Sunset harvest

A farmer harvests a field of soy beans at sunset near State Hwy 123 outside of Alexander.

Top dog

Caroline Casler rests on top of the Civil War canon in Duncan Park with Sophie, her 2-year-old cockapoo while friend Marie Langdon helps keep them balanced.  The girls, both eighth grade students at Our Savior School, were taking Sophie for an afternoon walk before attending the Routt Catholic homecoming game later that evening.  

Tuned out

MacMurray College freshman William Lange, of Oak Forest, plays his guitar on campus between classes one afternoon in Jacksonville. October 1, 2011

Homecoming

Kloee Davis, 5, and her cousin, Rylan Rees, 2, watch floats in the 2011 JHS Homecoming Parade process down West State Street in Jacksonville. September 16, 2011

Building up a head of steam

Volunteer Jay Wahl operates the Crown Metal 24" gauge miniature steam locomotive at Praire Land Heritage Museum in Jacksonville. September 14, 2011

Taking a peek

Friends Augie Calloway (left) and Rick Smedly of Beardstown look through windows into the wheelhouse of the USS LST-325 while touring the ship in Meredosia. The vessel is 329 feet long and carried out many missions during World War II, including delivering troops and vehicles for the invasion of France. During wartime, it carried a crew of 100 enlisted men and 10 officers. The vessel was docked in Meredosia for two days this week. September 14, 2011

Grand opera

Randy Taapken, playing the villainous role Arthur Rutherford in “Only an Orphan Girl,” has his costume adjusted before dress rehearsal inside the historic Grand Opera House in Beardstown. The building was purchased by the Historic Preservation Foundation and later placed in the National Register of Historic Places. Parts of the walls are exposed and the roof still leaks. It will take many thousands of hours and millions of dollars to restore the building to its previous condition, but now the stage is at least usable. September 11, 2011

Letting her flag fly

Jacksonville High School freshman Maggie Kaylor lets the silk from her flag fly in the wind while listening to her instructor during marching band rehearsal at the JHS practice field. The band's performances this year will be themed to musician Michael Jackson. September 7, 2011

The big top

Eric Parra ties together parts of the main Carson and Barnes Circus tent at Prairie Land Heritage Museum in Jacksonville. The tent, which reaches a height of 50 feet, can accomodate up to 2,000 guests a show. The Jacksonville AMBUCS are hosting the circus as a fundraiser for the club to help support projects. September 7, 2011

Circus snack

Winchester Pre-K student Nathaniel Crook carefully hands an apple to Libby, a 44-year-old Asian elephant with the Carson and Barnes Circus, as the circus set up for shows that evening at Prairie Land Heritage Museum in Jacksonville. September 7, 2011

Paying their respects

Tiffany Barrow places a hand on her 6-year-old daughter, Demy Brown, while they watch the Illinois State Police and Illinois Patriot Guard escort Army Sgt. Andrew R. Tobin's casket down Morton Avenue in Jacksonville. Tobin, 24, died Aug. 24 in Kandahar Province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire. Barrow said she wanted to pay her respects after personally serving two year with the Army. September 3, 2011

Honoring a fallen soldier

Sandy Suttles places her right hand over her heart while watching the Illinois State Police and Illinois Patriot Guard escort Army Sgt. Andrew R. Tobin's casket into the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Tobin, 24, died Aug. 24 in Kandahar Province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire. Suttles said she had two nephews who served both in Iraq and Afghanistan. September 3, 2011

Fun run

Runners take off down West State Street at the start of the 16th Annual Family Fun Festival 5K Run/Walk in Jacksonville. September 3, 2011

Royal treat

A Monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a zinnia in the garden of Mary Reilly along College Avenue in Jacksonville. September 2, 2011

Brooks Memorial

Walter Sanders holds his 4-month-old daughter, Sem'Jah, while children and other community members sign a poster celebrating the life of Isaiah Brooks, who died in a fire on North Fayette Street. On what would have been his sixth birthday, about 100 of the boy’s family, friends and neighbors attended a memorial for Isaiah and his mother who was critically injured trying to save him. Don Hennessey-Renken, brother of Eva Brooks, said his sister is awake off and on and was able to write on a piece of paper that she tried to save her son and added, “too hot.” August 30, 2011

Fayette Street house fire

Shaquila Crites holds her 3-month-old son, Kaash Richardson, while she watches emergency personnel work to control a fire in the 600 block of North Fayette Street in Jacksonville on Monday. Crites, who lives at 603 N. Fayette St., said she was well-acquainted with those involved in the fire.

Isaiah Brooks, 6, died shortly after being found inside the house at 607 N. Fayette St.

Firefighters were called about 10:10 p.m. Much of the fire was isolated to the first floor but was impinging on the second when it was extinguished. August 29, 2011

Making an impact

Routt Catholic's Colton Bobb attempts to take down Pleasant Hill's Avery Gergurich during the first quarter of play in Jacksonville. August, 27, 2011 

Members of the Triopia-Meredosia football team rush onto the field before the start of the game against West Central at Triopia High School. Friday marked the beginning of the 2011 football season for area teams. August 26, 2011

Out of operation

Morning sunlight covers the front end of an old Metz Heating & Plumbing Dodge service truck inside a company shed near the corner of North Clay Street and Washington Avenue in Jacksonville. August 19, 2011

Starting a collection

Siblings Michelle Bauser (from left), 3, Bryer Casson, 8, and Sarah Bauser-Ater, 6, use buckets to collect bugs outside the home of Bill and Susie Bauser in Jacksonville. August 19, 2011

First day jitters

Christiana Blanchard, 5, is relucantly carried into school after arriving for her first day of kindergarten at the District 117 Central Office in Jacksonville. August 17, 2011

Cowboy king

Lil' Mister Chapin Big Country Cooper Gene Pahlmann, son of Scott and Amy Pahlmann, makes his way through the crowd during Big Country Days in Chapin. August 13, 2011

Big County Days

Terry Menge carries his son, Kristian, 3 (left), and stepson, Keydyn, 8, before the start of the musical entertainment at the Chapin Big Country Days. “I know Chapin Big Country Days is about raising money for the Chapin firemen and the Chapin American Legion, but this is a tradition for me to come to the event,” said event chairwoman Clista Hoots of Chapin. August 13, 2011

Fresh application

Gary Retherford of J.B. Large & Sons applies a coat of paint to the windows of the Morgan County Courthouse in Jacksonville. August 12, 2011

Class act

Larry Damrau (left) and Ken “Dick” Price greet each other with open arms in front of the Civil War monument on Central Park Plaza for the Jacksonville High School Class of 1965 reunion. The 46th year reunion was attended by 101 members of the class that saw 333 graduate that year and 56 spouses. August 12, 2011

Future soldiers

(From left to right) William Bangert of Greenfield, Brandon Jones of Jacksonville, Jordan Chapman of Roodhouse and Tyler Rabideau of Jacksonville share a laugh while holding up Jordon Dobrovolny of Jacksonville after a game of flickerball one evening during future soldier training across from the American Legion in Jacksonville. The group of soldiers meet once a week as part of the U.S. Army Jacksonville Recruiting Station's Future Soldiers Training Program. Team Leader Sgt. Daniel Baldrick said the program is designed to teach soldiers about Army values, history, rank structures, movement drills, etc., which they will need to know in their future careers. The classes are also used to help soldiers stay motivated and connected with one another before each heads off to his or her basic training. 

Redneck fun

Tyler Six of Bluffs lifts his net after catching a pair of Asian Carp during the Redneck Fishing Tournament at Bath. This was the seventh and largest year for the Redneck Fishing Tournament. Betty DeFord came up with the idea because of her love of the water. She has lived around Bath all her life and manages the Boat Tavern, 218 W. First St. “This is what we deal with on a daily basis,” she said. “We’re here to try to get rid of these fish that jump in your boats so that you can’t take your kids or grandkids. We’re personally trying to do something, a small part, and it’s turned into this big event.” Bath, a village of 322 people, will see about 5,000 people from all over the nation before the weekend is over, she said. Last year, the crews caught about 7,000 Asian carp. The goal this year is 10,000 to 12,000, DeFord said. After covering expenses, the money raised will go to help Madelyn Whitehead, who was born earlier this year with a condition that requires a generator full time to help her brain function, DeFord said.

Winds of change

A rusting windmill is left abandoned along Brockhouse Road outside of Concord, Ill. August 3, 2011

Slow down!

William Heaton, 4, of Chicago lowers his head into the lap of his sister Ainsley, 7, after getting too dizzy on a carnival ride at the Brown County Fairgrounds in Mount Sterling. August 3, 2011

Country court

A basketball goal stands on a concrete slab court behind a dilapidated barn near St Pauls Church Road outside of Chapin, Ill. August 3, 2011

Bicyclist injured after colliding with vehicle

A bicyclist was injured when his bicycle and a sport utility vehicle collided on Westgate Avenue. The boy, whose name was unavailable, was taken to Passavant Area Hospital.
Jacksonville Police said the boy was riding a bicycle through stopped traffic just north of the Westgate and West Morton avenues intersection about 1:55 p.m. when he collided with the vehicle, cracking its windshield when he landed on it.

State championships

Beardstown's Olivia Dour pitches the ball during the 9-10 Illinois State Little League Softball Tournament state championship game against Peru at the Brown County Little League field in Mount Sterling. August 2, 2011

Winding up

(from left) Colby Rodemich, 14, of Quincy, Richie Denisar, 15, of Jacksonville and Ben Hooker, 15, of Mount Sterling warm up with their drivers before teeing off during the 32nd annual Robbie McEvers Golf Tournament at the The Links course in Jacksonville. July 29, 2011

McEvers Tournament - Day 2

Nick Pool, 17, of Jacksonville watches his ball fly down the ninth fairway during the 32nd annual Robbie McEvers Golf Tournament at The Links course in Jacksonville. July 29, 2011

Clean-up crew

Inmates from the Greene County Work Camp are surrounded by dust as they remove the last pieces of flooring in the Education Complex gym at MacMurray College in Jacksonville. The gym will be updated this year after sustaining significant flood damage June 18. July 29, 2011

Keeping his focus

Ethan Flinn, 11, of Jacksonville concentrates on his putt during the 32nd annual Robbie McEvers Golf Tournament at the Nichols Park Golf Course in Jacksonville. July 28, 2011

McEvers Golf Tournament

Lauren Hawley, 11, of Pittsfield tees off while teammates Catie Eck, left, and Lauren Hawley of Springfield wait with their drivers during the 32nd annual Robbie McEvers Golf Tournament at the Nichols Park Golf Course in Jacksonville. July 28, 2011

Fished out

Katie Williams, 5, of Chapin shrugs in exhaustion while fishing with her mother, Rebecca Huff, one afternoon at Lake Mauvaisterre in Jacksonville. July 28, 2011

Downtime

A pair of camp counselors take a slide into the lake between afternoon sessions at Western Illinois Youth Campground in Jacksonville. July 27, 2011

Camp Courage

Counselor Tanner Seal holds onto Miguel Rohlfing during an open swim in the lake at Western Illinois Youth Campground as part of Camp Courage. The week-long camp is an opportunity for 6- to 18-year-olds with physical disabilities to come and participate in different activities and all be on equal grounds.

Camp Courage Cont.

Campers enjoy the cool water during an open swim in the lake at Western Illinois Youth Campground as part of Camp Courage.

Fed up

Joshua McCreary holds up a sign reading “Save the American Dream” outside of Congressman Aaron Schock's office in Jacksonville. A handful of Jacksonville residents were gathered to show their disapproval of some of Schock's recent votes they said go against the needs of working-class people. July 26, 2011

Group swim

Jayden Rentschler, 10, (from left) his brother Nick, 14, Hunter Hartsook, 13, and Evan Schlieker, 12, jump off the edge of a boat dock into Lake Jacksonville to escape the heat one afternoon. July 23, 2011

Hosing down

Alex Ramos, 8, of Jacksonville is hosed off by a family relative after playing out in the afternoon heat outside of the family home near East Douglas Avenue in Jacksonville. July 22, 2011

Sweet!

Austin Seward, 10, of Beardstown bites into a roasted sweet corn cob outside of Arnold's Barn & Grill at the Cass County Fair in Virginia. July 22, 2011

Cass course

Leo Arnold, 13, of Bluff Springs leaps off a fence at the begin of an obstacle course during kids games at the Cass County Fair in Virginia. July 22, 2011

Head first

Instructor Dee Arendt gives level four swimmer Myka Thies a final push during a back dive lesson at Nichols Park pool. July 20, 2011

Pony/Colt League

A second baseman looks to an umpire as he tags a runner attempting to slide into second base during a Jacksonville League game at Pony/Colt Field in Jacksonville. July 18, 2011

Drop of sunshine

The sunrise is reflected in a drop of dew that had collected on a blade of tall grass early one morning along the edge of Lake Jacksonville. July 18, 2011

Sunset swim

Peter Williamson swims at sunset with his son, Nathan, 2, in a pond at Crazy Horse Campground in Ashland. The Williamson family, from south of Springfiled, was enjoying the semi-cool water while listening to live music from the Bluegrass Festival, which is going on at the campground through this morning. July 16, 2011