Illinois' Debt Rises, Credit Rating Declines, Citizens Paying More in Interest

CHICAGO-A new report shows Illinois citizens how much the state owes in debts and the dangers from it. U.S. Republican Senator Mark Kirk today released the Report on Illinois Debt. The report shows that the state owes over $30 billion on top of unpaid bills. The state's unpaid bills have totaled $8.3 billion. Health and pension obligations have totaled over $140 billion. Illinois has payed almost $3 billion in interest on the money already borrowed annually. Prospects for repayment are difficult. Illinois lost over 190,000 jobs since January 2001. The City of Chicago lost over 200,000 people during the same period. Illinois citizens face higher taxes and larger debts because so many of their fellow citizens have moved to other, more fiscally responsible states. The State lost over 85,000 net taxpayers between 1995 and 2007 to neighboring states. Taxpayer flight between 1995 and 2007 cost Illinois an estimated $2.4 billion in tax revenue. Most people have went to Wisconsin and Indiana. The people of Illinois owes twice as much to the state as people in Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, and three times more than people in Wisconsin and Michigan. While Illinois is an American state with substantially stronger institutions than Europe, its debt load per person is higher than for citizens in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, or Greece. According to the report, the state of Illinois has the lowest credit rating in the nation, classified as a A1 rating. Bordering states such as Indiana and Iowa have the highest credit ratings in the nation, classified as a triple-a rating. Because Illinois has such a poor credit rating, local governments must pay higher interest rates than similar communities in better-run states. The report was prepared in consultation with Senator Kirk's Sovereign Debt Advisory Board, chaired by financial expert Henry Feinberg. - http://goo.gl/WOUk1

Country Bob's New Facility To Expand Operations

Country Bob's in Centralia is preparing to expands operations by moving to a new facility. Spokesperson Reed Malkovic says the new facility will be located about three miles south of Centralia on U.S. Highway 51 in the new Principle Meridian Business Park. Malkovic says it was time to grow. "We've just had steady growth over the last five to six years, and we're just running out of room in our current building", said Malkovic. Country Bob's is currently located at Second and Lincoln Street. The current facility has 20,000 square feet. The new facility on U.S. 51 will have 35,000 square feet, and will create an additional two-to-five jobs along with retaining 14 current jobs. Malkovic says they will break ground next spring and expect to have the building completed next fall. Country Bob's makes all purpose sauce, seasoned salts, and barbecue sauce. - http://goo.gl/C6KqQ

Fall Harvest Moves Into Full Swing; Yields Down From Last Year

The fall harvest has moved into full swing across South Central Illinois. It appears the harvest across northern Marion County is better than in the Centralia area which received less rainfall during the latter part of the growing season. Russell Vandeveer of Natures Acres north of Salem says all the corn is ready to come out of the field and many bean fields are ready for harvest as well. "So far itlooks likeeveryone is working ontrying to getthe corn crop harvested and they have done it with a pretty rapid pace with the nice weather we've hadthe last week. I think people are now getting into the soybean harvest also and it's going to slow up the corn pace a little bit because people are going to switch and try and get their soybeans out," Vandeveer said. "If it does happen to rain, it would probably be a little bit of a blessing because itis gettingpretty dry and I've noticethere have been several combine fires." Vandeveer is averaging 35 to 45 bushels an acre for soybeans and 125 to 135 bushels per acre for corn. That's down 10 to 15 bushels per acre for soybeans and 25 to 50 bushels per acre for corn from last year's near perfect weather and record crop. Considering the dry weather the second half of summer, Vandeveer is happy with the results. The harvest numbers aren't as good in the Centralia area, where Larry Juenger at the Maco Elevator shares some early yield results. "Beans are averaging 33 to 35 bushelsan acre, which most of my growers are happy withthat considering the conditions. The corn, we've gotten in 110 to 120 bushels per acre. We knew going in the corn was going to be a disappointment, so that is pretty well what we expected," Juenger said. Both Juenger and Vandeveer say there is still plenty of time to complete the harvest. - http://goo.gl/ggNRn

Three-Year-Old Chicago Girl Killed In Effingham County Wreck

A three-year-old Chicago girl has died in a single vehicle wreck on Interstate 57 in Effingham County that sent eight other Chicago area residents to the hospital for treatment. State Police say Kendall McDonald was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the SUV, 42-year-old Muriel Davis-McDonald, was traveling northbound on I-57 just south of the Effingham-Shelby County line when she left the roadway, overcorrected, lost control, rolled over, and came to rest in the roadway ditch. Davis-McDonald was taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, while seven others were transported to Carle Hospital in Champaign. State Police report only the driver and one seven-year-old passenger were wearing seatbelts. The wreck occurred at 7:32 Monday morning. - http://goo.gl/0xcFF

Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Two people remain in the Marion County Jail following drug related arrests by Centralia Police. 27-year-old Melia Welch of West North Avenue in Bluford is being held for possession of a controlled substance. 21-year-old Odell Wright of Jackson Street in Centraliais being held for possession of less than ten grams of cannabis. 56-year-old Paul Lewis of North Kell in Centralia was arrested by Sandoval Police for alleged disorderly conduct. 35-year-old Jennifer Harpool of Ash Street in Edgewood posted $600 bond after being arrested on an Effingham County small claims warrant. The Marion County Sheriff's Department has two burglaries under investigation. James LeBeau of Centralia reported a barn on his mother's property on the Possum Trot Road in rural Alma was broken into. A new tractor and brush hog are reported missing. Ubia Benjamin of Jeff Road in Walnut Hill reported her home was burglarized over the weekend. - http://goo.gl/gb3cj

Marion County Police Beat for Monday, October 10th, 2011

A 29-year-old Centralia man is being held in the Clinton County Jail for alleged robbery and domestic battery. Cesar Munoz is accused of going to the Clarissa Glass home on Dover Street and knocking Glass down and physically taking her cell phone. Centralia Police say Munoz claimed Glass owed him money, leading to the altercation. A 25-year-old Centralia man has been arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail by Centralia Police for alleged aggravated domestic battery and felony criminal damage to property. Centralia Police say Eddie Armstrong of East 5th went to the Kimberly Burton home on Saddler Street. When she didn't answer the door, Armstrong allegedly broke out the windows in her car. Once Burton came out of her home, Armstrong allegedly began choking her. Salem Police arrested a 21-year-old Salem man on multiple charges following a traffic stop on his motorcycle early Monday morning. Christopher Keech of Hillcrest Drive was arrested for alleged driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled substance and cannabis and driving on a suspended license. - http://goo.gl/uVhW0

MVTHS updates attendance policy

Mt. Vernon Township High School has updated its attendance policy in the wake of new state truancy guidelines.

"We can't carry out our mission without students in school," said Principal Wes Olson. "We want them to meet their fullest potential."

MVTHS has set a goal of raising attendance 2 percent in response to the changes in the Illinois School Code that went into effect at the beginning of the new school year, which allow students to miss only nine days unexcused rather than 18.

Olson said he expects the new system to result in 90 percent of students accruing less than five unexcused absences, with another 5 percent between three and eight and the remaining 5 percent over the limit of nine.

"Through a framework which provides three tiers of support to our students and families (prevention, early intervention and more intense intervention strategies), the 2011-12 Attendance Plan will assist our students in being successful," information states. "It will take the entire community to support the importance of education and the need for students to be at school every day."

Olson said a fundamental part of the new plan is to hold accountable four groups: school personnel, students, parents and the community.

According to information provided by the school, expectations for students include planning appointments outside school hours and coming to school with minor illnesses rather than staying home; for school personnel, educating the medical community on the attendance plan and reducing out-of-school suspension for tardies and other minor offenses; for the community, providing incentives to be given to students with good attendance, such as iPods, and creating and hanging posters about the policy; and for parents, making sure their children get an adequate amount of sleep and planning vacations around school times.

"This can make a real difference in your child's life. You just have to get them here," Olson said.

Action steps for preventing truancy have toughened up as well: the first day of truancy results in a letter to the student's parent; the second, a call home and five days of social suspension; and the third, a call and/or home visit from school social workers to create a plan for the child. Steps increase in severity until all the student's days are exhausted. - http://goo.gl/eHOVY

Salem Recycling Center To Be Closed All Week Following Arson Fire

Keep Salem Beautiful Coordinator Jane Marshall says the city's recycling center on the county's parking lot off North Broadway and Schwartz Street will be closed this week following an early Monday morning fire. Marshall says the trailer housing the recycling containers is being aired out and will have to be power washed before it is put back into service. Salem Police noticed the fire shortly before two am and called the fire department. Firemen say the cardboard inside the metal trailer that houses the recycling center had been set on fire. The blaze destroyed some of the plastic containers housing the recycled materials and scorched some of the outside paint. No one was seen around the center before the fire was discovered. Salem Police and Fire officials are investigating. Marshall says she's frustrated with the action, but says the recycling center will return. She notes all of the recycled materials that were in the bins will have to be thrown out because it is contaminated with the smoke smell. - http://goo.gl/aSny3

Country Bob's Prepares To Construct New Facility In Centralia

Country Bob's in Centralia is preparing to construct a new facility. Centralia Economic Development Director Jeannie Gustafson says the new facility will be located on a five acre site three and a half miles south of Centralia on U.S. 51 immediately south of Jeff Road. The supported redevelopment of the factory from its current location at Second and Lincoln Street will retain 14 jobs and create two new jobs within two years of the project being completed. The Centralia City Council Tuesday night will be asked to apply for a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant to help the city make infrastructure improvements to the site. The city is requesting $74,864 funding to be used by the city to construct a new water line along with extending an eight inch sanitary sewer line to the city's Principal Meridian Business Park to support the redevelopment. The council will be asked to release an additional $7,000 payment to Don Karchmer Enterprises under a development agreement for Tax Increment Finance District Five on the northwest side of the city near McCord and Aaron Parkway. Karchmer provided $21,000 to the city in 2006 to help pay for the cost of a consultant to create the TIF District. Karchmer received another $7,000 payment in 2010 and is still owed an additional $7,000. The council will also be asked to make a $49,829 distribution to Heritage Woods of Centralia from TIF District number six. The payment represents 60-percent of the amount of property taxes paid by Heritage Woods on their 2010 Marion County property tax bill. The Centralia City Council will meet at seven Tuesday night. The meeting has been moved back a day because of the Columbus Day Holiday. - http://goo.gl/Irvtd

Two Centralia Men Arrested For Alleged Home Invasion and Attempted Armed Robbery

Two Centralia men have been arrested for alleged home invasion and attempted armed robbery. Centralia Police say the two had just forced open the back door of the Colt McLean home in the 300 block of North Elm Street around 3:30 Monday morning when they arrived on the scene. Police report both 27-year-old Brandon Hoskins of Fairway Drive and 20-year-old Dustin Rhynes of East Second ran on foot. Hoskins was apprehended about a block away. Rhynes was able to initially flee from the squad car chasing him, but dropped an article of clothing. With the help of the scent, Rhynes was apprehended with the help of the Clinton County canine about 45 minutes later. Police say he was hiding against the side of a home. The attempted armed robbery charge was added because police say they found a sawed off shotgun on the ground where the two menhad initially run from the home. Both Hoskins and Rhynes were taken to the Marion County Jail pending a first appearance in court. McLean had called police when hearing someone trying to gain entry to his home. - http://goo.gl/WkoeS