School consolidation is a possibility

JEFFERSON COUNTY - The possibility of consolidation of schools is on the minds of educators both in the county and across the state.

While Dr. Nick Osborne is in the midst of conducting a consolidation study for Ina, Dodds, McClellan, Bethel and Opdyke-Belle Rive grade schools, the Classrooms First Commission recently released a set of draft recommendations intended to make it easier for school districts to consolidate.

Opdyke-Belle Rive Grade School Principal Debbie Blakey said she can see both advantages and disadvantages to consolidation of the lower-attendance schools in Jefferson County.

She said three to five years ago, the school saw a decrease in its enrollment, but it has been steady through the last few years.

The ability to offer music and art programs to grade school students is one of the possible advantages of consolidation, Blakey said.

"We don't have an instructor for those," she said. "If we had a larger population, we would have the funds for those types of services."

However, Blakey said transportation is likely to be a sticking point, especially if a suggested 50 percent slashing of the transportation fund by Gov. Pat Quinn is approved.

"There may be more costs involved that people don't see," she said. "If all five consolidate, teacher pay scales would go up to the highest of those five schools."  School consolidation is a possibility - http://bit.ly/Iyh87B

Motorcyclist injured in Thursday morning collision at Mt. Vernon

MT. VERNON — One person was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital after a car-vs.-motorcycle collision early Thursday.

Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident at 7:12 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of 44th and Broadway streets.

Eric Jiardina, 32, of Mt. Vernon, was traveling west bound in a car on Broadway, and turned in front of Timothy McCullough, 43, of Marion, who was riding a motorcycle.

McCullough was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis with extensive injuries. No other injuries were reported.  full story

Jiardina was cited for failure to yield to an oncoming vehicle.

Budget expenses below budgeted projection

MT. VERNON - Jefferson County's budget expenses are 3.7 percent below the budgeted projection, according to Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White.

Income is .29 percent below projections as well, he said.

The county has received more than $350,000 since March 31, he said, but is still waiting to receive more than $1.2 million due from the state.

White said a large portion of the money received came after Sen. John O. Jones called on the behalf of the county after reading about its issues with Second Judicial Circuit probation reimbursements in local newspapers.

"It was not requested and was not known until he called to let me know that the payment is on the way," White said. "Jefferson County will be missing Senator Jones after the upcoming elections."

White said the county has stood its ground with the probation payroll agreement with Franklin County, which he said keeps Jefferson County from ever getting past three months in arrears.

"Whether the (Second) Judicial Circuit will supplement the extension of any amount over three months is up to them," White said. "We are firm in our resolve to maintain this arrangement and will mitigate these outstanding balances moving forward."

He said though standing firm on the payroll doesn't address the other line items in arrears from the state, but said he believes they will help moving forward.

Jefferson County Treasurer Dan Knox is holding the other 11 counties in the Second Judicial Circuit to a promise that they will not get "too far behind" in reimbursing Jefferson County for probation salaries.

"As a whole, we do not generally get over two months behind, however, there are a couple of counties that are not holding up to the agreement and we'll be monitoring them monthly as we move forward," White explained. - http://bit.ly/HZb5XM

Explosion, fireball reported in Nevada, California

RENO, Nev. -- Astronomers say a loud explosion heard across a large swath of Nevada and California on Sunday morning was likely caused by a meteor.

The sound of the explosion around 8 a.m. prompted a flood of calls to law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Sierra Nevada in the two states.

The explosion rattled windows and shook houses from Reno to Winnemucca in Nevada, and from the Sacramento to Bakersfield areas in California.

Some people in the two states reported seeing a fireball streak across the sky at the same time.

Dan Ruby of the Fleischmann Planetarium at the University of Nevada, Reno, says the reports indicate the meteor broke up above Earth somewhere over the Sierra southwest of Reno.

There were no reports of earthquakes at the time. - http://bit.ly/JEX5So

Illinois mulling introduction of state park fees

CLINTON - Melissa Blasen doesn't think twice about crossing into property owned and managed by the State of Illinois when she heads out for her usual two-mile loop walk. She's been coming to Weldon Springs State Park for years, to exercise or enjoy the outdoors with her two young grandchildren.

But Blasen and other Illinoisans may soon face a choice — watch the state's parks fall further into disrepair, or chip in a few dollars for their upkeep.

With the state deeply in debt, lawmakers in Springfield are mulling a proposal to charge admission fees for the first time to the state's hundreds of recreational properties. The money, proponents say, would be used to close a $750 million backlog in park maintenance and repairs due to years of shrinking budgets.

On a brisk morning last week, Blasen was torn about the idea, remembering how the park was closed at one point but worried that state officials could scare off visitors who regularly fill Weldon Springs' parking lot. "If (the fee) was annual, that might not be so bad," she said.

Three counties to the north, Bob Gagnon had a stronger reaction as he waited for a fish to bite at Gebhard Woods State Park near Morris. On his mind was Illinois' reputation for crooked politics and failed budget management, and how people already are straining with the sluggish economy.

"Our taxes pay for state parks. How much more do they want from us?" said the retired Teamster from Coal City.

If the legislature approves it, a bill sponsored by Rep. JoAnn Osmond, R-Antioch, would allow state officials to charge visitors an annual or daily fee to enter state parks. An annual admission fee would be no more than $25 and a daily pass around $5 to $8.

The House approved Osmond's measure by 81-29 in March, and it is now moving through the Senate. The original bill would charge fees to anyone who entered the parks, but Osmond said the Senate may amend the bill to affect only car visitors.

Illinois is among only seven states that do not charge state-park admissions. The others are Hawaii, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Marc Miller, director of the state Department of Natural Resources, said the idea isn't merely keeping the park's buildings looking nice. It's about the health and safety of the parks and visitors. He said the biggest costs looming over the parks are roads, roofs of buildings like bathrooms or picnic pavilions, and sewage treatment to keep lakes and rivers clean. - http://bit.ly/Igygi5

Illinois to oust East St. Louis school board

EAST ST. LOUIS — The state superintendent of Illinois public schools says he will oust the elected school board for East St. Louis, arguing it has not acted in the best interest of students.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday that the superintendent intends to take that action in the next 60 days, completing the state's takeover of the district.

According to state officials, the step is the first of its kind but is necessary because they say the seven-member board improperly interfered in contract and personnel issues.

Illinois Schools Superintendent Christopher Koch told a state board meeting earlier in the week that working with the board in East St. Louis has been a struggle.

President of the East St. Louis School Board Lonzo Greenwood could not be reached for comment. - http://bit.ly/Igy8PD

New learning lab helps Mt. Vernon students

MT. VERNON — — Thanks to the Mt. Vernon Township High School Foundation, students are getting additional help with the 21st Century Learning Lab.

“The lab isn’t 100 percent complete yet, but students are in there learning,” said Rob Pipher, the assistant principal and director of curriculum and instruction at the school. “We’re already seeing a difference for the students who are using it.”

The 21st Century Learning Lab was the 2012 major project taken on by the MVTHS Foundation, according to Foundation President Matt Flanigan.

“The lab was $17,500, and our big project,” Flanigan explained. “A lot of our funds raised this year went into this. The Schweinfurth Foundation also provided funds. We always try to do a large program each year that will benefit a lot of students. We completed the engineering lab last year.”

Pipher said there are two components being used in the learning lab at this time, one for reading and one for online learning credit recovery.

“Read 180 is a program we are using to help students who are behind in their reading level catch up,” Pipher said. “At this time, it’s serving 60 students for the semester. ... The reading component is a program that is proven nationwide. Reading is the foundation for everything. With this program, during the first quarter alone, we’ve had students increasing their reading two grade levels.”

For the online credit recovery portion of the lab, students who have failed to receive credit for classes can get caught up.  full story

Jefferson County Board approved salary raises

MT. VERNON — — The Jefferson County Board approved salary raises for the county coroner and circuit clerk during its April fiscal meeting.

The circuit clerk asked for a raise that was in tandem with the county clerk and treasurer.

The raise will be $52,000, up from $50,000 that is the current salary.

The coroner will also be receiving a raise of $34,000 up from $26,000, which is somewhere in the median range of coroner salaries in surrounding counties.

Both of these raises will reflect the loss of a health insurance stipend in the amount of $2,400 that is being removed for a different insurance program.

Dan Knox, Jefferson County Treasurer, reported the general corporate working cash fund is just over $1 million as of today. He added that all outstanding checks are voided or have been accounted for. The checks have to be kept for seven years before they can be claimed as abandoned in case a business comes to the county for any monies, he explained.

He said the county received money owed to them by the state today from November 2011, which helped boost the amount in the general corporate working cash fund.

White said some monies for the participation in processing the payroll for probation officers of the Second Judicial Circuit have been received, which means the board will not have to turn responsibility back over to Franklin County.

“We do have somewhat of an obligation to this process, but not a total obligation,” White said. “This county will not, will not, go into arrears because of this.”

The board also voted to approve a $30 hike for higher internet speeds through Charter Communications. White said until Clearwave Communications can set up internet for the county, they will have to use Charter internet at higher speeds because of the large amount of employees who use it for work.

The board also voted to raise the death certificate fee by $2 because of a state increase.  full story

Medicaid committee can't agree

CHICAGO — A bipartisan group tasked with finding ways to cut $2.7 billion from Illinois' Medicaid budget hasn't accomplished its mission.

Gov. Pat Quinn's deadline required the two Democrats and two Republicans to come up with a plan this week, but they've only agreed on about $1.4 billion in cuts.

The committee worked for months on ways to reform the health insurance program for nearly 3 million poor and disabled Illinoisans. But they disagreed on potential ideas including rate cuts to providers and a potential $1-a-pack cigarette tax increase.

Quinn delivers his own plan Thursday. He's vowed that legislators must be prepared to pass Medicaid reforms this year.

Democratic Sen. Heather Steans says the group will continue working. They've agreed on cutting Illinois Cares Rx, which helps senior citizens pay for prescriptions. full story

I-64 westbound ramp to be closed

MT. VERNON - The Illinois Department of Transportation will be closing the Interstate 64 westbound ramp on Fridays through Monday mornings each week during construction of additional lanes on Interstate 57.

"The ramp closure is for traffic control only," Keith Roberts of IDOT explained. "We're doing this to try to alleviate horrible backups we had in the past for that area."

Roberts said with Illinois Route 37 as a secondary detour for the construction on I-57, people have been using the state highway, then re-entering at the I-64.

"They think they have gotten around any backup, but they are just jumping back into it at the worst place," Roberts said. "This is an effort to help direct motorists away from that area up to the Dix exit during the peak traffic count hours."

Roberts said IDOT has looked at the traffic counts for the area, and said, with a few exceptions, traffic backups on I-57 have been "tolerable"

"The maximum delays of peak hours of traffic are 20 to 25 minutes, maximum," Roberts said. "With the anticipation of people using the backup detour, we need to keep people on the detour past Dix to help with the construction congestion, otherwise, the detour doesn't help."

Roberts said peak traffic hours are northbound on I-57 on weekends, which is prompting the intermittent ramp closure.

"Due to the reconstruction of I-57, and heavier traffic volumes during weekend hours, the ramp from Illinois Route 37 to access I-64 westbound will be closed on Fridays and remain closed until Monday (morning) each week," information from IDOT states. "This closure will continue on weekends only until further notice. Motorists wanting to access I-57 should use Illinois Route 37 north to Dix and access I-57 via the ramps at Dix." - http://bit.ly/HQDmlZ

MVTHS Board approves resolution

MT. VERNON - A resolution for a line of credit was approved by the Mt. Vernon Township High School Board during its April meeting.The line of credit is for $1.5 million and would last until Dec. 31. The money would be held in reserve in case the money is needed, Superintendant Dr. Michael Smith said depending on state revenue monies, among other situations."We have not had to use that in the past," Smith said, "and we hope that we won't need it."The board also approved the permanent abatement of monies from its working cash fund to site and construction of the new high school.President of the board, Carl Miller, said the working cash fund was temporary, and the money will now be in an account to be used for bills as needed toward construction costs.In other business, the board:

Approved a bid for the second phase of G Building window replacements to Litteken Construction from Breese. The amount cannot exceed $111,000 for the construction;

Heard that attendance is up, but enrollment at the school is down compared to last year. Smith said better attendance will make up for the gap in state aid made by lower enrollement numbers;

Were updated that contracts for the new high school are being reviewed prior to presentation to the board.  Smith added he would be speaking with city officials to answer any final questions they may have on the project later this week; and

Heard state testing is coming up next week. - http://bit.ly/I3EAcB

Mt. Vernon Mobile home ordinance approved

MT. VERNON — An ordinance which will prohibit further mobile homes placed in RM2 zoned areas of the city was approved Monday, with no public comment.

“This is an amended version of the ordinance as originally presented,” City Manager Ron Neibert said. “The changes have taken place due to public comment up to this time.”

Under terms of the new ordinance, there is a provision which will allow current property owners to receive a conditional use for mobile homes up to Dec. 13 in RM2 zoned areas, as long as the person placing the mobile home owned the property before Jan. 1; the application for conditional use be submitted before Oct. 31; the mobile home must be placed by Dec. 31; and is adjacent to a lot in which a mobile home is currently situated, not next to a stick built home unless written permission is presented by the owner of the stick built home.

Other changes from the original ordinance presented state the mobile home must have been manufactured not more than 15 years prior to the date of application for a building permit and is subject to inspection for compliance with Mobile Home Standards if it is older than five years.

Neibert said the changes to the zoning ordinance for RM2 allowed uses also amends a portion that has nothing to do with mobile homes — it now allows duplexes to be built in the zoning district.  full story

Still filing your taxes? Time's almost up

This year, you have a little more time to file your income taxes. But now is not the time for any more procrastination because Tuesday evening is the deadline:

Q: Why is the income tax-filing deadline on April 17 this year and not April 15?

A: This year, April 15 falls on a Sunday and Monday, April 16 fell on the District of Columbia's Emancipation Day. By law, District of Columbia holidays are treated like federal holidays when it comes to tax deadlines.

Q: What if you are not going to make this year's deadline for filing your federal tax return?

A: You can get a six-month extension to file your tax forms, as long as you make the request by midnight Tuesday.

Q: How can I file an extension?

A: By mail, via tax-preparation software or online via the IRS website, www.irs.gov. To request the extension, you must fill out IRS Form 4868, which is available on the IRS website, through most tax preparation software, as well as in public libraries and post offices.

If you opt to mail in the form it has to be postmarked by Tuesday to be considered on time. Forms filed online on the IRS website or by using tax software can be sent in as late as 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday. If accepted, you will have until Oct. 16 to file a complete tax return. The IRS requires taxpayers to pay up by Tuesday's deadline or face a host of penalties.

Q: What are the penalties?

A: The IRS will charge interest on unpaid taxes at a rate that currently is about 3.25 percent and is compounded daily. The IRS also will charge a late payment penalty of one-half of 1 percent of any tax not paid by April 17. It is charged each month or part of a month the tax goes unpaid, up to 25 percent. That interest rate can jump to 1 percent, however, if the tax bill hasn't been paid within 10 days after the IRS issues a notice of intent to levy. But a payment plan can be worked out with the IRS that can reduce the rate to one-quarter of 1 percent.

Q: Will post offices be open later than usual?

A: No. Many metro-east post office will operate Tuesday under regular business hours. Belleville Post Master John Sertich said the advent of filing online has left little if any demand for later than usual hours on tax day: "We don't do anything special for tax day anymore. The scheduled collection time will not be extended. Whatever time is on the mailbox is the time they have to meet. There will be no special collections. If they do bring in a tax return and they want it post marked by tomorrow, they bring it to my counter. We are open till 6 p.m."  full story

Still filing your taxes? Time's almost up

This year, you have a little more time to file your income taxes. But now is not the time for any more procrastination because Tuesday evening is the deadline:

Q: Why is the income tax-filing deadline on April 17 this year and not April 15?

A: This year, April 15 falls on a Sunday and Monday, April 16 fell on the District of Columbia's Emancipation Day. By law, District of Columbia holidays are treated like federal holidays when it comes to tax deadlines.

http://bit.ly/ISnnDK

Best Buy announces locations for store closings -- 6 in Illinois

RICHFIELD, Minn. -- Best Buy on Saturday announced the locations of 50 stores that it is closing this year, including seven in California, six in Illinois and six in the company's home state of Minnesota.

The struggling electronics chain said last month that it would close some of its so-called big box stores, cut 400 corporate jobs and trim $800 million in costs. Best Buy plans to open 100 smaller, more profitable Best Buy Mobile stores.

The company is trying to avoid the fate of Circuit City, which went out of business in 2009. It faces slower sales of expensive items like TVs, plus increased competition from Amazon.com and discount stores like Target.

Best Buy has about 1,400 locations in the United States. It has already closed two stores this year, one in Missouri and one in Arizona. Most of the rest of the 50 will close May 12, others this summer.

Best Buy said it would try to find other jobs in the company for the workers.

On Tuesday, Best Buy said CEO Brian Dunn had resigned after the board of directors began investigating his "personal conduct." The company lost $1.7 billion in the most recent quarter, partly because of restructuring costs. - http://bit.ly/IHyUIa

Illinois couple bound with tape, robbed of artwork

EVANSTON, Ill. -- A pair of robbers has broken into the home an Evanston couple, bound them with duct tape and stolen three paintings.

The robbery on Friday left 67-year-old Ronald Fink bloodied and bruised and his wife, Bonita, recovering from a mild heart attack at a hospital.

The intruders made off with an estimated $10,000 worth of artwork.

Evanston police suspect the robbers knew Fink had sold another painting at an auction last year for more than $300,000 and were hoping he had other similarly expensive artwork. Fink says he did not.

The two robbers came to his home and told him they were delivery men with a package to drop off. Once inside, Fink says, they jumped on him and taped the couple's hands and feet. - http://goo.gl/k0eMr

Land Purchased For New Mt. Vernon High School

MT. VERNON - Mt. Vernon Township High School has purchased 82 acres on Wells Bypass to construct a new school.

“This is a great evening for the community of Mt. Vernon Township High School,” board president Carl Miller said.

The property is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Wells Bypass and Ambassador Lane. The school is purchasing the property for $1.2 million from Ermajean Weir and Janell Bayer.

“The cost is well within our budget for land acquisition in our original estimates,” MVTHS Superintendent Dr. Mike Smith said. “The next step is to have a series of phases of testing completed — geological and environmental tests that are required. We’re allowing three months to get the results from testing back.”

Smith said “all things going well” the district would be able to begin preliminary site work by the middle or late summer.

“This is a great location,” Miller said. “It’s very buildable, level, flat, just what we were looking for.”

According to a news release presented by the board, numerous sites were evaluated and discussed for the new school, with Friday’s action bringing 11 months of discussion, research, study and negotiation to a close. The process included participation from stakeholders across the district, the city and county.

“From numerous sites that were submitted by property owners, an initial list of 16 was identified,” information states. “Sites were then reviewed further by the school board and their architectural firm and construction management firm to develop the ‘best case’ for a short list of possible locations. Sites were evaluated utilizing a number of criteria including size, location, access, adjacency of utilities, existing and needed infrastructure, on and off site development cost projections, buildable acres, district allotted budget for the purchase and development, overall city planning, zoning and development and purchase price. ... the final site needed to be a perfect balance of all of these criteria. The site selected this evening has been determined to fit all of the above criteria the best.”

Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley was on hand for the signing of the contracts, and said it was a great day for District 201 and a great day for the city.

“We look forward to partnering with you on this project,” Chesley said. “This project is one of the components in the city’s Comprehensive Plan and we support the school and its efforts to build a new school.”

The city council has committed to provide needed infrastructure at the site in an amount not to exceed $2.4 million and will include water and sewer lines, storm sewer lines, curbs, guttering and entrances to the property, Chesley said.

“We’re doing that as we would for any of our larger employers and businesses,” Chesley added.

Smith said the district is continuing to move forward on design engineering on the new school, and is expected to be ready to go out for bids on construction in the spring of 2013. full story

East St. Louis district to close 5 schools

EAST ST. LOUIS - The East St. Louis school system says it will shutter five schools because of declining enrollment and in an effort to pare the district's roughly $12 million budget deficit.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the schools will close by June 30. Officials say that, along with related layoffs, could save the district $2.5 million to $3.7 million next school year.

School board President Lonzo Greenwood says the panel is saddened. But he says the closures are necessary because of a lack of federal funds that can't be replaced by local taxes.

A public town hall meeting is scheduled for April 26 at Mason-Clark Middle School to discuss attendance boundaries for the elementary schools that students will attend next year. - http://bit.ly/HDDHtn

Free vehicle inspections to be offered Saturday

MOUNT VERNON - A free 41-point vehicle inspection will be available Saturday at Times Square Mall in Mount Vernon, courtesy of Rend Lake College, the mall and Mount Vernon NAPA.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the mall parking lot between Wendy's and Verizon.

Inspections include checking fluid levels, tires, lights and other system components. After the inspection is completed, volunteer automotive stu-dents will review findings with the motorist and provide information about proper vehicle maintenance and repair.

Hot dogs and other refreshments will be provided by Mount Vernon NAPA; participants also can register to win door prizes. Donations will be ac-cepted for Angel's Cove in Mount Vernon.

Rend Lake College Project CHILD and the Jefferson County Health Department will provide free child passenger safety seat inspections.

April is National Car Care Month, an effort to educate motorists about the importance of vehicle care and maintenance.

For more information, contact Nigel Thompson, RLC automotive technology professor, at 618-437-5321 ext. 1806, or email thompson@rlc.edu

Donor pledges match grant to Lifeboat Alliance shelter

MT. VERNON - An anonymous donor has pledged $75,000 to the Lifeboat Alliance shelter if the organization can match the number.

The second matching grant to the shelter, the funds will go toward the construction and renovation being conducted by the Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County, said Lifeboat Alliance Executive Director Jenny O'Daniel.

"Any funds left over will be dedicated to the operation of the facility," O'Daniel said. "First and foremost, we've just got to get the doors open."

O'Daniel said she and others on the Lifeboat Alliance board found out about the additional matching grant Wednesday.

"It's overwhelming," she said. "It's touching. I think what a lot of people might not realize is that even though our doors are not open, we're working with folks right now, and every day."

She said one woman found herself with no place to go and nothing but the clothes she was wearing, and came to Lifeboat Alliance asking for help.

"I sent a few e-mails, and now we have the lady equipped with kitchenwares, she's in an apartment, and we got a bed picked up for her," O'Daniel said. "I think it's just a matter of if people know there is a need, they will help, they will come forward, and there are so many compassionate people in our commmunity."

The shelter is already $10,000 deep toward its goal of $75,000 thanks to a different donor, she said, and Lifeboat Alliance has until October to attain the $75,000 total. - http://bit.ly/HD2Ns7

Mount Vernon needs housing to keep up with job growth

MOUNT VERNON - Mount Vernon needs hundreds of new housing units in order to keep pace with job growth in the city.

"Between now and 2016, we need 300 to 700 new housing units to support the people we are creating jobs for in the community," Mount Vernon City Manager Ron Neibert said.

The numbers come from a study undertaken to determine whether the city was having housing issues, he said.

"There were several indicators that we have a housing problem in the community," he said.

For instance, the city lost almost 1,000 people from 2000 to 2010, according to U.S. Census numbers. The city also looked at the regional impact of a Continental Tire expansion and found employees at the plant come from 122 zip codes in Illinois and Kentucky.

"We are creating jobs for people in other communities. That's all well and good, but if we are spending money on job creation in Mount Vernon, we'd like some of the people in those jobs to live in Mount Vernon," he said.

The study was based on the perceived needs for housing in the city, the number of new jobs anticipated and the existing housing market.

The city expects some 1,000 new hires in the next few years at businesses and industries like Continental Tire, Magnum Steel Works Inc. and Good Samaritan Regional Health Center.

The study looked at housing in the $120,000 to $130,000 range and found only 35 to 40 units on the market in all of Jefferson County.

"We're creating a thousand jobs for people who can afford a house in that range and we just don't have the housing available," he said.

The results of the study will be used as the city prepares a promotional program to entice residential housing developers to build in the city. - http://bit.ly/IDEJEa

Bald eagle found shot to be released into the wild

DURAND - A bald eagle found shot has recovered after surgery and will be released back into the wild.

The Rockford Register Star reports that the young eagle will be released Saturday afternoon at Starved Rock State Park.

The bird was found in late October along the Illinois River. Veterinarians at Countryside Animal Clinic in Streator performed a successful surgery. The eagle has been recovering at Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Durand.

Hoo Haven Director Karen Herdklotz says the male eagle is doing well and Saturday will be a "big celebration." - http://bit.ly/HAGoMa

Mt.Vernon - Jefferson County Daily Record - April 12, 2012

MT. VERNON - Mt. Vernon Police Department

Arrests

• Devondria R. Foulks, 19, of the 1100 block of South 22nd Street, was arrested Tuesday at 7:36 p.m. on a charge of violation of bail bond. Bond was set at $25,000.
• Andrew C. Baltzell, 20, of the 100 block of East Opdyke Avenue, was arrested Tuesday at 8:01 p.m. on a charge of burglary.
• Crystal M. Parker, 32, of McLeansboro, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $3,000 and Parker was released.

Thefts

• Tuesday at 2:42 p.m., police responded to a report of an unspecified theft in the 800 block of Casey Avenue.
• A resident in the 200 block of Walnut told police someone attempted to steal copper at 10:19 a.m. Wednesday.
• Police responded to a report of a theft of $13.68 in fuel from Jumpin Jimmies at 12:13 p.m. Wednesday.
• A walk-in complainant told police at 1:33 p.m. Wednesday that someone fraudulently used his credit card.

Incidents

• Police responded to a report of a sound of a fight in the 600 block of Lamar Avenue at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.
• A resident in the 600 block of Lamar Avenue told police she was battered at 11:52 p.m. Tuesday.
• Tuesday at 4 p.m., a resident in the 1400 block of South 34th Street told police someone slashed his tires.
• A resident in the 900 block of Ellis Drive told police her truck was broken into while it was parked in Summersville at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
• Police responded to a report of burglary of a motor vehicle at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of Welkins.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Arrests

• Nicholas M. Coleman, 31, of the 800 block of North Eighth Street, was arrested Tuesday at 3:18 p.m. on a charge of probation violation. Bond was set at $3,000 and Coleman was released.
• Matthew J. Peters, 19, of the 2500 block of Herbert Street, was arrested Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. on a charge of violation of bail bond. Bond was set at $7,500.

Incidents

• Police responded to a report of a burglary in the 16900 block of East Saddle Club Road at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday.

Late payments puts Jefferson County under the gun

MOUNT VERNON —Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White will sit down with Second Judicial Circuit officials to discuss a solution to the financial burden placed on the county by late state reimbursement.

As part of an earlier agreement with the chief judge of the circuit, the county, which was the most populous in the circuit when the agreement was made several years ago, provides upfront payroll payment of the circuit's probation officers and is then reimbursed for most of the cost by the state, with the 12 counties in the circuit picking up the rest of the tab.

However, the state's habitual tardiness in making payments has led to a past due amount of more than $450,000, and could lead to an undue burden on the county's finances, Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White said.

"We've had a lot of growth and expansion in Jefferson County and we're doing pretty well, but we've had a couple of scares: three-payroll months and late payments from the state had us sweating bullets a few times," he said.

Those scares prompted the county to set a deadline of Wednesday to either receive payments from the state or begin to take steps to turn the payroll processing over to Franklin County, the most populous county in the circuit as of the 2010 U.S. Census.

"The state is months behind and that puts Jefferson County government in a bind," Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Stephen G. Sawyer said. "I understand the difficulty that poses to them. Franklin County has the same difficulty as far as state reimbursement."

Franklin County processes payroll and benefits for the juvenile detention center, which is also under the authority of the Second Judicial Circuit, and has a similar problem with state reimbursement.

Sawyer said he plans to meet with White and the circuit's probation and court services director to discuss options. - http://bit.ly/HDEmK5

New hospital 70 percent complete

MT. VERNON - Work on the new Good Samaritan Regional Health Center is 70 percent complete.

More than $123 million has been expended on the $237 million project, said Victoria Woodrow, Good Samaritan director of marketing and public relations.

"They're doing a lot of finishing work on the interior and some exterior work as well," Woodrow said. "We’ve had some pretty good weather," she said, adding that the project is on schedule.

The new hospital campus on Veterans Memorial Drive near the Interstate 57/64 overpass is expected to be completed in October and be open Jan. 20, 2013.

Between October and January, Woodrow said, staff will be trained at the new facility, procedures will be tested and the new facility will be inspected.

"We're planning community tours that will take place the first week of January, and we'll invite the community to come and tour the new facility," she said. "It's going to be drastically different. There are all private patient rooms. It's a lot better facility, and our ability to provide health care will be much better."

Woodrow said staff are very excited about the move to the new hospital.

"We've had the opportunity to take bus tours and in the last month, tours where we can go and look at the new" she said. "The staff have welcomed the change with open arms, with all of the technological advancements, the private rooms and the new procedure center, which is an industry-leader concept."

She said the new hospital will have three entrances, one for emergency, one for visitors and one for patient entrances.

"There won't be a lot of having to way-find a certain department," she said. "People will walk them to the different areas. It's going to be a patient experience that's going to be just wonderful."

There will be an attached medical plaza, a 141,000 square foot center where surgery, administration, breast imaging, cardiac and pulmonary rehab centers, among other departments, will be housed, Woodrow said.

She said not only is the new hospital going to be offering new therapies, including animal therapy, the hospital has worked closely with a commissioned artist and Cedarhurst Center for the arts.

"The aesthetics will really promote healing," Woodrow said. - http://goo.gl/Pak7d

Korean Air jetliner makes emergency landing at military base in Canada

NORAD jet fighters intercepted a Korean Air passenger jet and escorted it to a safe emergency landing at a military base on Vancouver Island in British Columbia after the airline received a bomb threat, officials said Tuesday.

Two F-15 fighter jets escorted the Boeing 777 to 19 Wing Comox on Vancouver Island in British Columbia because of a threat associated with the aircraft, a NORAD spokeswoman said.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m ET), said Maj. Holly Apostoliuk of NORAD in Canada.

The F-15s that conducted the intercept were scrambled from Portland, Oregon, she said.

Penny Pfaelzer, a spokeswoman for Korean Air, said the airline received a bomb threat at its Los Angeles call center.

The incident occurred 25 minutes after Flight KE072 took off from Vancouver International Airport, when the U.S. call center received a threat that an explosive was on board the aircraft, she said. "After discussion with the related departments, we decided to turn the aircraft," she said.

The plane landed at Comox, which is 70 miles northwest from Vancouver.

The airline will decide about continuing the flight after discussion with the airport and the related authorities, she said. - http://goo.gl/RwhRx

Zimmerman's lawyers withdraw from shooting case

The split came as special prosecutor Angela Corey neared a decision on whether to charge Zimmerman with a crime in the Feb. 26 shooting.

That decision could come later this week, as Corey released a brief statement late Tuesday saying she would make an announcement about the case within 72 hours. She did not specify what new development in the case would be released.

Sonner and colleague Hal Uhrig said they had not spoken with Zimmerman since Sunday. Since then, they said, they had learned that he spoke to Corey's office and to Fox TV host Sean Hannity without consulting them, in an attempt to give his side of the shooting. They said Corey refused to talk to Zimmerman without his attorneys' consent and Hannity wouldn't tell them what was discussed.

Zimmerman also set up his own website even as the lawyers were creating one for him at his request. Zimmerman said on his website that he wants "to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries." The site allows visitors to give Zimmerman money for living expenses and legal bills.

Sonner and Uhrig said that they still believe in Zimmerman's innocence and that they would probably represent him again if he contacted them and requested it. They said Zimmerman is in the U.S., but wouldn't say where because they fear for his safety.

They said Zimmerman has been under extreme pressure and is basically alone, having gone underground because of the furor.

"This has been a terribly corrosive process. George Zimmerman, in our opinion, and from information made available to us, is not doing well emotionally, probably suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. We understand from others that he may have lost a lot of weight," Uhrig said.

"To handle it this way suggests that he may not be in complete control of what's going on. We're concerned for his emotional and physical safety."

Ben Crump, an attorney for Martin's family, said they are worried that Zimmerman might flee if he is charged.

"We're just concerned that nobody knows where he is at. Nobody knows how to get to him," Crump said.

Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. attorney in Miami who is now in private practice, questioned the way the lawyers publicly cast doubt on Zimmerman's mental stability.

"The lawyers have every right to withdraw, but it's highly unusual, and it will be controversial, for counsel to describe their client's erratic behavior," Coffey said. "In the court of public opinion, the press conference was not helpful for George Zimmerman."

In a case that has stirred a furious national debate over racial profiling and self-defense, Zimmerman, 28, shot Martin, 17, after he spotted the teen walking through the gated community in Sanford. Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is Hispanic.

Zimmerman said Martin attacked him, and he claimed self-defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law, which gives people wide leeway to use deadly force. Martin's family has said the evidence suggests Zimmerman was the aggressor.

Meanwhile, tensions were rising in Sanford as townspeople awaited the prosecutor's decision. Someone shot up an unoccupied police car Monday night as it sat outside the neighborhood where Martin was killed. And a demonstration by college students closed the town's police station earlier in the day.

Some residents said they worry there will be violence if Corey decides not to charge Zimmerman. The prosecutor has not said when she will announce her decision, but many in town believe it will be soon.

Police aren't saying what, if any, precautions they are taking.

Eddie Jones, a 58-year-old black man and lifelong resident of Sanford, said Zimmerman's arrest is paramount to keeping the protests peaceful.

"They need to go ahead and arrest this guy before something happens," he said. "Sanford is screwed up. This place just didn't get corrupt."

While tensions are high, some think this city of about 53,000 - around 57 percent white and 30 percent black - will come through the crisis without violence, as it did during similar uproars.

Two years ago, after a black homeless man was beaten by the son of a Sanford policeman, passions soon cooled. The assailant, Justin Collison, initially wasn't charged but eventually was arrested after footage of the episode went viral on YouTube. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and received probation.

James Carder, a mechanic at McRobert's Auto Center, put a message on his shop that was readily visible to anyone driving down First Street: "Sanford is still a good little town."

Until the Martin shooting, Sanford was probably best known as the Florida stop for the Auto Train, the Amtrak line that carries tourists and their cars between suburban Washington and central Florida's theme parks.

"I put it up because I do care about my good little town," said Carder, who is white. "It has problems just like everywhere. But it's still a good little town. It always has been and always will be."

Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, April 10th

A 24-year-old Odin man has been arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for battery. Christopher Payne of Perkins Street was arrested after allegedly striking his step-father Donald Bradley in the face. Bradley refused hospital treatment for his injuries.

Two others remain in custody on outstanding petitions to revoke his probation. 41-year-old Larry Woodward of Cottonwood Drive in Salem and 23-year-old Timothy Smith of East Olive in Salem were both arrested by sheriff's deputies.  - http://goo.gl/6abUw

Coroner: Two Drowned In Carbondale Trying To Escape Sinking Car

CARBONDALE, Ill. - A coroner says two college students who drowned in a car found submerged in a southern Illinois lake apparently died trying to escape the vehicle as it sank.

Jackson County Coroner Tom Kupferer tells WSIL-TV that three other occupants of the car managed to make their way to safety after the accident shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Lake. Those survivors told Kupferer that 20-year-old Marielle Carson and 21-year-old Latisha Ray survived the crash's impact. The coroner says the locations of their bodies in the car suggest they were trying to flee.  - http://goo.gl/GE64B

Housing study presented to council

MT. VERNON - An estimated 360 to 719 homes are going to be needed between now and 2016 to accommodate job growth, according to a housing needs assessment presented Monday to the City Council.

"In the 1980s and 90s, the city didn't make an effort to make sure homes were there when the jobs were being created," explained City Manager Ron Neibert. "At the time we were creating jobs, you weren't keeping up with creating the homes to have those people live in the city."

The housing study was presented by Joe Zanola of the Zanola Company LLC.

"You can demonstrate there is a market for homes here," Zanola said. "While there is opportunity (for home developers and builders) here, in other markets, there is an excess of lots available. ... You have to understand that although there is a market, you have to look at things like cost tolerance for builders and developers and make sure you know what it will take for them to build before giving any incentives."

Zanola also said the needs for housing could not only be provided from new subdivisions, but also from building and expanding existing neighborhoods. In addition, the city needs to work to increase its Census numbers by keeping new employees in the city, instead of forcing the employees to go outside of the city for its housing needs.

"Attracting people to live here needs to be as aggressive as the efforts to attract developers," Zanola said.

Zanola said Mt. Vernon is in the unique position of having a good economy, new jobs available, but a lack of housing — a condition which also came from the collapse of the new housing market which started the recession. As homes were lost to foreclosure in many areas, Mt. Vernon remained relatively unscathed by the housing crisis, which helped keep the local economy steady. However, because the city didn't experience the housing construction boom prior to the market failure, there aren't homes available now, either.

The study encompasses several hundred pages of data, and members of the council expressed a wish to study the information closer. Neibert said the next step in the process is to develop a strategy to go after developers and builders.

"We have the demographics now, we have the statistics we need," Neibert said. - http://goo.gl/0MdBb