Illinois Legislature Considers Bill Giving Unused Armories to Salem and Mt. Vernon

The Illinois legislature is considering a measure that would give the no longer used Salem Armory to the City of Salem and the Mt. Vernon Armory to the City of Mt. Vernon. State Representative John Cavaletto says the Amendment to a Senate bill has now passed the Illinois House and the Veterans Affairs Committee of the Senate and is headed to the Senate Floor. "It gives the quick claim deed to the Armory, to Salem, and to the same one in Mt. Vernon.
So now, the thing is that these are old buildings. They have asbestos in them, but they've turned them over to the city. They're going to turn them over to the city of Mt. Vernon and Salem and decide what to do with them when they gain them. So the property would be theirs", said Cavaletto.
State Senator John O. Jones says he's willing to support the bill, but hopes city officials know the liability they are taking on. "There's plans for that facility, and that's great. If there is, we want to help him pursue those plans. I know with the city of Mt. Vernon, I talked briefly to the mayor there. They're looking at possibly demolishing the thing in Mt. Vernon.
If they do, we're looking at 400-to-500-thousand dollars to do the demolition on that building and get it hauled off. So we need to be careful of what we get because it could be a bigger liability than we realize", said Jones. Salem Mayor John Raymer explains what the city would do if they obtained the Armory. "We don't have any plan to use that building, but we do think there are some people in town who would interested in purchasing that for a business location. If that's the case, we can get that on the tax rolls and bring some more jobs into town, and that's where we want to go", said Raymer.
Raymer realizes there is a zoning issue since the Armory is currently a special use in a residential zone. Salem Economic Development Director Tracey McDaneld says a visual inspection of the Salem Armory showed all asbestos encapsulated in insulation around pipes in the building.
However, she notes a full survey of the building has not been completed. The bill for the quick claim deed could be sent to the Governor's desk during this week's brief veto session or when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January.  http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Board expected to appoint new attorney

The Jefferson County Board is expected to appoint a new Jefferson County State's Attorney today.

On the agenda for tonight's meeting is to accept the resignation of current State's Attorney Nicole Villani and appoint the next.

Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White declined to say who the Republican Party's candidate for appointment to the position of State's Attorney will be.

"I don't want it in the media before the board has a chance to meet (him or her) and talk," he said.

White said when he was notified of Villani's resignation, he notified the Democratic and Republican party chairs in Jefferson County for them to present a candidate.

"We hope whomever they choose is a quality person," he said. "You want to pick someone who can withstand the election fight."

He said the appointment process in Jefferson County is considerably less intense than at the federal level. While County Board members may question candidates, he said it is hard for county board members to make the judgment for a nominee, and that's why the respective parties are required to provide an appointee.

He added that whoever is appointed will have less than a year to make themselves known and campaign to be reelected. The appointee will face reelection Nov. 6, 2012.

Villani announced her resignation in early November after she was appointed as the resident circuit judge by the Illinois Supreme Court effective Jan. 1. Villani will replace Judge Terry Gamber, who served 19 years and announced his retirement in September.

Villani became the Jefferson County State's Attorney in July of last year after winning a lawsuit that challenged the results in the Nov. 4, 2008, election.

Prior to serving as the Jefferson County State's Attorney, Villani was the assistant state's attorney in Franklin County from March 1996 to March 1998; the first assistant state's attorney in Jefferson County from March 1998 to August 2004; and in private practice with her husband, Hank Villani, from Aug. 2004 to July 2010.  http://bit.ly/vLPQZE

Salem Police Release Details On Friday Night Car-Motorcycle Accident

Salem Police have completed reports on a Friday night car-motorcycle accident that sent a 44-year-old Salem man to the hospital for treatment. Police report Troy Shults of South Washington was driving a motorcycle westbound on the 15-hundred block of West Main when the cycle was struck in the rear by a car.
The driver of the car, 59-year-old Dennis Williams of Isabella Street in Mt. Vernon, escaped injury. He was ticketed for driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for no insurance.
Police say Shults had signalled and changed from the passing to drivers lane to allow a vehicle leaving the Wendy's Restaurant parking lot to make a left turn onto West Main. Williams told police he didn't see the cycle in front of him in time to avoid the collision. Shults was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment of his injuries. The wreck occurred at 9:21 Friday night. http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Two Hurt in Walnut Hill Road Accident Sunday Night

Two Walnut Hill residents were taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia for treatment following a one car crash in the 32-hundred bock of Walnut Hill Road in rural Walnut Hill early Sunday night. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say 74-year-old Everett Campbell of North Old Centralia Lane was westbound when his car ran off the south side of the road, over corrected, ran off the north side of the road, and overturned in a ditch striking a tree.
Both Campbell and a passenger,76-year-old Anne Campbell of the same address, were injured. Kell Firemen were called to the scene and helped remove the occupants of the vehicle prior to transport to the hospital for apparent minor injuries. The wreck occurred at 6:43 Sunday night. - http://goo.gl/C35cu