🌱 Meet the journalist now dedicated to telling Jacksonville’s stories.

Cheers Jacksonville! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Meet the journalist now dedicated to telling Jacksonville’s stories.
• How Jacksonville’s Crimsons dominated West Central on the diamond
• What could new state tourism grants mean for Jacksonville’s Lincoln sites?

Also on today's calendar: Community Conversations: Media Literacy and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Friday: Breezy; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 82 and low of 43 degrees.
• Saturday: Turning sunny; windy, cooler, temps: high: 56, low: 37.
• Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 60 and low of 38 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

• The Source welcomes Marcel Pacatte (the-source.net) — Jacksonville readers will soon see more local stories as The Source brings on veteran journalist Marcel Pacatte to cover community news, events, and features. With deep Illinois ties and experience at major newspapers and magazines, he’s eager to highlight Jacksonville residents’ stories and invites readers to email him their ideas.
   

• Jacksonville baseball shuts out West Central as Headen throws 3-hitter (myjournalcourier.com) — Jacksonville High School’s Crimsons blanked West Central 9–0 behind a three-hit, complete game from pitcher Ryan Headen and a three-run homer from Nolan Peters at Future Champions. Routt also took the field Wednesday, jumping ahead early but ultimately falling 9–2 to Glenwood in Chatham, with strong hitting from Talon Thompson and Brady Turner.
   

• Illinois Looking for Lincoln program receives $125K in state grants (myjournalcourier.com) — Jacksonville’s Lincoln heritage sites stand to benefit as the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition receives more than $125,000 in state tourism grants to restore exhibits and expand its Story Trail. With 10 Jacksonville stops already on the trail and local tourism leaders involved, the funding could bring refreshed signs, new interpretive displays, and stronger marketing that draw more visitors into town.
   

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📸 Around Jacksonville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Jacksonville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday April 17

• World Of Outlaws
  Jacksonville Speedway, 110 N Westgate Ave, Jacksonville
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

Saturday April 18

• Community Conversations: Media Literacy
  Jacksonville Public Library , 201 W College Ave , Jacksonville
  2:00 pm

Sunday April 26

• Underground Railroad Spring Bus Tour
  McGaw Fine Arts Center , Lockwood Pl , Jacksonville
  1:00 pm

Saturday May 2

• Blues & Brews Festival
  Central Park , 32 N , Jacksonville
  12:00 pm

Sunday May 3

• Plates on State: Flavors of the Past, Present, & Future
  Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc , 310 E State St , Jacksonville
  3:00 pm

Saturday May 16

• Prairie Land Heritage Museum Vendor Craft Fair
  Prairieland Heritage Museum , 1005 W Michigan Ave , Jacksonville
  9:00 am

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📣 Jacksonville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday April 17

• HS Track Riverton Invite
  Triopia Jr-Sr High School Concord, IL 62631
  4:00 pm

Saturday April 18

• Grand Opening
  Viral Apparel LLC , 846 S Main St , Jacksonville
  12:00 pm

Monday April 20

• HS Girls SB vs. Calhoun
  Triopia Jr-Sr High School Concord, IL 62631
  4:30 pm
• HS Boys BB vs. Calhoun
  Triopia Jr-Sr High School Concord, IL 62631
  4:30 pm

Tuesday April 21

• HS Track @ Havana
  Triopia Jr-Sr High School Concord, IL 62631
  4:00 pm
• HS Boys BB vs. Brown Co
  Triopia Jr-Sr High School Concord, IL 62631
  4:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• State of Illinois posted a job opening for DOC Jacksonville CC Assistant Warden of Programs in Jacksonville. Apply here.
• Arby's Restaurant posted a job opening for Team Member in Jacksonville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Jacksonville here.

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🗞 Nearby News

Pleasant Plains

• Zellers vaults Glenwood girls soccer past Rochester (sj-r.com)

Beardstown

• Flash flooding issued in Illinois after overnight storms. See warnings (reviewatlas.com)

White Hall

• Man gets 14 years in prison in plea deal for death of pregnant woman Itzel Camarena found in Chatham (cbsnews.com)
• Chatham apartment brawl kills one, wounds another (hoodline.com)
• Chicago tipped worker raises hold after Mayor Brandon Johnson wins veto fight (macon.com)

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Ok Jacksonville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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