Illinois Family Escapes Italian Cruise Disaster

RICHMOND, Ill. - Three members of a McHenry County family were among the thousands of people aboard a cruise ship that ran aground the Italian coast of a Tuscan island, killing at least eleven people.

Jim Salzburg says the scene on the Costa Concordia was "complete chaos." The 71-year-old Richmond man was taking a 16-day trip with his 70-year-old wife Josephine Salzburg and their 39-year-old daughter Mary-Jo Salzburg. Salzburg says "everybody was just running around looking for a lifeboat." The three were able to put on life jackets and secure spaces on a lifeboat to escape the Friday accident.

They were home in Richmond by Sunday evening. Jim Salzburg says the family is lucky to be alive. Richmond is near the Illinois and Wisconsin border, about 65 miles northwest of Chicago.  full story

Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a burglary at the Tonya Allen residence on North Main Street in Sandoval. Allen reported medication was stolen. Two persons were arrested on Monday on outstanding warrants. 20-year-old Andrew Dixon of East McCord in Centralia is being held on outstanding Marion, Clinton, and Illinois Department of Corrections warrants. 21-year-old Thomas Garrison of North Boyd Road in Mt. Vernon is being held for failure to appear in court for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing justice. - http://goo.gl/BeRnH

Woman Found Dead in Centralia Alley, Heart Attack Suspected

A 62-year-old Centralia womanwas found deceased Monday morning in an alleyway about a half block south of the Huck's Store at Calumet and South Poplar Street on the south side of Centralia. Deputy Marion County Coroner Roger Sutherland says it appears Mary Brenton of the one-thousand block of South Poplar suffered a heart attack. However, because she had no previous history of health problems an autopsy will be performedTuesday to confirm a cause of death. Sutherland says Brenton was apparently walking the short distance home after going to the Huck's Store when she fell face down in the alley. Employees say Brenton had been in the store around 7:15 am. She wasn't found until around 9 am, indicating she had apparently fallen at least an hour before being discovered. Sutherland says Brenton's purse and the groceries she had purchased were lying beside her. - http://goo.gl/eSDIU

Severe Weather Pushes Through Area, Hail Reported In Some Areas But No Structural Damage

Two lines of strong thunderstorms triggered severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings across South Central Illinois Tuesday morning. Parts of Clinton and Washington County were placed under a tornado warning, when National Weather Service doppler radar indicated rotation in some of the strongest thunderstorms. The storms also produced hail in many places, including dime size in Salem and inch size in both the Aviston and Carlyle area. Several accidents were reported during the height of the storm activity, including two reports of cars being at least partially blown off the road. Iuka Police report 46-year-old Linda Shehorn of Tree Farm Road in Iuka lost control while traveling on the Iuka Road just south of U.S. 50. She escaped injury, but her car ended up in the roadside ditch. The Clinton County Sheriff's Department also had a report of a car that left the Shattuc Road. Once again there were no injuries. There have been no reports of any structural damage. There have been reports of periodic power outages in the Sandoval and Tonti area. The Salem Water Plant recorded 1.06 inches of rain and the Centralia Water Plant 1.18 inches of rain. The heavy rains resulted in a small and urban flood advisory to be issued for Marion, Clinton, Fayette, Bond and northern Washington County that expired at 8:30 Tuesday morning. - http://goo.gl/2SrHH

Mt Vernon/Jefferson Co. Daily Arrest Record - Jan 17 2012

Mt. Vernon Police Department Arrests

- Roberto M. Roman, 23, of the 100 block of Welkins Street, was arrested Saturday at 12:17 a.m. on a charge of criminal damage of state property. Bond was set at $10,000.
- Michelle A. Baker, 36, of the 300 block of North Fifth Street, was arrested Saturday at 7:47 p.m. on a charge of retail theft.
- Sherry L. Thomas, 57, of the 2400 block of Perkins, was arrested Sunday at 12:27 a.m. on a charge of aggravated battery. Bond was set at $30,000.
- Rachel Lynn Mooney, 34, of the 600 block of South 18th Street, was arrested at 1:51 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license. Mooney was released.
- Ashley N. Jenkins, 23, of the 1100 block of South 23rd Street, was arrested at 2:15 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500 and Jenkins was released.
- April D. Derry, 32, of the 14600 block of North County Farm Lane, was arrested Sunday at 8:14 p.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Derry was released.
- Owen L. Buchanan Jr., 37, of the 800 block of South 21st Street, was arrested at 12:24 p.m. Monday on a charge of domestic battery.
- Kathern L. Nason, 33, of the 16500 block of North Illinois Highway 37, was arrested at 12:35 a.m. Monday on a charge of driving with a suspended/revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500 and Nason was released.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Arrests

- Trynesa P. Thrailkill, 42, of Columbus, Miss., was arrested Saturday at 2:15 p.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Thrailkill was released.
- Woodrow W. Tharp, 42, of St. Louis, was arrested at 2:37 a.m. Sunday on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition with no FOID and two in-state warrants.
- Lisa Taylor, 18, of the 17000 block of North Illinois Highway 37, was arrested Monday at 2:16 a.m. on a charge of resisting, obstructing or disarming an office. Bond was set at $1,000.
- Zachary L. Ford, 18, of the 17000 block of North Illinois Highway 37, was arrested Monday at 2:17 a.m. on a charge of resisting, obstructing or disarming an office. Bond was set at $1,000.   full story