Illinois couple bound with tape, robbed of artwork

EVANSTON, Ill. -- A pair of robbers has broken into the home an Evanston couple, bound them with duct tape and stolen three paintings.

The robbery on Friday left 67-year-old Ronald Fink bloodied and bruised and his wife, Bonita, recovering from a mild heart attack at a hospital.

The intruders made off with an estimated $10,000 worth of artwork.

Evanston police suspect the robbers knew Fink had sold another painting at an auction last year for more than $300,000 and were hoping he had other similarly expensive artwork. Fink says he did not.

The two robbers came to his home and told him they were delivery men with a package to drop off. Once inside, Fink says, they jumped on him and taped the couple's hands and feet. - http://goo.gl/k0eMr

Land Purchased For New Mt. Vernon High School

MT. VERNON - Mt. Vernon Township High School has purchased 82 acres on Wells Bypass to construct a new school.

“This is a great evening for the community of Mt. Vernon Township High School,” board president Carl Miller said.

The property is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Wells Bypass and Ambassador Lane. The school is purchasing the property for $1.2 million from Ermajean Weir and Janell Bayer.

“The cost is well within our budget for land acquisition in our original estimates,” MVTHS Superintendent Dr. Mike Smith said. “The next step is to have a series of phases of testing completed — geological and environmental tests that are required. We’re allowing three months to get the results from testing back.”

Smith said “all things going well” the district would be able to begin preliminary site work by the middle or late summer.

“This is a great location,” Miller said. “It’s very buildable, level, flat, just what we were looking for.”

According to a news release presented by the board, numerous sites were evaluated and discussed for the new school, with Friday’s action bringing 11 months of discussion, research, study and negotiation to a close. The process included participation from stakeholders across the district, the city and county.

“From numerous sites that were submitted by property owners, an initial list of 16 was identified,” information states. “Sites were then reviewed further by the school board and their architectural firm and construction management firm to develop the ‘best case’ for a short list of possible locations. Sites were evaluated utilizing a number of criteria including size, location, access, adjacency of utilities, existing and needed infrastructure, on and off site development cost projections, buildable acres, district allotted budget for the purchase and development, overall city planning, zoning and development and purchase price. ... the final site needed to be a perfect balance of all of these criteria. The site selected this evening has been determined to fit all of the above criteria the best.”

Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley was on hand for the signing of the contracts, and said it was a great day for District 201 and a great day for the city.

“We look forward to partnering with you on this project,” Chesley said. “This project is one of the components in the city’s Comprehensive Plan and we support the school and its efforts to build a new school.”

The city council has committed to provide needed infrastructure at the site in an amount not to exceed $2.4 million and will include water and sewer lines, storm sewer lines, curbs, guttering and entrances to the property, Chesley said.

“We’re doing that as we would for any of our larger employers and businesses,” Chesley added.

Smith said the district is continuing to move forward on design engineering on the new school, and is expected to be ready to go out for bids on construction in the spring of 2013. full story

East St. Louis district to close 5 schools

EAST ST. LOUIS - The East St. Louis school system says it will shutter five schools because of declining enrollment and in an effort to pare the district's roughly $12 million budget deficit.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the schools will close by June 30. Officials say that, along with related layoffs, could save the district $2.5 million to $3.7 million next school year.

School board President Lonzo Greenwood says the panel is saddened. But he says the closures are necessary because of a lack of federal funds that can't be replaced by local taxes.

A public town hall meeting is scheduled for April 26 at Mason-Clark Middle School to discuss attendance boundaries for the elementary schools that students will attend next year. - http://bit.ly/HDDHtn

Free vehicle inspections to be offered Saturday

MOUNT VERNON - A free 41-point vehicle inspection will be available Saturday at Times Square Mall in Mount Vernon, courtesy of Rend Lake College, the mall and Mount Vernon NAPA.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the mall parking lot between Wendy's and Verizon.

Inspections include checking fluid levels, tires, lights and other system components. After the inspection is completed, volunteer automotive stu-dents will review findings with the motorist and provide information about proper vehicle maintenance and repair.

Hot dogs and other refreshments will be provided by Mount Vernon NAPA; participants also can register to win door prizes. Donations will be ac-cepted for Angel's Cove in Mount Vernon.

Rend Lake College Project CHILD and the Jefferson County Health Department will provide free child passenger safety seat inspections.

April is National Car Care Month, an effort to educate motorists about the importance of vehicle care and maintenance.

For more information, contact Nigel Thompson, RLC automotive technology professor, at 618-437-5321 ext. 1806, or email thompson@rlc.edu

Donor pledges match grant to Lifeboat Alliance shelter

MT. VERNON - An anonymous donor has pledged $75,000 to the Lifeboat Alliance shelter if the organization can match the number.

The second matching grant to the shelter, the funds will go toward the construction and renovation being conducted by the Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County, said Lifeboat Alliance Executive Director Jenny O'Daniel.

"Any funds left over will be dedicated to the operation of the facility," O'Daniel said. "First and foremost, we've just got to get the doors open."

O'Daniel said she and others on the Lifeboat Alliance board found out about the additional matching grant Wednesday.

"It's overwhelming," she said. "It's touching. I think what a lot of people might not realize is that even though our doors are not open, we're working with folks right now, and every day."

She said one woman found herself with no place to go and nothing but the clothes she was wearing, and came to Lifeboat Alliance asking for help.

"I sent a few e-mails, and now we have the lady equipped with kitchenwares, she's in an apartment, and we got a bed picked up for her," O'Daniel said. "I think it's just a matter of if people know there is a need, they will help, they will come forward, and there are so many compassionate people in our commmunity."

The shelter is already $10,000 deep toward its goal of $75,000 thanks to a different donor, she said, and Lifeboat Alliance has until October to attain the $75,000 total. - http://bit.ly/HD2Ns7

Mount Vernon needs housing to keep up with job growth

MOUNT VERNON - Mount Vernon needs hundreds of new housing units in order to keep pace with job growth in the city.

"Between now and 2016, we need 300 to 700 new housing units to support the people we are creating jobs for in the community," Mount Vernon City Manager Ron Neibert said.

The numbers come from a study undertaken to determine whether the city was having housing issues, he said.

"There were several indicators that we have a housing problem in the community," he said.

For instance, the city lost almost 1,000 people from 2000 to 2010, according to U.S. Census numbers. The city also looked at the regional impact of a Continental Tire expansion and found employees at the plant come from 122 zip codes in Illinois and Kentucky.

"We are creating jobs for people in other communities. That's all well and good, but if we are spending money on job creation in Mount Vernon, we'd like some of the people in those jobs to live in Mount Vernon," he said.

The study was based on the perceived needs for housing in the city, the number of new jobs anticipated and the existing housing market.

The city expects some 1,000 new hires in the next few years at businesses and industries like Continental Tire, Magnum Steel Works Inc. and Good Samaritan Regional Health Center.

The study looked at housing in the $120,000 to $130,000 range and found only 35 to 40 units on the market in all of Jefferson County.

"We're creating a thousand jobs for people who can afford a house in that range and we just don't have the housing available," he said.

The results of the study will be used as the city prepares a promotional program to entice residential housing developers to build in the city. - http://bit.ly/IDEJEa

Bald eagle found shot to be released into the wild

DURAND - A bald eagle found shot has recovered after surgery and will be released back into the wild.

The Rockford Register Star reports that the young eagle will be released Saturday afternoon at Starved Rock State Park.

The bird was found in late October along the Illinois River. Veterinarians at Countryside Animal Clinic in Streator performed a successful surgery. The eagle has been recovering at Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Durand.

Hoo Haven Director Karen Herdklotz says the male eagle is doing well and Saturday will be a "big celebration." - http://bit.ly/HAGoMa

Mt.Vernon - Jefferson County Daily Record - April 12, 2012

MT. VERNON - Mt. Vernon Police Department

Arrests

• Devondria R. Foulks, 19, of the 1100 block of South 22nd Street, was arrested Tuesday at 7:36 p.m. on a charge of violation of bail bond. Bond was set at $25,000.
• Andrew C. Baltzell, 20, of the 100 block of East Opdyke Avenue, was arrested Tuesday at 8:01 p.m. on a charge of burglary.
• Crystal M. Parker, 32, of McLeansboro, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $3,000 and Parker was released.

Thefts

• Tuesday at 2:42 p.m., police responded to a report of an unspecified theft in the 800 block of Casey Avenue.
• A resident in the 200 block of Walnut told police someone attempted to steal copper at 10:19 a.m. Wednesday.
• Police responded to a report of a theft of $13.68 in fuel from Jumpin Jimmies at 12:13 p.m. Wednesday.
• A walk-in complainant told police at 1:33 p.m. Wednesday that someone fraudulently used his credit card.

Incidents

• Police responded to a report of a sound of a fight in the 600 block of Lamar Avenue at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.
• A resident in the 600 block of Lamar Avenue told police she was battered at 11:52 p.m. Tuesday.
• Tuesday at 4 p.m., a resident in the 1400 block of South 34th Street told police someone slashed his tires.
• A resident in the 900 block of Ellis Drive told police her truck was broken into while it was parked in Summersville at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
• Police responded to a report of burglary of a motor vehicle at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of Welkins.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Arrests

• Nicholas M. Coleman, 31, of the 800 block of North Eighth Street, was arrested Tuesday at 3:18 p.m. on a charge of probation violation. Bond was set at $3,000 and Coleman was released.
• Matthew J. Peters, 19, of the 2500 block of Herbert Street, was arrested Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. on a charge of violation of bail bond. Bond was set at $7,500.

Incidents

• Police responded to a report of a burglary in the 16900 block of East Saddle Club Road at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday.

Late payments puts Jefferson County under the gun

MOUNT VERNON —Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White will sit down with Second Judicial Circuit officials to discuss a solution to the financial burden placed on the county by late state reimbursement.

As part of an earlier agreement with the chief judge of the circuit, the county, which was the most populous in the circuit when the agreement was made several years ago, provides upfront payroll payment of the circuit's probation officers and is then reimbursed for most of the cost by the state, with the 12 counties in the circuit picking up the rest of the tab.

However, the state's habitual tardiness in making payments has led to a past due amount of more than $450,000, and could lead to an undue burden on the county's finances, Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White said.

"We've had a lot of growth and expansion in Jefferson County and we're doing pretty well, but we've had a couple of scares: three-payroll months and late payments from the state had us sweating bullets a few times," he said.

Those scares prompted the county to set a deadline of Wednesday to either receive payments from the state or begin to take steps to turn the payroll processing over to Franklin County, the most populous county in the circuit as of the 2010 U.S. Census.

"The state is months behind and that puts Jefferson County government in a bind," Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Stephen G. Sawyer said. "I understand the difficulty that poses to them. Franklin County has the same difficulty as far as state reimbursement."

Franklin County processes payroll and benefits for the juvenile detention center, which is also under the authority of the Second Judicial Circuit, and has a similar problem with state reimbursement.

Sawyer said he plans to meet with White and the circuit's probation and court services director to discuss options. - http://bit.ly/HDEmK5

New hospital 70 percent complete

MT. VERNON - Work on the new Good Samaritan Regional Health Center is 70 percent complete.

More than $123 million has been expended on the $237 million project, said Victoria Woodrow, Good Samaritan director of marketing and public relations.

"They're doing a lot of finishing work on the interior and some exterior work as well," Woodrow said. "We’ve had some pretty good weather," she said, adding that the project is on schedule.

The new hospital campus on Veterans Memorial Drive near the Interstate 57/64 overpass is expected to be completed in October and be open Jan. 20, 2013.

Between October and January, Woodrow said, staff will be trained at the new facility, procedures will be tested and the new facility will be inspected.

"We're planning community tours that will take place the first week of January, and we'll invite the community to come and tour the new facility," she said. "It's going to be drastically different. There are all private patient rooms. It's a lot better facility, and our ability to provide health care will be much better."

Woodrow said staff are very excited about the move to the new hospital.

"We've had the opportunity to take bus tours and in the last month, tours where we can go and look at the new" she said. "The staff have welcomed the change with open arms, with all of the technological advancements, the private rooms and the new procedure center, which is an industry-leader concept."

She said the new hospital will have three entrances, one for emergency, one for visitors and one for patient entrances.

"There won't be a lot of having to way-find a certain department," she said. "People will walk them to the different areas. It's going to be a patient experience that's going to be just wonderful."

There will be an attached medical plaza, a 141,000 square foot center where surgery, administration, breast imaging, cardiac and pulmonary rehab centers, among other departments, will be housed, Woodrow said.

She said not only is the new hospital going to be offering new therapies, including animal therapy, the hospital has worked closely with a commissioned artist and Cedarhurst Center for the arts.

"The aesthetics will really promote healing," Woodrow said. - http://goo.gl/Pak7d