Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Three people remained in the Marion County Jail Tuesday morning on outstanding warrants. 33-year-old Heather Atchison of South Locust in Centralia turned herself in on a DUI warrant. 26-year-old Steven Watkins of Race Road in Vernon was arrested by Central City Police on a Clark County warrant. 30-year-old Edward Robinson of Conger Street in Mt. Vernon was taken into custody by State Police on an outstanding Effingham County traffic warrant and driving on a suspended license. 25-year-old Benjamin Darby of Carbondale posted $150 bond after being arrested by State Police for allegedly driving under the influence. 31-year-old Terry Turner of Centerville posted bond after being arrested by Centralia Police for alleged disorderly conduct.  full story

Group Appeals Conceal Carry Ruling

Springfield, IL -- The fight for conceal carry continues in Illinois. A judge upheld the state's ban on keeping residents from carrying loaded guns in public but one advocacy group is challenging the ruling. Dave Workman with the Second Amendment Foundation says Illinoisans shouldn't be treated any differently than others across the nation. "People in Illinois certainly have the right of self-protection within their home or outside their home. This is not a right that ends at somebody's doorstep", said Workman. Workman says it's unthinkable that Illinois citizens are being denied their right to keep and bear arms, especially considering the 2010 U.S Supreme Court ruling in McDonald v. Chicago. That's when the nation's High Court determined the Second Amendment applies to states and that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" is protected by the Second Amendment. In her ruling on Friday, Illinois Judge Sue Myerscough said the U.S Supreme Court has not recognized a right to bear firearms outside the home. - http://goo.gl/La4vce

Fred Walker Given Key to the City by Salem Mayor

The retired Executive Director of the South Central Regional Planning Commission has been presented the key to the city of Salem. Fred Walker received the award from Mayor John Raymer at Monday night's city council meeting. "In recognition of your years of support, and assistance in championing the potential in Salem, through your personal commitment to this community, your vision and leadership have guided us to realize our future, and from the mayor, we would like everyone to know that Fred's the premiere dance scholar in our area, and we hope that you continue to do that. We would like to present this", said Raymer. Walker in turn thanked the city of Salem. "Basically I would just like to extend to the City of Salem, my sincere appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to serve. It's been my decade for nearly four-decades to do so. We're roughly a five-county region with roughly 40-communities in it, but it's particularly worth full-filling when you get to do it for your hometown", said Walker. Walker joined the South Central Regional Planning Commission shortly after it started in 1972. He retired last month. - http://goo.gl/gr0BH

Illinois Firm Buying California Company for $340 Million

MATTOON, Ill. (AP) - Illinois-based cable-TV, phone and Internet provider Consolidated Communications Inc. is buying a California-based company for $341 million. Consolidated Communications of Mattoon said Monday that it is buying SureWest Communications, which is based in Roseville, California. Consolidated Communications will add about 282,000 subscriber lines in California, Missouri and Kansas. Before the deal, the Mattoon company had 466,000 subscriber lines in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas. The publicly traded companies have combined revenues of about $620 million and between them about 1,775 employees. - http://goo.gl/h2spc