Jefferson County Barn fire

Waltonville, Sesser and Jefferson Fire Protection Districts responded to a report of a barn fire in the 6700 block of North Topeka Lane in Waltonville at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The barn sat several yards south of the home, owned by the Norris family. The large pole barn, which held farm equipment, fuel and tires, was ignited by a small trash fire, according to witnesses at the scene. WFPD personnel did not clear the scene until almost 4 p.m. Full Story

Son Dies, Mother Injured in Southwestern Illinois Fire

EAGLE PARK, Ill. (AP) - State fire investigators are trying to figure out what caused a trailer home fire that killed a man in southwestern Illinois. Madison County's coroner says 38-year-old Deuntramon Mosby died in the fire early Sunday in the tiny community of Eagle Park. His 57-year-old mother managed to escape and was treated at a hospital. Relatives say the two were asleep when the woman awoke to find smoke and flames. She tried to wake her son, then scrambled to a neighbor's house to call emergency responders. Sheriff's Captain Mike Dixon says a preliminary investigation shows no signs of foul play. The coroner says Mosby was identified through eyewitness accounts of his presence in the home when the fire began and the surgically implanted, serial-numbered orthopedic implants he got during neck surgery. - http://goo.gl/1BKmp

Four Marion County Businesses Cited for Selling Alcohol to Minors

Four Marion County businesses were cited in December for violating liquor control laws by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC). Billie Joe's General Store at 104 7th Street in Alma, Pizza Hut at 1551 West Main in Salem, the Five Brothers Café at 2053 West Main in Salem, and the El Rancherito Restaurant at 103 Bladridge in Salem were cited for selling liquor to underage customers. On December 8th, businesses sold alcohol to ILCC underage participants. Twenty-six checks were done in Fayette, Marion, and Effingham counties at this time. Four Clinton County businesses were also cited in December for selling alcohol to underage participants. Jumpin' Jimmy's at 491 Franklin and Big O's at 20277 State Route 127, both in Carlyle, Breeze East End Liquors at 1150 North 4th Street in Breeze, and the Trenton House at Two East Broadway in Trenton were all cited on December 15th for selling alcohol to minors. The ILCC visited 168 businesses licensed to sell liquor across the state during December. 29-licenses were cited for violating the law. 83-percent of the licensees visited complied with Illinois law, and refused to sell liquor to minors. The ILCC teams randomly visit liquor stores, restaurants and bars in communities around the state to check for ongoing compliance with state laws, mandating that no liquor is sold to minors under the age of 21. ILCC agents also work with local and state law enforcement agents to focus on communities with a high incidence of underage liquor sales. - http://goo.gl/ezdbO

Illinois Man Charged With Having Pipe Bomb

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - A 27-year-old southern Illinois man is being held on a weapons charge after police say they found a pipe bomb in the truck he was riding in.
Christopher Johnson of Belleville is being held on $75,000 bond. He's charged with unlawful possession of firearm ammunition. Belleville police say officers pulled over the truck Johnson was riding in early Thursday, and a police dog signaled that it detected drugs.

While searching the vehicle, officers say they found what appeared to be a pipe bomb. A state bomb squad deactivated the device.
The woman driving the truck has not been charged. It wasn't immediately clear whether Johnson has an attorney. Authorities say additional charges could be filed.  http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Police Beat For Sunday, December 18, 2011

21 year old Todd Michael Murray of Linton Street in Odin was arrested by Illinois State Police for alleged illegal consumption and possession of alcohol. Murray posted $150 cash and was released.

32 year old Keith Allen Schoreck of West Broadway in Iola was arrested by Kinmundy Police for alleged possession of meth and other controlled substances.

25 year old Dallas Grant Brinkmeyer of South Hickory in Centralia was arrested by Illinois State Police on a Marion County Warrent. Brinkmeyer posted $500.

58 year old Steven Eugene Lague of Alma turned himself in on a Marion County Warrent. Lague posted $200 cash bond.

29 year old Joanna Jessica Sales of West Hickory in Centralia was arrested by Sandoval Police on a Marion County Warrent. Sales posted $150 cash and was released.
 full story

Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, December 17th, 2011

A 41-year-old Centralia man has been arrested by Centralia Police for alleged domestic battery. Shawn Sause of Condit Place is accused of grabbing his mother, Connie Sause, around the throat and tearing up the residence. Police say they arrested Shawn when they found him hiding in a closet at the residence. 50-year-old David Mansen of South Poplar in Patoka is being held for possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Central City Police arrested Mansen after he was discovered driving a car reported as stolen from Hertz Rental cars because it had not been returned following the lease period. 33-year-old Robert Honecker of North Marion in Central City remained in jail Saturday after being arrested by State Police for driving on a suspended license and on an outstanding traffic warrant. 26-year-old Jamie Huggins of North Marion in Salem remains in jail after being arrested by sheriff's deputies for retail theft.

The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating criminal damage to a rental property owned by Robert Woodward on the Bannister Road in Kell. The water was allegedly turned on and caused considerable damage.  http://goo.gl/kIvfs

Marion County Police Beat for Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

A 20-year-old Centralia woman has been arrested by Centralia Police for alleged domestic battery. Misty Rhodes of East Noleman is accused of striking Travis Felton of the same address twice during a disagreement Tuesday night. 20-year-old Kyle Nix of Hester Street in Centralia was arrested by Wamac Police for alleged misdemeanor theft. Nix is accused of taking $20 from his mother's purse. 20-year-old Tommy Williams of Greenview Road in Centralia remains in jail after being arrested by sheriff's deputies on an outstanding Clinton County felony warrant. 18-year-old Caleb Webster of Radio Tower Road in Salem posted bond after being arrested by Salem Police during a traffic stop for alleged possession of cannabis. http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Two People Arrested After Centralia Burglary Broken Up

Centralia Police arrested two people after a Centralia maun broke up a burglary in progress when coming home early Wednesday morning. Zamer Burns of Maulding Drive told police he say two men inside his residence who ran on foot. As police were canvassing the area, a 13-year-old juvenile boy was found lying in a field. The boy allegedly had a bag of items with him that he told police had been taken from the Burns home. The juvenile reportedly identified the person with him. 18-year-old Travis Leckrone of Maulding Drive was later located at his home and arrested for alleged residential burglary. Leckrone was taken to the Marion County Jail. The juvenile was released to his mother. Police say all of the items taken from Burns home have been recovered, with the exception of a TV set that is still missing. http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Farmers Pleased with Illinois Business Tax Deal

Springfield, IL -- A tax deal headed to Governor Quinn's desk is putting a smile on the faces of some farmers across the state. Kevin Semlow, with the Illinois Farm Bureau, says an increase in the estate tax exemption gives farmers a chance to keep their farms in-tact when there's a death in the family. "A lot of times what happens is there are many families that sell off parts of their farm to be able to pay and afford the taxes that are due when there is a loss in the family, and this will enable them to keep that farm more intact. Some of these farms have been in their families for three, four, or five generations", said Semlow. The deal to help farmers was tacked onto the tax incentive bill lawmakers passed in an effort to keep Sears and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in Illinois. The bill also extends the Research and Development tax credit for five years and reinstates the Net Operating Loss Deduction. That allows businesses to carry their losses forward in a tough economy.  http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Authorities release surveillance photos of Collinsville bank robbery

COLLINSVILLE - A man robbed the First Collinsville Bank at 800 Beltline Road about 10 a.m. Monday, inferring a weapon before fleeing with cash, police said. No one was hurt.

The robber wore a gray hooded jacket, blue jeans, a green baseball cap with yellow lettering and sunglasses. He walked out of the bank and left the area in a silver Ford or Toyota sedan. The man was seen at a nearby business prior to the robbery, but was not wearing sunglasses at that time. - http://goo.gl/hpKjw