Bald eagle found shot to be released into the wild

DURAND - A bald eagle found shot has recovered after surgery and will be released back into the wild.

The Rockford Register Star reports that the young eagle will be released Saturday afternoon at Starved Rock State Park.

The bird was found in late October along the Illinois River. Veterinarians at Countryside Animal Clinic in Streator performed a successful surgery. The eagle has been recovering at Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Durand.

Hoo Haven Director Karen Herdklotz says the male eagle is doing well and Saturday will be a "big celebration." - http://bit.ly/HAGoMa

Mt.Vernon - Jefferson County Daily Record - April 12, 2012

MT. VERNON - Mt. Vernon Police Department

Arrests

• Devondria R. Foulks, 19, of the 1100 block of South 22nd Street, was arrested Tuesday at 7:36 p.m. on a charge of violation of bail bond. Bond was set at $25,000.
• Andrew C. Baltzell, 20, of the 100 block of East Opdyke Avenue, was arrested Tuesday at 8:01 p.m. on a charge of burglary.
• Crystal M. Parker, 32, of McLeansboro, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $3,000 and Parker was released.

Thefts

• Tuesday at 2:42 p.m., police responded to a report of an unspecified theft in the 800 block of Casey Avenue.
• A resident in the 200 block of Walnut told police someone attempted to steal copper at 10:19 a.m. Wednesday.
• Police responded to a report of a theft of $13.68 in fuel from Jumpin Jimmies at 12:13 p.m. Wednesday.
• A walk-in complainant told police at 1:33 p.m. Wednesday that someone fraudulently used his credit card.

Incidents

• Police responded to a report of a sound of a fight in the 600 block of Lamar Avenue at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.
• A resident in the 600 block of Lamar Avenue told police she was battered at 11:52 p.m. Tuesday.
• Tuesday at 4 p.m., a resident in the 1400 block of South 34th Street told police someone slashed his tires.
• A resident in the 900 block of Ellis Drive told police her truck was broken into while it was parked in Summersville at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
• Police responded to a report of burglary of a motor vehicle at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of Welkins.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Arrests

• Nicholas M. Coleman, 31, of the 800 block of North Eighth Street, was arrested Tuesday at 3:18 p.m. on a charge of probation violation. Bond was set at $3,000 and Coleman was released.
• Matthew J. Peters, 19, of the 2500 block of Herbert Street, was arrested Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. on a charge of violation of bail bond. Bond was set at $7,500.

Incidents

• Police responded to a report of a burglary in the 16900 block of East Saddle Club Road at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday.

Late payments puts Jefferson County under the gun

MOUNT VERNON —Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White will sit down with Second Judicial Circuit officials to discuss a solution to the financial burden placed on the county by late state reimbursement.

As part of an earlier agreement with the chief judge of the circuit, the county, which was the most populous in the circuit when the agreement was made several years ago, provides upfront payroll payment of the circuit's probation officers and is then reimbursed for most of the cost by the state, with the 12 counties in the circuit picking up the rest of the tab.

However, the state's habitual tardiness in making payments has led to a past due amount of more than $450,000, and could lead to an undue burden on the county's finances, Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White said.

"We've had a lot of growth and expansion in Jefferson County and we're doing pretty well, but we've had a couple of scares: three-payroll months and late payments from the state had us sweating bullets a few times," he said.

Those scares prompted the county to set a deadline of Wednesday to either receive payments from the state or begin to take steps to turn the payroll processing over to Franklin County, the most populous county in the circuit as of the 2010 U.S. Census.

"The state is months behind and that puts Jefferson County government in a bind," Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Stephen G. Sawyer said. "I understand the difficulty that poses to them. Franklin County has the same difficulty as far as state reimbursement."

Franklin County processes payroll and benefits for the juvenile detention center, which is also under the authority of the Second Judicial Circuit, and has a similar problem with state reimbursement.

Sawyer said he plans to meet with White and the circuit's probation and court services director to discuss options. - http://bit.ly/HDEmK5