The Mohawks will live on as Morrisonville voters turn aside a deactivation plan that would have sent Morrisonville students to Lincolnwood High School while accepting Lincolnwood Junior High students. The vote was 59 to 41 percent. Meanwhile, Lincolnwood voters voted in favor of the plan by a 3 to 1 margin 

One visit from former President Donald Trump to the far edge of the new 15th Congressional District appeared to create shock waves in two races in yesterday’s Illinois Primary. First Trump’s support of Congresswoman Mary Miller catapulted her to a resounding victory over Taylorville Republican Rodney Davis. Trump’s endorsement and the optics of Miller standing next to Trump appeared to reap huge dividends in what has proven to be a Trump friendly district. The ultimate factor with that endorsement was that Miller took Davis to the woodshed in the counties where neither of them currently serve. Davis conceded from his Taylorville Election Watch party. “I’d like to congratulate Congresswoman Miller and President Trump on their victory tonight. This was a hard-fought campaign, and I wish her the best in representing the citizens of the 15th District.  “It's been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Illinois. I’m proud of the work our team has done for our constituents since 2013. Helping citizens cut through red tape and navigate the federal bureaucracy has always been one of my top priorities. "We have delivered countless conservative policy solutions from historic tax cuts, student loan relief, farm programs, and investing in our transportation system. “We’ve always worked to govern and make Washington work. As Republicans are poised to retake the House, it’s paramount that Republicans in Congress work to end dysfunction and deliver results for the American people. “I look forward to campaigning with every Republican up and down the ticket across Illinois between now and November to ensure we take back our state and take back Congress.” 

As recent polling indicated, the race for Governor wasn’t close on the Republican side. State Senator Darren Bailey coasted to an early victory racking up well over 50 percent of the vote. At last check the ticket of Auroura Mayor Richard Irvin and running mate Bourne was battling for second place. It was an outcome no one could have expected when the richest man in the state devoted 50 million dollars to the campaign. That was before Governor JB Pritzker dumped more than 30 million dollars into ads that attacked Irvin, including joint appearances where Irvin made positive remarks about Pritzker.  

State Senator Steve McClure held off a challenge from Darren Bailey backed Donald Debolt. Sorento Attorney Tom DeVore’s name has faded from the headlines in recent weeks after months of suing the Pritzker Administration and trying to block mask mandates. That fade appears to be ending as DeVore has opened up a ten point lead over Steve Kim in the Republican race for Attorney General.  Former Sangamon County States Attorney John Millhiser, the former boss of Montgomery County States Attorney Andrew Affrunti and Senator McClure, was defeated by Dan Brady. On the Democratic side, Governor J.B. Pritzker had no trouble winning the Democratic nomination and former Illinois Treasurer former Treasurer  Alexi Giannoulias made a big step forward in his attempt at a political comeback. He appeared headed to victory in a four way race for the Democratic nomination.

On June 10, 2022 at 1:23pm Montgomery County 911 received a call of an armed
robbery that occurred at Hardees in Hillsboro located at 201 School St. The initial
report came into dispatch that a thin build black male with dreadlocks wearing a dark
hoodie with a design and writing on the front wearing a mask with light colored writing on the front came into Hardees pointed a handgun at the front clerk and demanded cash.
When the manager saw the the gun pointed at the clerk she yelled at the male subject to get out and the male subject left, running north from Hardees. Police began searching the area for the male and spoke with community members that had seen the person several blocks away on foot.
Later the same evening a subject matching the description was located and detained
at a Casey’s General Store in Hillsboro. Police learned the male subject had been
staying at a residence in the 800 block of E. Seward St in Hillsboro. A consent search
of the residence discovered items linking the male subject to the crime. Danien D.
Taylor 21 of Florissant, MO was arrested and taken to the Montgomery County Jail.
The Hillsboro Police Department wishes to thank Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
and Illinois Conservation Police for their assistance in the investigation.

Like the horror movies with a bunch of sequels where the deranged serial killer keeps coming back, COVID 19 just doesn’t want to go away. New COVID stats show a surge in the number of counties at high community risk level. Montgomery County has returned to the list along with Macoupin and neighboring Sangamon Counties. Illinois Public Health officials say the Memorial Day Weekend started an uptick in cases with a ten percent increase in cases since. Prior to that, the state saw a two week downward trend. Public health officials are urging residents to prepare for more family gatherings on Father’s day by having up to date vaccinations and boosters.  

Many meetings in recent times in Montgomery County villages, cities and towns have been dominated by talk of the water supply. This week’s Raymond Village Board Meeting was no exception. Board members received results of a water rate study from the Illinois Rural Water Association and the verdict was that the village should boost water rates. The board will tackle the issue again next month after they’ve received additional information.  
 

A 23-year-old Litchfield woman is dead  after the car she was driving struck the rear of a bus Tuesday afternoon near Litchfield and the Macoupin/Montgomery County Line. 23-year-old Grace Keeton was pronounced dead at the hospital after the 4:23 PM crash on Illinois 16 at County Line Road, about three miles west of Litchfield. The driver of the bus and three passengers were not injured. The bus was stopped in the eastbound lane at the intersection behind another vehicle, which was waiting to turn north onto County Line Road. Keeton’s vehicle was eastbound and struck the rear of the bus. Route 16 was shut down for nearly four and a half hours.

On Wednesday, June 1st, 2022, at approximately 3:14 A.M., the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a shooting at 20293 Pine Trail in Witt Township. Trista D. Casey (38) of Witt and Michael S. Cunningham (40) of Litchfield were both located inside the residence. Evidence at the scene indicated that both individuals had been shot multiple times. Trista Casey and Michael Cunningham were both pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.  

Based on information obtained during the investigation Deputies identified Trista Casey’s ex-husband, Matthew A. Casey (40) of Nokomis, as a person of interest. Further investigation led Deputies to believe Matthew Casey had returned to his residence in Nokomis. 

With the assistance of Montgomery County State’s Attorney Andrew Affrunti a search warrant was obtained for Matthew Casey’s residence in Nokomis. During the morning hours of June 1st, 2022, with the assistance of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm Systems (ILEAS) Response Team, Deputies executed the search warrant at Matthew Casey’s residence. Matthew Casey was located inside the garage at the residence with a single gunshot wound. Matthew Casey was pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. A preliminary investigation of the scene indicated Matthew Casey’s death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

The Hillsboro Police Department, Nokomis Police Department, the ILEAS Response Team, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, and the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office assisted with the investigation. The Nokomis/Witt Area Ambulance also responded to and assisted at the scene.