By Ben Cox
LLCC hosts ‘Ag Explorers at local middle school
Lincoln Land Community College hosted a free, four-day Career Quest Camp, “Ag Explorers,” June 2-5 at Jacksonville Middle School.
Lincoln Land Community College hosted an ‘Ag Explorers’ camp for 6th-8th graders recently.
Twenty students in grades 6-8 participated in the camp, which focused on agriculture. Students learned about precision agriculture, animal science, plant and soil science, and ag mechanics. The students participated in hands-on activities with GPS, drone flying, genetic matching, pH testing, flower dissection, viscosity testing and more.
Todd Burrus from Burrus Seed talked to participants about future career opportunities in agriculture, and Beard Implement Company brought out real-world agricultural equipment for the students to explore up close.
“This camp gave students a real taste of what agriculture is all about. With help from our great LLCC instructors and community partners, students were able to try out hands-on activities, see big equipment up close and learn directly from people working in the ag industry,” said Keri Mason, director, LLCC-Jacksonville and LLCC-Beardstown. “It was a fun and eye-opening week that showed just how many exciting opportunities ag has to offer.” This event was made possible by funding from the LLCC Foundation.
Rotary Club selling tickets for Rotary Day at the Ball Park on August 9
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville announced that $60 tickets are now available for Rotary Day at the Ball Park on Saturday, August 9. This game features the rival St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The game begins at 6:15 p.m. Seats are Loge Reserved Left Field, first come first serve basis, with best seats going first. Rotary Club President Dan Lepper said, “Please purchase your tickets through Rotary at: https://www.rotarydistrict6460.org/ and click on the prompt that says ‘CLICK HERE to complete the online ticket order form.’ And please add ‘Jacksonville’ in the ‘Rotary Club Name’ box so our Club gets credit for the tickets you buy! The more tickets we sell, the greater the chance we will be able to secure Literacy Grant funds in the fall for our partner school, South School.” The Rotary Club of Jacksonville partners with South Elementary School through the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Business-Education Partnership. Rotarian volunteers serve as classroom tutors and guest readers and the Club applies for grant funds from Rotary District 6460 to buy books for students to encourage their love of reading.
Registration open for Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau Playday Fundraiser
The Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau Foundation “Playday” will be held at The Links Golf Course and Sportsman Club in Jacksonville on Monday, July 28. Members and non-members are welcome to participate in a fun day of golf, sporting clays shooting and a noon meal at the golf course. Please call the Farm Bureau office at 217-245-6833 for registration information and participation fees. The “Playday” is the annual fundraiser for the Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau Foundation.
All proceeds from the “Playday” go to the Foundation to support agricultural educational experiences for Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau Families in the form of student scholarships, funding for the Ag in the Classroom program and other educational programs.
City approves 25-year land lease for community solar farm project
The City of Jacksonville approved a new community solar project at their meeting on June 23. The lease of the property will be on the city’s farm ground, just east of the Jacksonville Country Club. The lease will be with the new Chicago-based company NewCarbon Energy. NewCarbon is the third new venture started by entrepreneur and energy executive, Omar Khayum. Khayum presented the community solar project to the Jacksonville City Council on May 27. NewCarbon will absorb the cost to construct and operate the facility and the energy will then be offered, via a subscription service back into the local grid.
A solar farm will lease land from the City of Jacksonville. The land is located east of Jacksonville Country Club.
The project is expected to take up approximately 60 acres. The project would produce approximately 10 megawatts if completed. The project will be built out in two 30-acre phases. City Attorney Dan Beard said at the June 23 city council meeting that NewCarbon will pay $2,500 per acre annually to the city for the land lease. The land was previously used as a dumping ground for sludge that was dredged from the water bodies surrounding Nichols Park.
The 25-year lease agreement would be binding to any company who could possibly purchase the solar project in the future. Low-income energy customers will be the targeted demographic for the energy supply subscriptions, as NewCarbon is a certified Illinois Shines program company. Based upon the number of subscriptions to the service, the discounts on power bills will then be calculated.
NewCarbon’s Head of Solutions, Justin Gutknecht told the Jacksonville City Council at the May 27 meeting that the goal is to lower the energy supply side of a person’s electric bill by 30-50 percent. Head of Feedstocks for NewCarbon Energy Brian Lammers reiterated that commitment to the city council on June 23 saying that the company will focus on gaining subscribers in the city’s R3 (Restore, Reinvest, and Renew) designated zones by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The majority of the city’s R3-designated properties are located on the northeast side of Jacksonville. However, Lammers said that they will ultimately be seeking all electric customers in the city to sign up to their electric supply service.
Lammers says that NewCarbon would also partner with the city’s current aggregate provider Homefield Energy to partner on lower electricity supply bills. The delivery rates on electric bills, currently controlled solely by Ameren-
Illinois, will not be affected by this deal. The project is under approximately a 2-3 year development timeline and will take approximately 18 months to construct, according to Lammers. No timeline on when the project will begin has been provided. For more information about
NewCarbon visit https://newcarbon.energy.
Western Illinois Fair crowns royalty from the region
The Western Illinois Fair was held in Griggsville from June 17-21. On June 19, the fair selected its 2025 royalty.
Winners in the princess category are, from left, Eleanor Flynn (People’s Choice), Rayni Risley (1st Runner Up), Eleanor Hinch (Princess), Meika Dewitt (2nd Runner Up) and Josslyn Buchanan (Stage Presence).
Winners in the queen category are, from left, Makenna Post (Best Speech), Isla Willis (1st Runner Up), Joely Dolen (Scott Dunham and People’s Choice), Alaina Ford (Queen), Mariska Sheurman (2nd Runner Up) and Broklynn Stolte (Swimsuit).
Winners in the junior miss category are, from left, Lillyanna Kline (People’s Choice), Aubrey Kunzeman (1st Runner Up), Leighton Blevins (Junior Miss), Lincoln Slight (2nd Runner Up) and Ahna York (Stage Presence).
Scott County Health Department announces first positive pool of mosquitoes for West Nile Virus
The Scott County Health Department has confirmed the first positive test for West Nile virus in mosquitoes this year, as of June 25. West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected house mosquito.
While most individuals do not experience symptoms, the virus can cause fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches lasting a few days to weeks. In rare cases, it can lead to severe illness, including meningitis, encephalitis, or even death. Individuals over 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness. People are being asked to practice the “Three Rs”: Reduce, Repel, Report.
For more information on West Nile Virus, call the Scott County Health Department at 217-742-8203 or visit scottchd.com.
From left to right: PLHM scholarship committee member Roger Strang, PLHM board president Jason Stucker, PLHM scholarship committee member Sara Graham (front), Drew Markert (back), Carson Brown, Braxton Forshey and PLHM scholarship committee member Dale Lair.
Prairie Land Heritage Museum Institute awards three scholarships
The Prairie Land Heritage Museum Institute has awarded three local students with $500 scholarships. According to the scholarship eligibility guidelines, the awardee must be a graduating senior from an area high school and enrolled in either a technical school, junior college or university for the proceeding fall semester into an ag-related field or degree-granting program at said institution.
Drew Markert of Brown County High School, Braxton Forshey of Pittsfield High School, and Carson Brown of Winchester High School were named this year’s winners at a Prairie Land Heritage Museum Board meeting early in the month of June.
State Sen. Jil Tracy announces bid for re-election to third full term
Illinois’ 50th District State Senator Jil Tracy announced on June 24 she would be seeking her third full term in the Illinois Senate. Tracy has served in the upper chamber of the General Assembly since 2016. She won her first bid for the Senate in 2016 when she ran unopposed in the 47th Senate District after the retirement of longtime Democrat State Senator John Sullivan.
Tracy has ran unopposed for her previous two terms. “I am running for re-election to be a voice for the hardworking families of Illinois who feel unheard in Springfield,” Senator Tracy said in a press release. “Under Governor Pritzker, we’ve seen reckless budgets, higher taxes, and a sanctuary state agenda that puts a huge burden on our taxpayers. I will continue to fight against these irresponsible policies – blocking any new tax hikes, opposing unlawful sanctuary measures, and protecting our families’ values and freedoms from big-government overreach.”
The 50th Senate District includes all or portions of 12 counties in West Central Illinois including Morgan, Scott, Greene and Cass.
Rotary Club of Jacksonville invites public to Fourth of July parade
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville invites the public to attend the annual Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4. This year the parade’s focus is “Unite for Good,” celebrating agencies, organizations and individuals who work together to create a positive community impact for all. We honor those leaders, groups, and volunteers committed to education, social and economic well-being, and improving community health. Rotarian Karen Walker of Jacksonville has been selected to serve as the parade marshal. Walker is the executive director of the Prairieland United Way.
A large contingent of Shriners will also be featured in the parade. Rotary Fourth of July Parade committee chair Joan
McQuillan says several Shriners groups have connections to Jacksonville, “Tony Moore of Jacksonville is the Potentate of Ansar Shrine in Springfield this year. We are expecting about 10 Shrine units from Springfield, Mt. Auburn, White Hall, Beardstown and Danville in honor of Tony’s leadership. They will include: Ansar Shriners Jeepsters Unit, Ansar Shriners Arab Patrol, Ansar Shrine Legion of Honor, Ansar Ag Corps (tractors), Ansar Tin Lizzies, Ansar Shrine Mounted Cowboys, Ansar Shrine Keystone Kops, Ansar Shrine Clowns and Ansar Shriners Krazy Karts (go-karts).”
The parade route will form up and originate at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. The route will proceed on Grand Avenue (Morgan County Fairgrounds gate) headed east on West State Street, until the end of the parade at the corner of Church and West State streets.
The dispersal point may change due to the West State Street construction. The public is urged to watch the Rotary’s Facebook for any updates and further changes. Questions may be directed to 217-370-2145 or july4parade@jacksonvillerotary.org.
Madison County man sentenced to prison for Chapin sexual assaults
A Cottage Hills man is headed to the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to sexual assault charges in Morgan County Circuit Court. Christopher D. Heinlein, 35, pleaded guilty to Class 2 felony aggravated sexual abuse of a family member under the age of 18 on June 17 in front of Circuit Judge Chris Reif.
According to a press release, on February 16, 2024, investigators with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Heinlein on sexual abuse charge as well as a charge of Class 1 felony of criminal sexual assault of a victim between 13-17 years of age. Although at the time of the arrest the events were recently reported, the press release said the incidents occurred in the 100 block of Superior Street in Chapin between November 2018 and December 2023.
Judge Reif sentenced Heinlein to 7 years in IDOC, 1 year of mandatory supervised release and ordered payment of a $500 county fine. Heinlein was given credit for 488 days served in the Morgan County Jail. The Class 1 felony and a misdemeanor charge of violation of an order of protection from December 2023 were dismissed per the plea.
Virginia Schools hires new Jr. High girls’ assistant basketball coach
Virginia School District officials announced the hiring of Megan Harrell as an assistant coach to the junior high school girls’ basketball program. The Carthage native is a 2022 graduate of Burlington Notre Dame High School. She was a three-sport athlete playing volleyball, basketball and track, earning 10 varsity letters.
In 2024-2025, she was named the Dick Dhabalt Female Athlete of the Year at Lincoln Land Community College where she just completed two years in their Agri-Business Management program. She plans on completing her bachelor’s degree at Penn State University.
