Monday, February 20, 2012
Red Feather Ball
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Brad Cohen Keynote Speaker at Tri-County Education Conference Friday
The keynote speaker at the Tri-County Education Conference Friday explained the importance of teachers reaching out to students in the correct way. Brad Cohen said he was bullied and neglected as a child because he has tourette syndrome. He hated being at school when he was younger because of the bullying and non-sympathetic teachers. Finally he got the help he needed from the school principal who allowed him to educate fellow students about tourettes syndrome.
Cohen later went to Bradley University and began a career in teaching. Now he has a made for TV hallmark film made after his life story.
"I think teachers need to treat every single child the same way. It doesn't matter if they're a special needs child or not. They still want to be accepted, they still want to be motivated to be the best that they can be, and I think many times that if we start to treat them as different people, then society will look at them that way. The truth is that they have the same dreams and aspirations as any other kid, and we need to be able to honor that", said Cohen. full story
Cohen later went to Bradley University and began a career in teaching. Now he has a made for TV hallmark film made after his life story.
"I think teachers need to treat every single child the same way. It doesn't matter if they're a special needs child or not. They still want to be accepted, they still want to be motivated to be the best that they can be, and I think many times that if we start to treat them as different people, then society will look at them that way. The truth is that they have the same dreams and aspirations as any other kid, and we need to be able to honor that", said Cohen. full story
Illinois' Exports Increase 30% In Last Year
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn has made a habit of bragging that Illinois increased exports last year by 30 percent. He cites it when questioned about a tide of business complaints about the state's economic climate. The real figure is slightly lower, but there's no doubt 2011 was a good year for the state's exports.
Adam Pollet heads Quinn's trade office. He says overseas trade offices and other Quinn-backed moves deserve part of the credit. But economists say Quinn can't take much credit himself for it. Economics professor Fred Giertz of the University of Illinois says there really isn't much any politician can do to create that kind of growth. He also suspects the figure may be an anomaly, given Illinois' high unemployment rate.
Top Illinois Exports for 2011
By category, in billions of dollars
Category / 2011 / 2010
1. Machinery / $17.79 / $12.49
2. Chemicals / $8.50 / $6.48
3. Transportation equipment / $6.67 / $5.33
4. Computer and electronic products / $6.07 / $5.49
5. Electrical equipment, appliances and components / $3.113 /$2.64
6. Petroleum and coal / $3.10 / $1.02
7. Fabricated metal products / $2.85 / $2.25
8. Food and Kindred Products / $2.71 / $2.64
9. Agricultural products / $2.62 / $1.45
10. Miscellaneous Manufactured Commodities / $2.30 / $2.23
Midwest Export Increases by State for 2011
In billions of dollars
State / 2011 / 2010 / Percentage increase
Illinois / $64.57 / $50.06 / 28.9 percent
Iowa / $13.28 / $10.88 / 22.1
Michigan / $50.80 / $44.77 / 13.5
Indiana / $32.20 / $28.75 / 12
Ohio / $46.41 / $41.49 / 11.9
Wisconsin / $22.05 / $19.79 / 11.4
Missouri / $14.15 / $12.93 / 9.4
Minnesota / $20.28 / $18.90 / 7.3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau full story
Two Killed In Head On Crash On U.S. 51 South of Vandalia
Both drivers died in a fiery head on collision on U.S. 51 two miles south of Vandalia early Sunday morning.
Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen identifies one of the victims as 74-year-old Robert Norris of Vernon. The second victim was burned beyond recognition. Dental records will be used during an autopsy scheduled for Monday to try and confirm the victim's identity. A passenger in the Norris vehicle, Shawn Norris, was airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital.
Bowen says Robert Norris was traveling southbound on U.S. 51 near Fayette County Road 1150N when a northbound vehicle crossed into his lane. The two collided head on. The northbound vehicle then burst into flames. The Vandalia Fire Department responded to the scene, extinguished the fire, and extricated the victims. Robert Norris and the unidentified person were pronounced dead on the scene by Bowen at 4:06 Sunday morning.
The crash occurred around 3:30 Sunday morning. It remains under investigation by the Fayette County Coroner and Illinois State Police, who have assigned an accident reconstructionist to the case. - http://goo.gl/7bya6
Governor Asks Constitutional Officers To Cut Budgets At Least 9%, Lt. Governor Says She Will
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is planning to cut her budget by 9.4 percent to help Illinois deal with its multibillion-dollar budget deficit. Simon's spokeswoman said Saturday her office is requesting $1.9 million for fiscal 2013, compared to $2.1 million for the current year, marking the lowest requested appropriation in 16 years.
A spokesman for the Secretary of State Jesse White, whose office had a $390 million budget this fiscal year, says the governor asked White to make a 9.4 percent reduction and that he's looking into it. The governor's office confirmed Saturday that Gov. Pat Quinn has asked the state's constitutional offices to consider cutting their budgets by at least 9 percent. Quinn will detail his budget plan Wednesday. Illinois' other constitutional offices are the Attorney General, Treasurer and Comptroller. full story
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, February 18th, 2012
34-year-old Jarrin Lee Boyles, who told State Police he is homeless, is being held on a Jersey County warrant. 27-year-old Brett Gaines, who told Salem Police he was homeless, remains in jail on outstanding Washington and Clinton County warrants.
47-year-old David Sullens of Gray Road in Alma was arrested by State Police for alleged driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted $100 bond and was released.
20-year-old Konner Beer of Metcalf Road in Iuka was arrested by Salem Police during a traffic stop for alleged possession of liquor by a minor. Beer posted $150 bond and was released.
24-year-old Ashley Higgins of East Broadway in Centralia posted $250 bond and was released after being arrested at the courthouse on a petition to revoke his probation.
19-year-old Kyle Kloppedal of Cross Road in Salem posted $200 bond and was released after being arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies on an ordinance violation warrant. Salem Police are investigating a vehicle theft.
Gerald Barnhart of South Marion in Centralia reported his car stolen Friday from the Bettendorf-Stanford parking lot at 1370 West Main. full story
Southern Illinois Insurance Agent Draws 17.5 Year Prison Term For Swindling $6-Million From Clients
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois insurance agent and securities broker has been sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty last year to an investment scheme that swindled roughly $6 million from clients. Victoria McGee-Harris of St. Louis declined to make a statement during her 6 1/2 -hour sentencing hearing Friday. She pleaded guilty in March to one count each of mail fraud and engaging in a monetary transaction with property derived from illegal activity. She admitted using client money from Swansea-based Metro East Insurance Group for personal use, including travel and operation of a chain of clothing stores in Missouri. Authorities say McGee-Harris was doing business as a licensed insurance agent and securities broker between 2003 and 2010 when she got clients to buy investment and insurance products she never purchased. full story
Business Groups Have Concerns About Online Sale Of State Lottery Tickets
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Plans to sell state lottery tickets online have business groups and Illinois convenience store owners concerned about their sales. The State Lottery has revealed plans to offer tickets for sale as early as late March after a federal ruling opened the door late last year. The Illinois Association of Convenience Stores and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association say lottery tickets bring in a significant amount of business. The sale of lottery tickets online could damage their business and increase underage gambling, says the groups' statement. The groups say implementing online lottery tickets too fast will raise many regulation issues for the state and will endanger 7,000 jobs at convenience stores. full story
Centralia Man Sentenced On Methamphetamine Charge
A 33-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced in Marion County Court for possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Timothy Gibson of North Poplar Street was placed on 30 months probation, ordered to forfeit his $2,500 bond as fine and costs, and told to serve 30 days in the Marion County Jail with credit for time already served. Gibson had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge in exchange for two other counts, participation in meth manufacturing and obstructing justice for destroying or concealing physical evidence from police. Gibson and a co-defendant had been charged with throwing a container with evidence of meth manufacturing out a car window, spilling most of the content. All three charges stem from an incident last February that initially began in a pursuit by Centralia Police. full story
White House projects 2 mln jobs created in 2012
WASHINGTON - The White House expects two million jobs will be created in 2012, slightly above the 1.8 million pace last year, according to Alan Krueger, the top White House economic adviser, on Friday. Krueger spoke to reporters as the White House economists released their annual Economic Report of the President.
The administration expects the economy to continue to gather steam this year although the pace of the recovery will still be subdued given the after-effects of the debt and financial crisis. The White House said that uncertainty about government regulation is not holding back growth. This is a common argument of Republicans. - http://goo.gl/5ZEUY
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