By Ben Cox
Photos provided
Jacksonville woman pleads guilty to 3-year old aggravated battery to a peace officer case
A Jacksonville woman pleaded guilty in Morgan County Circuit Court in connection with a three-year-old aggravated battery case involving a police officer.
The incident happened just before 2 a.m. July 3, 2022, at the West Morgan Depot in Jacksonville. Officers were investigating a hit-and-run crash in the municipal parking lot behind the bar when Demondra L. Harris, who was 23 years old at the time, reportedly threw a glass bottle at police. One officer was struck on the side of the face.
Harris was cited for aggravated battery of a peace officer and briefly jailed before posting bond and being released. Court records show that the Morgan County State’s Attorney’s Office later chose to prosecute the case.
On December 8, 2025, Harris pleaded guilty to a single count of Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer, a Class 2 felony. As part of the plea agreement, other cases were dismissed, including charges from a February 2022 disturbance at the JHS Bowl, where Harris was accused of trying to punch an officer as a part of a large brawl that erupted after a basketball game, as well as a child restraint traffic violation from March of 2024. Harris is scheduled to be sentenced March 3, 2026.
Winchester man arrested for enticing a minor
A Winchester man was arrested by federal agents last week for allegedly enticing a minor in Morgan County.
According to court records, Matthew Fusselman, no age given, was arrested by federal investigators on December 3 in South Jacksonville. Fusselman is alleged to have, on or about November 20 to December 3, enticed the minor.
According to the complaint, Morgan County Sheriff’s deputies began an investigation into Fusselman’s activities beginning in September when he messaged a Facebook social media account operated by the Central Illinois Enforcement Group.
Fusselman believed he was conversing with a 16-year-old female on the social media account. Between September and November, Fusselman was shown to have made sexual advances to the person he believed to be a minor, including asking the user to meet him at a hotel in Jacksonville.
After his arrest and during with interviews, Fusselman allegedly admitted he was “in the wrong” and had brought a box of condoms to the believed meet up at a hotel in South Jacksonville when he was arrested by members of the Central Illinois Enforcement Group and FBI agents.
Fusselman made his first appearance in federal court in Springfield on December 4 where he was granted a federal public defender and ordered detained. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 18.
Rural man charged with stolen vehicle title, meth
A rural Jacksonville man is facing multiple charges following an incident in East Alton.
According to The Alton Telegraph and Madison County court records, Jeremy Shewmake, 48, of rural Jacksonville, was charged December 2 with possession of a stolen vehicle title and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, both Class 2 felonies, along with fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.
Court records indicate the alleged offenses occurred on September 24 when Shewmake was allegedly found in possession of a stolen certificate of title and between five and fifteen grams of methamphetamine. The case was presented by the East Alton Police Department. Shewmake was ordered released from custody pending further proceedings. No future court date has been scheduled at this time.
Bradbury annual Joke Show returns New Year’s Eve
The annual Ken Bradbury Joke Show returns to K’s Creek Golf Course on New Year’s Eve, December 31, continuing a longtime Jacksonville tradition of laughter, community and support for local performing arts.
The one-hour show will run from 5 to 6 p.m., offering plenty of time for audience members to enjoy dinner plans or ring in the new year afterward.
Doors open at 4 p.m., with a cash bar available prior to the performance. Admission is general seating and costs $10 at the door. Originally created by Ken Bradbury as a way to avoid typical New Year’s Eve festivities, the joke show has grown steadily over the years. Following Bradbury’s passing, the event has been carried on in his memory, with all proceeds benefiting the Ken Bradbury Foundation.
The foundation supports theater in the greater Jacksonville area, providing assistance to local organizations, schools and individuals involved in stage productions. Last year’s show drew approximately 180 attendees, and organizers expect another strong turnout.
The evening features a fast-paced collection of “completely stolen and ridiculous jokes,” delivered with the understanding that if someone leaves slightly offended, the performers have done their job. This year’s cast includes Craig Albers, retired teacher Tammy Guthrie, new mother and former Ken Bradbury student Katie McDannald, Zach Pickens and new cast member Sherie Trace. Gary Scott and Keith Bradbury also return to the stage.
Musical accompaniment will be provided by Stephanie Soltermann, with sound by Bob Stambaugh. The event takes place at K’s Creek Golf Course, where organizers have enhanced staging, backdrops and sound for the 2025 show. For more information, call 217-473-5969.
South Jacksonville Fire Department seeking to set up fire protection district
The South Jacksonville Fire Department is seeking to establish a rural fire protection district to provide a more stable and consistent source of funding for equipment upgrades and staffing needs.
Currently, the department serves village residents and businesses, while rural areas within its coverage area rely on a voluntary subscription system costing $100 per year.
Fire Chief Rich Evans Jr. told WLDS that the model has become too unpredictable to sustain operations, particularly as equipment ages and staffing demands increase. Under the proposal, the subscription program would cease, and fire protection would instead be funded through a property tax assessed to homeowners within the district.
The proposed district would include the Village of South Jacksonville and surrounding rural areas extending toward Lynnville up to the Scott County line, south of Old Route 36, and east to the Woodson Fire Protection District boundary. According to the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, the district would have an aggregate tax extension base of approximately $475,000. Evans said the revenue would be used to replace outdated and increasingly expensive equipment and to help fund part-time staffing during periods when volunteer availability is limited.
The department’s current budget is funded by the Village of South Jacksonville and supplemented through fundraisers like the recent Cookie Walk as well as its annual Ribeye Cookout. If approved, the new tax would be based on assessed property values, meaning some homeowners could pay slightly more than the current $100 subscription fee.
A court hearing on December 15 at the Morgan County Courthouse allowed the ballot referendum to proceed. If the referendum moves forward, the department plans to host informational town hall meetings ahead of the March primary election. Chief Evans has been working on the initiative for more than a year.
California man receives probation in I-72 drug bust
Two California men arrested in a major Interstate 72 drug bust in Morgan County last summer have now been sentenced following negotiated plea agreements.
Jose M. Meza, 21, of Fresno, California, was sentenced December 8 in Morgan County court after being arrested during a traffic stop near the Ashland–Alexander exit on I-72 in late August 2024. According to Illinois State Police, Meza was driving a vehicle stopped around 9:43 p.m., in which officers discovered more than 900 grams of methamphetamine and over 5,000 grams (about 11 pounds) of cannabis.
Meza was initially charged with multiple felony counts, including methamphetamine trafficking, possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver, cannabis trafficking and possession of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis. The methamphetamine charge alone was a Class X felony, carrying a possible sentence of 10 to 50 years in prison.
On December 8, Judge Chris Reif accepted a negotiated plea agreement that reduced Meza’s conviction to a single count of possession of cannabis. Under the agreement, Meza was sentenced to six days in jail with credit for three days served. He was fined $2,500, ordered to pay a $2,215 drug assessment, complete 100 hours of community service and placed on probation for four years.
The fines must be paid within three years. The remaining five charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal. Meza’s co-defendant, Devin J. Teran, 23, of Madera, California, who was a passenger in the vehicle, received a similar negotiated plea agreement in early November. Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll said both men were college students with no prior criminal records.
Jacksonville man arrested by FBI for possession, dissemination of child pornography
Local law enforcement and members of the FBI raided a home in Jacksonville on December 8 and arrested a man after a six-month investigation into his alleged possession and dissemination of child sex abuse material.
According to federal court records, Daniel R. Brannan, 47, of the 300 block of South Westgate Avenue was taken into custody by federal authorities at his home on the morning of December 8.
According to the complaint and warrant filed, Jacksonville Police detectives began investigating Brannan’s online activities after receiving a Cybertip from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office on June 3 that a profile on the freeware instant messaging application Kik was downloading and disseminating child sex abuse material.
Kik is known for its features preserving users’ anonymity, such as allowing users to register without the need to provide a telephone number or valid email address. The platform has become increasingly used by child sex predators. Detectives were able to trace the Kik username to a residential IP address and Samsung phone through AT&T wireless use to accounts registered in Brannan’s name after federal search warrants were executed on Kik in October.
The federal complaint went into further explicit detail about Brannan’s trade of over 60 files of child sex abuse material between April 30 and May 1 of this year, with some depictions of children under the age of 12.
During the course of his arrest, FBI agents located and seized Brannan’s Samsung phone as well as a laptop and several storage devices that contained the material. Brannan is also said to have admitted trading the material over several years and did not avoid questioning during the arrest, according to the federal complaint filed and unsealed on December 9.
At a hearing in Springfield on December 9, Brannan was ordered detained by the court, but no further scheduling of court dates was posted as of press time. Brannan remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s service.
Drive-thru Nativity returns to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church
The public is invited to experience a drive-thru nativity lane highlighting the major moments of the Christmas story.
Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, also known as Point Church, is pleased to present this event for the Jacksonville area community again in 2025. The drive-thru experience will take place two evenings: Sunday, December 21 and Monday, December 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The church is located at 1447 Merritt Road, three miles west of Jacksonville on Old Route 36.
At Merritt Road, cars will be asked to dim their headlights, drive slowly, and experience various scenes of the Christmas story depicted by live actors. It’s the perfect family-friendly event to combine with an evening of looking at Christmas lights or caroling with friends.
Audra Nelson, the event coordinator, said the church is busy making preparations. “We are pleased to offer this celebration of the season once again in 2025! We are grateful to all the volunteers, costumers, set builders, lighting coordinators, and others who are helping us make Nativity Lane happen this year.”
The church has presented a living nativity for over two decades. “We are pleased to once again bring this wonderful event back in 2025,” says Pastor Becky Williams. “The church has been doing the event for many years and is honored to once again make it available for the public to enjoy as we approach the Christmas holiday.”
The church invites everyone to experience this magical event during the holiday season! Learn more about Wesley Chapel at wesleychapeljax.com.
United Way to hold informational, meeting for prospective agency partners
Prairieland United Way will host a pre-allocation informational meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. The session will take place in the Commission Room on the second floor of the Municipal Building, located at 200 West Douglas Avenue. This is a mandatory meeting for IL 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Morgan, Scott, Cass and northern Greene counties who are interested in applying for FY2027 United Way funding. Application requirements, procedures and deadlines will be reviewed at that time.
The following documents must be received from your organization to be considered eligible to apply for a United Way grant: IRS Tax Exempt Letter; Copy of Constitution/By-Laws; Copy of Non-Discrimination Policies specific to employment services; Copy of Corporate Charter including Amendments
Additionally, the following documents are required for your annual file: Current Board list including addresses, Officers and Meeting schedule with location; Annual Report; Audit or Financial Review; IRS 990 and AG990-IL.
For more information, please contact Karen Walker at Prairieland United Way at 217-245-4557.
Police receive special gift from Little Mexico
The owners of Little Mexico paid the Jacksonville Police Department a visit on December 10 to help them get into the holiday season. As a token of their appreciation, they gave all officers a gift card to their restaurant.
Crime of the Week: Broken window at Leo’s Pizza
Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott and Cass counties is asking for the public’s help in identifying those responsible for a criminal damage incident that occurred at a popular Jacksonville restaurant on December 9.
Jacksonville police were called to Leo’s Pizza, 230 South Main Street, at approximately 6:45 p.m. December 9 after a window at the business was shattered while customers were dining inside.
The incident occurred at a booth near the window, sending shards of glass into a customer’s pizza, according to police.
Lt. Mark Lonergan of the Jacksonville Police Department told the Jacksonville Journal-Courier that patrons reported hearing a cracking sound moments before realizing the window had broken. While the noise was not described as loud like a gunshot, customers believed it could have been caused by a BB gun.
Police have not been able to verify what caused the damage. No one was struck by a BB pellet or injured by the broken glass, and no injuries were reported, police said. Investigators believe an unknown subject or subjects used an object to shatter the window of the business.
Crime Stoppers is encouraging anyone with information about this incident to submit an anonymous tip. Tips can be submitted anonymously by visiting the Crime Stoppers Facebook page and clicking the “Contact Us” button, by going to morganscottcrimestoppers.com or by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 217-243-7300. Crime Stoppers just want your information and not your name. If your information leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.
Scott County to launch new text messaging service
Scott County will be launching a new service in January for residents to receive text alerts from the Scott County government for county news and announcements.
Scott County Clerk Brooke Smith is working on the details of the program and more will be announced soon. The program is called “Text.gov” and will be available to all residents who sign up. More information will be provided in this space once it is made available.
Derek Suttles named chief of police in Meredosia
A familiar face in Morgan County law enforcement can add another title to his list. Current chief of police in Murrayville-Woodson, Morgan County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Suttles was named the chief of police in Meredosia in late November.
Suttles replaces Rusty Richard, who stepped down from the top stop but remains as an officer for the department. The Journal-Courier reports it has been a smooth transition in the department with Suttles’ appointment.
Educational Day Care Center seeks community help to address $60,000 budget shortfall
The Educational Day Care Center in Jacksonville is asking for community support after losing a significant portion of grant funding that helped cover staff salaries, creating a projected $60,000 budget gap for the year.
Center officials say the reduction in grant support poses a serious challenge because staffing costs are closely tied to state-mandated child-to-teacher ratios set by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Those ratios limit how many children can be enrolled in each classroom based on the number of qualified staff members available. If staffing levels cannot be maintained, classrooms could be forced to close, reducing access to child care for local families.
The daycare primarily serves families who already rely on financial assistance. Board leaders say many parents are facing increased financial strain due to broader economic pressures, including reduced public benefits and uncertainty around health care and other essential expenses. The loss of funding comes at a time when families were already struggling to meet basic needs, making it difficult for the center to offset the shortfall through higher tuition or fees.
Because of regulatory requirements, the center cannot easily rely on volunteers to fill staffing needs. Volunteers must meet extensive state standards, limiting that option as a solution to the funding problem.
As a result, the center is focusing its efforts on raising monetary donations to help cover operational costs, particularly employee wages that are essential to keeping classrooms open. The Educational Day Care Center is asking individuals, businesses and organizations to consider contributing financially to help stabilize operations and ensure continued care for children in the community.
Donations can be mailed directly to the center at 330 West Michigan Ave. in Jacksonville. Center officials say electronic payment options may also be available for those who prefer to donate digitally.
Administrators emphasize that community support will play a key role in determining whether the center can continue providing consistent, affordable child care for families who depend on its services.
Polar vortex, La Niña dump more snow
The winter tango between the polar vortex and La Niña has dumped another batch of snow on the region and turned the temperatures bitter cold. Another approximately 4 inches of snow was dropped on the Jacksonville area between Friday and Saturday last week and with the system came bitterly cold temperatures.
Wind chills were expected between 15-25 degrees below zero throughout the weekend. The most bitter cold came on Sunday with temperatures in the single digits during the day and below zero at night.
Federal scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) confirmed that the La Niña weather pattern, which started in October, is expected to continue shaping U.S. weather through the winter. With the weather pattern setting in, federal forecasters predict more precipitation through the winter.
Jacksonville Area Museum invites the public to largest ever LEGO exhibit
The Jacksonville Area Museum is inviting families and LEGO enthusiasts of all ages to experience its biggest brick-building showcase yet.
The museum’s fourth-annual “Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” exhibit is now on display and features more than 120 entries—the most submissions in the event’s history.
The exhibit opened December 3 and will run through February 28, 2026. Organizers say the display includes dozens of large-scale and detailed builds designed to impress visitors ranging from young children to seasoned LEGO fans. Among the highlights are towering Lord of the Rings structures, expansive Harry Potter scenes filling entire tables, a massive Pirates of the Caribbean ship, and an extensive Star Wars collection that required additional display space.
Other themes include Disney favorites such as Snow White and her companions, farming scenes, floral designs and original creations. The exhibit features original builds and LEGO kit entries created by participants of all ages. Public voting will determine winners in five categories: Kit Build (all ages), Jacksonville 200th (commemorating the city’s bicentennial, all ages), Original Build ages 13 and up, Original Build ages 8-12, and Original Build ages 0-7.
LEGO gift cards valued at $100 will be awarded to entries receiving the most votes. Visitors may vote once per day, in person, during museum hours. The exhibit may be viewed Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The LEGO exhibit is consistently one of the museum’s most popular annual events.
Local veterans and volunteers gather for Wreaths Across America
Community members braved the cold and the snow to honor local veterans during the fifth annual Wreaths Across America Day ceremony in Jacksonville on December 13.
The ceremony began at Williamson Funeral Home with brief remarks by WJIL/WJVO radio owner Sarah Shellhammer and Rabbi Rob Thomas. Following the program, volunteers placed remembrance wreaths on the graves of veterans buried at Diamond Grove Cemetery, Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Calvary Catholic Cemetery, East Cemetery and Liberty Cemetery despite the freezing temperatures and snow storm.
Community members were asked in the previous month to submit names of local veterans to ensure they were honored with a wreath during the holiday season. Community members could also sponsor a wreath for $17 to honor a local veteran. The Jacksonville event is part of the national Wreaths Across America effort, which honors the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans by placing wreaths on their graves during the holiday season.
Wreaths Across America and its nationwide network of volunteers placed more than 2.7 million wreaths at 3,702 locations across the country in 2022. Approximately 300 wreaths alone were placed in Jacksonville cemeteries last year.
The Jacksonville ceremony has become an annual tradition, bringing together families, veterans organizations and volunteers to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach future generations the value of freedom.
Jacksonville Main Street announces Holiday Display Contest winners
Jacksonville Main Street has announced the winners of its 3rd annual Holiday Display Contest, which showcased festive storefront and interior decorations from local businesses throughout the downtown district.
Community members cast nearly 5,000 online votes through the Jacksonville Journal-Courier and its website, with voting concluding on December 12. The winners were selected based on those votes and officially announced by Jacksonville royalty.
These are the 2025 Holiday Display Contest winners:
1st Place — Market House Antiques
2nd Place — Boujee Barn Boutique
3rd Place — Bill’s West State Tavern
Due to blustery weather, Jacksonville Main Street representatives were able to surprise two of the winning businesses with their awards ahead of the official announcement.
The contest was open to all Jacksonville Main Street businesses, allowing entries for either window displays or interior décor. Windows were required to be illuminated at night, and interior entries shared business hours so voters could view displays in person.
Jacksonville Main Street expressed appreciation to everyone who participated and voted, and extended special thanks to the Journal Courier for coordinating the voting for the awards.
Morgan fugitive caught in Schuyler
Schuyler County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Jacksonville man on multiple outstanding warrants spanning three Illinois counties on December 11.
According to the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office, deputies took John P. Baker, 47, of Jacksonville, into custody. Baker is wanted on active warrants from Cass, Morgan, and Pike counties and remains lodged at the Schuyler County Jail in Rushville pending further court proceedings.
In Cass County, Baker is sought on a warrant for a probation violation related to a January 10, 2024, conviction for Class 3 felony aggravated battery in a public place. Court records indicate the conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on November 13, 2023.
Under a plea agreement, Baker was sentenced to two years of probation. As part of that agreement, charges of aggravated domestic battery, three separate violations of an order of protection, and several traffic offenses were dismissed.
Shortly after the November 13, 2023, arrest of Baker, an emergency order of protection was filed by a woman in Ashland. A plenary order was reportedly served in the case on December 1 of this year by the Gibson County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Department and extends the order of protection through 2027.
Baker is also wanted in Morgan County on a contempt of court warrant for failing to pay a fine related to a driving with a suspended license citation issued on January 20, 2023. Additionally, a failure to appear warrant was issued for another driving with a suspended license citation dated April 25, 2024.
The most serious charges against Baker originate in Pike County, where multiple felony warrants have been issued. Those charges include unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary, unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, and driving on a suspended license.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded at 5:38 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, 2024, to a stolen vehicle complaint in Perry. The victim reported his red 2011 Ford truck had been taken. The vehicle was recovered a short time later at the Community Park in Chapin. Following a criminal investigation, law enforcement officers executed a court-authorized search warrant at an apartment in the 100 block of West Main Street in Perry at 3:18 p.m. on June 17, 2024.
Baker was arrested following the search. Court records show Baker then failed to appear for court proceedings on the Pike County charges on July 2, 2024, and has not appeared before a judge since that time. Further court dates and potential extraditions are pending.
New physical therapy office opens in Jacksonville
A new healthcare provider has opened its doors to serve individuals seeking rehabilitative and wellness services in downtown Jacksonville.
Netherine’s Physical Therapy, Pelvic Floor and Wellness, owned and operated by physical therapist Netherine Valencia-Stambaugh, commenced operations December 3 at 512 West Morgan St.
The clinic offers a range of therapeutic services designed to support recovery, improve mobility and enhance overall well-being. Find out more at netherinephysicaltherapy.com.
