CHATHAM – Ongoing drought conditions in the region have prompted the select board to impose mandatory restrictions on outdoor watering to encourage water conservation all non-essential outdoor water use is limited to two days a week Odd numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Thursdays while even numbered addresses are assigned Wednesdays and Fridays All outdoor watering is allowed only before 9 a.m non-essential uses include watering of lawns using sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems; washing of vehicles except for commercial car washes or when necessary for operator safety; and washing to exterior building surfaces The restrictions apply only to homes and businesses on town water Officials encourage everyone to adhere to the restrictions to “help protect our resources and possibly reduce greater water shortages this summer,” according to the notice In April the state Energy and Environmental Affairs Office declared the Cape to be in a Level 2 “significant” drought Even though recent rains appear to be helping to recharge the region’s sole-source aquifer United States Geological Survey wells continue to show groundwater levels below where they should be at this time of year according to Public Works Director Rob Faley Groundwater levels in the USGS monitoring well in Chatham are above 2021 levels which he said is “a good sign,” but overall levels remain about 40 percent below where they should be this time of year evaporation and vegetation growth draw more surface moisture and keep water from reaching the aquifer draw drinking water from the Monomoy Lens aquifer — have also implemented outdoor water use restrictions The state drought task force is scheduled to meet May 7 and will likely issue new guidance he said.“But we really need to take some action before then,” he told the select board April 29.Board members said they would revisit the situation in two weeks.“We’re prepared to be more draconian if the data says we should,” said board member Jeffrey Dykens Questions about the restrictions can be directed to the water department at 508-945-5150 Chatham-Kent Police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing teen Police state that 14-year-old Toccoa Lynch was last seen on April 20 near John McGregor Secondary School in Chatham Police state she has shoulder-length black wavy hair and has a tattoo of a crucifix on her right forearm Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Chatham-Kent Police A crash through an after-school building in a small city outside of Springfield that killed three children and a teenager and left several others injured isn’t believed to be a targeted attack Four children were killed and several more were injured when a car smashed through a building during an after-school program Monday afternoon in a town outside of Springfield Teacher Dawn Peck hugs her seven-year-old student Harriet Glessner at a vigil for three young children and a teenager who were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday Nine-year-old Coralie Glessner writes on a heart for Alma Buhnerkempe at a vigil for three young children and a teenager who were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday Sue Meyer writes on a heart for Rylee Britton at a vigil for three young children and a teenager Flowers and ribbons decorate a picture of 18-year-old Rylee Britton killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp People leave balloons at the scene where a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday Damage is visible at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday Heather Glessner comforts her 9-year-old daugher Coralie at a vigil for three young children and a teenager who were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Notes are left on a heart for Kathryn Corley at a vigil for three young children and a teenager Seven-year-old Harriet Glessner writes on a heart for Alma Buhnerkempe at a vigil for three young children and a teenager Brandy Fletcher leaves flowers at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday Flowers and other gifts are left at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday An overhead view shows the scene where victims were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp place flowers and stuffed animals at the site where several were killed Monday when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp in Chatham points out the flowers and plush bunny she left for the victims who were killed Monday People leave balloons at the scene for victims killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp kneels in prayer at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday Police tape is left at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday crossed a field and smashed into the side of the building in Chatham used by Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors striking people before exiting the other side This image taken from video provided by WCIA shows first responders working the scene after a car smashed through a building during an after-school program The Sangamon County coroner identified those killed as 18-year-old Rylee Britton of Springfield and three Chatham children: Ainsley Johnson with red ribbons tied in bows lining Main Street hundreds of people gathered for a vigil in the town square where heart-shaped boards bore the names of the four who died AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports a vehicle crash into a building has left four children dead in Illinois “You were a great counselor,” 9-year-old Coralie Glessner wrote on the heart for Britton who has participated in YNOT’s program in the past said she liked that Britton played four square with her “Greeting me when I got off the bus” each day at YNOT Police block a road leading to a building where a car smashed through during an after-school program killing several people and injuring others Faith leaders spoke as attendees held lit candles Lutheran Charities brought support animals and the American Red Cross provided “water snacks and tissues,” organizer Miriam Snider said drove home Tuesday from the University of Missouri in Columbia to be with his sister Britton and other friends had planned to attend prom together this weekend and so much grieving for something that shouldn’t have happened.” located in what was once an open prairie outside the Illinois capital of Springfield have also been grieving and consoling each other in other ways “People are coping by finding ways to be with each other to provide comfort and support to those who are suffering,” Snider said city leaders ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and schools held classes online An ice cream shop offered free scoops and a community meeting place Some locals changed their Facebook profile pictures to red ribbons with the motto “Chatham Strong.” “This is just devastating,” said Jennifer Walston as she and her daughters left flowers and a stuffed animal at the crash site Plywood covered the hole where the car crashed into the building She said her daughters knew Alma and Ainsley remembering them as energetic girls who tried to include others The studio where Ainsley and two others hurt in the crash took dance canceled classes Tuesday Teachers at Studio M Dance Centre remembered the 8-year-old in a Facebook post as a “sweet and sassy” dancer and tumbler who “will be deeply missed every single day.” Pastor Steve Patzia told the crowd that he saw her in church on Easter Sunday as he offered words of comfort “I would encourage you to share those good memories you have of her and the children that were lost as well.” Parents said the YNOT Outdoors after-school and summer camp programs which employ high school and college students as counselors families recalled fond summer memories at the location which focuses on outdoor activities Walston’s daughters attended the summer camp and said they knew Alma and Ainsley said security camera footage showed a vehicle left the road “a substantial distance” away and sped across the field toward the building the sidewalk and YNOT’s parking lot before crashing through the building “with no apparent attempt to alter its direction,” Loftus said The vehicle then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and fence “I cannot gather the words to express much of anything that will make sense in print,” Loftus said in a social media post about the victims on Monday “They are friends and their kids are like our kids.” “They would have just gotten off the buses” at YNOT “There would have been the peak amount of people there at that time.” wasn’t injured but was taken to a hospital for evaluation Police said toxicology reports were pending State police declined to offer further details saying the crash remains under investigation “This does not appear to be a targeted attack,” state police said Officials in the Ball-Chatham School District said classes would be online through Thursday we recognize the pain and grief that many are experiencing,” Superintendent Becca Lamon and Chatham Village President Dave Kimsey said in a joint statement Associated Press writers Lisa Baumann in Bellingham Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education wants to hear from the public as the school district finalizes its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget If the school board's April 16 Budget Workshop is any indication of what will be presented then topics such as offsetting the potential loss of federal funds optimizing employee compensation and benefits adolescent literacy development and adoption of K-12 math textbooks could be discussed Citizens and employees have been invited to attend and provide comments at two upcoming public hearings Those who would like to speak before the board should call 912-395-5534 or email Secretary to the Superintendent and School Board Tamika Edwards no later than 8 a.m The public will be able to live stream via SCCPSS.com or the district's YouTube channel SCCPSS initial 2026 budget plans: Savannah public school leaders choreograph budget 'dance' around uncertain federal funding Last year's SCCPSS budget: Savannah-Chatham School Board approves FY2025 budget with slightly rolled back millage rate What: Board of Public Education Budget Hearings Register: contact Tamika Edwards at 912-395-5534 or via email before 8 a.m the morning of each meeting to sign up to speak Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com and JoeInTheKnow_SMN on Instagram NORTH CHATHAM -- An intense blaze gutted a house at 665 Fox Hill Rd No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.The first fire crews were summoned at about 9 p.m and found the building well involved with flames; they called for a second alarm assignment bringing in additional crews from surrounding towns Firefighters mounted an exterior attack and eventually contained the blaze but not before it caused heavy damage to the structure Firefighters say the building appears to be a total loss.An investigator from the state fire marshal's office examined the scene and could not conclusively determine a cause The blaze appears as though it may have started in the finished basement of the two-and-a-half story wood framed house half of Glenwood High School's football field bleachers were packed on April 30 with community members to remember three children and an 18-year-old who died two days prior It was the second vigil for the four Ball-Chatham students Ainsley Johnson The girls were killed when the driver of a vehicle struck several people outside of the YNOT Outdoors after-school facility before the vehicle crashed into and through the building More: 'All that matters is that we support one another.' Chatham honors crash victims at vigil Illinois State Police have not said publicly what might have caused the driver to veer into the building appreciated the support from the community but this helps a little bit,” he told the crowd that was likely in the thousands Britton said he woke up Tuesday morning having not slept much “But I picked up my bible and it was really heavy And the one thing that I got out of my reading that day is that God is good also thanked the community for turning out to support Rylee and the other girls who lost their lives “I just pray in the upcoming months that we can just heal and hold each other tight And to the kids that knew Rylee and knew her so well – she loved you placing flowers and items beside four crosses near the center of the football field including Village of Chatham President Dave Kimsey Four juniors from GHS paid respects to Rylee Britton ahead of the vigil as they placed flowers at a memorial for her at the YNOT Outdoors building where the crash took place Addison Metzger and Sydney West were friends and teammates with Britton on the swim team "She was a really great person," they said adding that Britton would always smile in passing in the hallway and was always there for them if they wanted to talk One of the two shared that they once accidentally hit a car at the parking lot and school and Rylee approached them and asked if she was okay The group attended the first vigil for the victims and said they appreciated seeing the community come together "I don’t think our community has ever seen something like this before…nobody knows how to respond because we shouldn’t know how to respond to something like this," one of the young women said Junior Alexis Gee and sophomore Roman Neuf also paid their respects at the memorial Wednesday even though they didn't know Britton personally More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the State Journal-Register app Gee has met with many of her schoolmates in the community in the wake of the tragedy She said it's hard to see them crying and dealing with grief even when it's people she doesn't know well "I’ve driven by this place so many times and you never think that something like this is going to happen…you never think things like this are going to happen," she said Kerri Varner's daughter is a senior at GHS and her fellow classmates’ mother is planning a funeral Varner doesn't pressure her daughter to talk with her about the tragedy but is there for her when she wants to talk That’s my biggest thing is what the kids are going through and how it’s going to impact them." Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com The driver of a vehicle that careened into YNOT (Youth Need Other Things) Outdoors in Chatham April 28 killing four students may have suffered a medical emergency Illinois State Police authorities said May 1 provided blood and urine samples after the crash preliminary toxicology test results were negative for both alcohol and controlled substances "Some evidence has been developed indicating the possibility of a medical emergency leading up to the crash," he said the investigation of this information and other evidence has not yet concluded and will continue until all leads and research have been exhausted." Four Ball-Chatham students — Ainsley Johnson Six other people were injured in the crash Two of those hospitalized have been released ISP has been in contact with victims' families and Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser Akers was reached immediately after the crash though he would not comment specifically on what her condition was or what her affect was like Kelly said because Akers' name was "already out there in open sources," meaning social media platforms "so confirming it was not providing any information other than what was made available." is located at 301 North Breckenridge Road in Chatham Kelly didn't know how many people were at the facility that day Kelly did not offer specifics about Akers possibly suffering a medical emergency (but) there's a lot of work still to do," he said Kelly stood by the idea that the crash was not a targeted attack "There's no evidence that would indicate this was something that was intended as some type of mass violence or terrorist attack," he said Kelly said "black box" information from Akers' vehicle could help ISP traffic crash reconstruction experts "(There) is a lot of information that can be gleaned from that: speed the way different parts of the engine may have been operating at a certain time," he said "It is not a magic tool that will solve every crime but it is circumstantial evidence that along with other things that can be considered." (This story has been updated to include new information.) Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X Illinois State Police have identified the driver of the vehicle involved in an April 28 crash that killed four people and injured six others at YNOT (Youth Need Other Things) Outdoors of Chatham was not in custody as of Wednesday afternoon Akers was uninjured in the crash but transported to a hospital for evaluation ISP added that while the cause of the crash remains under investigation Akers did not immediately return a call from The State Journal-Register Akers grew up in Springfield as Marianne Moffat She attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School Employment with Illinois State PoliceAkers was employed with ISP as an office associate beginning on July 16 according to ISP spokeswoman Melaney Arnold Employment with B-C school districtBall-Chatham school district spokesman Danny Frey confirmed that Akers was a former food service employee with Chatham Elementary School Akers was last employed by the district in November 2022 Frey did not say why Akers left the school district Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Paul Wappel said "a Marianne Akers 44," currently works at IDOT as an office assistant A statement provided by Wappel said "the entire team at the Illinois Department of Transportation is heartbroken over the young lives lost and grieving for all of those affected by Monday’s tragedy in Chatham We are experiencing deep pain within our IDOT family and making resources available for employees in need of additional help We are supporting law enforcement investigating this horrible event and offer our condolences to the community during this difficult time.” Court casesAccording to the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk website and other online sources she had two small claims cases against her in 2017 and 2018 two for speeding and one for disregarding a stop sign Akers was the plaintiff in a divorce from Michael Morgan in Sangamon County court in 2013 (WICS) — Our Brianna Moreland asked Illinois State Police if there is any conflict of interest in the investigation due to Marianne Akers being a former ISP employee RELATED: Driver identified in Chatham crash was former Illinois State Police and IDOT employee RELATED: Driver identified in Chatham crash that killed four students, investigation ongoing RELATED: Chatham community gathers to honor children killed in tragic crash Q: You all confirmed with a colleague that Akers was an employee does that past relationship presents any concerns or conflicts regarding your role in the investigation The driver in this case has not worked for ISP for nearly seven years or any other part of ISP that is involved in this type of investigation ISP is a large agency and conducts comprehensive impartial investigations regardless of who is involved Q:What protocols are in place to ensure transparency in cases involving former agency personnel A: Any current employee who has a relationship with a former co-worker who is the subject of an investigation would recuse themselves from the investigation No current ISP employee conducting this investigation has any previous work history with the driver Q: Is ISP considering referring this investigation to an independent agency to avoid any perceived conflict of interest ISP is specifically authorized to investigate these incidents by state statute and ISP will continue to work with the Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office that will determine what charges It is important to remember this crash is still under investigation ISP will provide as much information as possible but that cannot interfere with an ongoing investigation We’ve also reached out to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office to ask whether charges are being considered for Akers John Milhiser says no there aren't any charges against Marianne Akers The community continues to mourn the loss of four girls three under the age of 10 and an 18-year-old there are still several questions that remain about the crash A vehicle crashed into a crowd of people outside of YNOT (Youth Need Other Things) Outdoors at 301 North Breckenridge Road in Chatham before going through the east wall of the building and exiting out the west side YNOT operates an after-school program for students in the Ball-Chatham school district Chatham Deputy Police Chief Scott Tarter said "at approximately 3:20 p.m." on April 28 Who was the driver?Illinois State Police identified the driver of the vehicle as 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham She was uninjured in the crash but taken to a hospital for treatment according to YNOT Outdoors founder Jamie Loftus What did the footage show?Loftus said security camera footage showed the vehicle was travelling westbound on Walnut Street through Chatham The vehicle travelled through a farm field and was heading towards the building at a high rate of speed The vehicle crossed North Breckenridge Road and the sidewalk continuing into parking lot and into the east wall of the building It then exited the building on the west side Illinois State Police are still investigating the crash Police have said it was not a deliberate attack (This story has been updated to add new photos.) Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 The Chatham Airport Commission in Chatham, Massachusetts, is considering a revised landing fee structure aimed at raising revenue and discouraging use by large or nighttime-operating aircraft, the Cape Cod Chronicle reported. While federal regulations prevent the commission from banning specific aircraft or restricting nighttime landings outright officials say they can impose higher fees as a financial deterrent A recent proposal suggests increasing landing fees to $250 for charter and commuter flights with an additional surcharge—possibly $500—for operations between 10 p.m The idea stems from comparisons with neighboring airports many of which use tiered pricing based on aircraft weight Chatham airport charges a flat fee of $97 for all aircraft weighing more than 6,000 pounds or those used for hire Supporters argue the new structure would help manage aircraft noise reduce community disruption and generate funds for airport improvements without violating federal grant assurances point out that Chatham lacks the amenities of larger airports and question whether the fee hike is justified revenue from the adjusted fees would go toward the airport’s revolving fund helping to offset costs for infrastructure improvements A formal proposal is expected to be drafted after the town’s May 10 meeting Chatham County entered the fire business on July 1 last year after its Board of Commissioners approved creation of its own fire department in the FY2025 budget The county recently peeled back the curtain on its firefighting capabilities with an open house Tuesday that showcased a fire station Follow here for the latest updates to Chatham County fire the Historic Savannah Foundation held its annual preservation awards Thursday night This installment of On Our Radar provides the list or news tips you think could be of service to Savannahians Also reach out if there are stories here you would like to know more about Deadline for the On Our Radar series will be the end of day each Friday Latest installment: On Our Radar: Summer fun looms as Savannah promotes 100 Days of Summer initiative "Modernizing the fire department"As Chatham County Fire Department Chief James Vickers tells it most people have never seen the inside of a fire station local media and the general public were invited into county Fire Station 3 off Grove Point Road this week Also on hand were two new fire engines added to the fleet by Chatham County and an ariel truck with a 100-foot stick ladder was also on display The open house follows the county's taking over of fire operations in summer 2024 Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis said the open house showcased how the county is ramping up its fire operations "Today is to show what we've been doing since we have acquired the fire department .. so we have been modernizing the fire department here in Chatham County," Ellis said Background: Chatham County Commissioners approve FY25 budget, create county-run fire department That modernization includes boosting staffing levels by adding more certified firefighters The county is currently about 100 firefighters away from "where we want to be," Ellis said "We're aggressively working on getting those numbers filled getting certified and qualified firefighters to be here," Ellis said He added that a new fire truck is expected in August this year Preservation awards honor historic home restorations, Cuyler-Brownville propertiesHSF's future: "A pivotal time": What is HSF looking for in a new president amid Savannah's growth moment? HSF's 2025 preservation awards recognized six projects for preservation excellence on May 1 according to a press release from the group Award-winning projects include historic home restorations in the Victorian and Thomas Square Neighborhoods, and multiple restoration projects in historic Cuyler-Brownville. HSF also recognized its volunteer of the year, Brian Felder, who is a founder of Felder & Associates architecture firm in Savannah "This year’s award winners include beautifully restored properties and reclaimed parts of our history that have contributed to the overall quality of life in neighborhoods throughout the greater Savannah area,” said Historic Savannah Foundation CEO and President Sue Adler in the press release 38th St: This project took a blighted double cottage and duplex in Cuyler-Brownville and restored the properties to feature five new residential units The duplex has Queen Anne-style architecture and rehabilitation efforts utilized state and federal tax incentives The project was taken on by Brent Watts of Cabretta Capital 36th St: This house located in the Thomas Square Neighborhood is one of Savannah's most "intact" homes designed by famed local architect Hyman Whitcover one of the architects who designed Savannah City Hall The home is a "rare example" of asymmetrical Georgian Revival architecture The project restored the building to its original appearance and is now a mixed-use property The project was taken on by Anthony Koncul; JAK Homes; and Ward Preservation + Architecture 2807 Abercorn St: This project within Ardsley Park restored original interior and exterior features of the home using archival documents from the Myrick family Original construction was done in 1914 by architect Olaf Otto for Savannah attorney Shelby Myrick The property will continue use as a single-family residence The project was taken on by Heather Beitz; Nathan Snyder; Proper Construction and Design; and Ward Architecture + Preservation is the lone awarded property not located in Savannah HSF's release states the church has been an "architectural landmark" in Thunderbolt for over a century This restoration project utilized state and federal tax incentives to preserve the original sanctuary and restore Gothic-style architectural elements and the property is now a single-family residence The project was taken on by Cynthia Creighton-Jones and Alan Barnes; Hansen Architects; and JDR Construction this historic home stood vacant for more than 30 years The project restored "period details" and modern updates to the 1914 home The building is located in the Victorian Neighborhood The project was taken on by Braeden & Shelby Scally 508 Kline St: This property in Cuyler-Brownville was vacant for 27 years before it was purchased by HSF's revolving fund The project is adding affordable housing to the neighborhood and was restored using tax and federal tax incentives The project was taken on by Brent Watts; Cabretta Capital; 508 Kline Street LLC; Lynch Associates Architects; Carroll Construction; Ward Architecture + Preservation Evan Lasseter is the city of Savannah and Chatham County government reporter You can reach him at ELasseter@savannahnow.com said Alma was a "ray of sunshine everywhere she went." Alma was one of four people who died April 28 after a woman drove her car into the YNOT Outdoors building in Chatham "She loved her friends and family fiercely and went to 17 states in her short life," Billie told the State Journal-Register on April 29 Billie also said Alma was a great big sister to her younger brother "She loved him and supported him the only way a big sister could." Alma Buhnerkempe was identified by the Sangamon County Coroner's office along with three other victims All four of the girls were pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner's office The crash happened after a vehicle being driven by Marianne Akers hit several people outside of the building before crashing into the building Six additional children were taken to area hospitals Taylor Godwin, a neighbor, said he heard the crash when it happened "I went out back around our fence and had seen the aftermath of the building...The whole back of the building had been blown out," Godwin told the SJ-R Akers was not injured but was transported to a hospital for evaluation due to the crash being under investigation Mike Farris summed up what many in this tight-knit community are feeling a day after a driver slammed into an after school childcare center Farris was filling his gas tank just down the street from where the incident happened The YNOT After School Camp at 301 Breckenridge is visible from the nearby Casey's General Store A large hole on the east side shows where the vehicle entered Another gap on the west side is where it finally came to a stop Akers apparently drove across a farm field before coming upon the building Three people were struck and killed outside and one inside The Sangamon County Coroner said Tuesday they died from multiple blunt force injuries One remained in critical condition as of Tuesday morning They said no charges have been filed while the investigation continues The ISP said it does not appear to be a targeted attack Those who were on the scene Monday afternoon said Akers drove through an adjacent field for several feet until crossing Breckenridge and hitting the building The YNOT program operates by Jaycees Park and beneath the village water tower Students are bused to the location after school classes end They had just arrived a few minutes earlier when the crash occurred Founder Jamie Loftus said the security cameras showed the vehicle "travelling westbound on Walnut arcing into a path that security cameras observed showed it heading to our building at a high rate of speed." "With no apparent attempt to alter its direction the vehicle crossed North Breckenridge and the sidewalk continuing into our parking lot and into the East wall of our building The vehicle exited the building on the West side crossing the gravel road access to the Chatham Water Tower then lodging itself against a power-pole and ballfield fence," Loftus wrote I looked at (it vehicle) and it wasn’t completely totaled so I didn’t think it was that bad,” he said He believes he was the first to call police this is much worse than I initially thought.“ Loftus added "The Illinois State Police are conducting their investigation I will respect their wishes to allow them time to process all pieces of this horrific day I cannot gather the words to express much of anything that will make sense in print I do know that our families who suffered loss and injury today They are friends and their kids are like our kids The Village of Chatham and Ball Chatham Schools are going to need their populations and that of the outside world to love them many Chatham residents were still trying to process what had occurred Some were seen wrapping red ribbons around poles that line village streets Others wore ribbons pinned on their shirts The crowd was nearly out the door at Scoop Du Jour “We’re just letting everyone know they have a place to come if they need to be with their friends and talk,” co-owner Fran Abbott said “We thought it would be a good way to open our doors to our family “It’s been difficult for a lot of these kids,” she pointed out A drop-off at Glenwood High School saw a steady stream of traffic as people were bringing snacks coloring books and other items for those grieving “We’ve seen a tremendous outpouring of support and coordination,” said Chatham Village President Dave Kimsey Kimsey issued a proclamation to fly flags in the village at half-staff through May 6 in tribute to the lives lost Blood donations increased following the tragedy tragic events like this remind us of the importance of maintaining a strong blood supply at all times," said ImpactLife’s Manager of Donor and Government Relations Jim Watts the hospitals caring for the injured had the blood they needed Schools were put on an e-learning schedule and all extracurricular activities were canceled Glenwood Middle School was set up as a center for counseling available to students A candlelight vigil is planned for 7:30 p.m Wednesday at the high school football field A Facebook page with links to fundraisers and other information has been created “We all have a sense of hopelessness and utter disbelief,” said Scoop du Jour co-owner Shannon McCauley “We need each other to get through that for these families because we can’t imagine what they’re going through.” he said that’s what Chatham does when times are difficult The sudden news of the death of three children and one 18-year-old did not fit in with the quaint neighborhood in Chatham where the YNOT afterschool program is located. Farm fields surround the facility in the town of about 14,000. But today is different. Neighborly, still, but today, people bring flowers and stuffed animals to the site that is normally a place for joy and community. Jennifer Walston and her three daughters carried stuffed animals and flowers to commemorate two of their friends who were killed. The girls attend a summer camp that YNOT Outdoors offers, so they know many of those who attend the after school program that experienced the tragedy on April 28. Walston and her daughters described their two friends as fun and always full of energy. "They were dancers, they were always dancing. They included everybody. Sweet girls." Walston said the programs at YNOT are highly sought after and also a place where kids and parents in the community can get to know people from other schools in the area. "The kids love it here and we love it here. It's just not fair. It's not fair this happened," Walston said. Taylor Godwin, a neighbor, saw the body of a child as the tragedy unfolded. He and his wife work heard loud "bangs" outside and went to see what happened. Initially, Godwin saw from his back window a jeep that had crashed into a telephone pole, leading him to call the Chatham Police Department. He then saw two people running from the building to the vehicle. "I went out back around our fence, and had seen the aftermath of the building...The whole back of the building had been blown out," Godwin said. Godwin and his wife then saw the body of a child. "I’m not the type of person that enjoys feeling helpless, but I certainly felt helpless in that moment. There’s nothing that I could do… It’s multiple feelings all at once," he said. First responders were arriving about then, Godwin added. "You never imagine it can happen in your community. It’s a terrible situation to see anybody that’s been killed, especially a child. And to now know that that is multiple children, it’s very heart wrenching. My wife also feels very, very upset." (This story has been updated to add a video.) Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com. CHATHAM, Ill. (WICS) — Two of the six children injured after a vehicle crashed through the YNOT building have been released from the hospital, according to Illinois State Police. On Monday, Akers was driving a vehicle when she crashed into the YNOT building in Chatham, killing Ainsley Johnson, 8, of Chatham; Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield; Kathryn Corley, 7, of Chatham; and Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, of Chatham. Six more children were also taken to an area hospital, with one in critical condition. ISP Akers is not currently in custody, as the cause of the crash is still under investigation, officials said. Send help right to the people and causes you care about Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee Catharines Falcons in Sutherland Cup Game 2 lossWhen the Chatham Maroons tried to hit the gas When the Chatham Maroons tried to hit the gas Sunday Article contentThey couldn’t muster a third-period comeback and fell 5-2 to the St leaving the teams tied at one win apiece in the Sutherland Cup final we came out with tons of energy and the boys were really going,” Maroons forward Sean Truby said Shifts got a little too long and the energy wasn’t there.” The Falcons led 2-1 before scoring three empty-net goals in front of 1,702 at Chatham Memorial Arena but I think we really brought it in the third and it’s going to bring us momentum into next game,” Truby said Game 4 is Thursday at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St After taking a 4-0 lead in the first period of their 7-3 win in Game 1 “Chatham’s a real skilled and fast team,” Falcons coach Tyler Bielby said so you can’t have any mental lapses and you can’t lose your man in your own zone “I thought we spent some time in our zone tonight but everything was tight and we weren’t letting a lot of pucks through We played really well on that side of the puck.” Bielby has fond memories of Chatham Memorial Arena after winning the Sutherland Cup there in 2022 ‘You’re not going to get many experiences to play in crowds like this Embrace that noise and get going.’ And they did tonight.” The Falcons had no trouble adjusting to the smaller confines of Chatham’s rink “This arena reminds us of our old Jack Gatecliff (Arena) where you’ve got some big end zones but there’s not much of a neutral zone,” Bielby said Falcons netminder Hayden Jeffery made a career-high 49 saves He bounced back after allowing six goals in Game 1 and being pulled Maroons goaltender Gannon Hunter matched him in Game 2 by giving up only two goals before going to the bench for an extra skater the second-highest total of his playoff career Matt Fries and Truby traded goals 1:10 apart early in the first period The score stayed 1-1 until Falcons call-up Alex Forrest scored his first career junior goal 38 seconds into the third period really good first period and then … that four on four goal maybe kind of brought the momentum down a little bit,” Truby said “but we’ve just got to find out how to get to that next level and get our energy levels up.” Trent Gates and Nathan Duplessis scored empty-net goals before Liam Campbell tallied for the Maroons with 42 seconds left The Maroons’ slim comeback hopes disappeared when Duplessis added another empty-netter “We know that’s not our best performance,” Maroons forward Eamon Edgar said Just bringing our 100 per cent every night (is important) and I don’t think we did that tonight “We had a good first period and I think we kind of got away from it but we’re looking forward to having a good practice tomorrow and having a good performance on Tuesday.” The Falcons found a silver lining in Game 1 with a solid third period Truby wants the Maroons to do the same with their Game 2 finish “We’ve got something to prove next game and we’re going to come out flying,” he said NOTES: The Maroons were 0 for 2 with a man advantage … The Maroons have four of the top five rookie scorers in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs mmalone@postmedia.com transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Glenwood High School sophomore McKenzie Doe III was at track and field practice on the afternoon of April 28 when he saw helicopters flying overhead first to and then from YNOT Outdoors an after-school program on North Breckenridge Road in Chatham When Doe later heard that four people--all students in the Ball-Chatham school district--had been killed after a vehicle struck several people outside of the facility before the vehicle crashed into and through the building part of a large crowd that gathered at Village Square Park for a candlelight vigil on April 29 "(To see so many students and other people show up) it means how valuable everybody views each other in this community." More: 'It's just not fair.' Chatham community mourns 4 victims in fatal crash Red ribbons and white flowers were tied around support structures of the park's shelter area some participating lit candles in memory of those killed in the crash: Ainsley Johnson Before and after the service, put on by Chatham United Methodist Church and a number of clergy members from around the community students could sign handmade crosses and hearts provided by the New Orleans-based Lutheran Church Charities The nonprofit organization also provided a number of comfort animals at the vigil said the idea of a vigil sprung up the evening of the crash while details got ironed out the next day More: 'This unimaginable loss': Village, school officials respond to crash that killed four students "want to know what they can do because you feel helpless and you feel like you need to do something all that matters is that we support one another That is the only way to heal and move forward as a community." said for those who aren't as closely connected to a family or a child affected the immediacy of a tragedy will fade pretty quickly "But for families and individuals who have been incredibly impacted their suffering and sorrow is going to last," said Snider before the vigil even years and that can be incredibly isolating for persons "Our challenge is for our togetherness and our reminding one another that we're not alone isn't just for a short time it has to be for the long haul because people need to know they're not alone." Teammates of Alma Buhnerkempe came out to the park in their purple Sangamo United soccer jerseys said it won its first 9-U tournament over the weekend in Moline and the Quad Cities "Alma had a few of those goals and assists," said Strawn always smiling and making everyone laugh." The team plans on making special jerseys honoring Buhnerkempe's number 11 I think it's going to take a little time for them to realize what's going on." Village of Chatham President Dave Kimsey said what he has seen since the tragedy is community full of "with." "We're with the families of those who have lost loved ones We're with the families and children that are fighting "What has driven me and made this feel like my home and be the place that I wanted to represent and extol the virtues of Chatham it shows up in the moments when we celebrate together But the real strength of our community and the definition of what Chatham is and who we are shows up in the times of tragedy and the times of need and in the way everyone in the community finds their strength and finds their own way to provide a shoulder for a neighbor an ear for a loved one and an open heart for those who need it the most." Municipal leaders and Chatham County officials met Friday morning to discuss planning for a potential Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum this year but conversations were kept out of the public eye despite the fact a SPLOST utilizes public funds Three local reporters who showed up to attend the meeting were denied entry by Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis who said the meeting was closed to the public That denial came after the Chatham County Public Information Office told Savannah Morning News reporters Thursday the meeting would be closed to the public Ellis was reached by phone after the meeting and said conversation focused on if municipalities wanted to continue the SPLOST and how the process would play out moving forward Ellis said potential projects were not the focus of the meeting "The reason there was not an open forum was because we had to determine how we we're going forward and what we want to do going forward," Ellis said "That is not a public conversation where you would get a whole lot of input except from the mayors and the managers "It was just that we needed to have a candid conversation about where we are where we're going and how we're going to get there." SPLOST Planning: Chatham County holds workshop on SPLOST; showcases balance needed in crafting list The county has had a penny sales tax from SPLOST since 1985 which has funded major capital projects such as Enmarket Arena and other infrastructure items such as drainage improvements The county's current SPLOST collection ends in 2026 prompting the need for a new referendum this year When asked for justification why a meeting of public officials about a tax-payer- funded initiative would be closed to the public a Chatham County public information officer said the meeting did not fall under Georgia's Open Meetings Act “Georgia's Open Meetings Act pertains to the meetings of governmental bodies But tomorrow's meeting will be made up of mayors from multiple municipalities and the Chairman of Chatham County Commission which themselves do not make up a governing body or "agency" as referenced in the Open Meetings Act therefore the meeting will be closed to the public,” said Chatham County Assistant Director of Public Information Office Will Peebles in an email sent Thursday a senior staff attorney for the Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) said in a statement to the Savannah Morning News that the Georgia Supreme Court has “recognized the state's policy to conduct government business in the open to maintain the public's confidence in its officials.” “A meeting among all the mayors within a county with the county commission chairman should be open to the press and public especially when it concerns potential government projects and taxes," Marshall said in the statement When provided the county’s legal explanation a spokesperson for RCFP said the justification “may very well be permissible under the law,” but that the practice is bad policy and the statement still stands Chairman Ellis said the meeting's outcome charged the county and municipalities to move forward with their planning Meetings among municipalities and the county about specific projects will take place in the future The county held a public workshop on SPLOST on April 14 where commissioners and staff discussed potential priorities for the SPLOST list The city of Savannah also outlined upcoming SPLOST planning in a workshop on March 28 while also soliciting public input through an online survey Background: SPLOST Season: Chatham County begins push for eighth penny-sales-tax referendum this November But Friday's meeting was the first convening mayors and managers from each city with county leadership Cities will present their individual project lists to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on May 23 according to a proposed timeline sent by the county to municipalities along with an Intergovernmental Agreement with the municipalities about the SPLOST’s parameters is expected for a vote by the Board of Commissioners on June 13 The county aims to have a SPLOST referendum on the ballot for the Nov Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News CHATHAM, Ill. (WICS) — The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, has identified the four students who were tragically killed when a motor vehicle crashed into the YNOT building in Chatham on Monday Postmortem procedures conducted on Tuesday revealed that the cause of death for each was multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident The victims have been identified as Ainsley Johnson Authorities have identified the driver involved in the incident as 44-year-old Marianne Akers as the cause of the crash is still under investigation CHATHAM, Ill. (WICS) — The Illinois State Police are actively investigating a fatal crash that took place on Monday afternoon in Chatham. Authorities have identified the driver involved in the incident as 44-year-old Marianne Akers four female students were pronounced dead at the scene of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian incident at an after-school care facility in the 300 block of Breckenridge Road Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed The Illinois State Police have confirmed that two seven-year-olds and an 18-year-old were killed in the crash Six more children were also taken to an area hospital Illinois State Police Director Brenden Kelly said early evidence from a deadly crash at a Chatham after-school program Monday indicates the driver may have suffered a medical event was driving westbound on Walnut Street at approximately 3:20 p.m Monday when she left the road and drove through a field before slamming into the building that houses the YNOT camp driving through it and exiting on the other side Three people killed were outside and one inside the structure at 301 Breckenridge Kelly said it appears Akers traveled approximately 1300 feet after entering the field before finally coming to a stop when she hit a utility pole and fence we can report than initial preliminary toxicology test results were negative for alcohol and negative for controlled substances,” Kelly told reporters at the Illinois State Police headquarters in Springfield “Some evidence has been developed indicating the possibility of a medical emergency leading up to the crash the investigation of this information and other evidence has not yet concluded and will continue until all leads and research have been exhausted.” a driver has a duty to report a medical condition that could cause loss of consciousness or any other loss of ability to safely operate a motor vehicle within 10 days of the driver becoming aware of the condition The Illinois Secretary of State told Capitol News Illinois it could not comment on whether Akers has previously filed a medical report as that is confidential information Kelly confirmed Akers worked for the State Police for 12 years But he also said there are limits what personnel file information is accessible She was working as a counselor at the site All the victims died of blunt force trauma according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon Kelly said upon completion of the investigation details will be submitted to the county State’s Attorney Kelly commented she has no restrictions placed on her Kelly gave no timeline for finishing the investigation He said evidence continues to be collected drone video of the scene and data from the vehicle’s operating systems Kelly confirmed Akers had worked for his agency from 2006-2018 But he said her past employment has no impact on the case The Director reiterated an earlier Illinois State Police statement that the crash did not appear to be a targeted attack “There is no evidence to indicate that whatsoever,” he said He also pointed out the work of first responders “Our people and all first responders are tough it weighs on their hearts and their minds and their souls They have maintained their focus with crystal clarity but have also found a way to display empathy and sensitivity for those impacted by this horrific incident and also take care of each other along the way.” The driver in a crash that killed three children and one teenager at an after-school program in downstate Chatham, Illinois State police were called to YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School camp at about 3:20 p.m Monday when a car crashed into the east side of the building The car struck several people outside the building before plowing through it It eventually broke through the opposite side of the building and came to a stop state police identified the driver as 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham State police said she is not currently in custody as their investigation into the crash continues an 8-year-old – and an 18-year-old woman were killed Most were taken to local hospitals by ambulance but one had to be taken by a life flight helicopter One victim remained in critical condition Tuesday morning State police said they do not believe the crash was a targeted attack Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he was "horrified and deeply saddened" by the deadly incident. "Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them," Pritzker wrote in a post on X "My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they are experiencing — something that no parent should ever have to endure." Chatham is about 12 miles south of Springfield in Sangamon County It is not to be confused with the South Side Chicago neighborhood of Chatham Illinois State Police did not release any further details Tuesday morning or say whether any charges against Akers were pending State police said she was not injured and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation The driver in a crash that killed three children and one teenager at an after-school program in downstate Chatham, Illinois Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he was \"horrified and deeply saddened\" by the deadly incident. \"Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them,\" Pritzker wrote in a post on X \"My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they are experiencing — something that no parent should ever have to endure.\" and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon has identified the four persons struck and killed at YNOT Outdoors in Chatham on April 28 of Chatham struck several people outside of the facility before the vehicle crashed into the building The four have been identified as Ainsley Johnson More: Police: Two 7-year-olds, one 8-year-old, one 18-year-old killed in Chatham crash All four girls were pronounced dead at the scene Postmortem procedures done by the coroner's office indicated that they all died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the crash "This does not appear to be a targeted attack," ISP wrote Ball-Chatham School District Superintendent Becca Lamon said while school will try to return to "as much normalcy" as possible on May 2 when in-person learning starts back up she acknowledged the main focus was going to be on "social-emotional support and needs of our students." Lamon addressed area media on April 30 prior to a vigil at the football field organized by the Glenwood High School student council Four Ball-Chatham students--Ainsley Johnson of Springfield--were killed on April 28 when the driver of a vehicle struck several people outside of the YNOT Outdoors after-school facility before the vehicle crashed into and through the building Ball-Chatham schools that serve some 4,500 students will remain on social-emotional e-learning through May 1 All athletic contests and extracurricular activities also are cancelled through May 1 A counseling center at the district's middle school will remain open for students Therapy dogs from a number of agencies will be available at schools May 1-2 An extended number of area counselors are also helping school counselors Lamon said there wasn't a plan to extend the school calendar and because of the level of trauma in the community "we need students to finish the year and be able to finalize that grieving process by starting summer break on time." The district is working on a wrap-around plan that will carry throughout the summer that will support students and staff members who were actively involved at the after-school program on Monday It is also compiling a list of resources for how others can address emotional needs through the summer Lamon said YNOT (Youth Need Other Things) is one of six facilities where Ball-Chatham students can go before and after regular school sessions About 100 students had signed up at some point during the school year for bussing to the facility though Lamon couldn't put a figure of how many district students were at YNOT on Monday "We're grateful for all of the support of our staff and our first responders on Monday to get to the scene quickly and to assist our students reunifying with their parents so we could begin the process of healing," Lamon said Lamon visited district students who have been hospitalized as a result of the crash a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Police confirmed that two of the six children injured in the crash have been released from the hospital though she did not have additional information (WICS) — Following a tragic incident at YNOT after-school daycare all Ball-Chatham Community Unit District #5 schools will observe an eLearning Day on Tuesday RELATED: 4 dead after vehicle drives through after school program building in Chatham all BCSD extracurricular activities scheduled for that day have been canceled "Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with the affected families," said district officials Counseling services will be available for all BCSD students and families at Glenwood Middle School starting at 9:00 a.m Community members wishing to contribute supplies can do so at Glenwood High School's West Side Garage Four girls the Illinois State Police believed to be school aged were killed and several others were injured after the driver of a vehicle crashed into the YNOT Outdoors facility in 300 block of Breckenridge Road in Chatham on April 28 Illinois State Police said the four girls were killed in the crash were two 7-year-olds All four girls were pronounced deceased at the scene The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash has been identified as 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham Akers was not in custody as of Tuesday morning YNOT Outdoors operates an after-school program that serves the Ball-Chatham and Pawnee school districts Three people were struck and killed outside of the building while one was struck when the vehicle was driven into the building Here's what we know about YNOT Outdoors from its website: More: Chatham Police: Four dead after driver crashes into after-school building YNOT Outdoors formed in 2002 by Jamie and Mitzi Loftus of Springfield as "a way for parents to place their kids into a safe active and stimulating summer environment." It operates as a 501c3 organization Jamie Loftus is also the operator of Arrowhead Ridge Lodge a 1,000-acre family farm and whitetail deer bow hunt outfitting business in Roodhouse What does YNOT stands for?YNOT is an acronym for Youth Need Other Things YNOT Outdoors summer camps includes organized field trips hiking and biking venues and travel for organized field-sports Staff counselors are generally college students or high school seniors Each is interviewed by both the local day director and the executive director then go through a background check via the Illinois State Police most counselors are heading towards a degree in education YNOT Outdoors operated its after-school programs and summer camps at 301 North Breckenridge Road in Chatham and at Pawnee Assembly of God Church YNOT Outdoors also leases Sugar Creek United Methodist Church 1022 New City Road in Chatham for its summer camp YNOT also long had a presence at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School (This story was updated to include new information.) (WICS) — Four female students were pronounced dead at the scene of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian incident at an after-school care facility in the 300 block of Breckenridge Road The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin Post-mortem procedures are scheduled for Tuesday The vehicle's driver was uninjured and is under evaluation at an area hospital and the cause of the crash remains under investigation The incident is currently under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page one day before returning to school following Monday's tragedy the Glenwood student athletes helped host a morning of play for the community Kids of all ages came out for a field day full of activities with Glenwood athletes from various programs Junior Colten Knoedler said the goal was to "really just put a smile on some of these kids' faces but we just came together as a community." Knoedler added that many of their coaches and community leaders helped put together the event Authorities have announced the ages of the three children and one young adult who were killed on April 28 when a person struck them with a vehicle in Chatham Illinois State Police said in a news release Tuesday morning More: A tragedy in Chatham: What to know about YNOT Outdoors and its operations Authorities have identified the driver as 44-year-old Marianne Akers (This story has been updated with new information.) He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.