Walnut Hill Motorcyclist Hurt in Crash

A 61-year-old Walnut Hill man was injured when his motorcycle crashed into the rear of a car on the Walnut Hill Road two miles west of Walnut Hill early Saturday night. State Police say Gerald Murphy was eastbound on the Walnut Hill Road behind a car driven by 21-year-old Joshua Telford of Walnut Hill. When Telford stopped quickly to avoid a deer, Murphy wasn't able to stop and struck Telford's vehicle in the rear. Murphy was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia for treatment of injuries. He was also ticketed for following too closely. Telford was not injured in the wreck that occurred at 7:05 Saturday evening. - http://goo.gl/AGvga

Marion County Police Beat for Monday, October 17th, 2011

Two people remain in the Marion County Jail following Sunday arrests on outstanding warrants. 40-year-old Michael Wheeler of East Nolen Road in Mt. Vernon is being held in lieu of $5,000 bond for failure to appear in court or pay fines on an outstanding possession of drug paraphernalia conviction. 54-year-old Kenneth Pokojski of Devonia Drive in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police on an outstanding traffic warrant. 21-year-old Christopher Keech of Hillcrest Road in Salem posted 150-dollars bond and was released after being arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for driving on a revoked or suspended license. The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft of a trailer taken from the Marlin Hanks residence on Krutsinger Road in rural Kinmundy. The trailer is owned by Linda Heistand of Perry Road in Alma. The sheriff's department also is investigating the theft of a deer stand. Curtis Black of South Perrine Street in Salem reported the deer stand was taken from a field off Omega Road in rural Kinmundy. - http://goo.gl/edoaU

Saturday Search For Jared Hanna Near Jolliff Bridge Road Northwest of Centralia Fails To Produce Any New Leads

Clinton County Sheriff's Department officials say a search of an area where personal items belonging to a missing Jerseyville man were found last Monday failed to turn up any new information on his whereabouts. 28-year-oldJared Hanna disappeared on July third after his truck apparently ran out of gas on the Jolliff Bridge Road northwest of Centralia. The personal items found Monday were located about a mile and a half closer to Centralia than where the truck was found. Clinton County Chief Deputy Mark Etter declined to discuss the items that were recovered, but says they had been positively identified as belonging to Hanna by his family members. He says the location and condition of the items did not give them any new information on what may have happened to Hanna. About 40 volunteers and cadaver dogs were involved in the search Saturday morning. Hanna is believed to have last been seen knocking on a door near where his truck ran out of gas asking for directions to the nearest town. He then headed east towards Centralia. Hanna is the father of two young children, ages 3 and six. He was last seen wearing a dark blue t-shirt and blue jeans. Hanna may have been wearing a black and white hat. He is five foot seven inches tall, weighs 195 pounds and had a buzz haircut. Anyone with information on Hanna's whereabouts is asked to contact the Clinton County Sheriff's Department at 594-4555. - http://goo.gl/XZjQK

Belleville Boy Dies In Crash While Being Rushed To Hospital For Facial Injury

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A 3-year-old Belleville boy has died in a crash of a minivan that was rushing him to a hospital for a face injury. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that Illinois State Police say Taiseer Noubani was ejected from the vehicle, driven by 23-year-old Lma Awwad of Belleville on Sunday afternoon. She told authorities she was traveling about 60 mph in the posted 45 mph zone near Belleville when she lost control of the vehicle. The boy had been riding on the lap of 18-year-old Mohammed Awwad, who was riding in the rear passenger seat. Neither the child nor the teenager was wearing a seat belt. State police say the child was ejected through a passenger window before the minivan came to rest on top of him.  hVhC9

Hundreds Join Protests Against Corporate Greed in Springfield and Peoria

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Hundreds in Springfield and Peoria have joined the protest against corporate greed and economic disparities that began with the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York. About 300 protesters marched in downtown Springfield on Saturday to join a global day of demonstrations. The Occupy Springfield rally was peaceful and there were no arrests. One protester - 55-year-old Joe Feiden of Petersburg - told the (Springfield) State Journal-Register he was at the rally because corporations have too much political influence. Another 300 people staged a march Saturday in Peoria. The (Peoria) Journal-Star reports the group plans to rally every Saturday and may set up a permanent occupation in a park. The mostly liberal protesters included some supporters of Texas Republican Ron Paul, a favorite of libertarians.  bqYBH

Salem Area Emergency Providers Complete Drill To Test Their Preparedness

A Salem factory with a toxic chemical spill that sent a plumb of chemicals into the air over the west side of Salem that forced the closure of West Main Street and the evacuation of a number of west side businesses was the scenario for a drill for emergency service agencies Friday. The drill included use of the region's mobile command and communications vehicles. Salem Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Terry Mulvany says a drill is required every two years for the agency to keep its accreditation. "It gets everybody together number one. We had officials from the City of Salem and Marion County. We had the Regional Illinois EMA coordinator for Marion County here to assist me. It's just a time we work together, we call in state agencies to assist, the Mt. Vernon Fire Department haz mat team was here, the Robinson ITEC folks were hear with their trailer.We brought in people from outside Marion County area for this exercise to assist us," Mulvany said. Mulvany says it was an excellent drill and like all those before in his 32 years he learned something new. The agencies will sit down later to review how they did and look for ways to improve. Salem Fire Chief Roger Mann says they have a lot more resources as a result of the inflow of federal grants since 9-11. "We have a haz mat team in Centralia. We have a haz mat team in Mt. Vernon. They work together. They have both been credentialed with the state. They are credentialed to go anywhere in the state, or actually any where in the country where they might be needed," Mann explained."Through those grants people way above us in the federal government have decided to put this money down and filter it in different ways for people to pickup. We're really blessed." Mann says the mobile command vehicle can replace damaged facilities and the mobile communications vehicle, complete with its own radio tower, can replace damaged communications equipment and put all of those involved in handling an incident on a special frequency away from other traffic. He was impressed with the enthusiasm of the public safety agencies in attendance. Salem Police Sergeant Susan Miller, who also helped put together the drill, was also appreciative of all those who gave their time to prepare for an emergency situation.  sFNDs

Mt. Vernon Trick-or-treating hours announced

Princesses, superheroes and maybe a Transformer or two will soon be heading into neighborhoods in search of candy.

Each village and town in Jefferson County has slightly different dates and times for Halloween trick-or-treating.

The city of Mt. Vernon will hold its trick-or-treat hours on Halloween, Oct. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The village of Bonnie has not set a specific time for trick-or-treating at this time, according to personnel at the Bonnie Village Hall.

Bluford has no set trick-or-treating hours, but always holds trick-or-treating on Halloween night, according to personnel at the Bluford Village Hall.

The Village of Dix will hold its Halloween trick-or-treating hours at the same time as the city of Mt. Vernon — 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. Those who wish to participate in handing out candy are asked to have their porch lights on.

The village of Ina will also have trick-or-treating from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Woodlawn’s trick-or-treating time will be on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Information about trick-or-treat times and dates for the villages of Belle Rive, Walnut Hill and Waltonville, as well as the city of Nason, was not immediately available.

In addition to going door-to-door, at least one community church plans to hold a trunk-or-treat, where people will decorate their trunks and costumed youngsters can go trunk-to-trunk instead of door-to-door.

First Methodist Church in downtown Mt. Vernon will hold its annual trunk-or-treat from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, in the parking lot adjacent to the church and City Hall.

Church members will decorate their trunks and provide the candy, and the community is welcome to attend, said church personnel. CwUg9

Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, October 15th, 2011

Two people remain in the Marion County Jail following Friday arrests.17-year-old Donald DeClue Junior of South Wabash in Centralia was arrested by State Police for driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia. 26-year-old David Shuler of North Walnut in Centralia is being held in lieu of $5,000 bond for failure to appear in court or pay on a burglary conviction. 20-year-old Timothy Bryan of Racetrack Road in Centralia posted $100 bond and was released after being arrested by Centralia Police for alleged domestic battery and resisting arrest. 22-year-old Nathan Foltz of Frazier Street in Centralia posted $100 after being arrested by State Police for alleged driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cannabis. 23-year-old Brendan Heffron of North Sycamore in Centralia posted $300 bond andwas released on an outstanding warrant for driving under the influence and a new charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. The Marion County Sheriff's Department has several burglaries and thefts under investigation. Michael Dirkner of North Beech Street in Centralia reported his shed broken into and several items missing. Vernon Quandt of Quandt Road reported a 20 foot long flat bed trailer was stolen from a barn on his farm. Quandt reported a boat that was on the trailer was pushed off. Thomas Greenwood of Loy Road in Kinmundy reported several car parts and tools were stolen from his yard. The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating something being thrown off the Nation Road overpass on Interstate 57 late Friday night. It damaged a semi driven by 30-year-old Jesus Mendez of Bolingbrook. However, he was not injured. 6icMq

New Evidence Found In Jared Hanna's Disappearance; New Search Set For Saturday

The Clinton County Sheriff's Department plans a new search for a missing Jerseyville man after new evidence was found this week. Chief Deputy Mark Etter says personal items belonging to 28-year-old Jared Hanna were discovered along Crooked Creek southwest of the Jolliff Bridge Road north of West McCord Street on the northwest side of Centralia. He reports the items were reported to the sheriff's department on Monday and later confirmed as belonging to Hanna by family members. Etter says several groups and cadaver dogs will join efforts on Saturday to search the area in hopes of coming up with more evidence about Hanna's disappearance on July third. He reports the department has adequate manpower and no additional volunteers are needed. Hanna's truck was found abandoned out of gas on the Jolliff Bridge Road about 2.5 miles northwest of Centralia. - http://goo.gl/LIHAC

Illinois Man Accused of Exposing Others to HIV

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A man infected with HIV, who claims Illinois and Missouri residency, has been charged with intentionally infecting other people. Patrick Wayne Gregory is charged with criminal transmission of HIV for knowing he is infected and not informing the person of the danger. Three counts of the same charge have been filed in St. Louis for acts Gregory committed between March 2010 and last month. Under Illinois and Missouri laws, victims do not have to become infected with the virus in order for charges to be filed. The 26-year-old Gregory, who was arrested in Collinsville, Is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond in the Madison County Jail. Assistant Police Chief Thomas Coppotelli said the charges are rarely filed. However, he says what Gregory was passing on is "a silent killer." - http://goo.gl/V0u8K