Bond has been set at a half-million dollars for a 20-year-old Centralia man who faces three new charges in Marion County Court after allegedly attacking a 19-year-old Centralia woman in her home. Terrell Branch is charged with criminal sexual assault, aggravated domestic battery, and domestic battery. Branch is accused of entering the woman's home early Friday morning, and beating and sexually assaulting her for several hours. The aggravated domestic battery charge claims Branch strangled and impeded the normal breathing of the alleged victim. The domestic battery charge is a felony because of a prior domestic battery conviction. That offense carries an extended one-to-six year prison term if convicted. In addition to the new charges, the State's Attorneys office has also filed a petition to revoke Branch's probation on the prior domestic battery conviction. Branch had the public defender appointed to represent him. He'll be back in court for a first appearance with attorney on October 18th. - http://goo.gl/ghavO
Friday, October 7, 2011
Marion County Police Beat for Friday, October 7th, 2011
Salem Police have arrested an 18-year-old Centralia man for possession of a stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jeremy Tate of North Walnut was allegedly riding one of two bicycles stolen from the John Duncan home on Spruce Street when stopped by police on West Main Street. Police report the second stolen bicycle has not been recovered. Salem Police have two vehicle burglaries under investigation where nothing was apparently stolen. Kevin Morris of West Pine Street reported someone entered his vehicle Thursday night or Friday morning. Tyler Lewis of West Warmoth told police he found the doors to his car open Thursday morning. While nothing was taken from the vehicle, Lewis believes some gasoline may have been stolen. A 31-year-old Centralia man has been arrested on a Petition to Revoke his probation. Michael Honecker of Norton Road remains in the Marion County Jail. A second person, 26-year-old Kristine Randall of North Gary, posted 750-dollars bond and was released. 33-year-old Sean Polacek of New Baden posted $200 bond and was released on an outstanding Marion County warrant. 25-year-old Christopher Nichols of Laury Street in Odin posted $150 bond and was released for allegedly driving on a suspended license. - http://goo.gl/gBlhi
Free Trade Agreements May Help Illinois Farmers
Springfield, IL -- The Illinois Corn Growers Association's Rodney Weinzierl says free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama could mean a lot more business for Illinois farmers. "It's just a huge win for the U.S. to have these agreements. There's very little benefit on the other side of these countries because they already enjoy the benefits coming into the U.S.", said Weinzierl. A U.S. House of Representatives committee has made the first step toward passing agriculture free trade agreements with the three countries. The agreements are aimed at lowering tariffs on U.S. farm produce exports. The USDA projects an additional two and a half billion dollars in agriculture exports and the creation of 20-thousand jobs nationwide if they are signed into law. - http://goo.gl/RjVUO
Fiery Freight Train Derailment Forces Evacuation Of North Central Illinois Town
TISKILWA, Ill. (AP) - A fiery freight train derailment in north-central IllinoisFriday morning sent up bright orange flames and plumes of smoke that could be seen miles away. The derailment forced the evacuation of the village of Tiskilwa, which has about 800 residents. Mick Burkart of Iowa Interstate Railroad says 26 cars on the 131-car train derailed, including seven to nine loaded with ethanol. Burkhart says the fire so far has prevented officials from getting close enough to the train to determine what caused the accident. There's no word yet on any injuries. Authorities say evacuees are being taken to a nearby high school. Residents reported hearing explosions after the cars left the tracks, and Captain Steve Haywood of the Ottawa Fire Department says at least six tanker cars are burning. Resident Amanda Knight says the explosions she heard sounded "like a jet coming over the town." - http://goo.gl/zzlnb