More details are out on the animal welfare charges against suspended Animal Control Warden April Pier.  We recently told you the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pier on animal welfare charges.  It turns out it's not the first time 47-year-old April Pier has faced such charges.   A closer examination shows the charge of failing to meet animal owner duties is listed as a second offense.  In 2014, Pier, then known as April Elliott, pleaded guilty to failing to meet animal owner duties first offense.  That guilty plea brought six months of court supervision and she was barred from owning a dog.  It's not clear how long that order would remain in effect.  In addition to the animal owner duties charge, she is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals in the current case.  Pier is set to appear in court April 7th.  States Attorney Andrew Affrunti could seek to bring in a Special Prosecutor in the case, but that decision hasn't been made and it doesn't appear that it's required. 

We have more details on what led to the charges, then and now.  In the newest case, Pier is charged with providing insufficient care for a horse in East Fork Township.  Due to its condition, the horse had to be euthanized.  In the 2014 case, Pier, then Elliott pleaded guilty after  a sheltie dog was not provided food or water and was not provided sufficient warmth and shelter and died as a result.  Pier has been released from the Montgomery County Jail as the case moves forward.  

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office handled an animal cruelty case last week and the identity of the individual arrested one day later was a stunner as Montgomery County’s Animal Control Warden emerged as the suspect.  47-year-old April Pier of Hillsboro was arrested in a case involving a privately owned animal in East Fork Township.    She is lodged in the Montgomery County Jail on charges of Animal Cruelty and Obstructing Justice. The case is now in the hands of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s office  Pier has been suspended of her duties as the county’s animal control warden while the investigation continues.   So far, there’s no word on the nature of the of the cruelty or abuse.

State Representative Wayne Rosenthal (R-Morrisonville) says he is opposed to Governor Pritzker’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, delivered to a joint Session of 

the House and Senate in Wednesday’s combined State of the State and Budget Address. 

Rosenthal says the Governor’s FY 26 budget adds an additional $2 Billion in spending.   “I was not impressed by the governor’s speech. It was more of a campaign style kick off for  higher office,” commented Rep. Rosenthal. “The Governor';s proposed $55 billion budget is the largest in Illinois history – an unprecedented 38% increase since he took office. In addition to  this massive spending, the budget is not balanced, leaving a $425 million deficit based on 

existing revenue numbers.” 

Rosenthal points out that rather than prioritizing the needs of hardworking Illinois citizens, the Governor and his administration has spent $2.8 billion on illegal migrant programs and continues funding welcome shelters at taxpayers’ expense. No amount of blaming President Trump can erase the poor decisions and fiscal mismanagement of Illinois Democrats, who have wasted billions in taxpayer dollars. 

  

“I will continue to fight for responsible spending and my priorities will continue to be the hardworking families, veterans, seniors, and those Illinoisans who truly need help during tough economic times,” added Rosenthal. “We need to meaningful budget reform and sound financial policies to help all Illinois families. All Illinois families need property tax relief -- not more taxes and out-of-control government spending.” 

For years to come, the corner of Dean and Church in Virden will be synonymous with tragedy and will haunt those who remember February 15, 2025.  There's now word three lives were lost in Saturday's fire, a 34-year-old man and his two sons, ages 13 and 10.  The ten-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by the Macoupin County Coroner's Office.  The 34-year-old and 13-year-old died despite the best efforts of personnel at Springfield Memorial Hospital. 

Waves of grief continue to impact friends and family of the victims, whose identities have not been released and those waves have impacted complete strangers and the first responders from Virden, Girard, Chatham and Auburn who responded.  Emotions have run high as complete strangers have added to a memorial at the residence.   

 

Tragic and heartbreaking news after Saturday morning's fire in the 200 block of Dean Street in Virden.  Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed two people died in a fire in Virden. 

Allmon said a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old male from Virden died.  Allmon's office is handling the case because the victims were transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital. 

Autopsies for both are scheduled. 

The deaths remain under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the State Fire Marshal's Office. 

 

The Macoupin County Coroner's Office has responded to a fire at Dean and Church in Virden.  Fire crews responded around 9:20 this morning (2/15) and quickly started calling in neighboring fire assets, first from Girard, then later an aerial unit from Auburn and fire and EMS crews from across the county line in Chatham.  Multiple injuries were reported.   Attempts to airlift patients were apparently thwarted by the weather conditions.  We'll share more details as we receive them. 

The Macoupin County Coroner's Office has responded to a fire at Dean and Church in Virden.  Fire crews responded around 9:20 this morning (2/15) and quickly started calling in neighboring fire assets, first from Girard, then later an aerial unit from Auburn and fire and EMS crews from across the county line in Chatham.  Multiple injuries were reported.   Attempts to airlift patients were apparently thwarted by the weather conditions.  We'll share more details as we receive them. 

The Litchfield Fire Department responded swiftly to a reported structure fire at 836 S Chestnut St. On February 10, 2025. The prompt and coordinated action taken by first responders played a critical role in containing the fire to a single bedroom, minimizing damage to the overall structure.  At 1:39 pm, Montgomery County 911 dispatched the Litchfield Fire Department to the scene of a fire with visible smoke coming from the residence. Prior to departing the station, mutual aid was requested to assist with a working fire. Litchfield Fire Captain 823 arrived on the scene and quickly assessed the situation by performing a 360-degree evaluation of the building, establishing command, and confirming smoke was visible inside the structure. Litchfield Engine 810, staffed with five personnel, responded to the scene. Engine 802 responded to the scene staffed with two personnel. Squad 805, Utility 891, and Chief 800 also responded to thescene. Command reported that the fire was contained to a bedroom in the downstairs apartment, and mutual aid was canceled. 

Firefighters immediately deployed a 1 3/4 inch pre-connected hose line to the front door of the apartment and proceeded to conduct a primary search. The search revealed no occupants in the apartment, but one dog and two cats were safely found and removed. Firefighters worked to revive one of the cats that suffered from smoke inhalation but it later succumbed to its injuries. The search team located the fire, which was contained to the middle of the floor in the bedroom, and firefighters used a water extinguisher to knock down the flames. Additional hose lines were then used to extinguish the remaining hot spots. The upstairs apartment was also checked for any signs of fire extension, but only light smoke was found. Ventilation was initiated in both apartments using positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fans to clear the remaining smoke. 

  

Following the successful containment and suppression efforts, the department investigator began an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire. At this time the cause remains under investigation. 

The City of Litchfield Fire Department would like to remind residents of the importance of fire safety and the need to have working smoke detectors in every home. The quick actions of our dedicated first responders prevented what could have been a much more devastating situation. 

 

Picture:  Firefighter Joey Quinn works to revive a cat that had suffered from smoke inhalation.

 

 

 

 

The Montgomery County Clerk’s Office reminds voters who wish to vote by
mail for the Tuesday, April 1 st , 2025 Consolidated Election that they may apply
for a ballot from that office.
Illinois law for voting by mail requires the voter be an eligible Montgomery
County registered voter. If a voter hasn’t signed up for the Permanent Vote By
Mail list, to vote by mail voters may go to the County Clerk’s page of the county
website at www.montgomerycountyil.gov and download, print, complete and sign
the Vote By Mail Ballot Application form and mail it to the County Clerk’s
Office. Voters may also contact the County Clerk’s Office at 217-532-9530
during business hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
(excluding holidays) to receive a Vote By Mail Ballot Application. All Vote By
Mail Ballot Applications must be received at the County Clerk’s Office by
Thursday, March 27 th , 2025 in order to receive a mailed ballot. To be counted,
Vote By Mail ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election
Day (April 1 st , 2025) and received within 14 days after Election Day. Voters
may also return their Vote By Mail ballot by placing it in the secure outdoor

Ballot Drop Box located on the north side of the Historic Courthouse in
Hillsboro, or they or their authorized representative may return it to the County
Clerk’s Office in person.
Anyone needing further information about the upcoming election is
encouraged to visit the county website or contact the County Clerk/Recorder’s
Office at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro in person, by phone at (217) 532-
9530, or by email at countyclerk@montgomerycountyil.gov.