Three People Face New Drug Charges In Centralia

Two passengers in a car involved in a traffic stop in Centralia have been formerly charged with drug offenses. 20-year-old Zachary Weaver of County Highway 18 in Centralia was charged with unlawful delivery of cannabis. Bond was set at $1,500. The person he allegedly sold the drug, 26-year-old Jacob Heern of South Maple in Centralia, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis. Bond for Heern was set at $6,000 on all pending cases. The driver of the car, 25-year-old Curtis Jones, Junior of Dimick Street in Centralia, posted $150 bond was released for driving on a revoked or suspended license. Bond has been set at $15,000 for a 41-year-old Junction City man charged with three drug offenses following a traffic stop by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies. Rodney Williams of Tyler Street faces two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance for possessing narcotic drugs without a prescription and for unlawful possession of ten to 30 grams of cannabis. The public defender was appointed to represent him. - http://goo.gl/PlIAq

Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, January 14th, 2012

A 22-year-old Salem woman who is a participant in the Marion County Drug Court program is being held in the Marion County Jail for a program violation. Abbey Hargis of North Lincoln was arrested at the probation department. 27-year-old Dale Wessel of North Walnut in Centralia is being held on a petition to revoke his probation. He was arrested at the courthouse. 49-year-old Earl Wollitz of Patterson Street in Centralia remained in custody Saturday morning after being arrested by Centralia Police on an ordinance violation warrant. A 26-year-old Springfield man, Jonathan Tunson, posted $300 bond after being arrested at the courthouse on a petition to revoke his probation. Salem Police are investigating the theft of fishing equipment from a boat owned by Doval McLean of North Ohio Street. - http://goo.gl/2VK3h

Centralia Man Whose Home Burned In Meth Lab Fire Sentenced To Four Years In Prison

A 32-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a meth lab that exploded, setting off a fire that destroyed his home. Ronald Carter of Cormick Street entered an alford plea in Marion County County Friday for unlawful use of property. The plea means Carter admits prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him, but he still denies guilt. He was also ordered to complete two years of mandatory supervised release after being released from prison on the Class Two Felony charge. As part of the negotiated plea, a Class 'X' charge of aggravated participation in meth manufacturing was dropped. Carter was one of four people charged in connection with the meth operation following the September first fire. One person, 21-year-old Joshua Benjamin of South Cherry Street, was badly burned in the fire. He initially fled the scene, but was later located receiving hospital treatment. The charge Carter entered the plea said he allowed use of his residence as a location for meth manufacturing after becoming aware of the activity. Centralia Fire officials estimated the home sustained $35,000 to $40,000 damage in the fire. - http://goo.gl/wFzBx

Fire Destroys Leah's Flowers and Gifts in Mt. Vernon

Fire destroyed a Mt. Vernon business Friday night. Mt. Vernon city firemen report flames were showing through the windows when they arrived at Leah's Flowers and Gifts at 1113 Veterans Memorial Drive. Firemen were hampered by a double roof on the building. The store was closed for the day and no one was inside. Damage is estimated at $100,000. Firemen say nothing could be removed from inside the building because of the intensity of the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The extreme cold temperatures caused water from the fire fighting efforts to freeze. While several firemen fell on the ice, there were no injuries. No other buildings were threatened by the fire. The fire alarm came in at 6:18 Friday night, with firemen remaining on the scene for four and a half hours. There were reports flames from the fire could be seen from a mile away. Jefferson Rural Firemen joined Mt. Vernon City Firemen in fighting the fire. Centralia city firefighters and Waltonville firemen remained at the Mt. Vernon fire stations to handle other calls. - http://goo.gl/e1kcw

Cattle Truck Overturns South of Alma, Some Cattle Killed

A semi truck hauling cattle overturned on its side on Illinois Route 37 near the Kenco Road south of Alma Friday morning, setting off a nearly six hour effort to free the cattle trapped inside.

The driver of the truck, 35-year-old Daniel Shepard of Elwood, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment. The final tally on the cows showed 11 killed and 31 who were cut out of the trailer alive. An estimated 25 to 30 volunteershelped cut open the trailer with arotary saw to get the cows out. State Police say earlier reports that some of the cows escaped wereincorrect.

The cause of the wreck remains under investigation. The truck's steering system will be studied on Tuesday as a possible cause. No tickets have been issued at this time, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The wreck occurred at nine Friday morning. Cattle were still being removed in the early afternoon hours. The trailer was eventually rolled back over and removed by a tow truck at 3:15 Friday afternoon. State Police were joined on the scene by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies, Kinmundy-Alma Firemen, and Marion County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency personnel. - http://goo.gl/nY72p

Former Big Muddy Correctional Center Inmate Can Sue Over Unwanted Haircut

CHICAGO (AP) - Dreadlocks, Bob Marley and an unwanted haircut.

Those are the unlikely subjects of an opinion issued on Friday by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. The three-judge panel devotes 11 pages to explaining why a former inmate at Illinois' Big Muddy Correctional Center, Omar Grayson, can go ahead and sue a prison officer who forced him to shear his thick, braided locks.

The opinion even includes a photograph of Reggae superstar Marley to illustrate what dreadlocks look like. Marley died in 1981. Grayson's a member of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem and claimed the haircut violated his religious rights. The appellate court notes the prison allows committed Rastafarians to keep dreadlocks but appeared to discriminate against other religions that also hold long hair in high esteem. - http://goo.gl/os1I6