Compiled by Ben Cox/The Source
JMH nurses attend Spinning Babies Foundational Workshop
Three Jacksonville Memorial Hospital (JMH) nurses from Family Maternity Suites took part in a Spinning Babies Foundational Workshop as part of continuing professional development funded through the Jacksonville Memorial Foundation. Spinning Babies is a physiological approach to preparing for birth and caring for birth.
The workshop teaches health care professionals how to pay closer attention to a baby’s spiraling motion during childbirth. The workshop includes maternal anatomy, birth positions, gravity and movement and birth preparation to help prioritize physiological care. Use of Spinning Baby methodology can reduce the need for a cesarean birth in some cases.
“We appreciate the Jacksonville Memorial Foundation for funding our attendance at this workshop,” said Maleah Johnson, RN, with JMH Family Maternity Suites. “Understanding more strategies during early labor to get baby ready has helped make the patient experience so much better. We’ve always encouraged moms to be more active, to walk around the room. This is just another tool to help them feel proactive and more comfortable during the birth process.”
Jordyn Bangert, RN, and Raegan Nienhiser, RN, also attended with Johnson. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation recognizes Spinning Babies as a provider of nursing continuing professional development.
New JHS Girls Varsity Basketball Coach announced
Jacksonville School District 117 Athletic Director Ryan Van Aken announced on June 25 that Dave Farris has been hired to be the new head girls basketball coach. Farris takes over for Steve Brannan. Brannan departed at the end of the past school year after two seasons, with a record of 6-53 overall.
Farris began his career coaching in boys basketball for Girard High School for two seasons before switching to girls basketball at Sacred Heart-Griffn. Farris spent seven seasons at SHG, compiling a record of 33-54 and one regional title before moving on to Auburn. Farris then spent the most recent 18 seasons at Auburn, where he had a record of 269-256, including one regional title and four 20-win seasons. “Coach Farris’ track record speaks for itself,” said Van Aken, “We are thrilled to have someone with his experience take the reins of our program. We look forward to this upcoming season and beyond.”
Jacksonville teen wins Miss Illinois Teen pageant
Lillie Brown, of Jacksonville, was crowned Miss Illinois Teen on June 27 at the Miss Illinois and Miss Illinois Teen pageant held in Marion. The pageant is a preliminary competition to both Miss America and Miss America Teen. Brown represented Miss Bay City Teen at the pageant.
Second runner-up was Miss Quincy Teen Molly Gerard, of Pittsfield. Gerard also took home the top score in the evening gown competition.
The Miss America Teen pageant will be held in September in Orlando.
Jacksonville’s The Salvation Army welcomes new leadership
The Salvation Army in Jacksonville welcomed a new leader this past week.
Captains Chris and April Clarke, who led the Jacksonville location for the past four years, have been reassigned to the Jefferson City, Missouri location of The Salvation Army.
Captain Justian Corliss was welcomed to Jacksonville last week after having spent the last four years at the O’Fallon, Missouri location. Corliss has been in service with The Salvation Army for more than a decade, having previously worked in Quincy, Chicago and St. Clair County. Corliss’ family has served The Salvation Army for several decades.
Franklin CUSD #1 announces new assistant principal and curriculum director
Franklin school superintendent Jeff Waggener announced on June 30 that the district has hired Niki Schuster as both the new assistant principal for grades PK-12 and curriculum director for Franklin Community Unit School District #1. Schuster brings over a decade of teaching experience, most recently serving as a middle school teacher and building leader at North Mac CUSD #34. “We are thrilled to welcome Niki Schuster to Franklin CUSD #1,” said Waggener, “Her dedication to instructional excellence, inclusive leadership and community engagement aligns perfectly with our district’s mission. I am confident she will make a lasting impact on our students, staff and families.” Schuster will begin her role effective immediately, supporting both building-level leadership and district-wide curriculum initiatives across all grade levels.
CNB Bank & Trust held annual meeting in April
The stockholders of CNB Bank Shares, Inc. held their annual meeting on Tuesday, April 29, at CNB’s corporate headquarters in Carlinville. In addition to receiving a report on the past year’s performance, stockholders reelected the incumbent board of directors for the ensuing year. Reelected to the parent company’s board were James Ashworth, Judith Baker, Spencer Cohn, Shawn Davis, Nancy Ruyle, Andrew Tinberg and Richard Walden. At a subsequent organizational meeting of the company on May 13, Richard Walden was reelected by the board to serve as chairman, and James Ashworth was reelected as vice chairman. The officers of the company were reappointed to their current positions, including Ashworth as president, Tinberg as executive vice president, Davis as senior vice president, Tom DeRobertis as vice president, and Kayla Mahaffay-Musson as vice president and controller. Ruyle was named as corporate secretary.
The board of the subsidiary, CNB Bank & Trust, N.A., was also reelected. The bank’s board consists of Walden (chairman), Ashworth (vice chairman), Baker, Davis, Ruyle, Joe Heitz, Rick Champley, Jim Salske, Kyle Schumacher and Tinberg. The officers of the bank were reappointed to their current positions, including Tinberg as president and CEO, and executive officers Tom DeRobertis, Deborah McDowell, Kayla Mahaffay-Musson, Norma Bellcoff, Chris Williams and Matthew Cors.
CNB Bank & Trust has full-service facilities in 17 communities, including Chapin and Jacksonville. Total consolidated assets for the company as of March 31 were $1,799,652,000.
Henry to continue serving as chair of Illinois Destinations Association
Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brittany Henry has been reelected as the chair of the Illinois Destinations Association’s board of directors for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The association partners with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism to help members more effectively bring visitors into their communities.
It provides educational opportunities to improve professionalism in the travel industry and a chance for networking and cooperation among members. It also serves as a political lobby on issues that affect tourism and business travel in Illinois. Henry’s new term will run until June 30, 2026.
Moore announces reelection bid in IL-99
State Representative Kyle Moore (R-99) of Quincy announced his bid for reelection to the Illinois General Assembly on July 2. 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 to form Multi-County Veterans Assistance Commissions to expand access and improve services for veterans across rural Illinois.
JMH hosts free Skin Cancer Screening event July 26
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and Simmons Cancer Institute will offer a free community skin cancer screening event from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, July 26, at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, 1600 West Walnut St. Screenings will be conducted by a dermatology team from Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine. Participants should not currently be under the care of a dermatologist. “Prevention, awareness and education are important parts of the care we offer,” said Aziz Khan, MD, executive director of Simmons Cancer Institute and chief of hematology oncology for SIU Medicine. “Diagnosing a precancerous condition or cancer at an early stage is a positive step.” Funding for the screening is provided by Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine and the Jacksonville Memorial Foundation. To register, call 447-784-3212.
Winchester First Baptist Church celebrates 200th anniversary
The Winchester First Baptist Church celebrated their 200th anniversary on Sunday, June 22, with special services and a meal. The church’s history shares that 14 people in their twenties gathered at David Casbier’s cabin on the hillside south of what would become Winchester on June 25, 1825.
Originally named Sandy Creek Baptist Church, it was the first known church in Winchester. The first building for the church was erected on the Casbier Farm, which is now where the City of Winchester’s water towers stand at the end of South Main in Winchester.
The current location of the church, located at West Cross and Mechanic streets, was not purchased and built until 1853. Presently serving as their 51st minister is Rev. Bill Baughman, a Winchester native. During the 200th anniversary celebration, the congregation heard from former pastors of the church. The lunch was held at 11:30 a.m. with a commemorative cake. The church is currently undergoing a window restoration project.
Crisis Center Foundation presenting Teen Healthy Relationship Series
The Crisis Center Foundation is presenting a month-long series of information and activities about healthy relationships for teenagers. The series is for youths ages 11-17 and will be held at the Crisis Center’s 1101 West Morton Avenue, Suite A location in Jacksonville. The series will be held every Wednesday through August 6 from 1-3 p.m., beginning with July 9 introductions. The series will cover healthy versus unhealthy relationships, personal boundaries, self-esteem and coping skills. Attendees will be invited to round out the series by attending the Back To School Bash on Saturday, August 9 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Minnie Barr Park, 300 East Walnut St.
The series is free to attend. For more information, contact Anna Sprague at 217-408-6421 (call or text) or sprague@jvilleccf.org, or Noami Trotter at 217-408-6242 (call or text) or trotter@jvilleccf.org.
Crime of the Week: Copper thefts from vacant homes in Prairie Knolls
Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties is requesting information to assist the Jacksonville Police Department in an investigation of recent thefts. At 10 p.m. on June 29, Jacksonville police received a report of copper wiring being removed from vacant mobile homes in the Prairie Knolls subdivision on the east end of Jacksonville. The wiring was stripped from air conditioning units, causing severe damage.
The police are asking that anyone with information concerning this incident to submit a tip online by visiting the Morgan, Scott & Cass Crime Stoppers Facebook page and clicking the ‘Contact Us’ button on the top of the page, or by visiting their website at morganscottcrimestoppers.com. Remember, Crime Stoppers just wants your information and not your name. If your tip leads to an arrest or recovery of stolen property, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
Winchester Post Office reopens this week
The Winchester Post Office reopened to post office box and prepaid acceptance customers on Tuesday, July 8 after being closed since September 2024. Residents were informed of the reopening with a post on social media and a sign on the door of the post office on July 3. Retail operations are set to reopen to the public within the next 7-10 business days according to the announcement. P.O. Box mail will be available to customers after 11 a.m. during business days.
The post office had been closed since September 2024 when a storm damaged the building’s roof and caused a massive leak. The building was set to reopen in March, but inspections by the U.S. Postal Service had been delayed until the end of last month.
Woods announces reelection bid for Morgan County Commissioner
Dr. Michael Woods has announced his bid to seek reelection to the Morgan County Commissioners. Woods made the announcement on July 4. Woods is the lone Democrat that is an elected official in the county.
“As your Commissioner, I pledge to continue rolling up my sleeves and working tirelessly on the vital issues that touch every part of Morgan County. Together, we will move forward — transforming our shared vision into real, lasting results that uplift every family, farmer, and small business in our community,” Woods said in a press release.
Woods was appointed to fill out the remainder of Bradley Zeller’s term in October 2024 after Zeller’s retirement.
Lahey featured on People for her hairstyle as Cowboys Cheerleader
Jacksonville native and current Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Ava Lahey was featured this week on People for her hairstyle. In a recent Instagram reel, Lahey — who also stars in Netflix’s hit “America’s Sweethearts” series — addressed why she’s allowed to wear her hair straight as opposed to the iconic curly hair like the rest of the team. Lahey says her hair can’t hold curls due to being naturally soft and fine. “It just feels so me,” she admitted, adding, “And now, it’s my signature look.”
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have been known for their strict rules and guidelines regarding their appearance as a franchise synonymous with its iconic image.
Members of the squad have opened up about it in the past, in addition to it being highlighted in the Netflix series, according to People. Season 2 of the reality series went live on Netflix on June 20.
Virginia Masonic Lodge gives funds to local day care, presents scholarships
Virginia Masonic Lodge Past Master Billy Reynolds recently presented donations totaling $1,200 to Amy Fritsche, director of the Virginia Community Day Care.
The donations were funded by the Masonic Lodge Cookout of June 14 and the Illinois Masonic Children’s Assistance Program. The Virginia Masons hold a monthly cookout at the four-way stop along Illinois Route 125, grilling bratwurst and hot dogs in the parking lot of Fast Stop.
The lodge also recently donated to the Virginia Junior High Scholastic Bowl team. In May, Worshipful Master Tim Noland presented four scholarships from the lodge’s Warren R. Musch Memorial Scholarship fund. Recipients were Lindy Parlier, Pay it Forward scholarship, $1,250; Norah Hays, Pay it Forward scholarship, $1,250; Savannah Bowman, Vocational, $1,250; and Kenleigh McHatton, LLCC Opportunity, $2,250.
Nolan also presented an additional $600 in May to the Virginia Community Day Care.
Winchester youth raise $1,200 for childhood cancer foundation
Kayson and Kaisley Shewmake, of Winchester, wanted to set up a lemonade and treat stand on the Winchester Square on Saturday, June 14 to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer in honor of their friend, John Kemper, who is fighting cancer. The Scott County Times reports that they had a goal of raising $200, but by closing time they had raised $1,246.
The money is going to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. The American pediatric cancer charity was founded by the parents of Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who passed away in 2004 after battling neuroblastoma. The foundation provides grants for pediatric cancer research, public awareness and education and provides travel aid for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Franklin crowns new royalty ahead of Fourth of July Celebration
The Franklin community witnessed the election of new royalty on Wednesday, July 3. While the burgoo was boiling, the pageant kicked off early in the afternoon.
This year’s winners are: Miss Franklin Natalie Long, Jr. Miss Franklin Parker Geer, Pre-Teen Hadley Turpin, Little Miss Skylar Desyllas and Little Mister Blake Whalen.
A small group of this year’s court were prior winners with Long winning 2022 Junior Miss Franklin, Geer winning 2018 Little Miss and Turpin winning 2021 Little Miss.
