A Clinton man appeared in court on Monday to face multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the death of his wife.

Nicholas L. Smith, 35, was formally arraigned Monday afternoon following his arrest over the weekend in connection with the death of 34-year-old Cassandra M. Smith. 

Nicholas Smith is currently being held in the custody of the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office.

Represented by the public defender, Tim Holl, Nicholas Smith waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and a discovery order was entered by the court.

Smith faces a total of eight counts, including three counts of First-Degree Murder with intent to kill/injure, two counts of First-Degree Murder with strong probability of kill/injure, one count of Concealment of a Homicidal Death - a Class 3 felony, one count of Obstruction of Justice/Destruction of Evidence - a Class 4 felony, and one count of Obstructing a Peace Officer - a Class A misdemeanor.

The court entered a detention order without objection.

Friday evening, the Clinton Police Department began an investigation to a Clinton address to conduct a welfare check of Cassandra N. Smith. Following an initial investigation, authorities issued a missing-and-endangered person alert for Smith.

On Saturday morning, the Clinton Police Department requested assistance from the Illinois State Police (ISP) Zone 5 Investigations. Over the course of the day, authorities executed search warrants on multiple properties and vehicles associated with the case.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, law enforcement located a vehicle of interest near Sunrise Court in Clinton. The execution of a search warrant at that location led to the discovery of Cassandra Smith’s body.

Nicholas Smith was taken into custody shortly thereafter.

Preliminary postmortem findings indicate that Cassandra Smith died of multiple blunt injuries. Authorities stated that additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues.

A status hearing has been set for June 1 at 11:00 A.M., with a jury trial set for August 10 at 9:00 A.M.

Severe weather tore through central Illinois yesterday, causing damage to a local school district. 

DeLand-Weldon Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Tresnak explains that Monday's storm system tore the roof off of part of the elementary school, leaving behind shattered skylights and multiple classrooms that suffered significant water damage. School was canceled for today, and the district will be utilizing e-learning on Wednesday as well. 

Dr. Tresnak says they were lucky the storm came at night, and they did not have children in the building during the event. He adds that the district is prepared for situations like this due to the efficient alert system of the National Weather Service and the basement that can be utilized as shelter. 

The district's goal is to be back to normalcy as quickly as possible. Dr. Tresnak is grateful to the first responders, staff, and community members who have come to help in droves as they recover from the emergency. 

Dr. Tresnak feels for all the families and residents who also suffered damage to their properties during the storm. Keep up with the latest updates from DeLand-Weldon Schools by visiting dwschools.org or by finding the district on Facebook. 
 

A spike in teen depression and anxiety in recent years has some central Illinois school leaders rethinking the prominent presence of technology in classrooms.

According to Bement Schools Superintendent Mary Vogt, there is a distinct breakdown in how technology is defined and monitored within her district.

The challenge for school administration often lies in where these issues originate. When conflicts arise via social media or student devices, Vogt explains, it is rarely a problem confined to school hours or the school building.

To combat the misuse of technology, Bement Schools is focusing on teaching students how to use digital resources as an educational tool, such as for research and keyboarding skills, rather than for entertainment. Vogt points out that this requires a concerted partnership between parents and the school to ensure students are focused on assignments during the day.

Several local districts are using the case provided in the book 'The Anxious Generation' by Jonathan Haidt as a guide in understanding the increase in anxiety and depression among teens and pre-teens.

The threat of severe weather is returning to DeWitt County today. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Ed Shimon with the National Weather Service in Lincoln told the Hart Media Group that severe weather was present this morning in DeWitt County, but outlooks have shifted to a less severe outlook for Monday evening. 

Wind shear is what makes this particular system dangerous. While there is the possibility of tornadoes, Shimon notes that wind does not need to be circling for it to be damaging. 

Shimon reminds to have your severe weather safety kit packed full of water, snacks, flashlights, weather radios, and other essential tools. Keep it to WHOW to hear all the latest severe weather updates. 

Get local forecasts, weather updates, and more at weather.gov/Lincoln or by finding the National Weather Service on Facebook and X. 
 

A 34-year-old Clinton woman has been found dead following an extensive law enforcement search, and her husband is now in custody facing charges related to the incident.

Friday evening, the Clinton Police Department began an investigation to a Clinton address to conduct a welfare check of Cassandra N. Smith. Following an initial investigation, authorities issued a missing-and-endangered person alert for Smith.

On Saturday morning, the Clinton Police Department requested assistance from the Illinois State Police (ISP) Zone 5 Investigations. Over the course of the day, authorities executed search warrants on multiple properties and vehicles associated with the case.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, law enforcement located a vehicle of interest near Sunrise Court in Clinton. The execution of a search warrant at that location led to the discovery of Cassandra Smith’s body.

Her husband, 35-year-old Nicholas L. Smith of Clinton, was taken into custody shortly thereafter. He is currently being held in the DeWitt County Jail on charges of obstructing justice, resisting a peace officer, and concealment of a death.

Preliminary postmortem findings indicate that Cassandra Smith died of multiple blunt injuries. Authorities stated that additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues.

The Clinton Police Department was assisted in the case by the Illinois State Police Zone 5 Investigations, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office, the DeWitt County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the DeWitt County Coroner. While local police continue to assist with the investigation, the Illinois State Police have assumed the lead role in the matter.

In a statement following the discovery, Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers emphasized the gravity of the situation and the importance of domestic violence awareness.

“We are grateful for the support of our law enforcement partners and remain committed to pursuing justice in this matter,” Chief Lowers said. “This tragic loss of life is a stark reminder that domestic violence is not a private matter; it is a serious and urgent public safety issue. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out. Help is available.”

The investigation remains active. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Future inquiries regarding the case should be directed to the Illinois State Police.

The ongoing pursuit of locations for new City Hall, police, and fire buildings is getting closer to a resolution.

That's according to City Administrator Tony Harris and Mayor Helen Michelassi. Harris says the city is in the early stages, but they have made significant progress in identifying suitable land.

Harris and the Mayor have evaluated multiple potential locations, but some were deemed financially unfeasible as the project scope became clearer.

While the city continues these evaluations, officials are exploring options that prioritize structural longevity and efficient land use. According to Harris, the objective is to avoid leaving any acquired property unoccupied, with a strong preference for repurposing existing structures rather than demolition.

It was nearly two years ago that this was made a priority by then City Administrator Taylor Baxter, a priority also a part of the City's updated strategic plan. 
 

Twice a year, the Friends of the Warner Library help clean the shelves out to make room for new books, all while raising money for the Library. 

Ron Sprague with the Friends explains that the bi-annual book sale is returning this Friday and Saturday. It's a great opportunity to fill out your classroom or at-home library with books at a discounted price. 

While the Friends are very grateful and welcoming of community donations of books, Adult Program Coordinator at the Library, Emily Dunham, says they will clear off the shelves of books that are no longer popular or are ready to be moved out of the rotation, and sell them at the book sale. 

The funds from the book sale are gathered by the Friends, and Sprague emphasizes that what the money is used on is entirely up to the Library staff and leadership. Dunham says that much of it goes towards the Summer Reading Program

If you're interested in donating books for this weekend's book sale, you can drop them off at the Warner Library located at 310 N Quincy Street in Clinton. Learn more about the book sale by visiting vwarner.org or by finding the Friends on Facebook.