Jefferson County Barn fire

Waltonville, Sesser and Jefferson Fire Protection Districts responded to a report of a barn fire in the 6700 block of North Topeka Lane in Waltonville at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The barn sat several yards south of the home, owned by the Norris family. The large pole barn, which held farm equipment, fuel and tires, was ignited by a small trash fire, according to witnesses at the scene. WFPD personnel did not clear the scene until almost 4 p.m. Full Story

Son Dies, Mother Injured in Southwestern Illinois Fire

EAGLE PARK, Ill. (AP) - State fire investigators are trying to figure out what caused a trailer home fire that killed a man in southwestern Illinois. Madison County's coroner says 38-year-old Deuntramon Mosby died in the fire early Sunday in the tiny community of Eagle Park. His 57-year-old mother managed to escape and was treated at a hospital. Relatives say the two were asleep when the woman awoke to find smoke and flames. She tried to wake her son, then scrambled to a neighbor's house to call emergency responders. Sheriff's Captain Mike Dixon says a preliminary investigation shows no signs of foul play. The coroner says Mosby was identified through eyewitness accounts of his presence in the home when the fire began and the surgically implanted, serial-numbered orthopedic implants he got during neck surgery. - http://goo.gl/1BKmp

Four Marion County Businesses Cited for Selling Alcohol to Minors

Four Marion County businesses were cited in December for violating liquor control laws by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC). Billie Joe's General Store at 104 7th Street in Alma, Pizza Hut at 1551 West Main in Salem, the Five Brothers Café at 2053 West Main in Salem, and the El Rancherito Restaurant at 103 Bladridge in Salem were cited for selling liquor to underage customers. On December 8th, businesses sold alcohol to ILCC underage participants. Twenty-six checks were done in Fayette, Marion, and Effingham counties at this time. Four Clinton County businesses were also cited in December for selling alcohol to underage participants. Jumpin' Jimmy's at 491 Franklin and Big O's at 20277 State Route 127, both in Carlyle, Breeze East End Liquors at 1150 North 4th Street in Breeze, and the Trenton House at Two East Broadway in Trenton were all cited on December 15th for selling alcohol to minors. The ILCC visited 168 businesses licensed to sell liquor across the state during December. 29-licenses were cited for violating the law. 83-percent of the licensees visited complied with Illinois law, and refused to sell liquor to minors. The ILCC teams randomly visit liquor stores, restaurants and bars in communities around the state to check for ongoing compliance with state laws, mandating that no liquor is sold to minors under the age of 21. ILCC agents also work with local and state law enforcement agents to focus on communities with a high incidence of underage liquor sales. - http://goo.gl/ezdbO