Cruise ship briefly seized in Texas

GALVESTON, Texas —U.S. marshals briefly seized a cruise ship in Texas as part of a $10 million lawsuit related to the fatal Italian cruise ship wreck.

The Carnival Cruise Lines ship was seized for several hours Saturday while docked in Galveston, where it was scheduled to leave with 2,700 passengers. Attorneys later reached a deal releasing the ship.

A Texas judge had ordered the seizure to secure the plaintiff's claims against Carnival Corp., the Miami-based parent of the Italian cruise line whose ship crashed in January. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a German citizen who died in the wreck. - http://goo.gl/J8DWS

Nominations being sought for awards

MT. VERNON - The American Heart Association and Peoples National Bank are seeking nominations for Lifestyle Change Awards.

The awards are to be given to individuals who have taken control of their health in areas such as weight loss, exercise habits, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and stress management, information states.

The nominees and winners will be recognized at the American Heart Association's South Central Illinois Heart Walk on April 14 at Veterans Park, information states.

The Lifestyle Change Awards are being nominated across the country in conjunction with the Heart Walk, said Beth Walker of the American Heart Association.

She said anyone who has made a change in their life to better their cardiovascular health can be nominated.

Winners from the past three years of the awards program have taken such steps as joining Weight Watchers, Walker said.

"Peoples National Bank is proud to be partnering with the American  Heart Association on this project," said Hunt Bonan, Peoples National Bank president in a press release. "We hope that there are many nominated for us to recognize at the Heart Walk. Making healthy lifestyle changes is something we want to encourage our employees, customers and community to do."

To nominate an individual for a Lifestyle Change Award, log onto www.southcentralilheartwalk.og and download the nomination form from the front page of the Heart Walk website. Area residents may also pick up nomination forms from any Peoples National Bank locations throughout the region. All applications are due by March 31.

The Heart Walk in Mt. Vernon is sponsored locally by St. Mary's Good Samaritan, and endeavors to raise more than $115,000 for heart disease and stroke research, information states. Companies, groups and individuals interested in participating can sign up at www.southcentralilheartwalk.org or call the American Heart Association at 983-3234.

"The Heart Walk is the signature fundraising event for the American Heart Association in the region," information states. "Participants are encouraged to collect donations on behalf of the American Heart Association. Attendance is free. The event starts at 8 a.m. with registration, education and booth activities. Opening ceremonies start at 9 a.m., and the 2 mile walk begins at 9:30 a.m. with closing ceremonies following." » http://goo.gl/m52eB

14 people shot outside Miami funeral home

MIAMI -- Fourteen people have been shot and two are dead after authorities say gunmen opened fire outside a Miami funeral home.

The Miami-Dade Police Department says shots were fired Friday as services were taking place at the Funeraria Latina Emanuel.

One person died at the scene and another after being transported to a nearby hospital. The injured include a five-year-old girl.

The Miami Herald reports the shots are believed to have come from at least one gunman who drove by the funeral home in a vehicle and began shooting at the crowd.

Witnesses told the newspaper the funeral was being held for 22-year-old Marvin Andre, who was killed in another shooting.
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Plans for new festival in the works

MT. VERNON - Spring has barely sprung, but the Mt. Vernon Fall Fest committee is well into planning the new festival for October.

"We had about 25 people attend our first planning meeting," said Mt. Vernon Fest Executive Director Bonnie Jerdon. "It was very encouraging."

The Mt. Vernon Fest will be held Oct. 19 through 21, and has obtained its non-profit status. The board for the fest include Chairman Todd Piper, Jerdon, Cyndy Mitchell, Vice Chairman Hank Villani, Chris Collins, Derrick Quitsch, Diane Morris, Debbie Greene, Wes Plummer, Dante Moore and Marcus Holland. There are still seats available on the board as well. In addition, more community members have stepped forward to help with planning of the event, working in the marketing committee, entertainment committee, operations committee and vendor committee. Piper, Jerdon and Villani sit on all committees.

Preliminary plans are calling for live entertainment on the main stage, a beer tent and carnival on Friday, Oct. 19; live entertainment on the main stage, a beer tent, vendors marketplace, chili cookoff, parade, kid's area, carnival, the DMDC car show and the Fall Fest Run on Saturday, Oct. 20.

"This year we are planning events on Sunday for the first time," Jerdon added. Events planned at this time are live entertainment on the main stage, vendors marketplace, kid's area and carnival.

"We're moving things back to the Ninth Street corridor," Jerdon said. "DMDC has also decided to hold their car show during the festival along that area. Having the events along Ninth Street seems to work our best and it's what our participants want."

"We are proposing to change the parade route," Jerdon said. "The parade would start at the library, go up Main Street, turn on 10th Street and go south to Jordan Street and back up towards the high school."

In addition, the main stage and reviewing stand would be at the intersection of Jordan and Ninth streets.

"That's where the bands and entertainment will be," Jerdon said. "We've done the parade the same route for many, many years. We want to change it a bit."

Anyone who would like to learn more about the fest and volunteer opportunities may contact Jerdon at 242-3151 or by email at tourism@mvn.net. - http://goo.gl/ctyDE

Chamber of Commerce holds banquet

MT. VERNON - The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce celebrated a record-breaking year and honored members of the community during its annual banquet on Friday.

"We brought in over 40 new members this year," Chamber Executive Director Brandon Bollard reported.

In addition, Bullard unveiled a new Chamber website.

"This is the official unveiling of our newly designed website, at www.southernillinois.com," Bullard said. "This is the Rolls Royce of Chamber sites."

The new site will be more member and user-friendly, described as "streamlined" for member-to-member communication.

Bullard also announced a newsletter will be going online in the near future, and starting in January 2013, a new billing system will be used for members.

"And, we've put prayer back in our board meetings," Bullard concluded, as members of the Chamber applauded. "Lord knows we need the help."

According to outgoing Chamber President Brett Hall, a more efficient office will be the result of the new billing structure, as well as a better budget. Hall said in the past, the board determines a budget based on what it thinks it will receive. Under the new system, all members will be billed at the same time instead of at various times throughout the year.

"Starting this time next year, we will have the money and an actual budget for it," Hall said.

Hall also noted the record breaking year, with more ribbon cuttings, more participants in the Leadership Academy, more classroom grant awards, more member-to-member sponsors and the new Momentum Summit with leaders at the state, regional and local level participating.

The Chamber also took the opportunity to honor its selected Students of the Year and Rend Lake College Scholarship recipient — Hannah Herzing of Waltonville High School, Kathryn Thomas of Woodlawn High School and Christian Hollenkamp of Woodlawn High School.

Other honorees included Sarah Beard — Ambassador of the Year; the Citizen of the Year — the Rev. Rob Dyer; Small Business Person of the Year — Jim Czerwinski of Magnum Steel; and the President's Award honoree — Continental Tire the Americas.

Hall passed the gavel to the new Chamber president, Kay Zibby and retiring vice presidents and board members were introduced. Retiring vice presidents are Lynn Hutchison, Ambassadors; Zibby, from Educational Clearinghouse Committee; Tom Upchurch from Internal Affairs; Ed Cunningham from Past Presidents; David Keen from Small Business Council and Chris Bernard from the Special Events.
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