage in approved cans by the company. An additional can may be requested by calling GFL at 309-688-0760, option 4 or visiting gflenv.com/jacksonville-solid-waste/.
Village of Chapin clean up days have been scheduled for May 23-24. Free dumpsters will be provided at Chapin Village Hall. First come, first served. Village residency is required.
Ptacek: Real estate price for new school site was at a premium
Some area residents have raised concerns that Jacksonville School District 117 paid too much for an 8-acre plot of land that will be the eventual site of the new Murrayville-Woodson Elementary School. The site, near the intersection of the Woodson-Winchester Road and Water Tower Road, sits less than a quarter of a mile from Illinois Route 267 and was purchased from Mark Pennell at $40,000 per acre at the end of March.
District 117 Superintendent Steve Ptacek says the purchase was at a premium because the land wasn’t really for sale. He says the rate that was paid for the property was actually near a commercial development property rate, compared to what Dollar General paid for their current site in Woodson.
He said the purchase was worth it because the school was placed at the site that is best for the district and the area. As for getting the school built, Ptacek says that site soil sampling and testing is currently taking place. More developments with the school’s design and other state regulations will be given at upcoming school board meetings.
