PITTSFIELD — West Central Illinois is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural leader and community advocate Blake Roderick, who passed away Friday at the age of 69 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Roderick spent more than 40 years serving the agricultural community, beginning his career in 1981 with the Sangamon County Farm Bureau before taking leadership of the Pike County Farm Bureau. In 1987, he expanded his role to include Scott County, later helping lead the

PITTSFIELD — Drivers in both Pike County, Illinois and Scott County, Illinois should prepare for delays beginning Wednesday as bridge painting projects get underway across the region. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that work will begin on multiple bridges, including the 150th Street overpass in Pike County, Illinois, as well as the U.S. 54/Illinois 107 overpass and Interstate 72 bridges over Illinois 100 in Scott County, Illinois. The 150th Street overpas

WINCHESTER — A Scott County, Illinois man is facing arson charges following a series of fires reported late last week near Lynnville. Authorities say deputies with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department were first called around 7:59 Thursday morning to the 1200 block of Mason Lane, where a shed had been destroyed by fire. The following day, deputies responded again around 5:20 a.m. after two more structure fires were reported at the same location, involving another shed and a

BAYLIS — A Pike County, Illinois woman has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to multiple felony charges tied to two separate incidents late last year. Twenty-eight-year-old Madelyn Syrcle entered the plea Tuesday in Pike County Circuit Court before Judge J. Frank McCartney. Court records show the charges stem from incidents on December 20 and December 30. In the first case, Syrcle pleaded guilty to residential burglary and criminal damage to property. In the second incident, sh

PITTSFIELD — Several individuals were taken into custody in Pike County, Illinois between March 23 and March 29, with multiple serious charges reported by local law enforcement agencies. Among the most significant arrests, Timothy D. Shanks of Pittsfield was charged with delivery of methamphetamine involving 15 to 100 grams, along with additional offenses including resisting a peace officer. Heather L. Crowder of Nebo was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery to a police

LOUISIANA, MISSOURI —  The City of Louisiana has once again been recognized by the State of Missouri for its commitment to public safety, earning the Missouri Blue Shield designation for a second consecutive year. City officials say the designation highlights efforts to strengthen law enforcement, improve transparency, and build stronger relationships between police and the community. The program also allows participating communities to apply for state grant funding to suppor

MOUNT STERLING —  Brown County student athletes were recognized this week at the Illinois State Capitol following a standout year across multiple sports programs. State Senator Jil Tracy of Quincy honored the athletes during a presentation in Springfield on Wednesday, highlighting what she called an exceptional year for Brown County schools. Brown County High School’s football team was among those recognized after finishing the season with an 11-3 record and earning a second-

PIKE COUNTY, MISSOURI —  A Bowling Green man is dead following a motorcycle crash Thursday night in Pike County, Missouri. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C, the crash occurred at approximately 8:45 p.m. on U.S. 54 near Pike County Road 291. Authorities say a 61-year-old man was operating a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R when the motorcycle traveled off the roadway, struck a ditch, overturned, and ejected the rider. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.

PITTSFIELD — Visible progress is continuing in downtown Pittsfield as improvements along West Adams Street move forward. Crews have begun installing new sidewalks, marking a key step in the ongoing revitalization effort aimed at enhancing both safety and appearance in the city’s central business district. The project also includes the addition of stamped concrete between the curb and sidewalk, designed to bring a more polished and inviting look to the streetscape. The decorat

LOUISIANA — The Louisiana Police Department is warning residents and local businesses after counterfeit bills were recently discovered circulating in the community. Officials say the fake currency has shown up in multiple instances, prompting a push to educate the public on what to watch for. Police say several of the counterfeit bills include obvious warning signs, such as the word “COPY” printed directly on the bill or markings that do not appear on legitimate U.S. currency

WINCHESTER — A Scott County native is being recognized statewide for a distinguished career in journalism. Retired Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long has been named the 2026 Illinoisan of the Year by the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. Long, a graduate of Winchester High School, spent 44 years working in print journalism across Illinois, including time with the Peoria Journal Star, the Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press. Throughout his career, he b

PITTSFIELD - A Wellington, Kansas, man is in custody following an investigation involving alleged online contact with a child in Pike County, Illinois, according to the Pike County Illinois Sheriff’s Department. Authorities say the case began after the parents of a child under the age of 13 discovered their child had been communicating online with an adult male for several months. Investigators later determined the suspect also had multiple open cases in Kansas involving the

GRIGGSVILLE — Pike County residents will have an opportunity to safely dispose of hazardous household materials during an upcoming collection event in Griggsville. The event is scheduled for April 11 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Western Illinois Fairgrounds, located at 516 South Oak Street. Organizers say the collection is open to residential households and is designed to safely handle materials that could be harmful if improperly disposed. Accepted items include latex- and o

BOWLING GREEN — The Bowling Green R-1 School District will be searching for new leadership following the resignation of its superintendent. During a special Board of Education meeting, the board approved the resignation of Superintendent Nick Larson, which will take effect June 30, 2026. In a message to district families, Larson said the decision was not easy but was made in the best interest of his family as he prepares to transition out of public education. He also expresse

CARROLLTON — A Greene County man has been sentenced to prison following a conviction for a sexual abuse offense, according to the Greene County State’s Attorney’s Office. Lloyd L. Speaker was sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after being convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. The charge carried a possible sentence ranging from probation up to seven years in prison. Officials say the court considered the nature of the of

ROODHOUSE — A large brush fire covering approximately 100 acres was brought under control Tuesday afternoon following a multi-agency response in the Roodhouse area. Firefighters were dispatched around 1:15 p.m. and quickly called in additional support as crews worked to contain the rapidly spreading fire. Tankers and brush units from multiple departments responded, along with assistance from local farmers who used equipment to help control the flames. Responding agencies incl

QUINCY — A Quincy man has been sentenced to more than five decades in prison following convictions on multiple child pornography-related charges. Christopher R. Romo, 33, was sentenced to a total of 55 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with 38 of those years ordered to be served consecutively. According to court records, the sentence includes 12 years each for two counts of child pornography, 8½ years each for two additional counts, and 14 years for child photo

BOWLING GREEN — The Bowling Green Police Department has announced the addition of a new full-time officer and the promotion of a current officer to a leadership role. Officer Danielle Pliler was officially sworn in and joins the department with seven years of law enforcement experience. Officials say her background includes service as a jailer, assistant jail administrator, patrol deputy, and school resource officer, most recently with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. At the

LOUISIANA — The Louisiana City Council approved a series of measures during its March 23 meeting, including utility rate increases, equipment purchases, and updates to city operations. Among the most notable actions, the council passed a water rate increase that will take effect June 1. The new base rate will rise from $21.55 to $21.90, along with a usage rate of $0.0618412 per cubic foot. A separate wastewater rate increase was also approved, raising the base rate from $37.1

LOUISIANA — Tensions appear to be rising in the Louisiana mayoral race ahead of the April 7 election, as a candidate reports a misleading campaign postcard was distributed across the community. Mark Haddock says he became aware of the situation after a friend showed him a postcard that had arrived in the mail. Haddock says the piece was not created or authorized by his campaign and does not reflect his views or positions. “I’m not sure how many were actually sent out,” Haddoc