Winchester, IL

Illinois is handing out grant money to several school districts in the area looking at teacher shortages. The Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot was created in 2023. The total amount given out this year is $15-million. Jacksonville school district 117 will get just over $205-thousand. Triopia is set to receive $61,700, and Winchester will receive $91,700. […]

By Kent Coultas Luke Ippensen scored three touchdowns, and No. 5 Camp Point Central beat West Central 28-0 in the season opening football game Aug. 21 at Winchester. The Cougars (0-1) play Routt (0-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. at Freesen Field in Jacksonville. Ippensen capped off Camp Point’s first drive of the game with a…

Five volunteer fire departments in Illinois were among 150 nationwide recipients of a $10,000 grant through the State Farm® Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. The program, in collaboration with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), helps local fire departments purchase needed equipment to enhance responder safety and better protect their communities. Eighty-two percent of U.S.…

By Carmen Ensinger More than a week after he was led out of his house in handcuffs by the Winchester Police, Winchester resident Gilbert Wellenreiter was officially charged in Scott County Circuit Court with two Class 4 felonies related to solicitation of a minor. The arrest came after the 561 Predator Catcher group and Online…

By Carmen Ensinger Following a brief closed session, Winchester City Council hired A.J. McAdams as their new Chief of Police. McAdams will take over from former Police Chief Steve Doolin, who took over the position about four years ago. According to Winchester Mayor Rex McIntire, Doolin submitted his letter of resignation on June 16, with…

By Carmen Ensinger Winchester Fire Chief Brian Taylor addressed the Winchester City Council at their Aug. 5 regular city council meeting to discuss several items regarding the fire department, including the many grants the department has applied for and several they have received. “Myself, two of my officers have been working pretty extensively in the…

By Carmen Ensinger It has been a long time coming to fruition, but the Winchester AM/PM convenience store is set to open on Aug. 19. Owners Everest Thapa and Gopan Basnet plan to offer more than just Phillips 66 brand gas – they plan to offer a little bit of everything, but their signature item…

By Carmen Ensinger If the Winchester Libraries children’s program continues to grow at the rate it is, the community might need to think about expanding their library just to accommodate the children. All kidding aside, since the library, through a grant from the Tracy Family Foundation, was able to hire Kaitlyn Coulter as the Story…

The Jacksonville school district 117 administration is excited about the progress made for the new Murrayville Woodson Grade School. The school is being built at Water Tower Road and the Woodson-Winchester blacktop. Jacksonville school superintendent Steve Ptacek says the building should be sealed up before winter. He says the contractor is impressed with the progress […]