Volleyball 1A Semifinals

At Mt. Olive
Lincolnwood def Metro East: 25-22, 25-23
Morrisonville def Bunker Hill: 25-11, 25-19

At Carrollton
Greenfield-NW def Carrollton: 25-14, 25-9
Calhoun def Pawnee: 25-15, 23-25, 26-24

At Illini Central
New Berlin def Illini Central: 22-25, 25-11, 25-13
Lewistown def Havana: 25-23, 25-11

At Mt. Pulaski
Athens def Mt. Pulaski: 25-13, 25-17
Springfield Lutheran def Hartsburg Emden: 23-25, 25-21, 25-15

At Southeastern
Camp Point Central def South County: 22-25, 25-16, 25-14
Mendon Unity def Southeastern: 25-13, 25-19

At South Central
Altamont def St. Elmo Brownstown: 25-14, 25-3
South Central def Clay City: 25-14, 25-19

At Cerro Gordo
Windsor Stew Stras def Broadlands Heritage: 25-12, 25-23
Central A&M def Cerro Gordo: 26-24, 25-17

At Valmeyer
Okawville def Father McGivney: 25-19, 19-25, 25-23
New Athens def Valmeyer: 25-11, 25-21Boys Soccer

2A Sectional Semifinals

CM Sectional played at Collinsville

Triad 4, CM 0

Glenwood 3, Carbondale 0

Members of the Hillsboro and Litchfield School Boards held a joint meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29, and discussed a potential consolidation between the two districts.

The meeting opened with comments from the public, and a pair of former Montgomery County board members spoke about what a consolidated district and new singular high school would mean for the students.

Mike Plunkett, an alumnus of Hillsboro High School, opened explaining how this consolidation effort is different than most. He said typically when two districts consolidate, it is because they are being forced to for a myriad of reasons. He said knows both districts are doing fine on their own, but this consolidation effort is about doing better than fine. He concluded by encouraging the boards to give the voters in each district the opportunity to decide for themselves if they would like to consolidate or not.

Bob Mulch was the second to speak. The former county board member was one of the representatives of the County School Study Commission who was present at the meeting. He cited Hillsboro's need of a new high school building and Litchfield's desire for a singular facility for elementary school students as reasons that consolidation makes sense. He concluded that the main question for board members to answer is 'should the question of consolidation be brought to the voters.'

None of the board members present spoke in favor of or against consolidation. However, a number brought up concerns either they had personally or had heard from constituents. Hillsboro board members Greg Bellaver and Barbara Adams each mentioned transportation as potential issues with a consolidated high school. The Hillsboro district pulls from a wide geographical area, and the cost of transporting students to a new building between Litchfield and Hillsboro -- which was the commission's recommendation -- would increase.

Litchfield Board President Julie Abel said her constituents are looking for property tax relief, and paying for a projected $60 million facility would not provide that. Hillsboro's Earl Meier said he thought more citizens would attend Tuesday evening's meeting and claimed he was not hearing a great deal of enthusiasm from board members or members of the public. He added that he would like to hear more from the public, to which Plunkett responded that there is no better way to get the public's opinion than to ask them to vote on a ballot.

There were disagreements, but the conversations Tuesday remained civil. No action was taken and there is no timetable for when each board will make a decision as to what comes next. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Volleyball Regional Quarterfinals

2A

At Greenville

Hillsboro def Greenville: 25-18, 25-21
Carlyle def Wesclin: 25-13, 25-20

At Auburn

North Mac def Gillespie: 25-14, 25-23
Auburn def Litchfield: 25-20, 25-18

At Wood River

Roxana def Southwestern: 25-16, 25-21
Marquette def Wood River: 25-15, 25-10

At Teutopolis

Vandalia def Salem: 25-19, 25-20
T-Town def Sullivan: 25-13, 25-11

At Clinton

Bloomington Central Catholic def Maroa-Forsyth: 17-25, 25-9, 25-23
Stanford Olympia def Clinton: 24-26, 25-9, 25-11

At St. Teresa

Williamsville def Sangamon Valley: 25-14, 25-10
PORTA def Riverton: 25-14, 25-21

1A

At Mt. Olive
Metro East def Mt. Olive: 25-17, 25-20

At Carrollton
Carrollton def Brussels: 25-12, 25-17

At Mt. Pulaski
Mt. Pulaski def Edinburg: 25-20, 25-18

At South Central
St. Elmo Brownstown def CHBC: 15-25, 25-10, 27-25

At Cerro Gordo
Windsor Stew Stras def Decatur Lutheran: 25-16, 25-173A

At Jacksonville
Southeast def Lanphier: 26-24, 25-21

At Eisenhower
MacArthur def Eisenhower: 23-25, 25-16, 25-14

At Triad
East St. Louis def Cahokia: 25-7, 25-12
Boys Soccer

2A Regional Championship

At Jacksonville
CM 2, Jersey 1
- 4-3 on PKs

A Hillsboro man and a Witt woman were arrested in Schram City on Wednesday, Oct. 23, after allegedly being in possession of narcotics.

Mario Alvarez, 55, and Hope N. Stewart, 31, were taken into custody at 6:31 p.m. at a residence on Frey Avenue. Hillsboro Police Officers and Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the scene to serve arrest warrants for the two.

According to Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham, officers found Alvarez in possession of narcotics in plain view while serving the warrant. They also found white powder on a mirror that Stewart admitted to being heroin. In all, officers recovered 12 capsules, commonly referred to as buttons, of suspected heroin, and a baggie of suspected crystal methamphetamine. Stewart admitted to being at the residence to purchase heroin and had money in hand when she was arrested.

Alvarez and Stewart were both booked into the Montgomery County Jail on the warrants. In addition, Alvarez was booked on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Volleyball

Pana def Hillsboro: 25-21, 25-16
- 11 straight points to close out 2nd set
- 3rd straight undefeated South Central season

Carlinville def Litchfield: 25-22, 26-28, 25-21

Vandalia def Greenville: 25-14, 25-21

Roxana def Southwestern: 25-14, 25-19

Staunton def Gillespie: 25-19, 25-12

Athens def North Mac: 25-13, 25-18

Illini Central def Williamsville: 25-22, 32-34, 25-23

CM def Jersey: 25-20, 26-24

Breese Central def Carlyle: 25-14, 25-13

PORTA def South County: 27-25, 25-20

New Berlin def Jacksonville Routt: 25-21, 25-16

Jacksonville def Mt. Pulaski: 25-17, 25-22

SHG def Mattoon: 25-17, 26-18

Springfield Lutheran def Edinburg: 25-12, 25-16

Father McGivney def Madison: 25-10, 25-18

Riverton def Pawnee in 3
Egyptian Illini Conference Tournament at St. Elmo

Champion: St. Elmo Brownstown

CHBC def Patoka: 14-25, 25-11, 25-18

St. Elmo Brownstown def Patoka: 25-16, 13-25, 25-11

St. Elmo Brownstown def CHBC: 25-13, 28-26SEB: 4-0

CHBC, Patoka & Ramsey: 2-2

Mulberry Grove: 0-4

A Grafton woman was injured on Friday, Oct. 18 in a three-vehicle accident in Jersey County.

Paula McNelly, 64, was taken to Jersey Community Hospital on Friday with non-life threatening injuries.

According to the Illinois State Police, McNelly pulled her vehicle over to the shoulder on Otterville Road and stopped to allow a combine to pass by on a bridge with guard rails on both sides. A southbound car, driven by 22-year-old Sydney Jones of Grafton, was unable to stop in time and struck the rear end of McNelly's vehicle. The impact forced McNelly's Enclave into the left driver's side tire of the combine, and then off the road to the right into the ditch.

Jones and the driver of the combine, identified as 43-year-old Joshua Neal of Jerseyville, reported no injuries. The incident occurred at 4:51 p.m. less than 800 feet north of Busch Lane.

Boys Soccer

1A Sectional Semifinals

At SHG

Marquette 4, SHG 0
Riverton 3, Teutopolis 0

At Columbia

Columbia 3, Mater Dei 0
Mt. Carmel 2, Father McGivney 1

At Normal U. High

St. Thomas Moore 4, Monticello 1

At Peoria Christian

QND 7, Mendota 2
Earlville, Roanoke Benson 12A Regional Semifinals

At Jacksonville

CM 9, Gillespie 0
Jersey 2, Jacksonville 0

At Springfield High

Springfield High 7, Southeast 1
Lincoln 6, Athens 0

At Mattoon

Glenwood 7, Effingham 0
Mattoon 5, Charleston 0

At Morton

Rochester 8, East Peoria 1
Morton 3, Bloomington 0

At Mascoutah

Triad 9, Mt. Vernon 0
Mascoutah 3, Carterville 0

At Champaign Centennial

Champaign Central 10, MacArthur 0
Mt. Zion 4, Centennial 0

3A at OFallon

OFallon 1, Belleville East 0
Collinsville 2, Belleville West 0Volleyball

Hillsboro def Litchfield: 20-25, 25-19, 25-18

Pana def Vandalia: 23-25, 25-13, 25-14

Carlinville def Southwestern: 25-18, 25-14

Greenville def Gillespie: 25-22, 25-9

Greenfield-NW def North Mac: 25-12, 21-25, 25-19

Bunker Hill def Madison: 25-14, 25-12

Metro East def Mt. Olive: 25-20, 25-12

Auburn def Central A&M: 25-14, 25-19

New Berlin def Williamsville: 20-25, 25-21, 25-22

Taylorville def Lincoln: 25-20, 22-25, 25-12

Athens def Maroa-Forsyth: 25-14, 25-18

Rochester def Glenwood: 25-19, 25-15

SHG def MacArthur: 25-6, 25-11

Springfield High def Jacksonville: 26-24, 25-12

Edwardsville def Belleville West: 25-19, 25-14

Staunton def. Roxana: 25-17, 25-22
Egyptian Illini Conference Tournament at St. Elmo

St. Elmo Brownstown def Ramsey: 25-22, 25-21

St. Elmo Brownstown def Mulberry Grove: 25-22, 25-8

Patoka def Mulberry Grove: 25-16, 25-17

Patoka def Ramsey: 25-22, 25-14

A Blue Mound woman was killed on Thursday, Oct. 17, after the vehicle she was driving was hit by a train in Taylorville.

Pamela McPherson was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. at Taylorville Memorial Hospital by Christian County Coroner Amy Calvert Winans. She was 52.

Authorities responded to the scene of the crash at 9:33 p.m. at the crossing on South Shumway Street in South Taylorville near West Calvert Drive. McPherson's SUV was northbound on South Shumway when the crash occurred.

The Christian County Sheriff's Office and Christian County Coroner's Office are handling the investigation. Results of an autopsy that was performed have not been released.

There were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 13, 2019. Statewide, the average
temperature was 54.7 degrees, 1.0 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 1.03 inches, 0.50 inches above
normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 4 percent very short, 13 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 14
percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 7 percent very short, 15 percent short, 65 percent adequate,
and 13 percent surplus. Corn dented was at 96 percent. Corn mature was at 73 percent. Corn harvested for grain was
at 23 percent, compared to 70 percent last year and 59 percent for the 5-year average. Corn condition was 6 percent
very poor, 15 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Soybean coloring was at 95
percent. Soybean dropping leaves was at 80 percent. Soybean harvest was 27 percent complete, compared to 59
percent last year and 55 percent for the 5-year average. Soybean condition was 7 percent very poor, 12 percent poor,
38 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Winter wheat planted was at 38 percent, compared to 34
percent last year and 35 percent for the 5-year average. Winter wheat emerged was at 13 percent.

Earlier this week, WSMI reported that a Raymond man was killed in a single-vehicle accident in Farmersville on Sunday, Oct. 13. We have now learned that the man died as a result of a medical event just before the accident occurred.

Ben W. Pope, 48, was pronounced dead on Sunday at 6:18 p.m. by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. According to a source close to the family, he died as a result of a medical event. He was found after the van he was driving struck an awning and two parking posts.

Charles MacKay, 54, of Raymond, was a passenger in the vehicle. He was not injured when the van hit the awning approximately 130 feet north of the intersection of East and Elevator Streets in Farmersville.

The Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office has charged a 69-year-old Litchfield man with First-Degree Murder in the shooting death of local resident Mary Chesser.

David L. Chesser was formally charged on Thursday, Oct. 10, with two counts of the offense, according to State's Attorney Bryant Hitchings. The charges allege that Mr. Chesser twice discharged a firearm in Mary's direction with the intent to kill or knowing such an act "created a strong probability of causing great bodily harm or death." Additionally, he was charged with the Class X Felony of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm for allegedly knowingly firing the weapon within 1,000 feet of Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro while students were in session.

On Sept. 20, Mary Chesser, 68, crashed a vehicle in the front yard of a residence near the intersection of Fairground and Seymour Avenues. When Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham arrived at the scene, he discovered that Mary's injuries were consistent with a shooting. She died on Oct. 1, at HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Mr. Chesser is currently in custody at the Montgomery County Jail with bond set at $1 million. A Jury Trial is scheduled for December.

David L. Chesser was formally charged on Thursday, Oct. 10, with two counts of the offense, according to State's Attorney Bryant Hitchings. The charges allege that Mr. Chesser twice discharged a firearm in Mary's direction with the intent to kill or knowing such an act "created a strong probability of causing great bodily harm or death." Additionally, he was charged with the Class X Felony of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm for allegedly knowingly firing the weapon within 1,000 feet of Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro while students were in session.

On Sept. 20, Mary Chesser, 68, crashed a vehicle in the front yard of a residence near the intersection of Fairground and Seymour Avenues. When Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham arrived at the scene, he discovered that Mary's injuries were consistent with a shooting. She died on Oct. 1, at HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Mr. Chesser is currently in custody at the Montgomery County Jail with bond set at $1 million. A Jury Trial is scheduled for December.

David L. Chesser was formally charged on Thursday with two counts of the offense, according to State's Attorney Bryant Hitchings. The charges allege that Mr. Chesser twice discharged a firearm in Mary's direction with the intent to kill or knowing such an act "created a strong probability of causing great bodily harm or death." Additionally, he was charged with the Class X Felony of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm for allegedly knowingly firing the weapon within 1,000 feet of Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro while students were in session.

On September 20, Mary Chesser, 68, crashed a vehicle in the front yard of a residence near the intersection of Fairground and Seymour Avenues. When Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham arrived at the scene, he discovered that Mary's injuries were consistent with a shooting. She died on October 1, at HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Mr. Chesser is currently in custody at the Montgomery County Jail with bond set at $1 million. A Jury Trial is scheduled for December.

David L. Chesser was formally charged on Thursday with two counts of the offense, according to State's Attorney Bryant Hitchings. The charges allege that Mr. Chesser twice discharged a firearm in Mary's direction with the intent to kill or knowing such an act "created a strong probability of causing great bodily harm or death." Additionally, he was charged with the Class X Felony of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm for allegedly knowingly firing the weapon within 1,000 feet of Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro while students were in session.

On September 20, Mary Chesser, 68, crashed a vehicle in the front yard of a residence near the intersection of Fairground and Seymour Avenues. When Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham arrived at the scene, he discovered that Mary's injuries were consistent with a shooting. She died on October 1, at HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Mr. Chesser is currently in custody at the Montgomery County Jail with bond set at $1 million. A Jury Trial is scheduled for December.

For the State of Illinois
Corn: Planted area is estimated at 10.50 million acres, down 5 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 10.25 million acres, is down 6 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois corn yield is forecast at 179 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last month and down 31 bushels from 2018. Production is forecast at 1.83 billion bushels, down 19 percent from last years production.

Soybeans: Planted area is estimated at 10.0 million acres, down 7 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 9.94 million acres, is down 5 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois soybean yield is forecast at 51 bushels per acre, down 12.5 bushels from 2018. Production is forecast at 507 million bushels, down 24 percent from 2018.

Alfalfa hay: Harvested area, forecast at 240,000 acres, is down 4 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois alfalfa hay yield is forecast at 3.60 tons per acre, up 0.30 ton from the previous year. Production is forecast at 864,000 tons, 5 percent above 2018.

Other hay: Harvested area, forecast at 230,000 acres, is up 5 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois other hay yield is forecast at 2.20 tons per acre, unchanged from the previous year. Production is estimated at 506,000 tons, 5 percent above 2018.

For the United States:
Corn production for grain is forecast at 13.8 billion bushels, down less than a precentage from September's report, and down 4 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expeced to average 168.4 bu/acre for harvest up a 1/4 bushel from September's forecast, but down 8 bushel from last year. Area harvested for corn is expected to be 81.8 milion acres, down less than 1 percent from the previous forecast, but up slightly form 2018. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a review of all available data.

Soybean prodcution is forcasted to be 3.55 billion bushel, down 2 percent from September, and down 20 percent from last year. Based on October 1st, conditions, yield for soybeans is expected to be 47 bu/acre, down 1 bushel from the September forecast, and down 3 3/4 bushel from 2018. Area expected to be harvested in beans is expected to be 75.6 million acres, down less than a percent from last year, and down 14 percent from 2018. Updates on acreage were made in several States, based on review of available data.

Montgomery County will shut down its recycling program, including all county facilities, after the county board voted 12-8 on Tuesday to cease operations, effective December 1.

Not a single board member spoke favorably about shutting the program down, but the decision came down to its financial sustainability. The cost to operate recycling is approximately $200,000 annually, and the program has a deficit of about $100,000, though that total differs from year to year and is dependent upon factors such as the price of commodities. Board Chairman Evan Young said the county loses about $2,000 on every truck load of recyclable materials.

Closing the program will allow private businesses to take over responsibility of recycling in the county. One business owner has already expressed interest in taking it over and would offer curbside pickup of materials at a monthly charge of approximately $10 for those interested in participating. Another business based in the northern part of the county has also expressed interest.

Prior to the vote, Finance Committee chair Megan Beeler told the board that Montgomery County has the last government-run recycling program around, and private companies cannot compete with it because it is a free service.

Board member Ron Deabenderfer said he would prefer to keep the program open until the private carriers open their service so that the transition would be easier. Beeler responded that she wanted a business to begin offering the service on December 1, but the county cannot force them to do so.

Mark Hughes asked why the board could not delay closing the program, and Beeler responded that the Fiscal Year 2020 budget that was proposed on Tuesday did not include funding for recycling. The board will vote on the budget during their meeting in November, and it takes effect in December.

Kirby Furness said nobody wants to get rid of recycling, but cuts have to be made in order to balance the budget. The closing of the Coffeen Power Plant has emphasized the need to decrease the county's budget. Chuck Graden said the county simply cannot afford to operate recycling anymore, adding that if residents want it, they will have to pay for it out of their own pockets.

Voting in favor of the motion to close the program were Young, Beeler, Furness, Graden, Bill Bergen, David Loucks, Dennis McCammack, Gene Miles, Jim Moore, Earlene Robinson, Bob Sneed and Donna Yeske. Voting against were Deabenderfer, Hughes, Connie Beck, Glenn Bishop, Tim Fogle, Sandy Johnson, Jeremy Jones and Richard Wendel. Glenn Savage voted to abstain.

The next Montgomery County Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 5:30 p.m.

The Litchfield Fire Department will be hosting a number of activities this week in recognition of National Fire Prevention Week.

National Fire Prevention Day is always October 9, which is the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Every year since 1925, the week in which October 9 has fallen has been recognized as Fire Prevention Week nationwide.

The theme for 2019 is Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape. It focuses on what a home escape plan should include and the value of practicing it.

The Litchfield Fire Department has a variety of activities planned for this week for schools and the general public. Beginning Monday, Oct. 7, fire drills will be conducted at all Litchfield schools. Smokehouse tours will be given at the fire department to all elementary school students this week, as well. Students will also have the opportunity to play games, win prizes and have lunch with members of the fire department.

Firefighters will also be working the counter at McDonald's on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. McDonald's will give a portion of the proceeds earned that evening to the volunteer fire department. A silent auction for adults will also be held and there will be other activities for children.

The Litchfield City Council approved expanded hunting at Lake Lou Yaeger during their meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Archery hunting will be permitted in certain restricted areas of the Lake Lou Yaeger Recreational Area from October 10 through November 22. These generally defined areas are available for review at the Lake Superintendent's office.

A City hunting permit will be required to hunt these controlled areas. Only 10 permits will be awarded via a lottery system.

For a chance to obtain a permit, hunters must possess a valid Illinois Hunting License for the 2019-20 season, possess a valid deer tag issued by the State for the season, understand and be willing to follow all state and federal laws and regulations governing hunting in the state, use archery hunting equipment only, be willing to take a doe before taking a buck, and report all kills to the Litchfield Lake Department so results can be recorded. Crossbows will not be permitted.

Hunters who wish to enter the lottery must call the Lake Department at 217-324-5832 and submit their name and phone number by no later than 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10.

The next Litchfield City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m.

A Hillsboro woman who was shot in late September prior to a traffic accident has died.

Mary Chesser passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. She was 68.

Chesser was involved in a single-vehicle accident in Hillsboro on Friday, Sep. 20, in which she had driven into the yard of a residence at the intersection of Fairground and Seymour Avenues. When Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham arrived at the scene, he determined that injuries the victim had suffered were not from the accident, but rather were consistent with a shooting. Chesser's family called the police to inform them that an alleged shooting had occurred at the Free Methodist Church, about three blocks south of the scene of the accident.

David Chesser, 69, was identified as the suspect and was arrested at the church after attempting to enter it while armed with a handgun. The incident forced Hillsboro School District Officials to place the nearby Beckemeyer Elementary School on lockdown.

No additional information has been released. WSMI will have more on this story as it becomes available.