Jay Redfern

A longtime Galesburg attorney, election commissioner and musician has died. Cyril William “Bill” Butts, Jr., died Wednesday, Sept. 2, from complications of pancreatic cancer. He was 72.

From left, Kylee Brody, Janet Wehrly, the Rev. Peter Wehrly and Nita Cross — Kyle Wehrly’s daughter, wife, father and mother — attend the dedication of the SFC Kyle Wehrly Memorial Highway on the Galesburg Public Square, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (JAY REDFERN/WGIL)

East Main Street at Cherry Street, looking east, Sept. 6, 2026. IDOT proposed narrowing this stretch from four lanes to three. (JAY REDFERN/WGIL)

Some of the veterans flying out of the Galesburg airport Friday morning haven’t been in an airplane in 50 years. A few of them can’t walk without help.

A woman and her child spent three weeks trying to find a place to live in Galesburg this summer. No shelter would take them, because of the child’s age.

Christie Harris, owner of The Flavor District, stands in front of the restaurant’s chalkboard menu at 323 E. Main St. in Galesburg, Sept. 5, 2026. (JAY REDFERN/WGIL)

Brett Anderson stands beside his Stearman biplane at the National Stearman Fly-In. (Photo provided)

A Monmouth man charged in a fatal wrong-way crash on Interstate 74 near Knoxville has pleaded not guilty and asked for a jury trial, according to Knox County court records.

Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election opens Sept. 24 at the Galesburg City Election Office, according to Lisa Watson, executive director of the Galesburg Board of Election Commissioners.

Tricia Thomas, center, and right, Mark Thomas, owners of Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, accept the 2026 Pursuit of Excellence Award. (Photo provided)