MEREDOSIA — Flood concerns are increasing along the Illinois River as water levels continue to rise, prompting a flood warning set to take effect tonight and remain in place through Wednesday of next week. The warning, issued by the National Weather Service in St. Louis, highlights growing risks at multiple points along the river, particularly in Meredosia and Beardstown. At Meredosia, flood stage begins at 17 feet, with impacts expected at the local boat dock when levels rea

BOWLING GREEN — A Louisiana, Missouri man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following a 2025 armed standoff and threats involving a mowing crew in Pike County, Missouri. A Pike County, Missouri jury found Anthony Q. Bachler, 55, guilty on March 10 of felony harassment, felony unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action after a two-day trial. The charges stem from a July 2025 incident in which Bachler confronted members of a mowing crew contracted

BOWLING GREEN — The Bowling Green R-I School District has approved pay raises for teachers and staff for the upcoming school year as part of its latest board action. During its April meeting, the Board of Education voted to increase the base salary for teachers to $40,000 for the 2026–27 school year. The move represents an $800 increase over the current base and aligns with new state requirements setting a minimum teacher salary at that level. Returning teachers will also rec

BLUFFS — Families in the Bluffs school district are being invited to take part in a growing program aimed at bringing families back together around the dinner table. The Family Dinner Project, a nationwide initiative focused on encouraging shared family meals, has been introduced locally through a grant-supported effort in the district. The program allows families to attend a free dinner event while also receiving ingredients to prepare additional meals at home. The effort is

PITTSFIELD-- The Pike County Sheriff’s Department released its latest weekly arrest report covering April 13 through April 26, with several individuals facing more serious charges beyond routine warrants and failure to appear cases. Karson Ince, 33, of Pittsfield was arrested by Pittsfield Police on a charge of domestic battery. Isabella Cadwell, 20, of Quincy was arrested on charges related to unlawful use of a debit card and theft under $500. Brooke Miller, 29, of Ashland w

LOUISIANA -- A local Girl Scout troop in Louisiana, Missouri is stepping up to support children facing serious heart conditions, launching a community-wide donation drive with a deeply personal mission. Girl Scout Troop 3429 is organizing a “Heart Hero Comfort Drive,” collecting items for children undergoing treatment for congenital heart defects. The effort is inspired by Troop leader Mika, whose daughter Iris has spent significant time in hospitals due to heart complication

LOUISIANA -- The Louisiana Public Library in Pike County, Missouri has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, recognizing its continued service as part of a historic network of community libraries across the country. The funding comes through the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative, a nationwide program honoring libraries originally established through the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie. The effort celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois officials have launched new online tools aimed at helping residents meet updated federal food assistance requirements, as thousands of households face losing benefits starting next month. The state recently rolled out two websites — Job Ready IL and Serve Illinois — designed to connect people with job training, employment opportunities, and volunteer work that qualify under federal SNAP requirements. The move comes as changes to the program are expecte

PITTSFIELD — A unique event focused on Illinois history and personal storytelling is coming to Pike County next month. The Pike County Historical Society is hosting a special speaker event titled “Illinois History in 10 Objects” on May 7 at 6:00 p.m. at Orr Hall. The program will be presented by Erika Holst, a curator with the Illinois State Museum. The presentation explores Illinois history through ten objects from the museum’s collection, highlighting key periods including

HANNIBAL — The Great River Honor Flight has announced its first mission of 2026, which will also mark a major milestone for the organization. Officials say the upcoming trip on April 30 will be the 80th mission, sending 32 veterans to Washington, D.C., and bringing the total number of veterans served to more than 2,500. Participants from Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa will take part in the trip, which follows a long-standing itinerary used for nearly two decades. The day begins

NEW PHILADELPHIA — A historic Pike County, Illinois site received attention in Chicago this week during a special program highlighting its legacy. The event, titled “Land Holds the Truth: Free Frank McWorter and the Freedom Story of New Philadelphia,” was presented by Gerald McWorter, also known as Abdul Alkalimat. The discussion focused on the history and national significance of New Philadelphia, the first town in the United States founded and legally registered by an Afric

HARDIN — A Louisiana, Missouri woman is facing multiple charges following a traffic stop in Calhoun County, Illinois late last month. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office reports the stop happened March 31st just before 2:00 in the afternoon along Illinois Route 100 near the Joe Page Bridge in East Hardin. Authorities say 37-year-old Chelsi N. Griffin of Louisiana, Missouri was taken into custody following an investigation. She was arrested on suspicion of DUI involving drugs,

LOUISIANA — Street paving work is now underway across multiple areas of Louisiana, with city officials warning residents to expect delays as crews move through the schedule over the coming weeks. According to a public memorandum, paving began Tuesday and will continue throughout the week, impacting several streets including 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, and North Carolina Street, along with sections of Hailey Street and North 30th Street. Some areas will be worked from

PITTSFIELD — A patriotic community celebration is being planned in Pike County, Illinois as part of America’s 250th anniversary, with an evening event set for July 3 at the historic courthouse. The event is scheduled to run from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and will feature a festive atmosphere centered around patriotism and community spirit. Organizers say the courthouse square will serve as the backdrop for the celebration, with additional details and activities expected to be announc

LOUISIANA — The Louisiana City Council will meet Monday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. inside the second-floor council chambers at City Hall, with several key administrative and financial items on the agenda. The meeting, called by Mayor Mark Haddock, will include routine business such as approval of previous meeting minutes, reports from the mayor, city administrator, fire chief, and police chief, along with updates from various committees. Among the notable items, the council will

BOWLING GREEN — The Bowling Green R-I School District has named Dr. Jeff Jennewein as its next superintendent, with his tenure set to begin July 1 for the 2026–27 school year. Jennewein currently serves as superintendent of the Cole County R-I School District, where he has led for the past four years, following earlier administrative experience in the Jefferson City School District. District leaders say Jennewein brings a strong focus on academic growth, including expanding A

PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — A portion of Illinois Highway 96 is closed in Pike County, Illinois after damage was discovered at the railroad crossing in Kinderhook. Authorities are directing drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes while the crossing remains shut down. The closure is in effect until further notice, with no official timeline yet for when repairs may be completed. Officials have not released details on what caused the damage. However, a nearby resident reporte

PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — Residents across Pike County, Illinois are continuing cleanup and recovery efforts after powerful storms swept through the area late Friday, leaving behind significant damage in multiple communities. In Griggsville, the storm caused widespread destruction, including uprooted trees in the city park and snapped utility poles near the railroad tracks on the south side of town. A major hit was reported at Lynch Livestock, where nearly half of the building’s ro

LOUISIANA — The Louisiana Police Department is recognizing Autism Awareness Month in April with a visible show of support for individuals and families impacted by autism throughout the community. Officers are wearing special Autism Awareness patches on their uniforms during the month. The patches were made possible through an anonymous donor and were formally presented to the department by children and staff from the Judevine Center for Autism, highlighting the strong connect

BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — A new chapter in city leadership is underway in Pike County, Missouri as Tom Thompson has officially been sworn in as mayor of Bowling Green. The swearing-in took place during Monday night’s Bowling Green City Council meeting, where several newly elected aldermen also took their oaths of office. Joining Mayor Thompson were McCoy Thompson, representing Ward I, Myron Arttus of Ward III, and Mark Bair of Ward II, all of whom were sworn in during the same mee