Jersey County Journal
Residents express concern about proposed visitor center
By Steven Spencer Residents of Jersey County expressed their concerns with the Great Rivers and Routes’ new Byway Discovery Center during the December 10 Jersey County Board meeting. Plans for the Byway Discovery Center, located at the old Piasa Harbor near Piasa Creek along the Great River Road, include a 4,500 square-foot visitor facility, 1,400…
Read MoreJersey County 2024 Year in Review – Part 1
January 2024 Salvation Army Tree of Lights exceeds goal. Thanks to the generosity of the community the annual Salvation Army Tree of Lights campaign exceeded their 2023 goal of $40,000. Fifty years of the Tree of Lights campaign and service to the community was highlighted and celebrated by lighting the star on top of the…
Read MoreTraditions traditions
For the second year crocheters have made a Granny Square Christmas Tree. Last year, it was only 13 feet high and this year the Jersey Community High School welding crew made it 24 feet tall. It took over 3,500 Granny Squares to cover it, and crochet classes were given on Sundays at the Germania Brew…
Read MoreThe Eagles Are Coming to Southwest Illinois
The great American Bald Eagle winter migration is almost here and southwest Illinois is ready and waiting. The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is hosting a party honoring these iconic birds in downtown Alton on Saturday, Jan. 4 launching the official start of Eagle Season. The free Annual Alton Eagle Ice Festival will be…
Read MoreNew U of I greenhouse expands plant nutrient research
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek The Plant Biology Innovation Greenhouse (PBIG), designed to support research at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), is now open at the University of Illinois Research Park. The greenhouse is a part of CABBI’s broader mission to generate the knowledge and tools to develop an ecologically and economically…
Read MoreNew Year Means New Laws Taking Effect
The new year means that some new protections will be taking effect in Illinois workplaces starting January 1, 2025. Workers will be getting a raise as the minimum wage increases by $1 per hour from $14 to $15. The minimum wage for tipped workers will rise to $9 per hour and youth workers (under 18)…
Read MoreIllinois Minimum Wage Increasing on January 1
The minimum wage in Illinois is increasing on January 1st, 2025. Workers will see an increase of $1 per hour from $14 to $15. The minimum wage for tipped workers will rise to $9 per hour and youth workers (under 18) working fewer than 650 hours per calendar year will see their hourly wage increase…
Read MoreBudget pressures could impact K-12 funding
By Peter Hancock Capital News Public schools in Illinois have enjoyed several consecutive years of substantial increases in state funding, thanks largely to steady growth in state revenues and a new funding formula that lawmakers approved in 2018. But whether that can continue into the upcoming fiscal year is an open question that state lawmakers…
Read MorePritzker Administration Announces New Medicaid Coverage for Certified Doula and Lactation Consultant Services
New perinatal doula and lactation consultant services are now available to pregnant and postpartum individuals who are enrolled in the Illinois Medicaid program, further expanding maternal and child health coverage, a core priority for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). Certified doulas are trained professionals who provide a range of physical, educational…
Read MoreDispositions – December 19, 2024
Felonies Taylor E. Droege, dob 12-12-2003, was found guilty on a charge of aggravated battery/great bodily harm, two years conditional discharge, $300 fine, medical/mental treatment; will not prosecute on charges of traveling to meet minor and criminal sexual abuse of a victim who is between the age of 13-16 and five years younger than the…
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