Helping Hands Home Improvement is offering construction services while ensuring productivity and stability of at-risk young adults in the Centralia and Mt. Vernon area. Vice President of Operations Kay Zibby says they offer services of construction, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, and other services. "If someone maybe has an addition to their home they're looking at, or some existing structure, then we would provide a free estimate and quote on what it would cost to complete that project for someone in the community", said Zibby. Zibby says Helping Hands hires recent YouthBuild graduates and other young adults served through United Methodist Children's Home. She says they have a handful of young people that are working with them, and the jobs being offered to young people in the program are based on the workload. "Right now, as we're just getting started, they are already working on a couple projects, and then we'll plan things accordingly based on the time frame we have", said Zibby. Young people employed through the program are led by a team of experienced tradesmen who oversee that the work is done well. Anyone who needs home or business improvements can call 618-204-1071 for a free estimate. Helping Hands Home Improvement and YouthBuild are services provided by the United Methodist Children's Home. YouthBuild of Jefferson and Marion Counties teaches work skills, life skills, and leadership skills through construction to young adults who are studying to get their GED. For more information, please visit www.umchome.org. - http://goo.gl/UcbVC
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Help Being Sought In Solving Dozen Vehicle Burglaries On Westside of Centralia
The Clinton County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in solving a dozen car burglaries that have occurred over the past week on the west side of Centralia. The breakins have occurred on the Jolliff Bridge Road, Linn Street and West Tenth Street Road. Chief Deputy Mark Etter says all the burglaries have occurred at night and most of the vehicles have been unlocked. In most cases, small amounts of cash have been stolen. However, a few electronic devices have been stolen. Etter reports at this point no one has reported seeing any suspicious activity. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Clinton County Sheriff's Department at 594-45-55 or the Clinton County Crimestoppers Tip line at 1-800-918-89-11. A Crimestoppers reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Meanwhile, Centralia Police report two burglaries have occurred on the westside of the city during the past week. Both were in the area behind Murray Center. - http://goo.gl/ljJyn
More Details Released on Fatal Jefferson County Traffic Crash
Jefferson County Coroner Eddie Joe Marks says a 33-year-old rural Mt. Vernon womanis dead following a three vehicle crash late Monday afternoon on Illinois Route 15 in front of the East Hickory Hill Baptist Church eight miles east of Mt. Vernon. The victim is identified as Tamara Barnes of Route 37 North. Marks says initial information indicates Barnes was unable to slow in time for a vehicle in front of her. Barnes clipped the rear of the vehicle and then slammed into an on-coming westbound car head on. Those at the scene attempted CPR unsuccessfully and Barnes was pronounced dead on the scene. Marks says there was Halloween activity taking place at the church apparently resulting in the traffic slowdown that set off the series of events. Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch says the car Barnes initially struck was driven by 29-year-old Travis Hayes of Mt. Vernon. Hayes had apparently slowed to make a right turn into the church. Mulch says the car that Barnes hit head on was driven by 58-year-old Jane Colvin of Wayne City. Colvinwas initially taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon and then transferred to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana for treatment of incapacitating but non life-threatening injuries. Hayes, his wife, and two young children, all refused medical treatment. Mulch says the accident remains under investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Division. The wreck occurred at 4:55 Monday afternoon. - http://goo.gl/2RrH1
Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
A 23-year-old Salem man was arrested for alleged domestic battery and battery following an altercation over Trick or Treating in downtown Salem Monday night. Salem Police say Jordan White of South Washington allegedly struck his girlfriend Crystal Crundwell of Wabash Avenue in Centralia and her friend Ali Easley of Deerwood Mobile Home Park in Centralia. White was taken to the Marion County Jail pending a first court appearance. 18-year-old Zane Alan May of North Hickory in Centralia is being held for alleged forgery and theft. May is accused of taking a check from his mother's checkbook, forging a signature, and cashing it for $50. Three others remained in jail Tuesday morning on outstanding warrants. 29-year-old Brandon Clark of East DePew in Odin is being held in lieu of $20,000 bond for failure to appear in court on burglary and driving on suspended license charges. 29-year-old Carrie Joe Berry of South Maple in Centralia is being held in lieu of $3,000 bond for failure to appear for driving on a suspended license. 23-year-old Whitney Johnson of North Lincoln in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police on a Perry County misdemeanor warrant. Three others posted bond on warrants and were released. 48-year-old Fredrick Wright of West McCord in Centralia posted $300 bond for failure to appear in court for driving on a suspended license. 23-year-old Ashley Buchanan of North Illinois in Salem was released on $150 bond after being arrested for failure to appear in court on a disorderly conduct charge. 23-year-old Timothy Smith of East Olive in Salem posted $1,500 bond on an outstanding DUI warrant. The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft of a manure spreader. Robert Meyer of U.S. 50 in Iuka reported the theft occurred from property on the Underpass Road in rural Iuka. - http://goo.gl/OBax8
Bond Set At $100,000 For Centralia Man Charged With Meth Manufacturing
Bond has been set at $100,000 for a 21-year-old Centralia man who has been charged in connection with a fire that destroyed a Centralia home on September first. Joshua Benjamin of South Cherry appeared for the first time in court Monday for alleged participation in meth manufacturing. The charge accused Benjamin of attempting to produce meth and contributing to the cause of serious bodily injury to another person. Centralia Police could not initially find Benjamin after the fire at 624 Cormick, but were told by witnesses he was seriously burned. When he showed up at the hospital a few days later police elected not to arrest him because he was going to be transferred out of town for treatment at a burn center. When Benjamin became a suspect in an alleged burglary where pain medication was stolen from a relative over the weekend, Centralia Police picked him up on the original methamphetamine charge. Benjamin had the public defender appointed to represent him. He was ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs if released on bond. - http://goo.gl/sBVxc