By Ben Cox
Heartland Bank to purchase CNB in multi-million dollar bank merger
One Central Illinois banking group is buying another in a massive cash and stock trade. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that Heartland Bank & Trust is buying CNB Bank & Trust in a $170.2 million cash and stock deal.
The deal will create a bank with 84 branch locations and about $6.9 billion in assets. CNB’s branches will boost Bloomington-based Heartland’s presence in Central Illinois and also add some Missouri locations. Under terms of the deal, HBT Financial, Heartland’s parent company, will pay either 1.0434 of its shares or $27.73 cash, or a combination of cash and stock for each share of CNB Bank, according to the report.
The companies said the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Jim Ashworth and Nancy Ruyle, directors at CNB’s holding company, are joining the boards of directors of HBT and Heartland Bank. The sale has already been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. CNB’s shareholders also need to approve the deal.
Fourth name enters Scott County Sheriff’s race
A fourth member of Scott County law enforcement has announced their candidacy on the Republican ticket for Scott County Sheriff. Bob Smith, of rural Bluffs, announced on October 18 that he would be seeking the Republican nomination for sheriff in the March 2026 primary.
Smith has spent over three decades in law enforcement, serving in various roles with the Scott County Sheriff’s Department. Smith also served six years as Chief of Police for the Village of Bluffs and has worked or assisted with the Winchester Police, Brown County Sheriff’s Department and the Meredosia Police Department. Smith has served as the Chief Deputy of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department since 2020.
Smith has also served as an EMT in Bluffs and Winchester and served as Scott County’s Chief Deputy Coroner from 1992-1996. The Scott County native is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and has lived in the county all of his life.
Our Town Books hosts author meet and greet at Twisted Tree Music Hall
Our Town Books invites the public to a special meet and greet with USA Today, Sunday Times and Indie bestselling author Rebecca Thorne (“This Gilded Abyss,” “Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea”), who specializes in fantasy and sci-fi with romantic subplots.
On Wednesday, November 12, at 7 p.m., Thorne will be joined by local indie fantasy author Jade Rockwood at Twisted Tree Music Hall in Jacksonville, for a conversation and book signing event, specifically discussing her book “This Gilded Abyss,” which re-releases November 11.
“This Gilded Abyss” is described as a thrilling lesbian fantasy, where Arcane meets Titanic. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. The event will begin at 7 p.m. with a discussion and Q&A with Thorne, followed by a book signing. The Twisted Tree’s bar will be open for drink purchases. An ASL interpreter will be provided with a special section reserved for ASL community attendees. Tickets are required and include a copy of the book. Tickets are available exclusively through Our Town Books, in store or online at ourtownbooks.com/events.
Jacksonville Lions Holiday Fruit Sale underway
The Jacksonville Lions Club’s annual holiday fruit sale is underway. Residents have their choice of navel oranges, red grapefruit and comice pears. The fruit comes in various size boxes and at various price points.
Visit floridafruitstore.com/jacksonvillelionsclub for more details. Ordering can be done online and paid via Venmo to @JacksonvilleLionsClub. Fruit orders are due by November 24. Deliveries and gift box deliveries are available. Proceeds from the sales help the Lions with their key projects that include but are not limited to vision and hearing care, large print library books, camps for special needs children, diabetes awareness, childhood cancer and the Avenue of Flags in Community Park.
For questions about the fruit sale, contact Tom Atkins at 217-248-7000 or Larry Whewell at 217-473-7093. Fruit orders can be picked up December 10-12 at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, 658 East College Ave. in Jacksonville. Online orders can be delivered via FedEx.
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital 5K/10K Race results
Broc Moore, Amber Kleckler, Amarion Reed and Megan Winters were the first-place overall winners at the 31st annual JMH 5K/10K presented by Gatorade on Saturday, October 18. Moore, from Springfield, won first place in the men’s 10K with a time of 40 minutes, 36 seconds. Kleckler, a Rochester resident, took first place in the women’s 10K with a time of 44 minutes, 58 seconds.
Reed, who resides in East St. Louis, captured first place in the men’s 5K with a time of 20 minutes, 26 seconds. Winters, from Jacksonville, won the women’s 5K with a time of 25 minutes, 47 seconds. Awards were also distributed to first, second and third place finishers, male and female, in 13 age categories.
The complete list of age group winners and an overall finishers list is available at https://results.raceroster.com/v3/events/qcjwy46zbqqk9kss. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Prairieland United Way.
Warming & Cooling Center to remain open while Grace United Methodist Church building is for sale
Officials of New Directions Warming & Cooling Center have assured the community they are remaining open at their current location at 1000 South Fayette St. despite Grace United Methodist Church’s building being up for sale. “New Directions is not closing! I want to make that very clear,” said a social media post from the shelter on their Facebook page, “We have no intentions of closing our doors and will continue to serve our community.”
The first homeless shelter in the county opened in 2011. The shelter has been running at or near capacity for several weeks as community leaders continue to grapple with homelessness questions and issues. The New Directions post says that they are continuing to take donations for personal care items, for their meal train and other items.
However, they have directed those with clothing items to take them to the Matthew25 Thrift Store at 767 South West St. “We work closely with [Matthew 25] and they give guests free vouchers that they can then use to shop for clothing, shoes, coats, etc.
Mathew 25 is a wonderful resource to our community and we suggest people contact them to donate usable clothing, household items, etc.,” the post explains. If members of the community have further questions about New Directions, they are directed to call 217-271-1014 or email newdirections62650@gmail.com.
Masonic Lodge announces date for Ham & Bean Supper
The Harmony Masonic Lodge No. 3 will host its annual Ham & Bean Supper on November 15 from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Masonic Center’s basement cafeteria, located at 345 West College Ave. in Jacksonville.
Attendees are asked to enter through the rear of the building. Cost is $9 per plate. The supper will include ham and beans, cornbread and a dessert. Proceeds will go towards the masons’ charitable causes which include annual academic scholarships and assistance to the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Springfield among others.
Village of Chapin sets trick-or-treating hours
The Chapin Village Board has once again approved two nights for trick-or-treating this year. Trick-or-treating will be open in the village on Thursday, October 30 and Friday, October 31. The hours allowed for trick-or-treating will be between 6-8 p.m.
Trick-or-treaters will also be welcome to the former Chapin American Legion Hall on Thursday, October 30 between 6-8 p.m. for a free Halloween Party hosted by the Chapin Police Department and Chapin Volunteer Fire Department. The village board wished to remind parents and trick-or-treaters to only visit homes with an exterior light on.
Illinois College students participate in mental health simulation
Illinois College hosted the “Scary But True: In Plain Sight Simulation” at the Caine Fireside Lounge on October 28. The simulation is a powerful and interactive event designed to help adults recognize hidden indicators of substance use and mental health struggles.
The simulation featured a living space that included everyday items that could conceal signs of risky behavior, such as drug or alcohol use or struggles with mental health. Attendees were invited to explore the space and identify subtle clues that might otherwise go unnoticed in real-life settings.
In addition to the hands-on experience, the event included educational materials such as handouts, conversation starters, and information about local support services. The goal was to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to support individuals who may be struggling—whether it’s a child, roommate, friend or student.
The simulation was sponsored by NAMI on Campus (IC) and the Empower Your Life project, both part of the Chesley Health & Wellness Center at Illinois College. The Chesley Health & Wellness Center also partnered with the Gateway Foundation, the Morgan County Health Department and the Memorial Behavioral Health Center for the event.
The organizations aimed to promote early intervention, open dialogue, and community engagement around mental health and substance use prevention. The simulation ran two times and was open to the public.
Hospital invites the public to 150th Anniversary celebration on Nov. 8
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital is inviting the public to join colleagues in their 150th Anniversary Celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 8 at Hamilton’s 110 North East. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour with a cash bar followed by dinner from Hamilton’s Catering between 6:30-7:30 p.m. The evening will be capped off with a special musical program that will feature skits from past JMH Auxiliary hospital fundraising shows called “The Follies.”
Cast members will include current and former hospital employees, physicians and other previous cast members. Tickets are limited and can be purchased for $45 per person at https://memorial.health/about-us/events/jmh-150th-anniversary/.
New owners of Poppie’s Coffee Corner announce plans for new restaurant
Karen Dennis and Nick Hurley, owners of Patriot’s Pub in Waverly, have announced they purchased the former Poppie’s Coffee Corner at 199 North Pearl St. in Waverly.
The Waverly Journal reports that the two plan to reopen the location as Honey’s Grill & Games. “Honey’s will be more than just a place to eat — it’s a heartfelt tribute to the one and only Ernie Cleveland, whose laughter, love of Waverly and legendary cheeseburgers made this spot so special. We’re honored to carry on his legacy and are committed to making Marcia proud every step of the way,” a Facebook post reads for the new business. Poppie’s owner, Ernest Cleveland, passed away on October 1. Cleveland served as the mayor of Waverly for five consecutive terms before not seeking reelection.
He and his wife Marcia operated the location to continue to serve the community. Dennis and Hurley said they are currently doing some light remodeling work to the building and hope to be open within the next few weeks. The new restaurant is currently hiring. Interested applicants are urged to submit an application to honeyswaverly@gmail.com or visit Patriot’s Pub for more details.
Prairieland United Way annual campaign at about 35% of its goal
The Prairieland United Way annual fundraising campaign is a little over a third of its goal as it heads into the holiday season.
The current campaign sits around 35% as of press time. Prairieland United Way Executive Director Karen Walker told WLDS last week that a small number of business campaigns have been turned in so far. Walker says that employee campaigns make up the bulk of the funds raised each year and that it’s imperative that businesses get them turned in before the end of the calendar year.
The annual dine out days continue with Burger Board being added to the schedule for November 5. Patrons should mention Prairieland United Way when they pay for their bill and a portion of the proceeds will go towards the annual campaign. The United We Sip night is currently in preparation for its second year.
This year the venue has been moved to Twisted Tree Music Hall to accommodate more seating. Tickets are limited to 150 people and are $40 each. A ticket for the bourbon raffle is $60. The four raffle packages include rare bourbons and whiskeys from Pappy Van Winkle, Whistle Pig, E.H. Taylor, Old Grandad and Knob Creek. Call 217-245-4557 to reserve your space today.
South Jacksonville exploring animal control options after ending contract
The Village of South Jacksonville voted last month not to renew its contract with Morgan County Animal Control. The village board had expressed that they were not getting what they were paying for when it came to the service. The board had requested more transparency on the county’s services and had asked for a monthly report that displayed calls for service.
The village had been paying approximately $10,000 annually for the service. After several turns between village officials and Morgan County Animal Control executive Lisa Ladeley, no agreement was reached.
Village President Dick Samples and Village Treasurer Mindy Olson took grievances directly to the Morgan County Commissioners requesting similar information but were said to have received no satisfaction on their questions or requests.
Morgan County Commissioner Chair Mike Wankel had repeatedly said that he would not micromanage departments in the county and trusted Ladeley’s answers to the requests.
During the Village of South Jacksonville’s committee of the whole session on October 22, village board members discussed alternatives for animal control services for the village in the wake of the termination of the agreement. According to Village President Samples, the administration is seeking answers from attorneys and the Illinois Department of Agriculture on what recourse they have.
In the meantime, the board discussed what calls County Animal Control would be required to take by law and what the village would be responsible for. According to the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Samples told the board that the South Jacksonville Police Department’s officers would not be required to handle any animal control issues because it would be outside of their training and is not stipulated in their current contract. The board’s consensus was that they may end up renewing the contract with the county if they cannot find a viable plan of recourse in the interim.
City seeks sidewalk grant for Lincoln Avenue
Congressman Darin LaHood announced in 2022 that Lincoln Avenue in Jacksonville would be reconstructed as a result of funds appropriated by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for Congressional members’ designated project requests.
The reconstruction was one of 26 requests made by LaHood that were approved that year. According to the justification of funding filed with the request, the reconstruction “would provide a safer corridor for pedestrian and vehicular traffic which carries almost 3,000 vehicles each day. Illinois College, with over 1,000 students and almost 200 employees, and Jacksonville Middle School, with over 600 sixth through eighth grade students and over 60 employees, are both located within the proposed project limits; Lincoln Avenue serves as a gateway to these two institutions.”
The requested amount was $4.7 million, but according to the Jacksonville Journal-Courier $3.5 million has been allocated for the project. The request was made the same year that LaHood brought back $327,000 to Illinois College’s online nursing program.
LaHood came to the college that year along with Senator Dick Durbin to make the announcement for both projects. Work on the project has remained dormant for the last five years until recently, when surveying began for the project in early September.
The project will include replacing the bridge that goes over the Town Brook, resurface Lincoln Avenue from Morton Avenue north to Mound Road and realign the Hoagland Boulevard intersection with Lincoln Avenue. Construction is projected to begin sometime in 2027.
The entire project is estimated to cost approximately $5 million. The Jacksonville City Council is currently in the process of finding the remaining funds to pay for the project. The City of Jacksonville recently approved Hutchison Engineering to seek a 50-50 matching grant for $250,000 to place a sidewalk on the west side of Lincoln Avenue.
The grant is through the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to Schools program. In the meantime, reports say that the city is looking for other grants and means to pay for the remaining $1.5 million on the project.
Jacksonville police arrest local man for child pornography, illegal videotaping
Jacksonville Police Department detectives completed a month-long investigation into allegations of child pornography and illegal videotaping of a minor on October 15.
Officers executed a search warrant in regard to a complaint filed on September 9 at a home in the 700 block of South Church Street. Subsequent to the execution of the warrant, officers arrested Troy A. Thomas, 41, of that vicinity, on citations of possession of child pornography movies and illegal videotaping of a victim under the age of 18.
Thomas made his first appearance in Morgan County Circuit Court on October 17. Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll’s office filed a petition to detain Thomas until trial. The petition was granted by Morgan County Circuit Judge Chris Reif. Thomas is scheduled for a preliminary hearing with counsel on October 28. No further details surrounding the arrest have been released.
Ameren natural gas customers could see increase next year
Ameren-Illinois natural gas customers could see a rate increase next year, based upon a proposed decision before the Illinois Commerce Commission. The regulatory agency is considering the request during their November-December case docket.
Administrative judges overseeing the request from Ameren-Illinois have already ruled that the requested hike should be cut by about one-third, according to Capitol News Illinois. Ameren, which has 800,000 customers throughout downstate Illinois, asked for a $129 million increase in January, or about $100 per year, or about a 13% increase for residential customers, according to the Citizens Utility Board, a consumer watchdog group.
The administrative judges’ decision cuts Ameren’s request by about $43.7 million, according to CUB. Ameren officials said the cuts bring the increase down to $5.80 per month, or about $70 per year for the typical customer.
Brad Kloeppel, Ameren’s senior director of gas operations, defended his company’s request for higher rates by saying the majority of the increased revenue will go toward safety upgrades and compliance with federally required safety testing. “Fifty percent of the pipes on our system are over 50 years old,” Kloeppel said. “We have to design, operate [and] maintain our system to provide gas service on the coldest hour of the coldest day.”
Ameren’s rate case also includes pilot programs that could swap gas service in some areas for electric service, and for an incentive program for “renewable natural gas” — a method of capturing methane from landfills and other sources that would otherwise be released as a pollutant.
Despite proponents’ claims that it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some environmentalists criticize that technology for still releasing some pollutants.
The gas cases have attracted significant attention from consumer advocacy groups, who say the requests go too far and represent a trend of increasingly frequent rate hikes. The ICC’s deadline to act on the Ameren request is December 1.
