Jacksonville woman injured after car flips over on South Diamond
A Jacksonville woman was severely injured after the car she was driving flipped over on South Diamond Street on the morning of May 17. Jacksonville Police, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, and EMS responded to a single-vehicle crash with injuries reported from the intersection of Edgehill Road and South Diamond at 9:30 a.m. on May 17. According to a Jacksonville Police report, a blue passenger car driven by Angela L. Hearold, 47, of the 300 block of West Beecher Avenue was traveling northbound in the 600 block of South Diamond when it crossed over into the southbound lanes and struck the curb on the west side of the roadway.
The vehicle continued northbound in the southbound lane of travel and then struck a utility pole. The vehicle continued northbound before eventually overturning onto its roof before coming to rest in the middle of the roadway. Hearold was incapacitated from the crash and sustained major injuries. She was taken by ambulance from the scene and later airlifted to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Her current condition is unknown. Eyewitnesses corroborated the narrative of the crash to police. No citations have been issued at this time and no further information is available.
Two receive minor injuries in chain reaction crash on West Morton
Two people received minor injuries after a three-vehicle collision on West Morton Avenue on May 17. According to a Jacksonville Police report, police, fire and rescue, and EMS responded to a three-vehicle collision in the 900 block of West Morton Avenue at approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 17. According to the report, a vehicle driven by Andre C. Gutierrez de Griffin, 18, of rural Jacksonville was traveling eastbound in the 900 block of West Morton Avenue.
A vehicle driven by Gretchen N. Hart, 27, of Chapin and a third vehicle driven by an unidentified driver were also traveling eastbound ahead of Guiterrez de Griffin and had slowed down for traffic. Gutierrez de Griffin’s vehicle then struck the rear end of Hart’s vehicle pushing Hart’s vehicle into the rear of the third vehicle.
Gutierrez de Griffin and Hart’s vehicles were towed from the scene due to disabling damage. Both Gutierrez de Griffin and Hart complained of injuries. Gutierrez de Griffin was taken from the scene to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital by ambulance. Hart is said to have taken herself to the hospital by private vehicle. Gutierrez de Griffin was later cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash.
Two arrested after domestic disturbance on North Church
Two individuals were arrested by Jacksonville Police after a loud disturbance at a residence in the 800 block of North Church Street in the early morning hours of May 18. Jacksonville Police were called shortly after 3:15 a.m. on May 18 to a home in the 800 block of North Church for a report of a male subject trying to forcefully enter a residence. Upon arrival, one individual was treated by EMS after he reportedly was intoxicated and fell. During the investigation, officers arrested Demond L. Harris, 44, of that vicinity for obstructing a peace officer after police reports say that Harris refused officers’ commands and prevented further investigation of the disturbance.
Harris was later released. Officers also arrested Jamerea S. Gordon, 26, of the 800 block of Hoagland Boulevard on an outstanding failure to appear warrant from Ford County on a speeding charge. She remains held at the Morgan County Jail. Officers were called back to the same residence approximately an hour later after multiple subjects could be heard screaming in the background of a 911 call. Officers returned and separated two subjects who were told to remain away from each other to prevent further issues.
Six Jacksonville students receive awards from ImpactLife
Six students from three Morgan County high schools have received the ImpactLife Student Impact Award, given annually to students who the Student Impact Award Program recognizes for supporting blood supply as donors, advocates, volunteers or blood drive coordinators. ImpactLife distributes the Student Impact Award during the final weeks of the school year, a time when the blood center begins to see a decrease in the rate of blood donation that’s caused in part by the loss of school-based blood drives.
Local recipients of the Student Impact Award include Claire Bunch and Racheal Jenson, both of Westfair Christian Academy; Faith Beddingfield and Ava LaRose, both of Routt Catholic High School; and Evan Lomelino and Conner Rickert, both of Franklin High School.
AT&T Tower on Sequoia Drive in South Jacksonville switched on
South Jacksonville Village President Dick Samples says that representatives from AT&T contacted him on May 17 indicating the cell phone tower on Sequoia Drive was now operational. Negotiations to put in the tower began in the spring of 2022, and the process has gone through many twists and turns. The last face to face contact between AT&T representatives and the board came in the fall of 2023 over questions about use of the public right-of-way for utilities. The Village then had to properly annex Sequoia Drive into the village. Construction on the tower began late last year, and Samples has laid the delay in the project on AT&T rather than on the village’s administration. Area residents have long complained about a cellular data “dead zone” in the heart of the village and further south to Lake Jacksonville.
Winchester School Board recognizes outgoing board member Moore
The Winchester School Board and district leadership recently recognized outgoing board member and long-time president Steve Moore. Moore first joined the school board in 1989 and has since served in various leadership positions, including as board president since 2009. Dr. Kevin Blankenship, superintendent, said in a press release on May 18, “Steve has been a guiding force for our district, consistently prioritizing the best interests of our students and demonstrating an exceptional commitment to the Winchester School Community.” Moore led the district during the construction of the Early Childhood Center, the Pritchett Athletic Building, the Winchester Grade School renovations and the Winchester High School renovation project. Moore has also been a mainstay as the timekeeper for the West Central Cougars basketball program for over 50 years.
Rammelkamp Bradney Law Office moves entrance, announces purchase of property
Ownership of Rammelkamp Bradney Law Office announced on May 19 that the primary entrance to Rammelkamp Bradney, P.C. will be located at 230 West State Street effective immediately. The entry is formerly the entrance of West State Title/Morgan County Abstract. The notice says that the law firm recently acquired possession of the 230 West State Street property and services for Rammelkamp Bradney will be conducted out of both offices. “Please note that, due to the ongoing West State Street construction and water main replacement, there will be days in the near future during which either or both entrances may be unavailable. If you have an appointment at the office on one of those days, we will contact you to provide directions on how to enter,” the announcement reads further. For additional questions, call 217-245-6177.
Two area teachers receive ISBEThose Who Excel Awards
Two Morgan County teachers received Those Who Excel Awards from the Illinois State Board of Education on May 17 in Bloomington-Normal. Gracie Holt, high school English teacher at Triopia High School, was given a special recognition Early Career Educator Award. The award is given to someone who shows dedication and excellence in the first four years of their career. Laurena Turner, a 3rd grade teacher at Waverly Elementary, was given an Award of Excellence as a classroom teacher.
To receive the Award of Excellence, the most prestigious of the Those Who Excel honors, educators must have demonstrated a commitment to equity and to the success of all students. They regularly collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create positive school cultures. They are lifelong learners who connect their schools to the community at large and who inspire other education professionals within and beyond their schools.
Sunrise Rotary announces scholarship winner
The Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club announced the winner of a club scholarship for the upcoming academic year at their club meeting May 20. Eli Walker, of Jacksonville, who will be attending Lincoln Land Community College in the fall, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the club.
Walker plans to study heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Sunrise Rotary Scholarships are awarded annually each spring. Funds for these scholarships are raised during weekly club meetings, through Rotations and Recognitions, where club members pay to make announcements, and for any mention of club members or their various interests in the media.
Tendick Street development receives grant from IDHA
A planned development to provide low-income housing in Jacksonville received a grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, according to an announcement published on May 19. The Pritzker Administration announced $50 million worth of grants that would specifically target permanent supportive housing developments aimed at providing homes for people living with disabilities or at risk of homelessness.
Mike Niehaus, a developer for Windsor Homes in Springfield and a Jacksonville native, presented plans to the Morgan County commissioners and Jacksonville City Council in 2023 for developing a 24-unit apartment complex at 1140 Tendick Street. Awarded under Round XI of IHDA’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Development Program, these developments are designed to serve Illinoisans that include those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, living with disabilities, and exiting institutional care.
Residents will have access to on-site, wraparound services tailored to their needs including supportive services, healthcare referrals, employment assistance, and case management to empower them to live with dignity and independence. The Windsor Homes group was denied the funding in the previous round and reapplied in January. The home also hit a roadblock in September 2024 when the Jacksonville City Council pulled $200,000 in pledged assistance and Locust Street Resource Center pulled out of the project.
Niehaus had asked the city council to keep their contribution in the project to help secure the 2025 grant and also introduced the new group that will be the project’s manager – Fifth Street Renaissance out of Springfield. The agency already has a presence in Jacksonville, doing some work with New Directions Warming and Cooling Center.
The project was set to initially cost $6.2 million to build for a 24-unit complex on the site of the former Hillcrest Estates mobile home court. Each unit would have one bedroom and 680 square feet of living space. Among groups that had previously voiced support of the project include West Central Illinois Continuum of Care, Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Bella Ease, Midwest Youth Services, Crisis Center Foundation and MCS Community Services. Despite some local opposition to the project, the property is zoned correctly for residential housing development and can move forward with construction.
Local Ansar Shriner present St. Louis Shriners Children’s Hospital with check
Ansar Potentate Tony and First Lady Dana Moore presented a $5,000 check to Shriners Children’s St. Louis on May 21, made possible by the success of Lady Dana’s Glow Bingo fundraiser. This donation holds special meaning to the Moores, as it supports the hospital where their son, Brock, received care.
The funds will go toward ShrinerAbility Camp, happening at the end of May—a week-long experience for Shriners’ patients who have lost an upper limb or hand. The camp empowers kids to live fully and confidently, with activities like rock climbing, horseback riding and team-building fun that prove nothing is out of reach. The other half of the proceeds will be presented to Shriners Children’s Chicago on June 24.
Waverly Fire Protection District puts new SUV in service
Officials with the Waverly Fire Protection District announced on May 21 that a new white Chevy Suburban emergency response vehicle is now in operation. Officials say they were able to trade their 2000 Ford ambulance bus to obtain the new SUV. The district’s second ambulance, which is currently out of operation due to maintenance, is expected to return to service within the next few weeks, according to the announcement.
Rotary Club of Jacksonville announces scholarship winners
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville announced its four annual scholarship winners earlier this week. Jack Borgman is a Jacksonville High School graduate. He has been awarded a $2,000 Jacksonville Rotary Scholarship. Marilyn Dichsen is a graduate of Classical Conversations Homeschool Co-op. She has been awarded a $2,000 Jacksonville Rotary Scholarship. Jocelyn English is a graduate of Routt Catholic High School. She has been awarded a $2,000 Jacksonville Rotary Scholarship.
Staff Sergeant Matt Weikert was a graduate of Jacksonville High School (JHS). He was known for his leadership and his attitude of service above self. He served several tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan where he gave his life for his country and our freedom. Each year, the Rotary Club of Jacksonville awards a $1,000 scholarship in his honor. The SSG Matt Weikert Scholarship strives to find those candidates pursuing a trade or vocation through a Vocational School, Technical School, Community College, or other certificate programs. Elijah Walker is a graduate of Walker Hill Academy. He has been awarded the $1,000 Staff Sergeant Matt Weikert Scholarship. Walker is enrolling in the Workforce Program at LLCC in the HVAC program.
Carmody announces retirement, endorses Jackson as next sheriff
Morgan County Sheriff Mike Carmody announced his intentions to retire on May 21 at the end of his term in December 2026. Carmody served two terms as Sheriff of Morgan County. Carmody has been with the sheriff’s office since 1986. Prior to becoming sheriff, Carmody served as chief deputy under former sheriff Randy Duvendack for 10 years. Carmody says his age and the fact that he would like to see someone move the department forward with new ideas and more experience in the investigative part of the job entered into his decision to retire.
Carmody has given a formal endorsement of Chief Deputy Jamie Jackson. Jackson officially announced his candidacy on the same day of Carmody’s announcement. Jackson intends to seek the nomination as a Republican. The son of Henry and Johanna Jackson, he grew up on a farm in Nortonville, attending Murrayville-Woodson Grade School and graduated from Jacksonville High School. In 1990, he graduated from Illinois College with a Bachelor of Arts. He and his wife Angela have been married for over 32 years and have raised four children in the area.
Jackson began his law enforcement career in 1987 as a dispatcher and corrections officer at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office serving alongside his father, Sheriff Henry Jackson. Jackson’s career eventually led to service with the Illinois State Police and the Central Illinois Enforcement Group until 1997. Jackson retired as the group’s commander in 2017 and returned to work at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office as Carmody’s chief deputy.
South Jacksonville man arrested on multiple child pornography charges
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office arrested a South Jacksonville man on May 20th at his residence in the 1400 block of South Clay Avenue on multiple charges of child pornography dissemination. Gary R. Steininger, 49, has been charged with ten counts of dissemination of child sex abuse material dating back to December 27, 2024.
Members of the South Jacksonville Police Department assisted the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in making the arrest. Steininger made his first appearance on the charges in Morgan County Circuit Court on May 22 where he was ordered to be detained prior to trial. Assistant Attorney General David Sternau is prosecuting the case. Morgan County Public Defender Devin Vaughn was appointed to represent Steininger in the case. The Attorney General’s Office has not responded to inquiries for more details on the case or investigation. Steininger will next appear in court on June 3.
Pathway Services Executive Director issues statement ahead of proposed cuts in state budget
Pathway Services Executive Director Ryan Dowd says cuts in the upcoming state budget will harm services offered to the community. The FY26 proposed state budget is set to reduce Direct Support Professional (DSP) funded hours by $32M, along with cuts to Medicaid services and supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). “While we appreciate the Governor’s commitment to increasing wages for DSPs over the past few years, including a $1.00 per hour wage increase in FY25, not-for-profit organizations like Pathway cannot absorb a reduction and bridge the gap on their own,” said Dowd.
“A reduction in hours like the one proposed, for Pathway, means an approximate loss of 5,490 DSP hours, or roughly just under three full-time direct care staff members. With one less staff person available in three of our 10 homes in Jacksonville, that’s between 20-24 of the people we support who are now not able to take an active part in their neighborhood or community on a regular basis, as there will be less staff available to assist them. Such cuts could result in them not making it to a Sunday service or to a Special Olympics event,” Dowd stated.
“The Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) have adopted Illinois regulations, in addition to federal rules governing home and community-based services, requiring community-based providers to offer person-centered services and supports, a more individualized approach to serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Proposals to eliminate funded DSP hours are in direct opposition to such requirements,” Dowd continued.
“Based on some data that our friends at the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF) have gathered, as many as 10,000 persons receiving Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA), or group home services in Illinois, will receive reduced funding for DSP hours. We are mostly just trying to raise awareness with our neighbors and friends in Jacksonville and surrounding communities who might not realize what it is we are up against,” said Dowd.
“Our field has endured some pretty dark times over the years. With the proposed cuts mentioned above and potential cuts to Medicaid on top of them, these could be the darkest days to date.” Dowd recently returned from a trip to the Capitol in Springfield with several other support service workers advocating for the potential cuts to be removed from the budget. The spring legislative session of the General Assembly ends on May 31.
Publication uncovers incident at Garrison School where autistic child was dragged on floor by a teacher
Investigative news publication ProPublica has uncovered an incident at Garrison School that occurred in April in which an autistic student was dragged across a floor by a substitute teacher.
ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune unearthed in 2022 that Garrison had the highest student arrest rate in the country, resulting in a civil rights investigation which forced student discipline policy changes at the school.
According to the report, Xander Reed, who has autism and does not speak, did not stop playing with blocks and go to P.E. when he was told to, according to a police report. Xander then “became agitated and fell to the ground,” the report said.
When he refused to get up, a substitute teacher, Rhea Drake, dragged him to the gym. Another staff member took a photo and alerted school leadership. Principal Amy Haarmann told police that Drake’s actions “were not an acceptable practice at the school,” the police report said. Reed’s family asked to press charges.
Drake, who had been working in Xander’s classroom for more than a month, was charged about three weeks later with Class A misdemeanor battery, according to Morgan County Court records. She has pleaded not guilty.
Her attorney told ProPublica that he and Drake did not want to comment on this story. Tracey Fair, director of Four Rivers Special District, told ProPublica that school officials made sure students were safe following the incident and that Drake won’t be returning to the district. She declined to comment further about the incident. Jacksonville Police Chief Doug Thompson told the publication he could not comment on the case. Drake is due to return to Morgan County Circuit Court on June 4.
Wayne named Early Years principal
The District 117 Board of Education approved the hiring of Lindsay Wayne as the new Pre-K program’s principal at their May 21 meeting. Wayne is a Jacksonville native, and is the daughter of the late Diane Wayne, a long-time speech and language pathologist at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.
Superintendent Steve Ptacek says he’s extremely excited for the Early Years Program under Wayne’s leadership: “She’s originally from Jacksonville. She lived in Colorado and Missouri for a while. She has 18-plus years in dealing with early years students, especially special education early year students. She’s currently back in town working for Four Rivers in their earlier special education program, and she saw this opening and she said it’s always been kind of a dream of hers to become an early years building principal. And this opened up. We interviewed her and we were all just blown away. She’s amazing. So I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a huge talent added into the district.” Wayne takes over for Sarah English, who had been principal of the program since 2017.
Chapin Police Chief warns area seniors of fraudsters
Chapin Police Chief Steve Helmich is alerting the public to scammers specifically targeting seniors. Helmich says that scammers are hammering seniors in the tiny town, attempting to dupe them out of several thousands of dollars. He says that fraudsters are impersonating government officials and law enforcement over the phone, often frightening victims with threats of arrest or imprisonment of a loved one if they don’t send along money or reveal personal information to them. Helmich cited a recent scam of a pretender identifying themselves as a DEA agent to a 72-year-old Peoria woman. The fake federal agent then demanded the victim pay $17,000 in gift cards after threatening her with a fake arrest warrant. He says other scams have involved someone identifying themselves as an IRS agent or a law enforcement agent who has a loved one in jail or in an emergency situation that urgently needs money. Helmich says everyone should stay vigilant to unsolicited calls, texts, and social media messages from people claiming to be members of the government, police, or federal agencies. Legitimate agencies will never threaten arrest or demand money over the phone or online on the spot. He says to guard your personal information at all costs. Verify all emergency claims of distress by calling family members or the agency directly. Never make any quick payments to strangers. The big thing, Helmich says, is to not be fearful or panic because that’s what scammers want you to do. Lastly, he says report any and all suspicious activity to local law enforcement, even if you have been duped out of money. The reports may not get your money back, but it will help law enforcement investigate fraudsters and warn others of their schemes.
