• You’ve watched the heartbreaking footage of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian in Florida. You want to do something, you want to do something personal where you know your donation makes a difference. That opportunity is available today (Saturday October 1st0 in Wood River. Churches on the Street is sending out a truckload of supplies. You can donate to the effort through the end of the day Saturday, as Churches on the Street has set up shop at 209 Old St. Louis Road in Wood River till  5pm Saturday. 

• Here's that link: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchesontheStreetsSTL/ She says the need is great. 

• Requested items: 

• Large roof Tarps 

• Flashlights 

• Batteries 

• Industrial extension cords 

• Work gloves 

• Heavy contractor trash bags 

• Sanitizer wipes 

• Ladders 

• Bleach 

• Sprayers 

• Cleaning towels 

• Wet wipes 

• Toilet paper 

• Paper towels 

• Dog food 

• Cat food 

• 5 gallon buckets with lids 

• Roofing nails 

• Ladders 

• Hammers 

• First aid items: 

• Bandages 

• Gauze 

• Antibiotic ointment 

• Peroxide 

• Bandaids 

• Diapers 

• Baby wipes 

• Toddler and baby food 

• Prepackaged foods non-perishable 

• Gallon bottles of water 

• You can make a tax-deductible monetary donation through PayPal to ChurchesOnTheStreets@gmail.com 

• You can give on the website at churchesonthestreets.com, click the donate button and follow the prompts. 

• You can also mail a check 

• COTS 

• P. O. Box 602 

• Wood River, IL 62095 

Time is ticking away as the deadline approaches for Ameren’s non residential hardship grant program for small businesses and non profits..... The deadline is tomorrow or until diminishing supplies last.  The 2022 Non-residential Hardship Program provides a one-time credit to small business and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that have an active Ameren Illinois electric account and are experiencing a hardship. Fill out the form below and then Email: AmerenILCredit@ameren.com or Fax: 1.217.424.6496 

(email or fax is recommended to prevent delay) 

https://files.constantcontact.com/54c349ce001/72171390-decd-4e52-a87a-502a9c07aec5.pdf?rdr=true

Hillsboro Police are turning to the public to help crack the case of a September 13th burglary in Schram City. The burglar or burglars who struck in broad daylight may have known a residence in the 600 block of 22nd was a target rich environment.   firearms, precious metals, and musical equipment were taken in the burglary spree.   Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime should contact the Hillsboro Police Department at 217-532-6120, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 217-532-9511, or anonymous tips may be given to Crime Stoppers by calling 800-352-0136 or reported to online at www.macmontcrimestoppers.com or by text to CRIMES. Tips that result in an arrest could lead to a cash reward.    

One person suffers life threatening injuries in a crash involving two semis on Northbound I-55 north of Farmersville. The crash at mile marker 75.5 occurred just after 1pm (Thursday). The crash and investigation has led to northbound traffic being diverted off the interstate at the Farmersville (Milepost 72) exit. There’s no further information on the cause of the crash. State Police District 18 and 9 are teaming up to handle the accident scene.

The owner of Litchfield flower shop Petal Pushers has known adversity in recent years. Recently, Jessica Vickery moved her business on a temporary basis after the recent partial collapse in the 300 block of North State shut down her location indefinitely.  She quickly adapted to the situation, temporarily moving to the old Park Place Jewelry location in the old Litchfield Depot on Union.   The upheaval was nothing compared to the loss of her father two years ago this week, local legend Jerry Bradburn, who founded Chapp’s Tavern, manned the drums for many a band, rooted on the Cubs and helped out neighbors in times of snow with his beloved tractor.  Jessica inherited the family green thumb because Jerry Bradburn started his worklife at the family business, the old Four Seasons Greenhouse in Litchfield. When the family business sold, he made a seamless transition to the railroad world,  working for Norfolk and Western/Norfolk Southern.  He  worked on the track repair crew and retired as Foreman. During that time at the depot, he left a mark of his time there, this carving of his name, not knowing the value it would have years later.

Recently we told you about the tragic death of a Lincolnwood High School student. Now there are new developments in the case. We mentioned we typically don’t discuss individual cases of suicide or possible suicide. Now, suicide has been ruled out in the case. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office reports their investigation, with help from a  St. Louis area Medical Examiner’s Office analysis, shows that 14-year-old Austin Robinson of Waggoner died from an accidental self inflicted gunshot wound on September 10th in Rural Litchfield.  The death investigation crossed the state line into Missouri because Robinson died at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis.

One person suffers life threatening injuries in a two vehicle crash that shut down Route 16 between Hillsboro and Litchfield Friday evening. It all unfolded just before 6pm Friday State Police say 29-year-old Cory Bunker of Vandalia  was traveling east on  Route 16, just east of Mullens Trail Road in a blue 2011 Ford Fusion. Bunker was behind a 2006 box truck driven by a 56-year-old Mt Olive man. The box truck driver began to slow/stop for a vehicle turning in front of him. State Police say Bunker failed to reduce speed and struck the rear of the box truck. Bunker’s vehicle then ran off the road and came to rest in the right ditch. The box truck  came to rest in the roadway. Bunker was flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. The Mt Olive man  reported no injuries on scene. Bunker  was cited for DUI under the influence of drugs, Too Fast for Conditions/Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident and for Failure to Wear Seatbelt. 
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is seeking information in reference to a burglary that occurred at 2216 N. 15th Avenue in rural Litchfield, Illinois. Sometime between Saturday, September 10th, 2022, and Wednesday, September 14"", 2022, an unknown person or persons forced entry to a cabin located on the property and stole multiple items. A single shot, Remington .22 caliber bolt action rifle; four 2x4x12 solar panels; and a Stihl chainsaw were among some of the items stolen.  

If you have information regarding this or any other crime, please contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at (217)532-9511 or you can provide an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by calling 1(800)352-0136. Anonymous tips can also be reported to Crime Stoppers on-line at www.macmontcrimestoppers.com or you can text a tip to CRIMES.  

Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name. If your tip results in an arrest you could be eligible for a cash reward.  

After a 17 hour termination hearing stretched over two separate days, Litchfield Fire Captain Curt Glover will keep his helmet.  The Litchfield Police and Fire Commissioners suspended Glover for 30 days based on one of three charges against him.  The Commissioners met in executive session for more than three hours before reaching their decision.   

Former State Senator and current Deputy Governor Andy Manar is urging everyone to apply for a portion of $300 million dollars devoted to winter heating bills. You can log on to helpillinoisfamilies.com or call 833-711-0374. 

Also....

2022 NON-RESIDENTIAL HARDSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION

Dear Customer, Ameren Illinois is committed to empowering the communities we serve through charitable donations and grants such as the Non-residential Hardship Program grant. The 2022 Non-residential Hardship Program provides a one-time credit to small business and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that have an active Ameren Illinois electric account and are experiencing a hardship. Qualifying customers will receive this assistance in the form of a one-time credit, up to $500, applied to their Ameren Illinois electric account. We are now accepting applications on a first-come first-served basis until September 30, 2022, or funding has been depleted. To avoid any delays in the review process, complete and sign the enclosed application and return both pages. Incomplete applications will not be considered. You can email, fax or mail the completed application to Ameren Illinois, as shown below:

Email: AmerenILCredit@ameren.com or Fax: 1.217.424.6496

(email or fax is recommended to prevent delay)

Mailing Address:

Ameren Illinois

Attn: Energy Assistance A-10

?PO Box 2543

Decatur, IL 62525

In addition to this grant, we offer many energy savings opportunities through our Energy Efficiency Programs in which you might also qualify.

Visit AmerenIllinoisSavings.com for more information.

For questions, please call us Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Sincerely, Ameren Illinois Business Center 1.800.232.2477

LOCATION: Illinois Route 16 westbound at Seven Sisters Avenue, Montgomery County

DATE and TIME:  Sept. 5, 2022 at approximately 3:46 p.m.   

BRIEF SYNOPSIS:  ISP District 18 Troopers responded to the above location for a t single unit motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle.  Preliminary reports indicate the Witt Police Department was attempting to stop a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed. The motorcycle passed several vehicles and failed to negotiate a curve striking a guardrail. The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced deceased on the scene.  No further information is available at this time. 

Today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday), the City of Hillsboro has announced an experienced group of hunters will be at the Hillsboro Sports Complex, in a bid to reduce the population of Geese in the area, mostly by encouraging them to go elsewhere.  Corporate Drive will be closed north of Hayes Abrasives.  Vehicle AND pedestrian traffic will be off limits.   That extends to the north parking lot of the sports complex.  Mayor Don Downs says the population has grown considerably this year and geese excrement has become a growing nuisance on the sidewalks and in the fields at the sports complex.  The hunt will take place today and tomorrow from roughly 6 to 7:30. 

During the early morning hours of September 1 st , 2022 Montgomery County Deputies responded to the Raymond area to investigate a traffic violation complaint. During the course of the investigation,
Deputies located the suspect vehicle in the Village of Raymond and made contact with the suspected driver of the vehicle, identified as Daniel J. Vickery (40) of Raymond.

Deputies were familiar with Vickery and aware that he had a suspended driver’s license and outstanding warrants for his arrest. Deputies took Vickery into custody on an outstanding Montgomery County warrant, which had been issued for Vickery for Failure to Appear: Possession of Methamphetamine - less than 5 grams and on an outstanding Sangamon County warrant, which had been issued for Vickery for Failure to Appear: Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License.

With the assistance of Montgomery County Deputy K-9 Flex, Deputies located and seized approximately 117 grams of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 12 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl.

Daniel J. Vickery was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on charges of Methamphetamine Trafficking, Controlled Substance Trafficking, Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver a Controlled Substance, and the two outstanding warrants. Vickery was additionally charged with Driving with a Suspended License. An arrest is merely an accusation and the Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty

.
If you have any information regarding a crime or the location of a person wanted on a warrant please contact your local Law Enforcement Agency or you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)-352-0136. Tips can also be reported to Crime Stoppers on-line or you can text a tip to CRIMES.

A Taylor Springs man is accused of a domestic rampage in which his girlfriend and her toddler and infant children were injured and Hillsboro Area Hospital, the Taylor Springs Nursing Home and Graham Correctional Center were placed on lockdown. Police say 32-year-old Nicholas Mohr assaulted his girlfriend, and their two children, ages 2 and 3 just before midnight Saturday, and threatened further violence but she and the children ran to a neighbors house. Police say Mohr fled the scene in his vehicle and police learned he was possibly armed. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office and Hillsboro Police joined the response.   Litchfield and Hillsboro both dispatched their K9 units as well as the Montgomery County EMA thermal imaging drone. The suspect was apprehended at approximately 4:30am the following morning attempting to escape police custody with the help of his brother Larry, age 37, who had driven up from Imperial, Missouri to pick him up and help him hide from the police. Both males were taken into custody; Nicholas was charged with 3 counts of aggravated domestic battery, obstruction, and driving with a revoked driver’s license. Larry was charged with obstruction and driving with a revoked drivers license. 

Cross Over Ministries will be hosting a FREE event to raise awareness about drug overdoses.  The event will be held on Wednesday 8/31 from 2:00-7:00pm at the Lincoln Plaza, downtown Main Street in Hillsboro.  A community event on 8/31/2022 to recognize those lost to drug overdose. We will have various speakers who share stories of hurt, healing, and hope. 

Event will include candlelight vigil, slideshow of our lost loved ones, several guest speakers, community information tables, Narcan demonstration. Food available by Lipe’s Lunchbox food truck.

Preregistration can be done at https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/5784335

The event is located on Facebook or go to the cross over ministries Web page. 

Sign up for shirts is closed. There will be some additional  shirts available at the event on a first come first serve for $20, but can't guarantee size or color. 

Pictures of loved ones lost to overdose for the slide show can be sent to our email at 

Crossoverministriesnfp@gmail.com

The other event is Trauma Informed Seminar for our Community. This will be held at multiple locations with the first one in Raymond at the Raymond Baptist Church (see address on poster attached).  Event will be on Tuesday August 30. It will take place from 6 to 9  Trenda Hedges with Whole Hearted Counseling will be featured.  To register call 217-608-0266 or check out Crossover Ministries Facebook page. 

Nokomis Community Unit School District #22 Nokomis Police Department Nokomis Area Fire Protection District Nokomis Witt Area Ambulance Service August 19, 2022 Nokomis Community Unit District #22 will conduct an active shooter response exercise on September 2, 2022 to allow the district personnel and emergency response agencies to demonstrate response actions for any event that may occur in the Nokomis Community Unit School District. The exercise will occur between the hours of 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM in vicinity of the North Elementary School. No students will be present for the exercise other than some volunteer emergency medical services junior volunteers. “The public will see a large amount of emergency response vehicles in the area of the North Elementary School,” stated Dr. Scott Doerr, Nokomis Community Unit District #22 Superintendent, “These exercises are part of a comprehensive planning and preparedness strategy that we have developed in the district to be sure we are ready for any event that may happen.” Nokomis Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Nokomis Witt Area Ambulance Service, Nokomis Area Fire Protection District and Fillmore Fire Protection District along with mutual aid agencies will be part of the response for the event. “Recent events throughout this country and in Illinois only serve to help us to understand how important it is for us to be prepared for any event that may happen,” said Nokomis Police Chief Talon Burton. Nokomis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies routinely train on school violence situations in the county. “This event allows us to work with other response agencies in the Nokomis Area including fire and EMS, to increase overall preparedness to any type of event that might affect our schools,” said Chief Burton. Emergency Medical Services and Fire Response agencies will also participate in the drill. Nokomis Witt Area Ambulance Services Chief Travis Hocq emphasized, “We’re glad to be involved in this type of exercise as this allows us to work closely with law enforcement to improve our response time in a critical event.” Nokomis Area Fire Protection District Chief Mike Smalley said, “It’s important for our fire department to be involved in this with our medical and law enforcement partners as we are a support agency in this type of event. We need to expand our capabilities in order to better serve the citizens.” Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency will serve in a support role in the exercise and the drone team will support the response operation as well. Weather permitting, Arch and Air Evac Medical services will participate in the exercise as well. “In addition to the immediate response, we will test our abilities to re-unify students with care-givers and we will develop some action plans that will look not only at this part of the response, but also what will be happening in the days after such an event,” stated Dr. Doerr. “So please don’t be alarmed by the number of response agencies, equipment, and personnel that you see around the school on the afternoon of September 2, it’s something that are doing to help us better protect our staff and students.” 

Nearly three years ago, a shocking shooting in the parking lot of the Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, near Hillsboro’s Beckemeyer School left a woman dead.... Now, justice has been served against her husband in her 2019 shooting death. The murder trial of 72-year-old David Chesser got underway yesterday in the shooting death of 68-year-old Mary Chesser. After four witnesses testified, David Chesser folded his cards and tossed aside his not guilty plea. With consent from Mary Chesser’s family, a plea deal was accepted to put David Chesser behind bars for 16 and a half years. He pleaded guilty to second degree murder.

Downtown Litchfield has a series of closed off streets and water service is shut down in the 300 and 400 blocks of North State Street after an apparent explosion at the 307 Collective, an event rental space business at 307 North State Street, between Short Furniture and Petal Pushers Flower Shop.   Litchfield Fire officials are waiting for their investigation to wrap up before they comment further.  There are no indications of injuries.   Fire crews are continuing to tend to the structure and its neighbors. So far,there are no indications of fire.  

From the City of Litchfield.

Downtown Structure

On August 6, 2022 at 1148 hours, the Litchfield Fire Department was dispatched by Montgomery County dispatch to a report of possible explosion or building collapse.  Ten 911 calls were received mostly by those within the building.  Litchfield Fire Department requested upgrade to the response to a Box Alarm at 1158.  The area is closed off on State Street from  Union Avenue to Ryder Street.  Eleven staff members are on scene in addition to the Springfield TRT from Division 48.  Departments from Gillespie, Hillsboro and Raymond-Harvel are assisting at the Station.   All occupants in the building are accounted for. 

The Montgomery County Health Department reports that the first West Nile Virus positive mosquito was collected in Nokomis, Illinois. The mosquito was collected on August 2, 2022. To date, West Nile positive birds and mosquitoes have been reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 18 counties. The Illinois Department of Public Health has reported no human cases at this time. As we continue into our warmer months this reminds us that West Nile 

Virus continues to be a threat. Warmer weather allows mosquitoes to reproduce at a faster rate. Area residents need to remain vigilant and protect themselves. Illinois Department of Public Health reports the best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel and report. 

REDUCE exposure - avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. 

- Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair orreplace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night. 

- Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles. 

REPEL - when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET,  picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants. 

REPORT - In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report dead birds and areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards,water filled containers, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. 

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm . Dead birds or standing water can be reported by calling the Montgomery County Health Department at  (217) 532-2001. 

59 year old Paul Anderson of Irving, formerly of Litchfield and Raymond, passed away on Monday (August 1).   Funeral services for 59 year old Paul Anderson will be held on Friday (August 5) at 12:00 noon at First Baptist Church in Litchfield. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church.. Burial will be in Raymond City Cemetery. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements. 

79-year-old Robert Leroy Hemken of Walshville passed away  Saturday (July 30).  Visitation: The family will receive guests from 10:30-12:30 p.m. on Wednesday (August 3)  at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home, Sorento. Private family burial will be held at Kirkland Cemetery in Rural Sorento. 

50-year-old Scott Michael Langen of Portland, Oregon, formerly of Litchfield, passed away on July 20. Mr. Langen’s ashes will be scattered along the Oregon coast.   Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Taylor Springs Police are sharing details of a wild Saturday morning incident where a 41-year-old man is accused of putting his ten-year-old child in his car by force, domestic abuse, ignoring railroad crossing signals and cutting in front of a train on Main Street, then intentionally striking a pedestrian.  The saga began just after 2 a.m. as Zacariah Kimbro allegedly assaulted the mother of his ten-year-old son, 37-year-old Heather Petroski on Grant Street next to the Post Office, took the child by force, fled the scene, avoided the oncoming train, and while moving eastbound on Main, allegedly swerved to strike 33-year-old Michael Groeteke of Hillsboro. Groeteke refused medical treatment, saying he couldn’t afford the hospital.   Needless to say, the folks at the Taylor Springs PD made a few calls to friends as they sought to apprehend Kimbro.  The Montgomery County Sheriffs office, Bond County Sheriffs office, Illinois State Police and Hillsboro Police are joined in the hunt for Kimbro and his son.  Petroski learned her son was left with Kimbro’s cousin in Bond County and the boy was picked up by police.   Kimbro would turn himself in at the urging of the mother at 7:45 a.m.    The vehicle in the incident, which belonged to Petroski and Kimbro, was recovered on Buckeye Trail, southeast of Taylor Springs.  It had windshield and body damage consistent with the impact of the Groeteke hit and run.    Kimbo remains in the Montgomery County Jail on charges of domestic battery, hit and run and endangering the life and health of a child.  

Southside Church is your Education Station for free back-to-school supplies! Since 2009, we have been distributing free school supplies to the children in our community and we're excited to do it again for our 14th year. Even though Southside Church is hosting it, we could not do what we do without God's help and the generosity of our community to partner with us. All of the community children are welcome and encouraged to join us during the two scheduled dates and times. We will be giving away a variety of items, depending on the grade, such as book bags, crayons, #2 pencils, mechanical pencils, glue bottles, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, colored pencils, markers, index cards, dry erase markers, highlighters, loose leaf paper, pencil sharpeners, pens, pink erasers, scissors, and storage bags. Please understand that we will not be able to give every single item that a student will need, but will help provide some of the necessary items to enable us to help more students overall. The supplies will be given on a first come, first served basis (while supplies last). No appointments are necessary. This event is not based on residency or income in any way. It is based on our love for God and for the children and families in our community. God has freely given to us and we want to share His love through this ministry. We will not ask for names, addresses, phone numbers, or income. The only questions that we will ask are what grade the student is going into to determine the supplies needed and if the student needs a book bag. If you have any questions, please contact Shannon (217-313-0342) or Carrie (217-556-4308) between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. only. If you need to leave a voicemail message, please clearly say your name and phone number so your call can be returned. You are also welcome to send a private Facebook message to our church's public page (www.facebook.com/southsidechurchlitchfield) or email us at southsidech@consolidated.net any time of the day. To better serve you, we ask that you not call our church's phone number. We look forward to serving the community! 

Tragedy strikes again on the state highways of Mongomery County, as a suspected drunken driving crash claims one life  This time the setting was Route 16, a quarter mile south of 5th Street in Witt. A 59-year-old Witt man, whose identity has not been released, was killed in a one vehicle crash Friday night, just before 7:30. State Police say 34-year-old Daniel Adams of Gillespie was at the wheel of a 2016 Dodge Black Van, when his vehicle left the road, struck an embankment and then slammed into a tree. He suffered non life threatening injuries. Adams has been cited for DUI and Driving Too Fast for Conditions.   The crash drew considerable police and first responder assets.   Among those on the scene were the Witt Volunteer Fire Department with three trucks, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Nokomis Ambulance, Arch Helicopter,Nokomis Ambulance, the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation, which shut down Route 16 for several hours during accident reconstruction.