By Ben Cox
City of Virginia set to rehire former police chief as part-time officer
The City of Virginia is set to rehire a former police chief who resigned after pleading guilty to a driving under the influence charge in 2019. According to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) website, the Virginia City Council approved the hire of Wesley D. Helmich at their September 8 meeting. However, that is no longer the name he goes by, as Helmich now goes by the name of Wesley Crowder.
Helmich was arrested for driving under the influence and improper lane usage by the Illinois State Police August 19, 2018 after he crashed his motorcycle into a ditch in rural Virginia. Helmich officially resigned as Chief of Police in the City of Virginia on December 10, 2018 after having served one year in the position. Helmich then pleaded guilty in Cass County Circuit Court to the DUI charge on January 8, 2019 and received a sentence of 18 months court supervision and 40 hours of community service along with a fine and mandatory attendance to DUI School. The court terminated the supervision as “satisfied” on April 8, 2020. According to ILETSB, after his resignation in Virginia, Helmich served as a part-time officer for the Wenona Police Department from February 2019-December 2020, a full-time officer in Divernon from April to August 2019, a full-time officer in Girard from March-September 2020 and a part-time officer in Virden from September 2020 to September 2021.
During his period in Divernon, he was referred to as “Wesley Crowder” rather than his legal last name. In a recent conversation with Virginia Mayor Steve Clark asking about concerns for Crowder to serve as an officer, Clark said that he believed “people can grow and change” and he felt confident that Crowder could serve the people of the City of Virginia as a part-time officer. Crowder’s hiring is still pending review by ILETSB as of press time.
LLCC-Jacksonville to host Workforce Institute Showcase
Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville invites prospective students and their families to an evening of exploration on October 15, 2025, from 2-7 p.m. This event will offer helpful resources, insights and support to help attendees take the next step in their educational journeys.
Event highlight from 2-5:30 p.m.: Financial Aid Completion – Participants will receive guidance for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students and parents can work with knowledgeable staff to ensure their FAFSA is submitted accurately and on time.
Event highlight from 5-7 p.m.: Workforce Programs Showcase – Attendees can look at workforce programs that can lead to high-demand careers. LLCC’s Workforce Institute directors and dean will be onsite to discuss programs like: CDL (truck driving), aviation maintenance, diesel and automotive technologies, industrial maintenance (advanced manufacturing), commercial electrical maintenance, construction occupations, hospitality and culinary, HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) and welding. The showcase is open to everyone.
Register for the event at llcc.edu/jacksonville. LLCC-Jacksonville is located at 32 North Central Park Plaza. The center is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Beardstown man receives probation in South Jacksonville sex crimes
A Cass County man did not receive prison time after pleading guilty to a single count of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Morgan County Circuit Court on September 23. Bradley S. Werries, 35, of Beardstown pleaded guilty to one count of Class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Werries was arrested by South Jacksonville Police in July 2024 on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor as a part of ongoing investigation into events that allegedly occurred in early 2021.
According to a Jacksonville Journal-Courier report at the time, Werries was also accused of distribution of explicit material to a minor and indecent solicitation of a minor but charges in relation to those accusations were not filed by the Morgan County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Morgan County Circuit Judge Christopher Reif sentenced Werries to 4 years of adult probation and ordered payment of a $500 county fine. According to online court records, Werries was not given credit for any jail time served in the case.
Jacksonville man sentenced to prison for 2024 Lake Jacksonville brawl
A Jacksonville man involved in a large fight at Lake Jacksonville last October was sentenced to prison last week.
Bryant D. Lynch, 37, of the 700 block of North Main Street, pleaded guilty in front of Circuit Judge Christopher Reif on September 23 in Morgan County Circuit Court to Class 2 felony aggravated battery of a peace officer.
Lynch was arrested on the morning of October 13, 2024, after Jacksonville Police were dispatched for a brawl allegedly involving two dozen people on Point 9 at Lake Jacksonville.
Upon arrival, law enforcement split up the group and arrested Lynch for the aforementioned charge as well as domestic battery and resisting a peace officer. According to the police report, Lynch struck his girlfriend causing visible injuries and then became combative with police during the arrest. The latter two charges were dismissed per the plea.
Judge Reif sentenced Lynch to a total of 3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 1 year of mandatory supervised release and ordered payment of a $500 fine. Lynch was given credit for 3 days served in the Morgan County Jail.
Turner named September Colleague of the Month at JMH
Angela Turner, an operating room technician at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, is the nonprofit hospital’s Colleague of the Month for September.
A spring tornado affected air flow at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, which is essential for keeping surgery instruments sterile. Many people stepped up to help including Turner, who helped reprocess compromised surgical instruments every day, including weekends, until the situation was stabilized.
“She stayed over her 10-hour shift to reprocess instruments to make sure when we were able to do surgery, we would have what we needed,” wrote her nominator.
“She is always helping others out, whether switching call days or picking up call days for people who need her help. She is a great asset to the OR team.”
Turner has worked for Jacksonville Memorial Hospital since 2018.
Jacksonville City Council reschedules first October meeting
The Jacksonville City Council has rescheduled their regularly scheduled workshop and meeting set for October 13.
The meetings will be pushed back by one day in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day. The rescheduled meeting will be held Tuesday, October 14, starting with the workshop session in the Commission Room, located on the second floor of the Jacksonville Municipal Building, 200 West Douglas Avenue, at 6 p.m.
The regular business meeting will follow no later than 7 p.m. in the council chambers. Remote viewing of the business meeting can be done by following the link at jacksonvilleil.gov. An
agenda for the meetings has not been posted as of press time.
Jacksonville man sentenced to federal prison for transporting minor
A Jacksonville man, who was arrested in February after FBI agents raided his home on Westgate Avenue in connection to a Western Michigan teen being transported across state lines for sex, was sentenced to over a decade in prison in federal court on September 30.
Hart L. Buckley, 24, formerly of the 500 block of South Westgate Avenue, pleaded guilty to Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity on June 10 in the Western District federal court in Michigan.
Chief Judge Hala Y. Jarbou sentenced Buckley to 15 years in federal prison, 5 years of supervised release, ordered payment of over $1,400 in restitution and $5,100 in fees and court costs.
Members of an FBI swat team entered the home at 542 South Westgate Avenue and took Buckley into custody on the morning of February 19 after agents connected Buckley to a 15-year old boy who had gone missing from his home in Wyoming, Michigan on January 26 and then discovered in a Jacksonville hotel room.
After the boy’s parents accessed the juvenile’s cellphone data, they were able to view messages that the boy and Buckley (using the screen name “Scarlet”) on the application Discord. The text messages promised acts of mutual sexual interest between the minor and Buckley’s alleged screen name, and that the two of them should meet at the Wyoming, Michigan library. The message exchange also showed nude photographs and videos exchanged between the two, according to court records.
Law enforcement say in the arrest warrant that by using databases and technology they were able to link the exchange to a phone number registered to Buckley’s home address in Jacksonville. Surveillance videos in Wyoming, Michigan showed the minor entering a vehicle on January 26 and leaving the area presumably with Buckley.
Law enforcement was able to use GPS technology to track Buckley’s phone to the Hampton Inn in Jacksonville, where the minor was located with Buckley on the evening of January 27th. According to the federal warrant, Buckley and the boy had been exchanging messages over the Internet for approximately 3 years prior to the incident.
Former Morgan County Fair Queen battling rare cancer, has GoFundMe
The 2022 Morgan County Fair Queen, Chloe Birdsell of Murrayville, has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, Histiocytic Sarcoma. Birdsell’s friends have rallied and have asked the community to support her in her diagnosis by asking for donations via GoFundMe.
Set up by Birdsell’s close friend, Sage Kershaw, residents can donate on the GoFundMe platform. The link has been shared in several places. Kershaw says that Birdsell has been unable to work for the last several months as she has had several visits to the hospital along with multiple appointments with doctors laying out a long-term treatment and care plan.
Her treatment is expected to begin in the next few weeks. Praise of Chloe’s personality, creativity and kindness have poured in from the community since the announcement was made last week. So far, the GoFundMe has raised close to $19,000 to help the family in their time of need.
Owners of former Gillham-Buchanan Funeral Home location up for sale
Ross Blakeman and Nathan Peak, owners of the former Gillham-Buchanan Funeral Home in Jacksonville, have decided to put the location up for sale. The two partners announced in January they were hoping to bring a fresh flower shop and eatery to the location at 326 West State Street called Salt + Petal.
Blakeman, a native of Beardstown and an experienced florist and owner of Rosebud & Co., was going to bring fresh floral arrangements to accompany Peak’s culinary creations as an executive chef. In April, the pair ran into some financial roadblocks as they were seeking money to further renovate the century-old building to accommodate the future plans.
In a post on the Salt + Petal Facebook Page on September 29, the partners say they intend to pivot to a new location, “Opportunities have come up that we simply can’t ignore; the kind of opportunities that, while different from our initial plan, will let us build something even stronger for the future of Salt + Petal and ourselves. This isn’t a goodbye, we’re not giving up; in fact, it’s the opposite. We’re pivoting because we believe in Salt + Petal and in Jacksonville.
“When the right doors open, we have to be brave enough to walk through them, even if it means changing course. Over these many months, we’ve met so many amazing people in Jacksonville, and we’re more excited than ever to be a part of the buzz downtown. Salt + Petal is still coming to life and we thank you for believing in us and for sharing this journey … the best is still ahead.” Garrison Group is overseeing the property’s sale.
West State Street renovations done, finalizing downtown revitalization
Workers installed the arch in the 200 block of West State Street the week of September 23 finalizing the West State Street renovations. Birdsell Machine & Ornamental installed the archway to the plaza, which mirrors the other gateways to downtown Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Main Street and the City of Jacksonville has been working to reopen and revitalize the square since 2005, after the first quad building was torn down. The quad buildings were installed as a part of the city government’s urban renewal plans in the late 60s and early 70s in conjunction with federal programs, which closed off the square.
For the last two decades, the city reopened the square to traffic and resurfaced sidewalks, streetscapes and roadways leading to the square. Since the square’s reopening, the downtown has become a part of the city’s economic growth as business occupancy has returned and attracted people to shop and eat downtown again. The project was completed shortly before the city celebrated its Bicentennial this past weekend.
South Africa featured in HCE International Day
Morgan County Home and Community Education (HCE) International Day will be held on Thursday, October 16 at the Morgan County Extension Office, 104 N. Westgate Avenue at 9:30 am. HCE members and guests will learn about South Africa.
Joyce Ginder, Morgan County’s HCE International Chair, has planned an interesting program complete with information about South Africa, trivia, and samples of their food. Diane Webster will be the featured speaker. Diane’s family lived in Cape Town, South Africa for several months a number of years ago. HCE members will prepare traditional South African food for the group to sample at lunch time.
HCE members are encouraged to bring a friend with them. Registration will open at 9:00 am. The meeting is open to the public.
Jacksonville Lions Club thanks community for Trivia Night support
The Jacksonville Lions Clubs held their 2nd annual Trivia Night on September 5. “We would like to thank all our supporters and community for their generosity. We had an amazing turnout, and the community will benefit greatly from the funds we raised. We look forward to doing this again next year,” an announcement recently read.
The Lions wish to thank the following donors and sponsors for the event: Anytime Fitness, Arby’s, Barber Florists, Barney’s Pub, Bella Milano, Billy’s Furniture, Brown Shoe Fit Co., Buchheit, Buffalo Wild Wings, Bunn O Matic, Burger King, Casey’s, C.D. Davidsmeyer – State Representative, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Club Carwash, Culvers, Dominos, Drury Inn (St. Louis), Dunham’s, El Patron, Evandy’s Boatel, Farmer & Home Supply, Freddies, Glitz and Glam Grooming, Haas Plumbing, Hamilton’s Catering, Home Depot (Jacksonville), Hy-Vee (Jacksonville), I Hop, Jones Meat Locker, K’s Creek, Illinois Road Contractors, Jacksonville Speedway, Lomelino Sign Company, McDonald’s, Marcie Taylor, Mayor Andy Ezard, MDM Farms, Montvale Senior Living, Olive Branch, Olive Garden, Ollie’s, Pampered Chef (Tamra Robinson), Papa Frank’s, Pearle Vision, Pet Smart, Prairieland Heritage Museum, Rawlings Excavating, Reel’s Net & Twine (Pittsfield), RMC Stadium Cinemas (Jacksonville), Screen Tek, Scribner Home Improvements Inc, Sonic, Taco Bell, Take 5 Oil Change (Jacksonville), Texas Roadhouse, The Triangle Bar, Turner Tree Service, Vikkie Becker – Running for Morgan County Commissioner, Wendy’s and White Farms.
Illinois College announces Hilltop Direct initiative
Illinois College is opening doors even wider for local students through Hilltop Direct, a new program that guarantees admission for qualifying students at Morgan County high schools.
Designed to eliminate uncertainty and simplify the college process, Hilltop Direct celebrates students’ hard work and provides them with a clear, confident path to becoming Illinois College students.
Students from Jacksonville High School, Routt Catholic High School, Westfair Christian Academy, Triopia Jr/Sr High School, Franklin High School, Meredosia-Chambersburg High School and Waverly High School with a GPA of 3.30 or higher will receive direct admission to Illinois College. By securing their place early, these students can turn their attention to scholarships, visits, and planning for their futures.
“Illinois College was founded in 1829 by a band of Yale students who believed central Illinois deserved the very best education. Nearly 200 years later, that mission continues,” said Evan Wilson ’01, associate vice president of enrollment management.
“Through Hilltop Direct, students secure their place at IC early, with no waiting or stress, so they can focus on finding their people, passions, and futures right here on the Hilltop. Through Hilltop Direct, qualifying students unlock: instant admission to Illinois College; priority access to scholarships, FAFSA support and VIP Campus Visits; and the possibility of $100,000 in scholarships over four years of attendance through several sources like Jacksonville Promise, IC Advantage PLUS and the Finish in 4 guarantee included are textbooks, internships, full coverage of demonstrated need and more.”
The announcement comes on the heels of IC’s recent placement in the Top 10 for student social mobility by U.S. News & World Report.
Two female-owned tattoo shops open in downtown Jacksonville
Two female-owned tattoo parlors have opened in downtown Jacksonville. Hard Honey Ink, owned by Shelby Lynn Kyle, opened for business on September 21 located inside the Street Trash shop at 216 South Main Street. Kyle comes to Jacksonville after four years of experience as a tattoo artist specializing in American traditional and floral tattoos in Peru, Illinois.
The Painted Lady, located at 73 East Central Park Plaza inside the Hockenhull Building, was approved by the Morgan County Health Department on September 30. Lindsay Goodall and Aurora Cummins will co-own the shop and are the artists in-house. Goodall specializes in a number of genres including Victoria Gothic, American traditional and Japanese art. Cummins specializes in American traditional tattoo art.
Jacksonville Food Center receives gift, plans to expand
The Jacksonville Food Center was recently bequeathed a large financial gift for a building expansion. Melissa Hall, director of the food center, told WLDS News this past week that an individual passed away in April leaving the money to the food center and it was to be directed for building expansion only. Hall says the gift was not solicited and came out of the blue.
The Food Center currently is a tenant in the back half of the former Production Press facility owned by Mike and Lori Wankel. Hall says more information about their expansion in the building will be made available at an upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony.
In the meantime, Hall says the food center will operate under its normal hours and location at 311 East Morgan St.
Two Republicans announce candidacy for Morgan County Commissioner
Two Republicans officially announced their candidacy for Morgan County Commissioner this past week. Greg Hacker, a lifelong resident of Morgan County, officially announced his candidacy on October 1.
“I’m running for Morgan County Commissioner because I believe our community deserves strong, decisive leadership,” said Hacker.
“Since retiring from the Illinois State Police, I still have a strong desire to serve the public and have the time to invest in my hometown and community. I’m ready to bring fresh ideas and real solutions to some of the issues being faced by Morgan County.”
Hacker brings more than 30 years of public service experience to the race. During his career with the Illinois State Police, he served as a Captain and Bureau Chief of the Firearms Services Bureau. Prior to joining ISP, Hacker worked as a Patrolman with the Jacksonville Police Department, Deputy with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department and a Correctional Officer with the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Raised on a family farm northeast of Jacksonville on Hacker Road, Hacker is deeply rooted in Morgan County. He graduated from Jacksonville High School and MacMurray College.
Greg and his wife Amy have been married for 29 years and are members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. They have two sons who are also public servants.
Joining Hacker on the Republican ticket is Vikkie Becker. Becker and Marc, her husband of 38 years, are farmers in northwestern Morgan County near Alexander.
“This campaign is about people, not politics,” Becker said. “From cornfields to courthouses, every voice in every corner of our 572 square miles deserves to be heard. I’ll work with Republicans, Democrats and independents—anyone willing to roll up their sleeves and get things done. Results first, labels second.”
In addition to farming, Becker works in local media with Morgan County Media – WJVO/WJIL Radio, where she helps connect businesses and community events throughout the county and accounts receivables.
She is active in Cass Morgan Farm Bureau, Illinois Agri-Women and American Agri-Women, completed leadership programs including Syngenta Leadership At Its Best, AAW’s Road to Influence and is a mentor for the Illinois Soybean Association LEAD program. This work has led Becker to be an advocate for rural communities, small business and farmers in both Springfield and Washington, D.C.
The Morgan County Primary Election will be held on March 17, 2026. The General Election will follow on November 7, 2026. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat incumbent Dr. Michael Woods in the General Election.
Champaign County man arrested after high-speed chase leads to crash
Residents along Illinois Route 106 near the Hillview Blacktop turn off were asked to shelter in place briefly by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office on the morning of September 27.
According to a post on the Scott County Sheriff’s Facebook Page at 3:30 p.m. on September 27, the Sheriff’s Office requested people to stay in their homes after police began searching for a Black male subject, believed to be armed, who had crashed an alleged stolen vehicle after a high speed chase.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office was joined by members of the Winchester Police, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Department and Roodhouse Police in the search.
Several reports from the chase included cars being struck or run off the road by the subject, who abandoned the vehicle in a cornfield on the south side of Illinois Route 106 just east of the Hillview Blacktop. Shortly after 4 p.m., the Scott County Sheriff’s Office indicated that the subject was located and taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was taken to the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
Greene County Sheriff Rob McMillen said the subject refused to comply with initial booking procedures and was held as a “John Doe” until law enforcement agencies were able to identify him.
Online court records on Monday, September 29 identified the subject as Erick O. Johnson, Jr., 25, of Champaign. Scott County State’s Attorney Rick Crews filed charges of Class 2 felony possession of a stolen vehicle, two Class 4 felonies of aggravated fleeing of police, obstructing a peace officer and resisting a peace officer.
Johnson was later released from the Greene County Jail in Carrollton in accordance with the SAFE-T Act after booking was completed with a notice to appear in Scott County Circuit Court on November 13.
Naples man charged with grooming, failing to register as a sex offender
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office has filed charges in Scott County on a Naples man who allegedly groomed young children for sexual acts via online chatrooms and failing to register as a sex offender.
The Attorney General’s office charged Brandon Everhart, 25, in Scott County Circuit Court with two counts of grooming, Class 4 felonies each punishable up to three years in prison, and one count of failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 3 felony punishable up to five years in prison. Everhart is currently being held at the Greene County Jail, and his next court appearance is Oct. 27.
On Sept. 27, Raoul’s investigators, along with the Scott County Sheriff’s office conducted a search of Everhart’s residence in the 400 block of Clinton Street in Naples. He was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence he had allegedly been grooming young children to chat sexually or engage in sexual conduct.
The ILAG’s office will co-prosecute the case with Scott County State’s Attorney Rick Crews. “I have previously worked with the Attorney General’s Office on other cases and am very appreciative of their professionalism and legal ability,” Crews said. “I am sure this matter will be handled promptly and justice will be served.” Assistant Attorney General Victoria Chaves is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
