PIKE COUNTY ILLINOIS — Spring Pickin Days are set to take place across Pike County Illinois, but this year’s event will look much different than in the past. Organizers say the event is not being centrally coordinated this year, leading to confusion about participation and locations. The Spring Shop Hop is not  replacing Spring Pickin Days, but not all locations are taking part, and there is no official list, map, or funding behind the event. Instead, participation is being h

GRIGGSVILLE — A vacant mobile home in Griggsville caught fire Saturday afternoon following severe weather that moved through the area. Fire officials say no one was inside the structure at the time, noting the mobile home was being used for storage. Investigators believe the fire may have been electrical in nature after a power line knocked down during Friday’s storms was found lying across the home. The official cause remains under investigation. Crews from the Griggsville F

PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — Strong straight-line winds and lightning from powerful storms Friday night caused widespread damage and power disruptions across Pike County Illinois and surrounding areas. Emergency crews across the region spent much of the night responding to downed trees, power lines, and structural damage after the storms moved through with intense winds. Straight-line winds — which can produce damage similar to a tornado — are believed to be responsible for much of th

PIKE COUNTY, IL -- The Illinois Department of Revenue has announced Pike County, Illinois has been assigned a tentative property assessment equalization factor, commonly known as the multiplier, of 1.0000  for tax year 2025 payable in 2026. A multiplier of one means Pike County property assessments are already considered in line with the state requirement that property be assessed at one-third of market value. State officials said Pike County assessments are averaging 33.32 p

ROODHOUSE — City officials in Roodhouse are warning residents to avoid contact with geese at the Roodhouse Reservoir amid concerns about possible avian flu. The city says there is a potential presence of the virus among the local goose population and is urging the public not to touch or handle any birds they may encounter. While no additional details have been released about confirmed cases, the advisory is being issued out of caution to help prevent any possible spread. Avia

GOLDEN — A powerful storm that moved through Adams County Wednesday night has been confirmed as a tornado, leaving significant damage behind at a family farm near Golden. The National Weather Service says the EF-1 tornado packed winds up to 97 miles per hour, stretched about 50 yards wide, and stayed on the ground for less than a mile. The storm hit as the family took shelter around 9:30 p.m. after noticing signs of a possible tornado, even though no warning had been issued a

CALHOUN COUNTY — A junior high teacher in the Calhoun Community School District has resigned as an investigation into his conduct continues. District officials confirmed that Evan Hopper, a first-year physical education and health teacher, submitted his resignation during a special school board meeting Tuesday night. Superintendent Lori Young said Hopper had been suspended prior to stepping down and remains under an active investigation. Because of the ongoing probe, very few

MEREDOSIA — Village officials in Meredosia say several burglaries have been reported in recent months, and police have already made two arrests in connection with the cases. Meredosia Police Chief Derrick Suttles told the village board one of the people arrested was found with a stolen gun. The discussion came as board members also handled several other issues affecting the community, including a possible expansion of stop signs in town, the sale of a city-owned property, and

MT. STERLING — Car enthusiasts across the Twin Pikes region are invited to show off their rides at the 2nd Annual Rock & Rev Festival Car Show coming up this summer. The event will take place June 20 at the Brown County Fairgrounds in Mt. Sterling and is expected to draw a wide variety of vehicles from across the region, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Organizers say they are actively looking for participants to help make this year’s show one of the biggest yet, enco

HARDIN — A Georgia man is now in custody in the local area following a lengthy investigation and extradition tied to a major fraud case impacting Calhoun County, Illinois. Authorities say 57-year-old Timothy R. Whitaker of Augusta, Georgia is facing charges of theft and wire fraud involving more than $20,000. The investigation began in June of 2025 after the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint alleging theft and fraudulent financial activity. Corporal Nichola

PITTSFIELD — Farmers across the Twin Pikes region of western Illinois and northeast Missouri are beginning to feel the impact of rising fertilizer costs as global trade disruptions drive prices higher ahead of planting season. Prices have surged in recent weeks after conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran slowed shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a key global trade route that handles roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer supply. Producers throughou

PITTSFIELD — Pike County, Illinois arrest activity from April 6 through April 12 included several serious offenses, highlighted by drug charges, DUI arrests, domestic violence, and a major felony case. Authorities report that 37-year-old Cody R. Spann of Pittsfield was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine along with defrauding a drug screening test. Two individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol during the reporting period. L

BOWLING GREEN — A Bowling Green tattoo studio is turning art into action, partnering with a local support organization to raise awareness and funds for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Oddity Archive Ink announced a collaboration with Avenues, an organization dedicated to helping survivors, with proceeds from select tattoos being donated directly to support those in need. The effort will include special flash sheets designed specifically for the cause. The project also

PITTSFIELD — Young anglers had a chance to reel in both fish and valuable experience this past Saturday during the Pike County Area Anglers Kids Fishing Day at Pittsfield Lake, with organizers calling the event a big success. Youth participants spent the day targeting crappie alongside experienced members, learning hands-on tips and techniques to improve their fishing skills. The event focused on introducing kids to the sport while building confidence on the water in a fun, s

PITTSFIELD — If it feels like the weather across the Twin Pikes and West Central Illinois has been all over the place lately, you’re not imagining it. The region is currently locked into a classic spring “roller coaster” pattern, bringing rapid swings between chilly air, warmups, rain, and occasional storm systems — sometimes all within just a few days. Meteorologists point to a highly active jet stream as the main cause. Right now, that jet stream is dipping farther south in

BOWLING GREEN — Organizers are putting out an urgent call for participants after revealing that no one has registered yet  for the upcoming Miss Bowling Green Pageant. The pageant, open to young women ages 13 to 20, is designed to be a fun and uplifting community event focused on building confidence, creating friendships, and giving participants a chance to represent Bowling Green in a positive way. City of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation officials say the lack of registra

HARDIN -- A Calhoun County investigation into an alleged child sexual assault has led to the arrest of a Godfrey man on a serious felony charge. Calhoun County Sheriff Zach Hardin announced that 38-year-old Tommy R. Thompson was arrested December 30, 2025, on a charge of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault involving a victim under the age of 13. The investigation began December 18, 2025, after authorities received a report of an alleged assault in rural Calhoun County, Illinois

PIKE COUNTY, MO -- Voters across Pike County, Missouri turned out Tuesday for a wide-ranging election that saw decisive wins in key races, including a dominant mayoral victory in Louisiana and several ballot measures passing countywide. In the highest-profile race of the night, Mark Haddock was elected Mayor of Louisiana in a commanding victory, receiving 606 votes and easily defeating Woodrow Polston and David Czerwinski. The result signals strong voter support for Haddock a

MOUNT STERLING —  The Mount Sterling Park District is preparing for the first full summer season of its new splash pad at Joel Oliver Memorial Pool, marking a major milestone after years of upgrades and construction. The splash pad, which opened briefly last summer, was one of the final major projects outlined in the district’s previous five-year strategic plan. Now, district leaders are already looking ahead, gathering community input to shape the next phase of improvements.

PIKE COUNTY, MO -- A fatal crash north of Eolia is now raising new questions as authorities continue searching for a missing vehicle tied to the incident. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 26-year-old St. Louis man was struck and killed by a semi-truck just before 5 a.m. Thursday on U.S. Highway 61 near Route WW. Troopers say the man was walking from west to east across the highway when he entered the path of a semi driven by a 49-year-old man from Haysville,