Mt. Vernon Police Arrest Record - Sep. 30th 2011

Mt. Vernon Police Department Arrests

    Anthony S. Elgin, 23, of the 13200 block of East Smith Road, was arrested at 4:45 a.m. Friday on a charge of driving under the influence. Bond was set at $1,100. Elgin was released.
    Desiree R. Huston, 24, of the 16400 block of Millikin Lane, was arrested at 3:41 a.m. Friday on a charge of driving on a suspended or revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500.
    Luke Adam-Wayne Bratcher, 21, of the 1400 block of White Street, was arrested at 2:23 a.m. Friday on charges of domestic battery and interference with a report of domestic violence.
    John D. Lemke, 21, of the 13200 block of North Bluford Lane in Bluford, was arrested at 5:19 a.m. Thursday on a charge of driving under the influence. Bond was set at $3,000. Lemke was released.
    Tabitha M. Phillips, 24, of the 400 block of North Sixth Street, was arrested at 4:16 a.m. Thursday on a charge of domestic battery.
    Dominick Johnson, 25, of Dahlgren, was arrested at 2:48 a.m. Thursday on a charge of driving on a suspended or revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500. Johnson was released.
    Khalid R. Yohannes, 19, of the 2000 block of Richview Road, was arrested at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disorderly conduct. Bond was set at $1,000.
    John E. Cole, 29, of the 800 block of North Fourth Street, was arrested at 12:32 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of contempt of court and an in-state warrant. Bond was set at $7,500.  K0AxR

Teen Sentenced to Life In Prison in Fayette County Double Killing

A 16-year-old Fayette County youth has been sentenced to natural life in prison for gunning down two of his neighbors as they slept in their home in Loogootee. Judge Michael McHaney handed down the sentence to Clifford Baker for the August 2010 murders of John Mahon and Debra Tish. Baker received an additional 30 year sentence to run on top of the natural life in prison for the home invasion of the Randy Krajefska home next door. Baker had been found guilty of those charges by a Fayette County Jury in August. Before the sentence was handed down, Baker told the judge he was sorry for everything that happened and to everyone who was hurt. The defense asked for the judge to keep the sentence in the 50 year range. They called eight character witnesses to the stand, including Baker's father and her girlfriend. Both said they did not want to see Baker spend his life in prison. Justina Jones, who had administered Cymbalta to Baker, said she wished she could go back in time. She noted not only were two lives gone, but a third would be lost if Baker spent his life in prison. Defense attorney Monroe McWard argued during the trial the prescription of Cymbalta resulted in Baker's 'insanity by involuntary toxication". South Central teachers Laura Taylor and Cindy Garrett both said Baker caused them no problems in class. Middle School Principal Greg Grinestaff testified Baker had only been to the office a couple of time for minor squabbles with other students. State's Attorney Stephen Friedel had two victim impact statements read into the record. Tish's niece Latish Pasley and sister Patty Martin both noted they continued to be effected by Tish's death, noting she would not be around to celebrate birthdays and holidays. Written statements were presented by Krajefska and three of Mahon's relatives. McHaney denied all post trial motions in the case before proceeding to sentencing. They included motions for a new trial, objecting to the case not being tried in juvenile court, the trial not being moved out of Fayette County, as well as the court failing to suppress evidence and not trying Baker separately on the murder charges.  amn6g

Major Case Squad called for 'whodunnit' slaying in East St. Louis

EAST ST. LOUIS • Police Chief Ranodore Foggs says the slaying of a man on an East St. Louis street is a real whodunnit that requires more detectives to solve than his department has.

That's why Foggs says he asked for help from the St. Louis area Major Case Squad at about 3 a.m. Friday, shortly after a man in his 30s was found gunned down in the 700 block of Veronica Street.

"We're unable to ID him. It was one of those whodunnits where we couldn't really tell if it was a robbery, an ambush," Foggs said. "I thought it was more appropriate for the case squad."

The dead man was in his 30s but police don't know much more.

"Something like this, where you have no witnesses, you need as many personnel as you can get to run it down. You need more legs and minds to follow up on who is this guy and where did he come from," Foggs said.

The commander of this investigation will be Capt. Ken Rozell of the Granite City Police Department. Ladue Police Lt. Bill Baker, who got the call early Friday to activate the squad, said 15 investigators from various departments are on the case. - http://goo.gl/vpK54

New industrial park planned in Mt. Vernon

Plans are underway to determine where another industrial park should be located to serve the city.

"We're about filled up in the Rolland Lewis Industrial Park," Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said. "A city that does not have economic development space available, I feel, loses the competition to gain business and industry."

Peckham, Guyton, Alberts & Viets, Inc., will be asked to create an industrial park master plan, with a proposal before the City Council on Monday. The proposal will include PGAV completing conceptual design services of an industrial park and evaluate the pros and cons of three locations for a proposed park.

Two of the locations to be evaluated are the tax increment finance district west of Interstate 57 and 640 acres that was considered for an industrial TIF on the southeast side of the city near Continental Tire the Americas. The third site to be considered will be left up to PGAV to determine in consultation with the city, City Manager Ron Neibert said.

"We wanted to give them the freedom to look at the whole city boundary," Chesley said.

PGAV has worked with the city in the past, acting as consultants for the TIF areas to the east and west sides of Interstate 57.

"Due to their past work, they are very familiar with Mt. Vernon and our economic development and growth," Chesley added.

Chesley said having an evaluation completed before moving forward with designating an industrial park goes along with what the city council has done in the past.

"We want to get the background, evaluate our options, before doing the activity," Chesley explained. "We're not going to rush into it without that background information."

Chesley added she would like to see a plan presented to the council within 60 to 90 days of council approval.

"The sooner the better," Chesley said. "Having another industrial park allows us to maintain a competitive edge in bringing industry to Mt. Vernon." - http://goo.gl/MptXH

Jefferson County Board Approves Resolution

The Jefferson County Board on Monday approved a resolution to pay $150,000 to the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center.

A total of about $197,000 was given to Jefferson County in error by the state, which was supposed to go to Franklin County for probation services.

The $150,000 going to Franklin County is out of the more than $359,000 received at the beginning of the month in back probation reimbursements.

At the August County Board meeting, Jefferson County Treasurer Dan Knox told the board that Jefferson County, the lead county for probation for the Second Judicial Circuit, was owed more than $700,000 for probation allocations. In addition, Board Chairman Robert White explained that a formula confusion allocated extra funds to Jefferson County instead of Franklin County, which will be the lead county in the Second Judicial Circuit in the future because of the 2010 Census.

Board member Ted Buck questioned why the county would not give the total amount owed to Franklin County.

Knox said the board could make a recommendation on how to pay back the remaining balance, adding it could be in smaller installments to lessen the burden on Jefferson County.

White said Jefferson County asked for $400,000 to $500,000 of the money owed for probation allocations, but received $359,000, so he didn’t think it was appropriate to reimburse Franklin County for the full amount wrongly allocated to Jefferson County.

In addition, he said he believes having a balance will offer Jefferson County the additional clout of Reps. John Bradley and Gary Forby.

The board voted 14 to 0 to pay $150,000 to Franklin County.

The board also approved a resolution to allow Probation Department claims to be processed by Franklin County.

White has told the board that Franklin County can’t afford to take on the whole responsibility of being lead county for probation in the Second Judicial Circuit, so Jefferson County will continue to handle payroll and Franklin County will handle the claims effective Dec. 1.  eszZ7

State Police Seize 750 Pounds Of Marijuana In Metro-East

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Illinois State Police say they've seized nearly 750 pounds of marijuana with a value estimated at $3.4 million during two traffic stops. State police say that last Saturday, a trooper who stopped a sport utility vehicle on Interstate 70 near Marine for having an obstructed windshield found two duffel bags containing 110 pounds of marijuana. Two Ohio men were taken into custody. And a month ago, state troopers say they pulled over a pickup truck on Interstate 70 near Troy because the driver improperly changed lanes and didn't have the license plate displayed correctly. A search of that vehicle turned up a dozen duffel bags in the truck's bed, containing more than 630 pounds of marijuana. A Florida man was arrested and later freed on bond. - http://goo.gl/IwqPJ

Hair Braiders Now Need To Be Licensed In Illinois

CHICAGO (AP) - Hair braiders in Illinois can now apply for a newly created state license. A law creating the licenses took effect earlier this month. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will issue the licenses to both new and existing hair braiders. New braiders will be able to get the license with 300 hours of classroom and practical experience. Existing braiders can apply for a license based on their experience. Applications for existing braiders must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2012. The previous Illinois law required hair braiders to get a cosmetology degree, which can take 1,500 hours and cost $15,000. The new law was passed after braiders lobbied for a special license more relevant to their industry. More information is available online atIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: http://www.idfpr.com/PROFS/Info/HairB.asp  - http://goo.gl/pNv2J

E. Coli Scare Prompts Tyson To Recall Ground Beef Sold In Illinois

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) - Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is recalling about 131,300 pounds of ground beef that might be contaminated with E. coli. Illinois is among the states the meat was sold. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that it became aware of the problem when Ohio health authorities reported that a family in Butler County had become ill with E. coli. Ground beef in the family's home tested positive for the bacteria. The products being recalled include Kroger-brand ground beef; Butcher's Brand beef and generic label beef, which were all produced Aug. 23. The Kroger beef was distributed in Tennessee and Indiana; the Butcher's beef in North and South Carolina and the generic beef in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Tyson Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment. - http://goo.gl/gRP6Z

Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Centralia Police have arrested two people being sought following weekend domestic battery complaints. 18-year-old Briton McCray of South Brookside in Centralia was arrested for alleged domestic battery to Shyanna Steward of South Sycamore Street. He's accused of breaking her nose during an altercation. She was treated at St. Mary's Hospital following the September 24th incident. McCray is also being held on a Department of Corrections warrant and could also face a misdemeanor possession of cannabis charge in Clinton County Court. Centralia Police say a small amount of cannabis was found in his residence when he was taken into custody. 34-year-old Christine Phillips of South Hickory in Centralia was arrested for alleged domestic battery and on a Department of Corrections warrant. Police say Phillips is accused of striking Mindy Barnes during an altercation at their home on September 25th. A 47-year-old Salem man being sought after allegedly testing positive for drug use and then failing to attend Marion County Drug Court has been arrested on a failure to appear in court warrant. Bond for Mark Hills of Hills Lane was set at $100,000. Hills had pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine when being admitted to drug court and is now expected to move to sentencing on the charge. 21-year-old Matthew Cates of South 20th in Mt. Vernon is being held on an outstanding Marion County misdemeanor warrant. A 25-year-old Dix man, Sean Gaul of Johnson Lane, posted $1,000 bond and was released after turning himself on a warrant for failure to appear on a felony theft case. - http://goo.gl/2Qa5I

Centralia Police Continue Investigation Into Sunday Night Armed Robbery

Centralia Police are continuing to investigate a Sunday night armed robbery of the Centralia Food Mart on East 15th Street. Police reports indicate a man walked into the store saying, "I need all the money out of the cash register right now'. The suspect reportedly pointed a gun at store employees. The man is described as a slim black male, about 5 foot six inches tall and in his early 20's. He was reportedly wearing a black ski mask and black hooded sweatshirt. Meanwhile, a second person reportedly ordered a witness to the ground at gunpoint outside the store. Both men later fled on foot towards the 15th and Hester Street intersection. The Centralia canine lost the track of the suspects on the west side of Poplar Street. Police will use security camera footage to try and identify the suspect inside the store. One person questioned after the armed robbery was released without being charged. - http://goo.gl/IUaGL

Ameren Power Outage Impacts 1,318 Customers, Closes Raccoon And Kell Grade Schools Tuesday

Ameren says an equipment failure led to 1,318 electric customers being left in the dark early Tuesday morning. An Ameren official says the exact cause of the outage is still under investigation. They note repairs will still have to be made when the problem is located. Crews were able to restore power through manual switching. No additional outages are anticipated during the repair process. The outage impacted an area from Odin, east of Centralia, to the Kell and Cartter area. Two schools are closed Tuesday because of the outage. Kell Grade and Raccoon Grade School announced the closure when it was believed the outage would last for a longer period of time. The outage began at 4:30 Tuesday morning. Power came back on shortly after seven am. - http://goo.gl/91ZVx

Centralia City Council Votes No on Selling Property Around Lake Centralia

The Centralia City Council shot down a resolution that the city would sell property on and around Lake Centralia at Monday's council meeting. With a vote of 4-to-1 by the city council, the approval of the resolution was denied. City Manager Dan Ramey told the council he would not recommend selling the lake propertyat this time, as he had many concerns about it. "I know there needs to be something done on the lake, and as I stated in my report to the board, obviously to go forward with something as far as transferring leases again, I think that will start making development of the lake. Something has to be done, but I don't think the city council has enough information at this point to sell the lake at this point", said Ramey. Concerns he pointed out included how to sell the lake property, whether it would be sold to individual lease holders or in one lump sum. He states legally the city cannot subdivide the lake propertyand sell it according to state law. Other concerns included determining the true cost of the lake, as all costs and fees need to be examined more in detail, and the city's potential liability with environmental issues on the lake, properties, and roads near the lake. He says determining the correct property values and potential lease income have yet to be established. The Council received two checks from Dr. Ted VanAcker for the old VFW building, totaling $98,635.60. Dr. VanAcker met with Centralia Mayor Tom Ashby and City Manager Dan Ramey and agreed to deed the property back to the city. The city council took ownership of the property with several stipulations in place. Dr. VanAcker had to pay back forgivable loans in the amount in $70,000, minus the real estate taxes, and $40,000 for the original forgivable grant the city gave him to repair the building. The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11th due to the Columbus Day Holiday. - http://goo.gl/twtqL

Centralia Finance Committee Makes Recommendations for Reducing Deficit

The Centralia Finance Committee held their meeting regarding budget concerns Monday evening. The committee made recommendations to City Manager Dan Ramey in regards to the city's budget deficit. The deficit has grown from $750,000 in 2006 to $11 million by the end of 2010, with problems particularly in the general fund. The committee says for the rest of this year, there's not going to be much opportunity for personnel cuts and freeze raises. Options include eliminating expenses that are unnecessary to help manage the cash flow better, and limit spending. The committee states the city should be spending about 63-percent of the city budget by this time of year. At this time, the city has spent 69-percent of the budget so far this year. Ramey announced union contracts negotiations have begun with the city, which will affect the budget in the upcoming year. Councilman David Sauer gave a recommendation to close one of thetwo fire stationsin Centralia. He states the population has decreased from 18,000 to 13,000, raising the taxes as well. He says with the city's size, they don't need two fire stations. "We can't be all things to all people. I would love to have the best fire department in the nation here, but we're a poor community; we have a poor tax base. If we're going to have a place where we save money, and eventually have revenues that meet our needs, I'd get rid of big cuts in the fire department", said Bauer. Sauer says the city is paying the price for poor management in the past, and says the city needs to develop a better reserve. There was discussion of making the fire department a volunteer fire department, which would be implemented by 2013 if the contract negotiations fall through. In regards to labor and personnel costs, recommendations included rearranging personnel and duties in departments, including possible temporary workers and layoffs. One possible suggestion included looking at central purchasing for all departments. Suggestions for health insurance could be creating an expense account to monitor health insurance funds. Ramey states the city needs to get in maintenance and planning mode to get the town stabilized. He states the city can't be the highest of the taxing bodies, stating this kills the growth of the town. He says city services can be negotiable, but the budget can't. "The one thing that can't be negotiated is that we have to have enough money to pay the bills and be black in the black, and I think that's the direction we're gonna go", said Ramey. Ramey will make the recommendations to the City Council at a later date. - http://goo.gl/VgIYQ

Fall Harvest Underway for Illinois

Fall harvest is underway with some areas fighting lots of rain…and some parts of the state needing more showers. Southern Illinois has received some precipitation recently, but Central Illinois is still pretty dry. 80 percent of corn is now mature and 22 percent has been harvested. Corn is maturing a little slower up north. Chief State Crop Statistician Brad Schwab says 61 percent of soybeans are now shedding leaves. "Four-percent of the crop was reported harvested compared to 20-percent one year ago, and 12-percent for the five-year-average. Overall the soybean crop is rated in 46-percent good or excellent condition, down one-percentage-point from last week", said Schwab. Nine-percent of sorghum has now been harvested and seven percent of winter wheat has been seeded. Statewide topsoil moisture is rated at 18 percent very short, 36 percent short, 42 percent adequate and four percent surplus. - http://goo.gl/nhRnf

Illinois Cracking Down on Gas Stations and Sales Tax Fraud

Springfield, IL -- The state is cracking down on gas station owners who don't report all of their sales taxes. Sue Hofer, with the Illinois Department of Revenue, says 14 stations are currently under indictment for tax fraud and failure to keep records and more charges may be on the way. "We're not certainly done investigating. The attorney general's office is working with the department of revenue, the bureau of criminal investigation, and those investiations are still ongoing", said Hofer. Since 2008 27-percent of gas stations statewide were found to have pocketed sales tax revenue. Many of those stations paid back the taxes during last year's tax amnesty. The IDR has collected more than 54-million dollars in back taxes from gas stations in the last four years. - http://goo.gl/tx3ZR

IDOT Hiring 16 Supevisors During Budget Crisis

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Department of Transportation is hiring 16 employees with salaries of up to $100,000 even though critics say they'll duplicate work done by existing staff. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reportsthat IDOT's new "operations supervisors" will not be union members. The agency ran ads about the new jobs shortly after employees now doing similar work won the right to join a union. Operating Engineers Local 150 says the new jobs aren't necessary. Union attorney Ken Edwards says nobody can figure out why they're needed.IDOT spokesman Josh Kauffman says the posts have been planned since 2010 and are necessary for supervising field technicians. The Springfield State Journal-Register first reported the new jobs, which pay from $67,000 to $100,000 a year. - http://goo.gl/dUL99

Marion County Police Beat for Monday, September 26th, 2011

The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating vandalism at the Jennifer Thompson home on Selmaville Road in rural Salem. Thompson reported a trampoline and yard light were damaged, trash was scattered through the yard and lawn chairs were placed on the roof. She is uncertain if there was any damage to the roof. Two people remain in the Marion County Jail on outstanding felony failure to appear in court warrants. 48-year-old Kenneth Thornton of North Hickory in Centralia is being held in lieu of $3,000 bond on a criminal damage to property case. 36-year-old Christy Skurat of South Pine in Centralia is being held in lieu of $3,000 bond on a bringing contraband into a penal institution charge. Salem Police arrested a 29-year-old Patoka man when going to a motel room looking for another person on an outstanding warrant. James McKinzie of Louse Creek Road later posted bond and was released from the jail on an outstanding traffic warrant. Bond was set at $750. The person police were originally seeking was not present in the motel room. A 26-year-old Centralia man, Eddie Bender of North Walnut, posted bond and was released after being arrested for alleged possession of cannabis during a traffic stop by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies. - http://goo.gl/0Lp0J

Mob Fight Breaks Out At St. Clair County Jail

(Belleville, IL) -- Five inmates at the St. Clair County jail have additional charges being put on their rap sheet. They're being charged with mob action after they allegedly beat three other inmates over cigarettes. The "Belleville News Democrat" reports the five believed another inmate had managed to sneak cigarettes in illegally but when he and his crew wouldn't turn them over, they were attacked. Authorities say there were no cigarettes. The fight broke out in the jail's gymnasium. That's where the inmates are living as the jail combats a problem with overcrowding. The "Belleville News Democrat" reports 500 inmates are currently in custody, but the jail has a maximum capacity of 360. The three inmates who were attacked received medical treatment at the jail. - http://goo.gl/h7bBt

Marion County Police Beat for Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Wamac Police arrested two Centralia men on alleged battery charges. 23-year-old Michael Lee Bessette of South Locust Street was arrested for alleged aggravated battery. 26-year-old Justin Dean Koerber of South Elm Street was arrested for alleged battery. Both men remain in the Marion County Jail. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies arrested two underage men for alcohol-related charges. 17-year-old Adam Zachary Malaway of West Main Street in Radom was arrested for alleged driving under the influence and for having no valid driver's license. He remains in the Marion County Jail. 20-year-old Matthew James Doran of North 5th Street in Ashley was arrested for alleged illegal consumption. He posted $100 cash and was released. Deputies also arrested two for alleged obstructing a peace officer. 21-year-old Chad Ryan Burgess of West Sanger in Salem and 44-year-old Annette Marie Simpson of South Jefferson in Salem both remain in the Marion County Jail.  Uq4NW

Two pedestrians struck on Poplar Street Bridge in St. Louis, one dead

Authorities say a drunken driver fleeing police struck two pedestrians early this morning on the Poplar Street Bridge, killing one of them and leaving the other in grave condition.

Illinois State Police Sgt. Keith Stephens said two men in a 2003 Ford Mustang were fleeing St. Louis police when they struck the pedestrians on the bridge.

St. Louis police said the Mustang struck a squad car at Market Street and Memorial Drive about 3:35 a.m., police said. Police followed the car onto the bridge and a few minutes later, the Mustang struck a man and woman walking along the eastbound lanes of the bridge close to the Illinois side.

The city officer was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and was released, police said.

The man who was struck was knocked off the bridge and fell to dry land below, Stephens said. The woman was badly hurt and being treated at a St. Louis hospital for what police called life-threatening injuries.

Stephens said St. Louis police stopped the Mustang along Route 3 at 8th Street and arrested them. Stephens said the driver, 26, of Florissant, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.16 percent. That is twice the legal limit to drive a vehicle in Illinois.

Police said the driver admitted to living in the United States illegally. He is being held at the St. Clair County Jail awaiting charges.

The passenger of the Mustang, 31, was questioned and released, police said.

Police withheld the identity of the male victim until his relatives could be told of his death. Police do not yet know the identity of the woman. - http://goo.gl/Sx9Fb

Former Mt. Vernon Judge Criticizes Collinsville Police

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A former Illinois judge complains that police aren't doing enough to protect his southwestern Illinois family farm he says burglars have pillaged for months. Gordon Maag tells the Belleville News-Democrat that items taken from the rural Collinsville farm since January have included everything from American Indian artifacts and a late uncle's Purple Heart to an estimated $100,000 in collectible guns. Collinsville's police chief says investigators are doing everything they can, from collecting evidence to contacting gun dealers and shops that peddle military collectibles. Maag is a Democrat who served on the state's Mount Vernon-based 5th District Appellate Court from 1992 to 2004. That's when he ran unsuccessfully for an Illinois Supreme Court seat in a $9 million race that then was the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history. - http://goo.gl/TG1Ik

21-year-old Trenton Man Killed Building Grain Bin

PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Authorities say a 21-year-old man was killed while trying to build a grain bin in southern Illinois' Perry County. Coroner Paul Searby tells KFVS-TVthat Keven Cibrowski of Trenton died Wednesday when he was crushed by a piece of a tower that fell on him during the construction project near Pinckneyville. Cibrowski graduated in 2008 from Trenton's Wesclin High School, where he participated in soccer and track. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Trenton's Moss Funeral Home, followed by burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. - http://goo.gl/aODMt

Fox freaks after Ron Paul wins debate

If you’ve noticed a lack of Ron Paul in the mainstream media’s coverage of the 2012 presidential race, it might not be an accident. After he placed first in a Fox News poll, the outlet has removed the results from their website without explanation.
Fox had launched an online poll to gauge readers’ opinions on last night’s Republican show-down and asked their audience, “Which GOP presidential candidate do you think won the Fox News/Google debate?” At one point Paul placed in first, with 30 percent of the votes, but a reader of Infowars.com has pointed out that the poll has disappeared from the website, or has been shuffled to another page far from the front of Fox’s political coverage.
Logging onto the poll now produces an error in which the user is told “No content item selected.”
A screen shot of the poll produced by Infowars shows that Paul led with 24,8945 votes, with Mitt Romney trailing in second place with 22,656 votes, of 27 percent of the total. Rick Perry placed third with 15 percent of the votes, followed by Herman Cain with 9 percent.
Speaking from the stage during last night’s debate, Paul reminded the audience that he has been placing quite well in most surveys as of late. The mainstream media, however, continues to ignore him, despite pleasant polling.
When quizzed during last night’s debate from Orlando, Florida on whom he might consider as a running mate, Paul deterred the question and noted that he wouldn’t bother selecting anyone until he made it in the “top two.” In the meantime, Paul said, he was running in third in most national polls.  d6qWs

Americans are at their breaking point; Hundreds continue to Occupy Wall Street

Anger is only useful when transformed into positive action.

Americans are at their breaking point. The 99% are finally getting together and organizing to prepare their counter attack on the 1% who have enslaved the population through rigged loans, low pay rates and high costs of everything needed to live in modern day America. The American dream has turned into a nightmare as students are graduating with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to a bank while the only jobs available to them pay a fraction of what's needed to live 'just an OK life.'

I refuse to be a slave. I refuse to pay the $100,000 + in student loan interest they say I owe. I will not participate in a system designed to enslave the human race for the benefit of a few powerful individuals.

I am part of the 99% because it has been over a year since I have been able to deposit or cash a paycheck. It's been over 2 years since my car was repossessed and I was evicted from my home for being 2 days late on my rent payment. My college degree is useless in the real world and the only jobs available to me require that I spend half my earnings on gasoline. My local government decided to revoke my drivers license while I was searching for work, because of a disputed 3 year old fix it ticket. The judge forced me to choose between paying $1,200 or going to jail for a year because a cop said that one of the numbers on my license plate was partially blocked. I am part of the 99% against the 1% because I am at my breaking point.

I know that sitting around being angry will not fix anything. I also know that anger can be transformed into positive action. For that reason, I made the trip to San Francisco on September 17 to stand in solidarity with those who continue to stand in defiance of Wall Street greed and corporate influence over our lives at OCCUPY WALL STREET.

If you are part of the 99% it is your time to take action. Write what you feel and share it with someone, tell your neighbors about local protests they can participate in with you, print out flyers and post them up around town, make your own lawn signs and create a home protest, get some sidewalk chalk and take to the sidewalks! Just do something to express what the 1% wants to suppress, your humanity. To the super rich, us 99 percenters are just numbers on their blackberry spreadsheet App.

If you are in the New York area please make it down to Liberty Park and support the occupiers who are sacrificing their normal lives to change ours.

From what I've gathered from people on the ground and online reports, about 20 people have been arrested so far, all for non-issues. The occupiers need to try to reach out to some of the cops and bring humanity to the forefront of any unwelcome confrontation.Some of the police are not complete robot zombies yet, there may still be some hope.  ijeva

40 To 50 Mt. Vernon Residents Evacuated As Natural Gas Fills Vacant Home

Forty to fifty Mt. Vernon residents were asked to leave their homes early Friday night after a strong build up of natural gas was found in a vacant home at 907 South 21st Street. Mt. Vernon Fire Officials say Ameren was first called to the home and found the gas meter spinning fast and the house full of a potentially explosive level of gas. The gas and later electric service was turned off by Ameren, but power company officials were still concerned about a possible explosion. As a result, the fire department evacuated the 900 block of South 21st and the east side of the 900 block of South 22nd. Firemen were initially able to open the front door to naturally ventilate the gas. Once the concentration of gasdropped to a safe level, the home was entered and the back door opened to quickly dissipate the remaining gas. Fire officials placed a truck at both ends of the block in the event of a fire or explosion. They also monitored a lightning storm that ended up going around Mt. Vernon. The evacuation began around 5:15, with the residents allowed to return to their home about two hours later. - http://goo.gl/47ADN