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POLITICAL SIGN VANDALISM ADDS TO TENSIONS SURROUNDING PIKE COUNTY CLERK’S RACE
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Photos circulating online appear to show political signs supporting Ashley Greger being damaged, adding another ugly chapter to an already tense political atmosphere surrounding the Pike County Clerk’s Office. The images show signs that appear to have been deliberately damaged. At this time, RiverNewsLive has seen no evidence identifying who was responsible, and there is no indication connecting the vandalism to any candidate, campaign, county employee or s
Mike Batchelor


MASSIVE AMEREN GRID PROJECT COULD BRING NEW TRANSMISSION CORRIDORS THROUGH PIKE COUNTY, MO
PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — A major Ameren transmission project could substantially change portions of the Pike County landscape, replacing miles of existing power-line structures while potentially creating as much as 11 miles of entirely new transmission corridor through the county. The project is officially known as the Eastern Missouri Grid Transformation Project, a joint undertaking by Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois and Ameren Missouri. The overall project calls for more
Mike Batchelor


PIKE COUNTY, IL SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ARREST ON CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A 36-year-old man is being held in the Pike County Jail after authorities say an investigation into allegations involving a child under the age of 13 led to two Class X felony charges. The Pike County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of Jack L. Green, 36, who authorities listed as homeless, on two counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 13. According to the Sheriff’s Department, investigators received a report on Aug
Mike Batchelor


PIKE COUNTY LOSES $10,314 UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM AFTER MISSED PHONE HEARING
PITTSFIELD — Pike County has lost a contested unemployment claim totaling $10,314 after failing to participate in a scheduled telephone hearing with an administrative law judge, according to information and documentation published by Pike County Zombie Control. Catherine Rafferty of the Pike County Clerk’s Office reportedly told county officials that the hearing had been scheduled by telephone, that employees in the office knew they were expecting the call, and that the call
Mike Batchelor


BOWLING GREEN R-I EARNS PERFECT SCORE IN 2026 SPECIAL EDUCATION REVIEW
BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — The Bowling Green R-I School District is celebrating a perfect score in its 2026 special education performance review, receiving the highest designation available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. According to the district, Bowling Green R-I received a 4.0 out of 4.0 and was designated as “Meets the Requirements and Purposes of the IDEA” by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The district reported e
Mike Batchelor


SEVERAL MAJOR ARRESTS REPORTED IN PIKE COUNTY DURING PAST WEEK
PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — The Pike County Jail’s weekly arrest report for August 10 through August 16 includes several arrests involving felony-level or otherwise significant charges. Among the most serious cases, Lukasz W. Czarnik, 33, of Schiller Park, was booked August 12 on multiple charges, including aggravated battery involving the use of a deadly weapon, reckless conduct causing bodily harm or endangering safety, reckless driving, attempted theft involving property valued be
Mike Batchelor


WEST CENTRAL COOP TO USE MEREDOSIA GYM FOR 2026-27 SPORTS SEASON
WINCHESTER, Ill. — Scott County West Central COOP students will play a significant portion of their home sports schedule in Meredosia this school year after the Winchester Elementary School gym was demolished because of structural concerns. The West Central COOP comprises atheletes from across Scott County in the Winchester and Bluffs districts. Winchester school district Superintendent Jeff Abell and Principal Dennis Vortman met with members of the Meredosia-Chambersburg sch
Mike Batchelor


HULL OF A RACE MARKS 20 YEARS OF FIGHTING PARKINSON’S DISEASE
HULL, Ill. — The tiny Pike County community of Hull welcomed hundreds of runners, walkers, volunteers and supporters Saturday morning for the 20th annual Hull of a Race, continuing a tradition that has now generated more than $200,000 for the fight against Parkinson’s disease. This year’s event drew a record 288 runners and walkers, a significant increase from the 104 participants who took part when the event began two decades ago. The August 15 event included competitive 5K
Mike Batchelor


$1.04 BILLION POWERBALL JACKPOT TICKET SOLD IN QUINCY
QUINCY, ILLINOIS — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Quincy is now holding a ticket worth more than one billion dollars. The Illinois Lottery confirmed Thursday that the sole jackpot-winning ticket for Wednesday night's $1.04 billion Powerball drawing was purchased at the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh at 310 North 36th Street in Quincy. The ticket matched all five white balls — 4, 26, 66, 67 and 69 — along with Powerball 9. The August 12 drawing ended a run of more than three mo
Mike Batchelor


16-YEAR-OLD ROCKPORT GIRL IDENTIFIED AS VICTIM IN FATAL PIKE COUNTY SCHOOL BUS CRASH
PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — Authorities have identified the teenage driver killed Thursday morning in a fiery collision involving a Pleasant Hill School District bus in rural Pike County. Pike County Coroner David Greenwood identified the victim as Isabella R. Johnson, 16, of Rockport, Illinois. The crash occurred on U.S. Route 54 west of 165th Avenue, approximately three miles from Atlas. Preliminary information from Illinois State Police indicates the school bus was slowing to pick
Mike Batchelor
The Latest News


POLITICAL SIGN VANDALISM ADDS TO TENSIONS SURROUNDING PIKE COUNTY CLERK’S RACE
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Photos circulating online appear to show political signs supporting Ashley Greger being damaged, adding another ugly chapter to an already tense political atmosphere surrounding the Pike County Clerk’s Office. The images show signs that appear to have been deliberately damaged. At this time, RiverNewsLive has seen no evidence identifying who was responsible, and there is no indication connecting the vandalism to any candidate, campaign, county employee or s
52 minutes ago


MASSIVE AMEREN GRID PROJECT COULD BRING NEW TRANSMISSION CORRIDORS THROUGH PIKE COUNTY, MO
PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — A major Ameren transmission project could substantially change portions of the Pike County landscape, replacing miles of existing power-line structures while potentially creating as much as 11 miles of entirely new transmission corridor through the county. The project is officially known as the Eastern Missouri Grid Transformation Project, a joint undertaking by Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois and Ameren Missouri. The overall project calls for more
1 day ago


LOUISIANA POLICE DISABLE FLOCK CAMERAS AHEAD OF PUBLIC HEARING
LOUISIANA, Mo. — The Louisiana Police partment has temporarily disabled the city’s FLOCK automated license plate reader cameras as officials prepare for a public hearing Monday over privacy concerns, safeguards and whether the system should remain in use. Louisiana Police Chief Josh Baker told KHQA TV that all seven of the city’s FLOCK cameras have been covered and taken out of service until further notice following reports of misconduct involving the same technology in St. C
1 day ago


PIKE COUNTY, IL SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ARREST ON CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A 36-year-old man is being held in the Pike County Jail after authorities say an investigation into allegations involving a child under the age of 13 led to two Class X felony charges. The Pike County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of Jack L. Green, 36, who authorities listed as homeless, on two counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 13. According to the Sheriff’s Department, investigators received a report on Aug
1 day ago


PIKE COUNTY, IL CLERK PULLS OFFICE FROM COMMITTEE MEETINGS
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A new dispute is developing inside Pike County government after County Clerk Natalie Roseberry reportedly notified county officials that she and members of her staff will no longer attend county committee meetings. RiverNewsLive has confirmed the communication through two separate sources familiar with the matter. According to those sources, Roseberry sent an email indicating that neither she nor employees from the Pike County Clerk’s Office would participa
2 days ago


PIKE COUNTY LOSES $10,314 UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM AFTER MISSED PHONE HEARING
PITTSFIELD — Pike County has lost a contested unemployment claim totaling $10,314 after failing to participate in a scheduled telephone hearing with an administrative law judge, according to information and documentation published by Pike County Zombie Control. Catherine Rafferty of the Pike County Clerk’s Office reportedly told county officials that the hearing had been scheduled by telephone, that employees in the office knew they were expecting the call, and that the call
3 days ago


BOWLING GREEN R-I EARNS PERFECT SCORE IN 2026 SPECIAL EDUCATION REVIEW
BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — The Bowling Green R-I School District is celebrating a perfect score in its 2026 special education performance review, receiving the highest designation available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. According to the district, Bowling Green R-I received a 4.0 out of 4.0 and was designated as “Meets the Requirements and Purposes of the IDEA” by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The district reported e
5 days ago


SEVERAL MAJOR ARRESTS REPORTED IN PIKE COUNTY DURING PAST WEEK
PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — The Pike County Jail’s weekly arrest report for August 10 through August 16 includes several arrests involving felony-level or otherwise significant charges. Among the most serious cases, Lukasz W. Czarnik, 33, of Schiller Park, was booked August 12 on multiple charges, including aggravated battery involving the use of a deadly weapon, reckless conduct causing bodily harm or endangering safety, reckless driving, attempted theft involving property valued be
5 days ago


WEST CENTRAL COOP TO USE MEREDOSIA GYM FOR 2026-27 SPORTS SEASON
WINCHESTER, Ill. — Scott County West Central COOP students will play a significant portion of their home sports schedule in Meredosia this school year after the Winchester Elementary School gym was demolished because of structural concerns. The West Central COOP comprises atheletes from across Scott County in the Winchester and Bluffs districts. Winchester school district Superintendent Jeff Abell and Principal Dennis Vortman met with members of the Meredosia-Chambersburg sch
5 days ago


HULL OF A RACE MARKS 20 YEARS OF FIGHTING PARKINSON’S DISEASE
HULL, Ill. — The tiny Pike County community of Hull welcomed hundreds of runners, walkers, volunteers and supporters Saturday morning for the 20th annual Hull of a Race, continuing a tradition that has now generated more than $200,000 for the fight against Parkinson’s disease. This year’s event drew a record 288 runners and walkers, a significant increase from the 104 participants who took part when the event began two decades ago. The August 15 event included competitive 5K
6 days ago


$1.04 BILLION POWERBALL JACKPOT TICKET SOLD IN QUINCY
QUINCY, ILLINOIS — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Quincy is now holding a ticket worth more than one billion dollars. The Illinois Lottery confirmed Thursday that the sole jackpot-winning ticket for Wednesday night's $1.04 billion Powerball drawing was purchased at the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh at 310 North 36th Street in Quincy. The ticket matched all five white balls — 4, 26, 66, 67 and 69 — along with Powerball 9. The August 12 drawing ended a run of more than three mo
Aug 13


16-YEAR-OLD ROCKPORT GIRL IDENTIFIED AS VICTIM IN FATAL PIKE COUNTY SCHOOL BUS CRASH
PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — Authorities have identified the teenage driver killed Thursday morning in a fiery collision involving a Pleasant Hill School District bus in rural Pike County. Pike County Coroner David Greenwood identified the victim as Isabella R. Johnson, 16, of Rockport, Illinois. The crash occurred on U.S. Route 54 west of 165th Avenue, approximately three miles from Atlas. Preliminary information from Illinois State Police indicates the school bus was slowing to pick
Aug 13


UNION CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF WESTERN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
BARRY, Ill. — A teachers union representing employees in the Western Community Unit School District is asking a longtime School Board member to resign and is calling on the board to consider formally seeking his removal from office. The Western Education Association has filed a uniform grievance accusing Board Secretary James Broeckling of violating district policies governing board member conduct. Athena LaReau, an Illinois Education Association UniServ Director speaking on
Aug 13


BOWLING GREEN RAISING FUNDS FOR COTTON FITZSIMMONS MEMORIAL STATUE
BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — The City of Bowling Green is asking the community to help create a permanent downtown tribute to one of Pike County’s most accomplished native sons — legendary basketball coach Cotton Fitzsimmons. The city is raising private donations for a life-size bronze statue of Fitzsimmons that would be placed on the southwest corner of the downtown square beside the Bowling Green Annex Building. According to city officials, no taxpayer money will be used for the pr
Aug 12


GREENE COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR METH POSSESSION
CARROLLTON, Ill. — A Greene County man has been sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a felony methamphetamine possession charge. Greene County State’s Attorney Craig M. Grummel announced that 57-year-old Donald G. Dawson was sentenced Monday, August 10, after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case stems from an April 12 incident in Greene County in which Dawson was found in pos
Aug 11
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