Fire Destroys Leah's Flowers and Gifts in Mt. Vernon

Fire destroyed a Mt. Vernon business Friday night. Mt. Vernon city firemen report flames were showing through the windows when they arrived at Leah's Flowers and Gifts at 1113 Veterans Memorial Drive. Firemen were hampered by a double roof on the building. The store was closed for the day and no one was inside. Damage is estimated at $100,000. Firemen say nothing could be removed from inside the building because of the intensity of the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The extreme cold temperatures caused water from the fire fighting efforts to freeze. While several firemen fell on the ice, there were no injuries. No other buildings were threatened by the fire. The fire alarm came in at 6:18 Friday night, with firemen remaining on the scene for four and a half hours. There were reports flames from the fire could be seen from a mile away. Jefferson Rural Firemen joined Mt. Vernon City Firemen in fighting the fire. Centralia city firefighters and Waltonville firemen remained at the Mt. Vernon fire stations to handle other calls. - http://goo.gl/e1kcw

Cattle Truck Overturns South of Alma, Some Cattle Killed

A semi truck hauling cattle overturned on its side on Illinois Route 37 near the Kenco Road south of Alma Friday morning, setting off a nearly six hour effort to free the cattle trapped inside.

The driver of the truck, 35-year-old Daniel Shepard of Elwood, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment. The final tally on the cows showed 11 killed and 31 who were cut out of the trailer alive. An estimated 25 to 30 volunteershelped cut open the trailer with arotary saw to get the cows out. State Police say earlier reports that some of the cows escaped wereincorrect.

The cause of the wreck remains under investigation. The truck's steering system will be studied on Tuesday as a possible cause. No tickets have been issued at this time, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The wreck occurred at nine Friday morning. Cattle were still being removed in the early afternoon hours. The trailer was eventually rolled back over and removed by a tow truck at 3:15 Friday afternoon. State Police were joined on the scene by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies, Kinmundy-Alma Firemen, and Marion County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency personnel. - http://goo.gl/nY72p

Former Big Muddy Correctional Center Inmate Can Sue Over Unwanted Haircut

CHICAGO (AP) - Dreadlocks, Bob Marley and an unwanted haircut.

Those are the unlikely subjects of an opinion issued on Friday by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. The three-judge panel devotes 11 pages to explaining why a former inmate at Illinois' Big Muddy Correctional Center, Omar Grayson, can go ahead and sue a prison officer who forced him to shear his thick, braided locks.

The opinion even includes a photograph of Reggae superstar Marley to illustrate what dreadlocks look like. Marley died in 1981. Grayson's a member of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem and claimed the haircut violated his religious rights. The appellate court notes the prison allows committed Rastafarians to keep dreadlocks but appeared to discriminate against other religions that also hold long hair in high esteem. - http://goo.gl/os1I6

Clinton County Sheriff's Department Investigating Attempted Burglary Friday Afternoon

The Clinton County Sheriff's Department is investigating an attempted burglary that occurred Friday afternoon on Beaver Road northwest of Carlyle. The attempted burglary occurred around 12:40pm. The sheriff's department reports nothing was taken in the attempt, but it was reported as a forced entry on the property. The suspect was seen driving away in a full-size, dark-colored older model SUV. If you have any information, you are asked to call the Clinton County Sheriff's Department at 594-4555. - http://goo.gl/FXO1I

Clinton County Man Killed in Head-On Crash Thursday Afternoon

A 50-year-old New Baden man has died in a head-on crash on Illinois Route 4 in Madison County. State Police say Vincent Terrie drove into the path of an on-coming semi during a 'white out' late Thursday afternoon. The driver of the semi, 44-year-old Steven Lynch of Shipman, told police it appeared that Terrie lost control prior to crossing into the path of the truck. Lynch said he was unable to avoid the crash. Terrie was pronounced dead on the scene. Lynch refused hospital treatment. No citations were issued. State Police say the roadway was snow covered and strong winds were causing blowing snow at the time of the crash at 4:20 Thursday afternoon. - http://goo.gl/enNR8

Marion County Police Beat for Friday, January 13th, 2011

Two people were being held in the Marion County Jail Friday morning after being arrested on outstanding warrants. 21-year-old Shaunito Thomas of North Elm in Centralia is being held on outstanding misdemeanor and traffic warrants. He was arrested by Centralia Police. 43-year-old John Keith Wilkins of East Third in Centralia was arrested at the courthouse on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. 20-year-old Myron Cunningham of East Second in Centralia was arrested following a court appearance on a petition to revoke his probation. He posted $1,000 bond and was released. - http://goo.gl/YlDHZ

Morning conditions cause multiple accidents

MT. VERNON — Minor motor vehicle accidents abounded Thursday morning after roads began to get slick from snowfall.

Mt. Vernon Police Department officers responded to a report of a
two-vehicle accident in the 4100 block of Veterans Memorial Drive at 7:18 a.m. No injuries were reported.

Officers who responded to that accident reported another minor
two-vehicle accident occurred at 7:46 a.m. at the intersection of
Veterans Memorial Drive and South 42nd Street.

At 7:54 a.m., police responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident at
the intersection of 42nd Street and Lincolnshire Drive, where no
injuries were reported.

One vehicle ran off the road at 8:34 a.m. in the 2400 block of
Brownsville Road; no injuries were reported in that accident.

Another motor vehicle accident occurred on Veterans Memorial Drive, this time in the 2900 block, at 9:18 a.m.; no injuries were reported in the two-vehicle accident.

At 11:57 a.m., MVPD personnel responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident in the 700 block of Old Fairfield Road. No injuries were
reported at the collision.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of a
one vehicle accident, a red Blazer stuck in the ditch, at 7:38 a.m. on
Richview Road between Woodlawn and Mt. Vernon.

The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., issued a winter weather advisory that was in effect until midnight Thursday, warning of some snow accumulation and icy roads after nightfall. - http://goo.gl/3Sku6

Perry County Sheriff Pleads Not Guilty to Indecency Charge

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois sheriff is scheduled for trial in March on public indecency charges. Perry County Sheriff Keith Kellerman pleaded not guilty Thursday in St. Clair County to an ordinance violation of indecent conduct and requested a jury trial. Caseyville police say the 48-year-old sheriff and another man were arrested in December after an officer contends he saw them engaging in a sex act in a station wagon in a parking lot outside an Irish pub. Kellerman told the Belleville News-Democrathe's still sheriff. He declined to discuss the case. The other defendant, 31-year-old J. Ian Stennett of Collinsville, pleaded guilty Thursday to the indecency charge and was fined $100. Kellerman's trial is scheduled for March. - http://goo.gl/aNQvE

Former Greenville Correctional Center Guard Sentenced For Smuggling

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A former guard atthe Greenville Correctional Centerhas been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in a federal lockup for taking thousands of dollars in bribes to smuggle cigarettes to a prisoner. Twenty-six-year-old Dreaux Perkins of Greenville apologized in court Thursday to his family for the crimes a prosecutor says he carried out to feed a gambling habit. Perkins pleaded guilty in September to five federal charges linked to his accepting cash and cigarettes from inmate Khalat Alama's relatives or an intermediary. Perkins admitted then smuggling the smokes into the federal lockup in Greenville. Perkins acknowledged lying to the FBI when he denied the smuggling and got a $2,000 bribe that he then lost at a casino. Alama has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing Jan. 26. - http://goo.gl/QZP4d

Mt. Vernon/Jefferson County Daily Record - Jan. 13, 2012

Mt. Vernon Police Department

Arrests

* Shay Lewallen, 18, of Carbondale, was arrested Wednesday at 5:17 p.m. on a charge of retail theft.
* Dustin D. Prater, 20, of the 1200 block of South 25th Street, was arrested Wednesday at 6:26 p.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Prater was released.
* Kegan R. Graham, 20, of the 1600 block of Cherry Street, was arrested Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. on a charge of probation violation. Bond was set at $5,000.
* Ricky D. King, 45, of the 4200 block of Cumberland Pike, was arrested at 4:17 a.m. Thursday on charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting, obstructing or disarming an officer.
* Desiree R. Huston, 24, of the 16400 block of North Millikin Lane, was arrested Thursday at 2:57 p.m. on charges of driving with a suspended/revoked license and possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $10,000.

Thefts

* A resident in the 300 block of North 12th Street told police someone broke into his house and stole his laptop at 11:09 a.m. Thursday.
* Police responded to a report of a theft of funds from a payroll check at 12:39 a.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of South 10th Street.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Thefts

* A resident in the 2000 block of North Woods Place told police someone stole two deer stands, one stick ladder and a trail camera at 9:34 a.m. Sunday.
* Wednesday at 3:42 p.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Olin Lane told police someone stole an old tree trimmer.
Incidents

* Police responded to a report of criminal damage to a mailbox at 11:57 a.m. Saturday in the 400 block of North Main Street, Belle Rive.
* A resident in the 14900 block of North McCauley Lane told police he and a neighbor heard the sound of gunshots at 11:14 p.m. Saturday.
* A representative from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported damage to IDNR property at Spruce Lane and Bonnie Road at 10:13 a.m. Sunday.  http://goo.gl/j7bS9