Author: Allison Jacobs

Strong winds are creating difficult travel conditions across the region today, particularly for high-profile vehicles traveling on north-south roads.

Forecasters say west to northwest winds are expected to gust between 45 and 60 miles per hour through the morning hours before gradually decreasing later this afternoon. The strongest winds are expected along and north of Interstate 80. The winds could also cause damage to trees and may lead to scattered power outages.

Looking ahead to the weekend, a winter storm is expected to impact the Upper Midwest beginning Saturday night and continuing into Monday morning.

Forecasters say the system will likely begin with rain before transitioning to accumulating snow Sunday night as temperatures fall rapidly from the 40s and 50s Sunday afternoon into the teens by Sunday night.

In terms of severity, our listening area is considered a 1 out of 5 Sunday night into Monday, but current forecasts show roughly a 76 to 81 percent chance of at least two inches of snow across the area.

In addition, there is a marginal risk for severe weather Sunday afternoon before the colder air moves in.

Residents are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts and prepare for potentially hazardous travel conditions as the storm approaches. Stay tuned to KILJ, your local National Weather Service Station.

A jury trial has been scheduled for a Riverside man facing multiple felony sex abuse charges in Washington County.

Fifty-one-year-old Jason Bex is charged with sexual abuse, incest, and lascivious acts involving a child. Court records show the case had previously been scheduled for trial in December but was later continued.

A pretrial conference is now set for Friday, March 13th, with a jury trial scheduled to begin March 24th at the Washington County Courthouse.

Bex was arrested last May and bond in the case was set at one million dollars.

Prosecutors have charged Bex with five counts of sexual abuse in the second degree, a Class B felony, five counts of lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony, and five counts of incest, a Class D felony.

According to court documents, Bex is accused of committing multiple offenses involving a victim under the age of 14 over a period of approximately three years.

Court records also indicate Bex was previously listed on the Iowa sex offender registry following four counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in 2012.

Bex is currently being held in the Washington County Jail.

Central Lee Elementary Principal Heather Fuger has been elected vice president of the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) for the 2026-27 term.

Fuger has served as principal of Central Lee Elementary since 2014. Before that, she was the district’s director of curriculum and instruction.

A member of SAI since 2008, Fuger has been actively involved in the association, including supporting new principals through SAI’s mentoring program. She is also involved with the Institute for Education Innovation and MISIC (Members Impacting Students; Improving Curriculum).

“I am deeply honored and grateful to those who placed their trust in me to serve as vice president of the School Administrators of Iowa,” Fuger said. “I accept this opportunity with a full heart and a strong commitment to serve. Together with my colleagues across our great state, I look forward to learning, growing, and collaborating in ways that strengthen our profession and support the incredible work happening in our schools every day. When we support and inspire one another as leaders, the true winners are the students of Iowa. I cannot wait to get started.”

Fuger began her career in education as a teacher in Missouri, working in the Wyaconda and Kahoka school districts before returning to Iowa.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Culver-Stockton College and a master’s degree in educational administration from William Woods University.

Fuger will join the SAI Executive Committee on September 1.

The Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees met Tuesday, February 24th, at the utilities conference room on North Adams Street.

During the meeting, trustees approved the Fiscal Year 2024–2025 Independent Auditor’s Report, presented by Dan Montgomery of Forge Financial and Management Consulting. The audit received an unmodified opinion, indicating the utility’s financial statements were found to be accurate and in compliance with accounting standards. Copies of the report will be available at the Mount Pleasant Public Library, City Hall, and the utilities office.

The board also approved $1.33 million in bills and payments and accepted the January financial report presented by Accounting Supervisor Jody Fuller. Fuller also discussed banking accounts, previewed a potential budget amendment, and shared information regarding electric and water rates with General Manager Nate Lucas.

Trustees received updates on several ongoing projects, including the Cedar Lane Well Number Seven and water distribution system project, the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project, the water treatment maintenance project, the Hoaglin Drive overhead-to-underground improvement project, and the transmission system power supply project.

Utility crews reported continued work on the Winfield Avenue road project, while the water department continues installing new AMI and ERT metering devices. Officials also noted that ImOn has completed its underground infrastructure build-out in the community, and Windstream has begun installing new telecommunications infrastructure.

During January, the utility experienced three electric outages and two water main breaks, and crews installed two new electric services. The utility also continues to search for a replacement journeyman lineman after a previous job offer was declined.

The board entered a closed session with legal counsel to discuss litigation related to wholesale power supply before returning to open session and adjourning.

The next regular meeting of the Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 at 1 p.m.

A Washington man was arrested on multiple felony charges Saturday after shooting a firearm into a highway and a second was trespassed following the incident.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a civil issue at approximately 10:22 p.m. The caller stated shots had been fired near 260th Street and Ginkgo Avenue. Deputies arrested 49-year-old Erik Strand of Washington on multiple charges including: going armed with intent, a class D felony; assault while participating in a felony, a class D felony; intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony, and reckless use of a firearm, a simple misdemeanor.

According to Washington County Communications, in addition another individual was trespassed following the incident.

According to court records, “deputies spoke with the victim who stated that he was sitting on the side of the roadway at Ginkgo and 260th, attempting to locate his children” who were possibly at a nearby residence. He tried to also contact a female at that home. During this time, he was approached by Strand who was in a vehicle.

Conflicting stories outline that three shots were fired; the victim said the gun was pointed at him, and then shot into the ground. The claim from Strand alleges that he fired the shots into the air, in an attempt to scare him away. Strand stated the victim did not display any weapons and both individuals were in their vehicles.

Deputies located two casings and two slugs in the roadway where the incident occurred in rural western Washington County. The firearm was located at the residence and seized by authorities. The shots were fired less than 200 yards from an occupied residence.

An initial appearance for Strand was held Monday.

The Western Illinois Threshers are preparing for their 59th annual summer show.

The event will take place Friday through Sunday, August 7th through the 9th, at the organization’s grounds located about two miles north of Hamilton.

Plans for this year’s show were discussed during the group’s recent annual meeting, where several directors and officers were also elected.

Chosen to serve three-year terms on the board of directors are Ed Hartweg, Raymond Siegrist, and Jeremy Buckert. Other board members include Mark Weirather, Buck Cameron, Justin Sewell, Matthew Starr, Ken Buckert, and Kyle Buckert.

Officers elected for the coming year are Mark Weirather as president, Ken Buckert as vice president, Ed Hartweg as secretary, and Matthew Starr as treasurer.

This year’s featured tractor line will be International. The spotlight tractor will be a 1961 560 Wheatland International owned by Les and Candy Harnetiaux. The featured truck will be a 1928 International owned by Larry Buckert of Warsaw, and the featured garden tractor will be a Cub Cadet M-100.

Several giveaways are also planned during the show. A Farmall B tractor will be awarded at the end of the event, along with a handmade quilt, farm toys, and other prizes.

During the meeting, members also heard updates on the Bolton Barn project and the Western Illinois Shortline Railroad.

In addition to planning the August show, the organization is also preparing to host local school children at the thresher grounds in May for a field day focused on learning about farming and life in earlier times.