Marion County Poverty Rate Above 16-Percent

Marion County's Poverty Rate is above 16-percent, according to a new study from the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau released Tuesday the 2010 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates for over 3,100 counties, and nearly 14,000 school districts, across the country.
Marion County's overall poverty rate is 16.5-percent, one of the highest rates in South-Central Illinois. The poverty level for children under 18-years-old is ten-percent more than the overall rate at 26.6-percent. The poverty rate for kids ages five-to-seventeen is at 24.8-percent. Medium household income in Marion County is estimated at $38,182.
The report also breaks down poverty levels for children ages five-to-seventeen based on school districts. The North Wamac School District had the highest poverty rate in the area with 40.2-percent. The Selmaville School District had the lowest poverty rate in the county with 12.1-percent. The following Marion County school districts and estimated poverty rates are listed below.

School Poverty Rate (Percentage) Patoka 16.9 South Central20.2 Sandoval27.2 Odin26.6 Salem Elementary32.4 Salem Comm. High School17.1 Centralia City Schools30.0 Centralia High School21.1 Central City Grade School20.7 Willow Grove Grade School33.3 Raccoon Grade School17.9 Kell Grade School22.9 Iuka Grade School21.3 North Wamac Grade School40.2 Selmaville Grade School12.1 The report also released poverty levels for other counties in South-Central Illinois.

Jefferson County had the highest poverty rate in South-Central Illinois at 17-percent. Fayette County has 15.8-percent, Clay County with 15.3-percent, Wayne County at 14.9-percent, and Clinton County at 8.4-percent. Washington County had the lowest poverty level in South-Central Illinois with 8.2-percent.

The SAIPE Report provides county and state estimates for the total number of people in poverty, the number of children under five-years-old in poverty (for states only), the number of children 5-to-17 in families in poverty for county and school districts, the number of children under 18 in poverty and median household income.   http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Salem Police have arrested a 25-year-old Salem man for alleged criminal trespass to state supported property. Anthony Harden of North Howard Street was taken into custody when police were called to Marion County Housing Authority property in the 700 block of Senneff to a report of a domestic dispute. 24-year-old Connie Rose Meeks of Rasback Street in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police for alleged domestic battery and on a Marion County ordinance violation warrant. A 26-year-old Central City man remains in custody in lieu of $150,000 bond after being arrested by sheriff's deputies on an outstanding felony warrant. The warrant charges Nathan McCormick of High Street with aggravated domestic battery. 33-year-old Ronald White of Hurst is being held in lieu of $25,000 bond on a warrant charging felony driving on a revoked license. 34-year-old Lori Ann McKenzie of Veterans Memorial Drive in Mt. Vernon was arrested on a failure to appear or pay warrant on a no insurance charge. Bond is set at $2,000. A 30-year-old Carlyle woman reported minor injuries in a car-deer accident on U.S. 50 a quarter mile west of Hoots Chapel Road in rural Odin. Jennifer Gansauer of Bellflower Road did not require hospital treatment. http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Four Injured In I-57 Wreck South of Salem

Four Indianapolis, Indiana residents were injured when they van was hit in the rear while traveling southbound on Interstate 57 three miles south of Salem late Monday night. State Police say 52-year-old Clifford Nourse was traveling at a reduced speed due to the heavy rain when the semi driven by 28-year-old Jereme Wayne Patton of Salem, Missouri hit him in the rear. After the collision, Nourse ran off the right side of the road and hit several small trees. Nourse along with three passengers, 45-year-old Moniquel Ackles, 52-year-old Sheila Cheatam, and 62-year-old Willard Cheatam, were all taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment. Salem Fire Protection District personnel were called to the scene to assist ambulance personnel in loading the four victims into ambulances to be taken to the hospital. The wreck occurred at 11:08 Monday night. http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Council hears study concerning center

A feasibility study says the Mt. Vernon City Council should continue to look into an exhibition center.

Phase II of the study, conducted by Destination Development International, would further determine the economic feasibility and require a vote by the council to proceed.

"We can come to some determination with numbers in-house to help determine if we want to take a hard look at it," said City Manager Ron Neibert.

The study's bottom line assessment stated an active, well-run exhibition center would improve tourism numbers, add tax revenue, revitalize peripheral spending and attract visitors, who may later return to the city or even relocate to Mt. Vernon.

An exhibition center as a destination facility, according to the study, will typically host three types of events:  Flat floor trade shows, consumer events and civic events. For these purposes, the study recommended a 60,000-square-foot facility with additional space for storage, offices, restrooms and a catering kitchen. STudy organizers estimated local construction costs at an estimated $7.2 to $8.2 million, not including land, infrastructure and parking.

The study found "considerable regional market competition."

Mt. Vernon Tourism Director Bonnie Jerdon said in her overview of the report there is considerable interest in our area, "for these types of events. I think we're in a competitive position."

Jerdon also said for the facility to become successful and competitive, creative management of floor space would be imperative.

"We would need to be very flexible to make it successful," Jerdon said.

The study recommended the exploration of possible public/private partnerships to minimize capital costs for the city.

"We have received interest from some hotel owners for such a venture," said Jerdon.  http://bit.ly/sS1qia

Police seeking two individuals in Jefferson County

Jefferson County CrimeStoppers is offering a reward for information leading to the arrests of two individuals.

Darnell A. Maxie, 18, and Marventi D. Palmer, 25, are wanted on allegations of aggravated discharge of a firearm. Anyone who has seen either suspect, knows of their location or knows any information that would be helpful in locating either suspect is asked to call Jefferson County CrimeStoppers at

618-242-8477 or Mount Vernon Police Department at 618-242-2131 or

618-242-0215 immediately.  http://bit.ly/vOhSjA

Illinois Legislature Considers Bill Giving Unused Armories to Salem and Mt. Vernon

The Illinois legislature is considering a measure that would give the no longer used Salem Armory to the City of Salem and the Mt. Vernon Armory to the City of Mt. Vernon. State Representative John Cavaletto says the Amendment to a Senate bill has now passed the Illinois House and the Veterans Affairs Committee of the Senate and is headed to the Senate Floor. "It gives the quick claim deed to the Armory, to Salem, and to the same one in Mt. Vernon.
So now, the thing is that these are old buildings. They have asbestos in them, but they've turned them over to the city. They're going to turn them over to the city of Mt. Vernon and Salem and decide what to do with them when they gain them. So the property would be theirs", said Cavaletto.
State Senator John O. Jones says he's willing to support the bill, but hopes city officials know the liability they are taking on. "There's plans for that facility, and that's great. If there is, we want to help him pursue those plans. I know with the city of Mt. Vernon, I talked briefly to the mayor there. They're looking at possibly demolishing the thing in Mt. Vernon.
If they do, we're looking at 400-to-500-thousand dollars to do the demolition on that building and get it hauled off. So we need to be careful of what we get because it could be a bigger liability than we realize", said Jones. Salem Mayor John Raymer explains what the city would do if they obtained the Armory. "We don't have any plan to use that building, but we do think there are some people in town who would interested in purchasing that for a business location. If that's the case, we can get that on the tax rolls and bring some more jobs into town, and that's where we want to go", said Raymer.
Raymer realizes there is a zoning issue since the Armory is currently a special use in a residential zone. Salem Economic Development Director Tracey McDaneld says a visual inspection of the Salem Armory showed all asbestos encapsulated in insulation around pipes in the building.
However, she notes a full survey of the building has not been completed. The bill for the quick claim deed could be sent to the Governor's desk during this week's brief veto session or when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January.  http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Board expected to appoint new attorney

The Jefferson County Board is expected to appoint a new Jefferson County State's Attorney today.

On the agenda for tonight's meeting is to accept the resignation of current State's Attorney Nicole Villani and appoint the next.

Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White declined to say who the Republican Party's candidate for appointment to the position of State's Attorney will be.

"I don't want it in the media before the board has a chance to meet (him or her) and talk," he said.

White said when he was notified of Villani's resignation, he notified the Democratic and Republican party chairs in Jefferson County for them to present a candidate.

"We hope whomever they choose is a quality person," he said. "You want to pick someone who can withstand the election fight."

He said the appointment process in Jefferson County is considerably less intense than at the federal level. While County Board members may question candidates, he said it is hard for county board members to make the judgment for a nominee, and that's why the respective parties are required to provide an appointee.

He added that whoever is appointed will have less than a year to make themselves known and campaign to be reelected. The appointee will face reelection Nov. 6, 2012.

Villani announced her resignation in early November after she was appointed as the resident circuit judge by the Illinois Supreme Court effective Jan. 1. Villani will replace Judge Terry Gamber, who served 19 years and announced his retirement in September.

Villani became the Jefferson County State's Attorney in July of last year after winning a lawsuit that challenged the results in the Nov. 4, 2008, election.

Prior to serving as the Jefferson County State's Attorney, Villani was the assistant state's attorney in Franklin County from March 1996 to March 1998; the first assistant state's attorney in Jefferson County from March 1998 to August 2004; and in private practice with her husband, Hank Villani, from Aug. 2004 to July 2010.  http://bit.ly/vLPQZE

Salem Police Release Details On Friday Night Car-Motorcycle Accident

Salem Police have completed reports on a Friday night car-motorcycle accident that sent a 44-year-old Salem man to the hospital for treatment. Police report Troy Shults of South Washington was driving a motorcycle westbound on the 15-hundred block of West Main when the cycle was struck in the rear by a car.
The driver of the car, 59-year-old Dennis Williams of Isabella Street in Mt. Vernon, escaped injury. He was ticketed for driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for no insurance.
Police say Shults had signalled and changed from the passing to drivers lane to allow a vehicle leaving the Wendy's Restaurant parking lot to make a left turn onto West Main. Williams told police he didn't see the cycle in front of him in time to avoid the collision. Shults was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment of his injuries. The wreck occurred at 9:21 Friday night. http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Two Hurt in Walnut Hill Road Accident Sunday Night

Two Walnut Hill residents were taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia for treatment following a one car crash in the 32-hundred bock of Walnut Hill Road in rural Walnut Hill early Sunday night. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say 74-year-old Everett Campbell of North Old Centralia Lane was westbound when his car ran off the south side of the road, over corrected, ran off the north side of the road, and overturned in a ditch striking a tree.
Both Campbell and a passenger,76-year-old Anne Campbell of the same address, were injured. Kell Firemen were called to the scene and helped remove the occupants of the vehicle prior to transport to the hospital for apparent minor injuries. The wreck occurred at 6:43 Sunday night. - http://goo.gl/C35cu

'Meat shoots' target of Swansea, Ill. village board

SWANSEA, Ill. - A southwestern Illinois town is considering a new law that could make it more difficult to have fundraisers known as "meat shoots."

The Belleville News-Democrat reports on meat shoot fundraisers in which attendees compete for steaks and other prizes by shooting at targets placed against bales of hay.

During one recent shoot at a local meeting hall, someone walking nearby the hall heard shotgun blasts and was startled. Now, the village wants civic groups holding the shoots to obtain liability insurance first.

The village board is drafting an ordinance and could vote on it next month.

An official at the meeting hall warns that requirement might end up costing the village money if groups decide to hold meat shoots elsewhere.  full story