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

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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.