His vehicle crashed into a creek bed. Manley was pronounced dead on the scene by the Fayette County Coroner. Two other passengers in the vehicle during the crash were able to get out of the vehicle with only minor injuries and flagged down help from a passing motorist. Illinois State Police are continuing their investigation. Full Story
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Lincoln tomb is in need of repair. Illinois Historic Preservation Agency spokesman Dave Blanchette says the tomb will undergo $700,000 in structural repairs to fix water damage and other interior damage. Lincoln's tomb is in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery. It is the final resting place of the 16th president, his wife Mary, and three of their four sons. The tomb was dedicated in 1874.
The water damage is most visible on the ceiling of the entrance foyer. Blanchette tells The State Journal-Register there have been problems with the roof since the tomb was dedicated. State officials have released the $700,000 and an Indiana architectural firm is working on the project. Renovations also will include refinishing the tomb's decorative plaster and moldings, marble wall panels and brass plaques. Full Story
HARRISBURG, Ill. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has toured damage caused by a deadly tornado in the southern Illinois city of Harrisburg. Durbin toured the damage in Saline County on Saturday. Durbin says he'll work with members of Illinois' congressional delegation to make sure the area receives the help it needs to recover. Durbin says he's seen tornado damage in the past, but he's "never seen anything this bad."
Six people were killed in the Wednesday storm and about 100people were injured. Durbin visited with a woman who was buried under the rubble of two homes. Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Jonathon Monken accompanied Durbin. Monken credited local emergency workers who responded immediately after the storms. Durbin says federal emergency workers are expected in the area on Monday. Full Story
A 23-year-old Richview man has been arrested by Centralia Police for alleged robbery and felony theft. Dustin Atteberry of West Broadway was taken into custody in connection with a purse being stolen from Rejects Bar late Saturday night.
Police reports indicate Atteberry grabbed a purse belonging to Jennifer Casseday of West 17th in Centralia when being kicked out of the bar following a fight. A group chased Atteberry from the bar. Police report after allegedly striking Casseday with the door of his car and nearly hitting Casseday and several others in the area, he fled the scene.
Centralia Police later spotted a car matching Atteberry's pull into a parking spot in the Amtrak lot. When he let, police say what turned out to be Casseday's purse was found lying in the area the car had just left. Atteberry was taken into custody during a traffic stop that following a short time later. Atteberry is also wanted by Wamac Police in connection with two purses allegedly stolen from the Industrial Tavern on February 12th. JelissaMorgan of Clinmar Street in Centralia and Jennifer Barezewski of Isle Street in Sandoval told police they had placed the purses under a table and gone to the bathroom.
They were gone when the two returned. Barezewski later found her purse submerged in a men's toilet with the credit cards and a digital camera missing. An employee of the Industrial later identified Atteberry as the person who took the purses from a video surveillance tape. Atteberry was taken to the Marion County Jail. - http://goo.gl/MSp7t
A 39-year-old Salem woman is being held in the Marion County Jail after being arrested early Sunday morning for alleged disorderly conduct. April Adkins of North Broadway was taken into custody after her car was located in a ditch on Hotze Road northwest of Salem.
22-year-old Josh Wilkerson of Middleton Street in Iuka was arrested by sheriff's deputies for violation of an order of protection. The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a criminal damage to property complaint. The AC Pit Stop in Walnut Hill reported a front window was broken out. It appears the window was hit by rocks thrown by vehicles in the parking lot. - http://goo.gl/JjdMM
A 42-year-old Centralia man has been arrested on a petition to revoke his probation. Robert Mifflin of North Gary Street was arrested Friday at the probation office. Two others posted $150 bond after being arrested for driving on a suspended drivers license. 41-year-old Cherl Lynn Wilson of North Vine in Sandoval was arrested by Sandoval Police and 33-year-old Heather Cushman of Farside Lane in Salem by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies.
The Clinton County Sheriff's Department is investigating five vehicle burglaries east of Bartelso. Sheriff's officials say in all cases there were no signs of forced entry. Electronic items and cash were reportedly stolen. The Clinton County Sheriff's Department is encouraging everyone to lock all doors on their vehicles to try and avoid becoming a victim of a burglary. Full Story
Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say no one was injured Friday night when a two vehicle crash pushed a pickup truck into a roadside ditch where it overturned. The wreck occurred on U.S. 51 just north of Burks Road in Patoka Township. Reports indicate 28-year-old Heidi Thompson of East Lair in Vernon looked down when her cell phone rang to see who was calling.
When she looked up, it was too late to stop for a pickup truck that had slowed in front of her to make a left hand turn. Thompson struck the rear of the pickup driven by 28-year-old Derek Byers of West Broadway in Centralia, causing it to run off the road into the ditch. Both drivers and a passenger in Byers' truck, 29-year-old Ryan Collier of Tonti Road in Salem, all declined medical treatment. Thompson was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Full Story
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - This winter has been the third warmest on record for Illinois, with the average temperature being 5 degrees above normal. Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel says the average temperature from December through February was 34.2 degrees.
The warmest winter on record was during 1931-1932, at 37.1 degrees. Tying for second warmest were the winters of 1997-1998 and 2001-2002 at 34.5 degrees. This winter in Illinois also had few days with below zero temperatures. The coldest readings were -6 at Elizabeth and Galena in the northwest. Precipitation was close to normal, but much of it fell as rain.Snowfall totals were as much as 75 percent less than normal in northern Illinois and 25 to 50 percent less than normal in central and southern Illinois. Full Story
“During our meeting, we will talk about how important it is to have individual disaster plans and will have kits for people. I will also show people what happens when they are not prepared, through pictures I’ve taken here and information from what’s happened.” Stevens said other agencies will also be available to answer questions and present information on being prepared. “The important thing we already know is our community will come together when a disaster strikes,” Stevens said. “We need to know who volunteers will be and what type of services and skills they provide. If they volunteer early, we can have them organized in advance of a disaster, and we can even provide training for them.” The community meeting will be held 6 to 8 p.m. March 12 at the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.
Display tables with presentations and information on health department services will be highlighted and other agencies will also be giving out emergency care handouts. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information, contact the Jefferson County Health Department at 244-7134 or visit www.jeffcohealth.blogspot.com. Full Story
MT. VERNON - The Jefferson County Board approved the lease purchase of a new vehicle for a command staff employee at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The county board approved a resolution giving Sheriff Roger Mulch the authority to sign a contract to obtain one vehicle through a lease/purchase program. The vehicle is meant for Capt. Randy Pollard, whose current squad car is in dire need of replacement, Mulch said.
The vehicle to be obtained will be a high-efficiency Dodge Avenger, Mulch said. Board member Don Rector made a motion to approve the resolution with Tommy Hayes seconding the motion. The resolution passed with 12 yes votes and one no vote by board member Jim Laird. Board members Ted Buck and Fred Edwards were not present at the board meeting to make a vote. In addition, the board discussed the possibility of acquiring additional liability insurance to guard against costly lawsuits. Board Chairman Robert White said several board members had expressed concern about the $5 million in liability insurance the county has and whether that is enough in case of a lawsuit.
White said he couldn’t answer how much liability coverage the county could possibly need, though he said the largest lawsuit the county has paid out is $1.5 million to his knowledge. Board Vice Chairman Wayne Hails recommended to table the issue and kick it back to committee, where options could be discussed more extensively. Board member James Malone seconded the motion, and Jeremy Hall, board member, requested additional information, including exclusions to the policy. Full Story