CHATHAM — The driver of a vehicle involved in a deadly crash Monday at an after-school program formerly worked for the Illinois State Police, the agency investigating the crash.

The ISP identified the driver as Marianne Akers, 44, of Chatham. She worked at the ISP from June 2006 to August 2018, an ISP spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

 

The crash occurred at 3:20 p.m. Monday when Akers’ black Jeep left the road and traveled through a field, hitting the east side of a building that housed the YNOT, which stands for Youth Needing Other Things, an after-school camp in Chatham. The car drove through the building, striking several children and workers, before it exited the other side.

Those killed were Ainsley Johnson, 8; Kathryn Corley, 7; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7, all of Chatham, and Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield, a counselor. All the victims died of blunt force trauma, according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon.

Six other children were hospitalized, one in critical condition.

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The building that houses the after-school program has a gym on the bottom floor and play areas upstairs. Children often sat on the wall during playtime at the gym.

After crashing through the building, the SUV traveled across a basketball court then hit a light pole and a fence around a small park near the Chatham water tower.

Akers was the only one in the vehicle and was not injured, according to police. She was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

 

 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation; toxicology reports are pending. Police said Monday it was not a targeted attack.

Akers is a current employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Business Services, according to an IDOT spokesman. She has been employed by the agency since November 2023.

She also is a former cafeteria employee of Glenwood High School in Chatham.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said Tuesday that police have made no arrests.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families impacted by this terrible tragedy,” Milhiser said.

Chatham, a close-knit community of 15,000 people, is about 2.8 miles from the state capital of Springfield. Chatham schools are closed for the rest of the week.

Gov. JB Pritzker commented on the tragedy late Monday.

“I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon,” Pritzker said in a statement. “My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they’re experiencing — something that no parent should ever have to endure.”

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Studio M Dance Centre in Chatham where Ainsley Johnson danced posted a tribute on social media Tuesday.

“Ainsley was such a sweet and sassy dancer/tumbler at our Studio and Complex — bringing joy, passion, and lots of laughter to her peers in class and her dance teachers. Her spirit will always be a part of our dance family, and she will be deeply missed every single day,” the message said.

Britton was preparing to attend the University of Iowa to study English and secondary education. One of her fellow Glenwood High School students stated that she “was always kind to everyone.”

Community members shared several Facebook posts Monday urging residents to donate blood. By Tuesday morning, all of the time slots were booked until Friday. By Tuesday afternoon, Glenwood High School Student Council had raised over $100,000 for the victims’ families through a GoFundMe page.

Chatham Village President Dave Kimsey ordered all flags in Chatham to be flown at half-staff for the next week. A candlelight vigil was to be held Tuesday night at Village Square Park, and another will be held Wednesday night at Glenwood High School.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, SIU Medicine announced that counseling and trauma support for Chatham residents will be available at Chatham Presbyterian Church on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (KAMEG), the Pledge for Life Partnership, State Representative Jackie Haas, Senator Patrick Joyce, the Kankakee County Health Department, Riverside Healthcare, and local Law Enforcement, partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at the Northfield Square Mall. KAMEG Director Clayt Wolfe reported that the event was once again an overwhelming success with approximately 800 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs turned in for disposal in Kankakee County alone. KAMEG would like to thank area residents for their continued support and for assisting in the event to make our communities safer.  

On April 24 at 1:43 am Watseka Police conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of W Walnut Street on an orange Jeep for driving without lights when required. Patrick F. Short, 23 of Watseka, was arrested for Illegal Transportation of Alcohol, Possession of Cannabis over 30 grams, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Short was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

 

On April 26th, 2025, at approximately 7:50 pm Watseka Police conducted a traffic stop at E Elm Street/N Boughton Street on a red Dodge utility for speeding. Brittney A. Schultz, 29 of Milford was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Schultz also issued two state citations for No Valid Registration and Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle. Schutlz was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

Eric Starkey is looking forward to his new role as Watseka police chief.

He was sworn in at the April 22 meeting of the city council and will official start in that capacity May 1.

He leaves the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department to become police chief.

“Change is hard,” he said. “You’ve been somewhere for 20 years and you’ve dedicated so much time and effort into doing your job that you love. To make a change is hard. It was a little nerve-racking coming here to night just because of the situation of changing jobs. When you get here tonight and see the amount of people that come and take time out of their day to show you how much they care about you and that they support you, people that I truly care about and invest so much time and effort into, all those nerves just went away.”

 

He said he is ready to get started.

“My role will change from what I was doing at the sheriff’s department. I couldn’t be more excited and honored to protect and serve the citizens of a town that I’ve lived in and raised my family in over the last 20 years. Being on the school board, being active in all the coaching of youth sports and high school sports that I do, and all the relationships that I’ve built over that 20 years, friends, family, business owners, kids, to be able to focus my attention and serve them and this city is something I couldn’t be more excited about.”

Starkey said he is very appreciative of those who stepped up to fill in between the time that retired chief Jeremy Douglas left and he takes over.

“I think the Mark (interim chief Harris) needs to be recognized for what he did in the interim. He was asked to do a job and did it.”

Starkey said he is excited to work the officers and continue to move the department in a positive direction.

Police conducted a warrant check in the 800 block of W Lafayette Street at 1:05 am. Sellars, Justin A., 30 of Milford, was arrested on an outstanding Iroquois County warrant. Additionally, Sellars was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine. Sellars was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

 

Police were called to the 1700 block of E Walnut Street for a theft at 7:03 pm. Lease, Peter J., 46 of Watseka, was arrested for Retail Theft. Lease was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

 

Police conducted a warrant check in the 200 block of N 2nd Street at 4:12 pm Anderson, Timothy R., 37 of Watseka, was arrested on an outstanding Kankakee County Warrant. Anderson was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

 

At 1:40 a.m. April 20, Watseka Police conducted a traffic stop in the 800 block of West Lafayette Street. Marci J. Hartman, 46, was arrested for Driving on a Revoked Drivers License. Prior to the vehicle being towed the vehicle was inventoried. Additionally, Hartman was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Methamphetamine Manufacturing Materials and Methamphetamine Manufacturing. The vehicle was towed to the Watseka impound lot and Hartman was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) is distributing food to area families facing food insecurity. The Foodmobile will travel throughout southern Iroquois County on 05/15/2025 and northern Iroquois County on 05/28/2025, with distribution sites and times and for each town listed at https://www.eifoodbank.org/help/mobile.html.

The distribution is part of the Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to rural or underserved areas.

A Sheldon man was arrested on multiple counts of child pornography.

On Wednesday, April 16, the Iroquois County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Mark S. Oberloh, 62, who was wanted in Iroquois County.

The warrant charges him with three counts of child pornography.

Oberloh was taken into custody at his residence and taken to the Iroquois County Jail.

 The Iroquois Memorial Hospital Development Council is working towards their goal of raising funds for the Rehabilitation Therapy Center, which will be located on the corner of Fourth Street and Fairman Avenue in Watseka. The building will provide cutting-edge services to enhance the quality of life for patients of all ages recovering from injuries or managing chronic conditions. Recently, the Watseka Ford, Watseka Chrysler and Dralle Watseka car dealerships donated $50 for each car sold over the course of a month, totaling over $13,000, to the Iroquois Memorial Hospital Development Council towards this project. We are grateful for the support of our local businesses. This Rehabilitation Therapy Center will serve as a hub for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy. Physical therapy treats injuries or illnesses that limit the body's ability to move and function, helping patients of all ages and levels of ability. Occupational Therapy provides treatments involving the upper body including the shoulder, hand and wrist to help patients regain independence in all areas of their life. Speech Therapy helps children and adults improve their communication and language skills and can be prescribed after a diagnosis such as stroke, autism, and more. This project will impact the wellbeing of you, your loved ones, and the residents in the surrounding communities. For more information or to donate, please visit imhrh.org. 

Two people were arrested April 14 in Watseka after police were called to a fight outside of a vehicle.

 

According to Watseka Police reports, at 4:35 a.m. April 14, police were dispatched to the 1700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a male dragging a female and fighting outside of a vehicle.

Police conducted an investigative traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description in the 1100 block of East Walnut Street.

The vehicle was driven by Jacob W. Price, 41, of Creve Coeur. Police approached the vehicle and advised Price to step out of the vehicle. According to police reports, “Price disobeyed lawful commands by police and after a brief struggle Price was successfully placed under arrest.”

 

He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation of alcohol, aggravated battery, aggravated battery to a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Also arrested was the passenger Danielle V. Gee, 40, of Pekin. During the traffic stop Gee was interfering with the arrest of Price. Gee was arrested and charged with obstruction. Price and Gee were transported to the Iroquois County Jail, where they were turned over to corrections staff.

Police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of S 3rd Street . Lowhorn, Stephaine R., 50 of Watseka, was arrested for Possession of a Hypodermic Needle and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Lowhorn was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

 

Police were called to the 400 block of N 1 Street for a domestic. Velazquez, Elias, 39 of Sauk Village, was arrested for Domestic Battery. Velazquez was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

On Thursday, the Iroquois County Sheriff's Office pulled over James Nelson on Lincoln Avenue in Onarga. During the stop, deputies found he had a felony warrant. Deputies said Nelson refused to leave the vehicle and then reached back while threatening to detonate a bomb in the backseat.

 

Nelson then ran into a nearby home. Deputies later found Nelson in the attic of the home and arrested him. 

 

The East Central Illinois Bomb Squad found the device in the home and confirmed the explosive was real. The bomb squad then defused it.

 

In a release, the sheriff's office said Nelson was receiving treatment in the hospital for injuries sustained during the arrest. Deputies did not say how Nelson was hurt during the arrest.

Nelson now faces charges of possession of explosives and aggravated battery to an officer.

 

The severe weather during the late afternoon hours Wednesday within Iroquois County generated at least two separate tornado touchdowns.

Iroquois County EMA, along with members of the Ford County EMA, accompanied the National Weather Service (NWS) survey team as they closely examined the structural damage and large debris fields that were consistent with tornadic activity. Following a discussion with Ford County Deputy EMA Coordinator Danny Neal- who witnessed the early circulation within the storm cell, the origination location in the far east side of Ford County was established. The team continued to rural Loda for the first area of significant damage, just north of the south County line on 400 East Road where major damage was found to a hog farm. At least one of the buildings was found to be completely destroyed, and several others with very heavy damage. An extremely large swath of debris extended northeast to the second location about a mile away near the intersection of 100 North Road at 500 East Road. Two separate properties suffered significant damage, with a pickup truck flipped over, and a large piece of lumber was impaled in a west facing exterior wall that penetrated into a bedroom of the residence. A very large debris field also extended northeast from those locations where the path of the first tornado came to an end. This tornado was classified as an EF-1, with winds around 100 miles per hour.

The second location of significant damage was located southwest of Cissna Park, near 1000 East 500 North Road. An outbuilding was destroyed, and another significant debris field was generated with a separate touchdown from the same storm cell as it moved northeast through the county. Two separate eyewitness accounts- both with cellphone video of the tornado on the ground, assisted in the confirmation of an EF-0 tornado, with winds around 65 miles per hour.

The NWS office issued a tornado warning for Iroquois County, regarding this specific storm cell at 5:13 pm, and included Cissna Park, Milford, Woodland and Watseka and all areas between and close to the warned area. EMA requested siren activation for the warned locations through ICOM dispatch.

Questions have been raised relating to a several minute delay between the NWS warning announcement and the siren activations. Following an internal investigation into the current procedures, a communication deficiency has been identified and is being immediately addressed.

The life safety of all Iroquois County residents is of paramount importance, and identifying potential deficiencies relating to that- and correcting them immediately, is our highest priority,

Scott Anderson, Coordinator

Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency

Wednesday afternoon had several areas of severe storms passing through the county with a countywide tornado watch being issued around 4:00 pm. EMA members and trained spotters took positions within the county to intercept the incoming storms and provide advance warning if needed.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm warning around 5pm and high winds, heavy rain and small hail were encountered near Onarga by the EMA members.

Ford County EMA members witnessed a rotating wall cloud with a separate section of the storm located southwest of Paxton- heading northeast, and the NWS issued a tornado warning for portions of Iroquois County. Siren activation was requested through ICOM for Cissna Park, Milford, Woodland and Watseka based on the issued warning.

An area of significant storm damage was reported on 100 North Road at 500 East Road in rural Loda. EMA responded to the scene and found heavy damage to several structures on two separate properties, on both sides of the intersection, about one quarter of a mile apart. A large debris field covering close to a mile in area was also observed. The NWS was notified of EMA’s findings, and an assessment team will be on scene Thursday morning to determine if the damage is consistent with a tornado.

Several other areas of power poles being toppled and sheared off between the Loda location and Cissna Park were also witnessed. These areas may also be included within the areas looked over by the assessment team.

No injuries were reported with any of these storms.

An update will be provided following the NWS assessment.

Scott Anderson, Coordinator

Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency

Watseka Mayor-Benny Marcier

Watseka Ward1-Mark Garfield

Watseka Ward 2-Charles DeWitt

Watseka Ward 3-Jeff Peterson

Watseka Ward 4-Nicholas Brault

 

Village of Ashkum President-Paul Heideman

Village of Clifton President-Jeffery Hall

Village of Danforth President-Greg Schoeder

Village of Donovan President-Ronald Williams II

Village of Loda President-John Zalaker

Village of Loda Trustee-Cathy Tittle, Amanda Loveless, Ronald Dudley

Village of Milford Trustee-Cory Birch, Sean Dawson, Fred Hines

Village of Sheldon President-Leslie Banning

Village of Sheldon Trustee- Barbara Laffoon, Nicole Harris, James Laffoon

 

Township races:

Chebanse township clerk-Kari Thompson

Chebanse township highway commissioner-Michael Thompson

Iroquois Township highway commissioner-William Weakly

Martinton township highway commissioner-Darren DeWitt

Stockland township highway commissioner-Jason Langellier

Sheldon township supervisor-Christina Haris

Onarga township highway commissioner-Timothy Conn

Iroquois County CUSD NO.9 Board of Education-

Eric Starkey

Amy Daniels

Jill Erickson