By Ben Cox
The Art Association of Jacksonville crowns royalty at Beaux Arts Ball
The Art Association of Jacksonville crowned Amelia Symons, daughter of Stephen and Cammie Symons, and Braden Cors, son of Brad and Sarah Cors, on April 26 as the queen and king respectively of the 68th annual Beaux Arts Ball. This year’s theme was “A Stroll Through the English Countryside.”
Attorney who practiced in Morgan County juvenile cases suspended
A Springfield lawyer who was asked to resign by the Springfield City Council last April after allegations of unethical behavior came to light from her time working for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General has had her law license suspended by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC).
The ARDC ruled in late May that Salena Rachelle Young falsified work records while working for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office after a complaint was filed in 2024. The ruling says that Young “knowingly” submitted timesheets to the ILAG’s office showing she worked full days while she also worked part-time as a Sangamon County assistant public defender and operated a solo law practice.
The executive inspector general for the attorney general issued a report Dec. 29, 2023, which uncovered the scheme that also involved two other men she was living with in Springfield, Thomas Ewick and Jason Young.
Ewick was her supervisor while she worked at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, and Young is her husband. Much of the alleged misconduct happened while Salena Young was purportedly working remotely from her home.
On at least three dozen occasions, according to the complaint, Salena Young falsified work between November 2021 and June 2023. As a public defender, Salena Young handled juvenile abuse and neglect cases, including at least 18 occasions in Morgan County where Jason Young supposedly made appearances on his wife’s behalf according to the State Journal-Register.
Jason Young was suspended for 90 days, also for submitting false timesheets. Salena Young’s suspension starts June 12 and will last 2 years.
Two men arrested for fentanyl trafficking in Jacksonville
Two Jacksonville men were arrested in the early morning hours of May 24 for alleged fentanyl trafficking. Jacksonville Police officers initiated a traffic stop in the 500 block of East Morton Avenue at approximately 2:35 a.m. on May 24. During the course of the investigation, officers called on a K-9 officer to search the vehicle. Subsequent to the investigation, officers arrested the driver of the vehicle, David E. Grandadam, 47, of the 500 block of South Church Street, on citations of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Officers also arrested a passenger, Matthew J. McCauley, 35, also of the 500 block of South Church, on citations of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and obstruction of justice. McCauley allegedly provided officers with a false name during questioning. Court information was not available as of press time.
Two Pikeland H.S. teens killed on U.S. 67 west of Woodson
Two Pittsfield High School teenagers were killed on May 24 in a car crash on U.S. 67. According to an Illinois State Police report, a 2007 Chevy Malibu was traveling eastbound on the
Winchester-Woodson Road while a 2020 Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling southbound on U.S. 67, when the car entered the intersection and was struck at approximately 2:15 p.m. on May 24.
Two passengers in the car were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Morgan County Coroner’s Office: Jeremy Davidsmeyer, 18, and Joey Noble, 17, both of Pittsfield. The driver of the car was identified as an 18-year-old from Pittsfield. The driver and a third passenger in the car, identified as a 19-year-old from Pleasant Hill, were both flown to Springfield with serious injuries.
Also injured were the driver of the pickup, a 23-year-old from Woodson, and a 21-year-old passenger from Jacksonville. Police say they were taken by ambulance to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. Pikeland Superintendent Todd Fox identified the other two teenagers in the car as Tristyn Ruzich and Lane Foster after receiving permission from their parents. The highway was closed to both northbound and southbound traffic for approximately 6 hours while investigation and cleanup of the scene occurred. Superintendent Fox said school was in session this past week for Pikeland Schools but high school semester final exams were canceled.
Morgan County Courthouse elevator to shut down June 9
Visitors to the Morgan County Courthouse will have to start using the stairs starting on June 9. WLDS News reports that Kone Elevators will begin work on updating the elevator, which is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete.
Morgan County Board Chairman Mike Wankel told the radio station May 27 that the elevator has been under continued maintenance since the beginning of the year and has been closed periodically. There have been a couple of instances in which the fire department has been called to rescue people caught between floors.
An official board notice is expected to be posted within the next two weeks.
Wankel says if members of the public cannot navigate the stairs to complete their business, they should call ahead to make arrangements.
Rep. Moore pushing bill to eliminate start-up costs on new businesses
State Representative Kyle Moore (IL-99, Quincy) is pushing legislation to help young business owners by eliminating start-up fees and costs at the state level.
The Reducing Barriers to Start Act would encourage the elimination of all first-year business fees relating to any license or registration for any new business or person establishing a new business, including home-based businesses, whose principal place of business is in Illinois.
“I think this rings true for young people who, whether you are fresh out of college or you are saving for your first home, you probably have a side hustle,” Moore says, “If you want to turn that side hustle into a legit business, you’ll be able to do it with no start-up costs if this bill were to become law.”
Moore’s HB1351 was introduced back in January and has remained parked in the House Rules Committee. Since March, the bill has received 10 House GOP co-sponsors, but has not been called for a second reading. The bill is a part of GOP-led initiatives they say will curb the state’s population loss and promote pro-growth, pro-business policies.
Jacksonville contractor hit with home repair fraud charges in Scott County
A Jacksonville contractor has been charged with three home repair fraud felonies in Scott County. Scott County
State’s Attorney Rick Crews filed the charges against Devin D. Workman, 53, of Jacksonville, on May 14.
The charges include Class 4 felony Home Repair Fraud under $1,000; Class 4 felony Deceptive Practices under $1,000; and Class 3 felony theft by deception between $500-$10,000. Court dates and arrest information were not listed in online court records. Workman is said to be the owner and general contractor for Workman Property
Preservation, a company that provides “securing, winterizing, boarding, clean outs, maid service, small carpentry repair, and inspection,” according to a LinkedIn profile.
Davidsmeyer bill on certifying disability passes
A person who is permanently disabled will have an easier time when it comes to driving in the state of Illinois following the passage of SB1256 on May 21 in the Illinois House.
The measure, sponsored in the House by State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (IL-100, Murrayville) and by State Senator Steve McClure (IL-54, Chatham), changes how often a disabled person has to certify their disability to the Secretary of State’s office in order to obtain a plate or placard. It also adds to the list of professionals who are able to provide that certification.
“A person that is permanently disabled shouldn’t have to come back every year and have to prove that they are disabled,” Davidsmeyer says, “They will have to come back every five years to the Secretary of State to submit proof.” Davidsmeyer says it adds physical therapists to the list of people who can certify a person’s disability. The bill passed both houses of the General Assembly unanimously and now heads to the governor’s desk.
Sleep sacks given to new parents at Memorial Health hospitals
Parents of babies born at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and Memorial Health’s other hospitals will be given free infant sleep sacks as part of a Safe Sleep initiative in conjunction with the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a leading cause of death in infants under one year of age in Illinois, which is why this initiative is so important,” said Kaitlyn Lynn, RNC-MNN, a nursery clinical coordinator at Springfield Memorial Hospital.
“We now send families home with a complimentary sleep sack, safe sleep educational materials and instructions on how to swaddle correctly.” The hospital maternity teams teach parents safe sleep techniques and perform crib audits to show real-life examples of safe or unsafe crib conditions.
The sleep sack offers the following benefits: replaces loose blankets for safe sleep; swaddles babies three ways; immobilizes baby’s arms to prevent startle reflex and encourage smooth sleeping; offers a “Back is best” reminder to put baby to sleep on their back; recognized as “hip healthy” by the
International Hip Dysplasia Institute; fasteners offer a customized fit for comfort and ease; includes an inverted zipper for easy diaper change. The Jacksonville Memorial
Hospital Auxiliary helped fund the purchase of the sleep sacks locally, which are newborn sized for 6- to 12-pound infants.
Beardstown man gets 12 years in federal prison for meth trafficking
A Beardstown man is headed to the federal Bureau of Prisons for 12 years after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking charges after being an alleged dealer of the drug in three West Central Illinois counties.
According to a federal indictment filed on February 23, 2023, Timothy A. Hacker, 43, was identified by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Springfield in conjunction with the Central Illinois Enforcement Group (CEIG) as a methamphetamine distributor in Beardstown, Rushville and Springfield after receiving information.
Agents from both agencies then utilized a confidential source and an undercover agent to conduct a controlled buy from Hacker. The agent and source made three controlled buys from Hacker between February 23 and March 28, 2023. The complaint details that on April 11, 2023, agents set up a fourth controlled buy with Hacker in an effort to take him into custody by organizing a meetup in Jacksonville.
After utilizing the undercover agent’s cellphone, the Illinois State Police coordinated a traffic stop on Hacker’s vehicle in Jacksonville. Hacker attempted to flee officers, but was later taken into custody with assistance from State Police Helicopter observation. Upon his arrest, officers allegedly located 6 ounces of methamphetamine that Hacker allegedly attempted to hide in a private residence’s backyard in Jacksonville.
After his apprehension, Hacker admitted to traveling across county lines to sell the drugs and admitted to fleeing from police. Hacker was originally charged in Morgan County Circuit Court on May 12 with possession of methamphetamine and methamphetamine delivery of 100-400 grams.
Both charges were dismissed in deference to the federal charges. On December 17, 2024, Hacker pleaded guilty to two of the four federal charges against him. On May 21, Hacker was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, 5 years of mandatory supervised release and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment fee. The two remaining charges were dismissed per the plea.
Jacksonville Lions Club offering hearing and vision screenings on June 11
The Jacksonville Lions Club will be offering free hearing and retinal screenings as a part of the Be Aware Wellness Fair in Community Park on June 11 from 4-6 p.m. The foundation’s mobile hearing and retinal screening unit will be free and painless, taking only a few minutes to complete. According to a press release from the Lions of Illinois Foundation, hearing loss affects about 15.5% of Americans ages 20 or older. Retinal disorders such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy dramatically impact quality of life and early detection is critical. Those ages 55 or above are encouraged to get a retinal screen. It is the specific mission of the Foundation to provide quality programs and services to the people of Illinois for the detection, treatment and rehabilitation of visual and hearing needs.
Local representative opposed to new gun lockbox bill
A bill that would require gun owners to keep any firearms in a locked box whenever a minor is present was given approval by the General Assembly on May 28. Senate Bill 8, or the Safe Gun Storage Act, passed the Illinois House 69-40 during the day on May 28 after having passed the Senate along party lines 33-19 earlier in the morning. Illinois GOP lawmakers have warned that the law could be found unconstitutional if challenged in court. The bill mandates that gun owners store their firearms in a secure, locked box in any place where they know or “reasonably should know” that a minor without permission to access a firearm, an at-risk person or someone who is prohibited from obtaining a firearm can access the weapon.
Gun owners who violate the act would be subject to civil penalties. State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (100-Murrayville) raised concerns about the bill’s definition of “lawful permission” and its limitations on minors who hunt. On the House floor, Davidsmeyer asked what constitutes “lawful permission,” to which the bill’s sponsor answered it, “could be several things.” Davidsmeyer says it will ultimately cause more lawsuits for the state on a bill that received limited discussion or debate.
When asked whether permission must be written down or notarized for parental permission of a minor using a firearm to hunt to be considered lawful, the sponsor answered that “hypothetical points are fact dependent.” Davidsmeyer said the question was not a hypothetical, and that it is an issue that will crop up in “daily life” for minors who hunt. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Rep. Moore: “Middle-class families don’t need another state task force”
State Representative Kyle Moore (99-Quincy) chided House Democrats for passing a Joint Resolution that would create a task force to study the feasibility of implementing policies focused on reducing the cost of living and enhancing the economic well-being of middle-class and modest-income families. House Joint Resolution 40 passed along party lines 75-33 on May 28 that creates the Saving Working Families and Easing the Cost of Living Task Force. The task force would be charged with presenting its findings to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2026. Many of the policies they would be assessing focus on reducing the cost of living and enhancing the economic well-being of middle class and modest-income families including numerous ideas already proposed by President Donald Trump including the elimination of taxes on tipped wages. Rep. Moore spoke against the bill saying working families can’t wait until December 2026 to receive relief: “My opposition to this is simple. We shouldn’t need a 10-person task force to tell us that reducing the cost of living is a good thing for working families. Furthermore, this resolution states that the work of this task force doesn’t end with action but with reports – a report that will not be due on our desk until December 2026.” Moore says the only good news about the bill is that it highlights policies that can put more money into the pockets of working families in Illinois. He says most of the policies are being sat on by State Democrats to die in the House Rules Committee.
Illinois farmers may soon get relief from deer damage to crops
Illinois farmers may soon have new powers to deal with deer that destroy their crops. The Illinois House passed Senate Bill 710, which allows agricultural landowners to obtain permits to cull deer responsible for damaging crop yields.
The bill’s sponsor, 40th District Senator Patrick Joyce of Kankakee, said the law is necessary to help farmers protect their income from deer damage, which has become a widespread concern across the state.
Deer-related crop damage in Illinois costs farmers millions of dollars annually. One study estimated total wildlife damage to corn and soybeans at $194 million and $323.9 million. The legislation followed months of discussions involving the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). State Senator Jil Tracy of Quincy was also a co-sponsor on the bill.
In the House, Deputy Minor Leader Norine Hammond (94-Macomb) co-sponsored the bill in the lower chamber. During debate, Hammond discussed not only the damages caused by wildlife but also pointed out that the bill is a testimony to the “The Adopted Legislator Program” of the Illinois Farm Bureau.
The program matches legislators, mostly in the northern half of the state, with downstate farm bureaus who then provide them with tours of the counties and local farms. To date, 73 legislators have been adopted through the program with almost every legislator in Cook County participating in the program. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Crime of the Week: Car theft from West Morton Avenue
Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott and Cass counties is requesting the public’s help to identify suspects and recover a car involved in a recent theft.
According to a Jacksonville Police Department report, sometime between May 23 and May 26, a 2022 Red Honda Civic was removed from a business located in the 900 block of West Morton Avenue. The vehicle had a decal on the rear glass that read “Video Monitoring In Progress.”
Police are asking if anyone has further information on this incident or know of the whereabouts of the vehicle to submit a tip to Crime Stoppers at their Facebook Page by clicking the ‘Contact Us’ option at the top of the page. Tips may also be submitted via morganscottcrimestoppers.com by clicking on the ‘Submit A Tip’ option at the top of the homepage or 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.
Jacksonville City Council votes to keep 1% grocery tax
More than 160 communities around the state have decided to keep the 1% grocery tax that was eliminated at the state level by legislation last year. Jacksonville added its name to that ever-growing list at the May 27 meeting of the city council.
The council voted 7-0 in favor of keeping the tax at the local level. New Ward 3 Alderwoman Terissa Heape voted to abstain on the measure. Alderwomen Alison Rubin de Celis and Eren White-Williams were both absent from the meeting. During the city’s workshop session, City
Attorney Dan Beard said the city would be missing out on just over $748,000 annually if they decided to get rid of the tax. There was no further discussion about the measure.
Jacksonville’s revenue from the tax will be placed into the city’s General Funds for use on the city’s bills and projects. The state version of the tax expires at the end of this year. Collection on the tax at the local level will begin on January 1, 2026.
Annual Art in the Yard for children takes place June 7
Art in the Yard co-chairs Stephanie and Tim Chipman are offering another installment of Art in the Yard, a premiere creative outreach experience for children and families sponsored by The Art Association of Jacksonville, on June 7 from 10 a.m. to noon in the front yard of The David Strawn Art Gallery.
This year’s art projects center around Jacksonville’s 200th birthday, featuring projects that celebrate local mainstays, institutions and traditions including the Ferris wheel, farmers market, the Jacksonville Speedway and Illinois College, for example. Admission is $5 per child and each child must be accompanied by an adult. The event is open to the public and no advance registration is necessary.
Vortman named JMH Colleague for the Month of May
Amanda Vortman, a radiologic technologist at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, is the nonprofit hospital’s Colleague of the Month for May. Vortman is a leader in the mammography department and is dedicated to patient care.
She tracks all Mammography Quality Standards Act paperwork to ensure the department offers the highest quality services, works alongside radiologists and maintains communication with physician offices to ensure the patient has the correct exam done.
Vortman also provides guidance and support to new trainees. “Amanda is dedicated to the quality of work she does with every single patient she encounters,” wrote her nominator. “Most mammography patients remember Amanda by name and are happy to see her on a yearly basis.” Vortman has worked for Jacksonville Memorial Hospital since 2005.
Future Champions partners with Tournament to show documentary
Future Champions Sports Complex in Jacksonville is the home of the 21st annual Brad Wallin Memorial Tournament. As part of the weekend’s events, the Illinois Theater will present special showings of “Safe at Home,” a documentary film that tells the story of the late Brad Wallin and the baseball community that continues to honor his legacy. The film looks at the life of Wallin, who died in 2004 at the age of 11 from a rare form of childhood bone cancer called osteosarcoma.
Weekend showings will be at 2:15, 3:30, 5 and 6:30 p.m. both Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8. Admission is $7, which includes popcorn, a soft drink and a donation to support youth athletics and cancer awareness initiatives through St. Jude.
The tournament was started by Wallin’s parents in the Chillicothe/Peoria area and is expected to draw approximately 100 teams and their families to Jacksonville. To date, the tournament has raised over $1 million for children’s cancer research. “This partnership goes beyond the game,” Future Champions Sports Complex co-owner Kristin Jamison said in a press release. “Brad’s story represents resilience, teamwork and heart — and we’re honored to help share it with the thousands of families visiting our community.”
Hope Circle presents Garden Walk on June 8
Everyone in the Jacksonville Community is invited to Hope Circle’s 14th semi-annual Garden Walk on Sunday, June 8 from 1-4:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Tickets will be available at any of the gardens on the day of the walk. The suggested donation is $10, which will be used to support our UWFaith missions. Participants may tour the following gardens in any order:
• David and Jan Adams – 11
Wadsworth Dr., Jacksonville (Pat Ward helped design their garden.)
• Jerry and Jeanne Byal – 1317 S. Clay Ave., Jacksonville (This informal garden features roses and a bed of wildflowers.)
• Mary Lou Lael – rural Ashland (Driving directions available on the day of the walk. This is the 10th anniversary of her project to create a restored prairie and 6-pool wetland.)
• Ann Large – 1618 S. Clay Ave.,
Jacksonville (Ann is sharing her garden in memory of her friend and fellow gardener, Marilyn Sorrill.)
• Joe and Karen Nolan – 9 Jacobs Ln., Jacksonville (Their garden features lots of whimsical items on a fence and in the flower beds.)
• Jacksonville Parks Foundation aGROWhood farm – hosted by Dr.
Michael Woods. It runs west along the town brook from the corner of S. Church and W. Chambers Streets in Jacksonville.
