Two Receive Minor Injuries In Odin Road Wreck

Two people received treatment for minor injuries following a two vehicle crash Saturday morning on the Odin Road just north of the Soper Road intersection in rural Odin.

Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say the crash occured when 25-year-old Daniel Foutch of North Broadway in Salem had slowed to check on a a car pulled to the side of the road. A pickup truck following Foutch driven by 33-year-old Anthony Beard of Kirkwood Street in Odin failed to slow down and crashed into the rear of Foutch's SUV.

Both drivers escaped injury, but two passengers in the Foutch SUV were treated on the scene by emergency medical personnel. Ten-year-old Makayla Law and two-year-old Brennan Foutch did not require hospital treatment. Two other passengers escaped injury. 24-year-old Brittany Foutch of North Broadway in Salem was a passenger in the Daniel Foutch vehicle. Five-year-old Riley Beard of Kirkwood Street in Odin was in the Anthony Beard vehicle.

Anthony Beard was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The wreck occurred at 9:28 Saturday morning.   http://is.gd/eXm7N6

Police Beat for Sunday, June 2nd, 2013

State Police made three arrests for alleged driving under the influence Saturday night and early Sunday morning. 25-year-old Dustin Ferrell of West Warmoth in Salem remained in the Marion County Jail on Sunday morning for alleged DUI. 43-year-old Douglas Applegate of East Oakton in Mt. Vernon was arrested for alleged driving under the influence of drugs, driving on a revoked license, and possession of 10 to 30 grams of cannabis. He posted $300 bond and was released. 54-year-old Dwayne Miller of University Park posted $100 bond and was released for driving under the influence of drugs.

21-year-old Rocky Robinette of South Franklin in Salem was arrested by Salem Police on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. He was stopped while walking on North Broadway early Sunday morning. He remained in the Marion County Jail Sunday morning.    http://is.gd/8vxCM7

Police Beat for Friday, April 5th, 2013

A 43-year-old Edgewood man was arrested by State Police following an early morning traffic stop in Salem.  Ronald McConnell of Bridge Road was taken into custody for alleged possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of weapon with no fireowners ID card, felony driving under the influence, felony driving on a revoked license and for no insurance.  Police initiailly stopped McConnell at Kinney Boulevard and West Main Street after he allegedly failed to signal.

22-year-old Blake Shahan of South Lincoln in Centralia remained in jail Friday morning after turning himself in on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.  

22-year-old Sarah Niebert of Salem Mobile Home Park was arrested at the probation office on Thursday on a probation violation.

The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a residential burglary.  Wade Barbre of Monical Road in Iuka reported someone forceably entered his home and took two TV's and a laptop computer.

The sheriff's department was notified of the theft of 50 feet of fib er optic cable from off of U.S. 50 East in Iuka.  The complaint was filed by Eric Porter of Evansville, Indiana.  

http://is.gd/M2GQtU

Odle honored to be in Hall

Odle honored to be in Hall

06:14 3/27/2013, By PAUL HINES paul.hines@register-news.com, mvnNews Sports Full

Related Photos

• Odle

  

March 27, 2013

Odle honored to be in Hall

By PAUL HINES paul.hines@register-news.com The Register-News The Mt. Vernon Register-News Wed Mar 27, 2013, 06:14 AM CDT

MT. VERNON – Randy Odle has a passion for Rams basketball.

"My life's just always been involved around sports," Odle said. "In the winter time, it would be awful boring if you didn't have basketball, didn't have sports."

He will be honored in late April with an induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in the Friends category.

The group has been inducting individuals into its Hall of Fame since 1973. The Hall is inducting 89 new members for the Class of 2013 in a variety of categories that consist of coaches, players, teams, officials, media and friends.

This year's induction ceremony will be held on April 27 in Normal on the campus of Illinois State University.

Odle hasn't missed a Mt. Vernon boys basketball game since 1966 and has been the team's scorekeeper since former coach Doug Creel's first season in 1995. Prior to that, Odle was the freshman scorekeeper starting in 1979.

"You have to have a wife that's forgiving," Odle said. "I missed my anniversary this year at a freshman basketball game. I don't think we've done anything on our wedding anniversary, it's in December, probably in the last 30 years because of basketball."

The last game Odle missed was a Benton-Mt. Vernon matchup at Changnon Gym when the Rangers were the state's top-ranked team. Odle got in line for tickets at 2 p.m. By the time he got to the window, the game was sold out.

Odle graduated from the high school in the late 60s and watched both his sons play for the Rams in the late 80s and 90s.

"I think the purest form is still high school basketball," he said.

One of Odle's favorite teams was the Rams squad his senior year at the high school. It was a team that featured Steve Strickland, Nate Hawthorne, Terry Sledge, Frank Sanders and Eddie James. The squad won 23 games and advanced to Champaign where the Rams lost to Aurora East.

He added that the group in the late 90s, featuring Kent Williams, was among his favorites.

"You could take that second five and start at most schools," Odle said.

He's also witnessed several decades of one of the state's biggest rivalries between Centralia and Mt. Vernon.

"It's because it's so close. We play so many times, and Centralia's got a good program," Odle said. "But Mt. Vernon does too."

The games streak hasn't been without its close calls. Odle said sickness almost forced him to miss a game during the Rams last season.

"So far I've been lucky," Odle said. "Usually I'm healthy as a horse."

Odle's job of scorekeeper is a volunteer position. It's only perks are free popcorn and drinks.

"I've ate a lot of popcorn and (drank) a lot of sodies," Odle joked.

Daily Record

Mt. Vernon Police Department

Arrests

Crystal J. Mulkey, 31, of the 18000 block of East Fairfield Road, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

n Harry J. Mulkey Jr., 34, of the 18000 block of East Fairfield Road, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of meth over 5 grams, and meth manufacturing.

n Michael S. Pinkston, 20, Nashville, was arrested at 7:23 p.m. Friday on a failure to appear warrant.

n John K. Trammell, 33, of the 800 block of South 22nd Street, was arrested at 3:16 a.m. Saturday on a charge of domestic battery.

Incidents

n A man reported a subject in a truck pulled a gun on him and a friend at 4:27 p.m. Friday at Illinois 15 and Potomac Boulevard following a road rage incident.

n A woman told police at 10:47 p.m. Friday someone she knows struck her vehicle following an incident earlier in the day.

n A woman told police at 3:55 a.m. Saturday someone she knows allegedly battered her in the 800 block of South 22nd Street. A man was taken into custody, police logs state.

n A woman told police at 11:26 a.m. Saturday that someone slashed tires on her vehicle while it was parked in the 4200 block of 42nd Street.

n A woman told police at 3:40 p.m. Saturday that another woman she knows attempted to batter her in the 1700 block of South 10th Street.

n A woman told police at 6:39 p.m. Saturday her 13-year-old son had a man pull a knife on him at the Rolland Lewis Community Building. Police logs state the man was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault.

n Police received a report at 6:51 p.m. Saturday a girl was shot with BB's by a group of kids in the 500 block of South 21st Street. The injuries did not require medical attention.

n A woman told police at 7:48 a.m. Sunday she was allegedly battered by her ex-boyfriend in the 2700 block of Jones Street. The five-month pregnant woman was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment of injuries received in the attack.

Thefts

Loss prevention officials at Kohl's reported to police at 12:30 p.m. Friday a subject took a pair of shoes from the business and fled in a vehicle.

n An employee of the Huck's store in the 3300 block of Broadway told police at 4:04 p.m. Friday someone drove off without paying for $103 in fuel.

n A man told police at 3:19 p.m. Sunday he lost his cell phone at a business in the 100 block of Davidson Avenue. A tracking device on the phone showed it was in the Bluford area, police logs state.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Arrests

Jennifer L. Huelskamp, 30, of the 900 block of Salem Road, was arrested at 4:27 a.m. Saturday on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Thefts

Police received a report at 2:14 p.m. Sunday of a hunting cabin being broken into at the intersection of North Cartel Lane and East Salisbury Road.

http://is.gd/PQaMz8

County residents to vote on aggregation

County residents to vote on aggregation

<p><img src=" http://dl.dropbox.com/u/45574833/mvnNews/images/appel_court6.jpg"> </p>

MT. VERNON — All villages and unincorporated areas of Jefferson County will be voting on the question of electric aggregation in April.

According to information from Jeff Haarmann of Affordable Gas and Electric, his company will be representing more than 20,000 households total in Southern Illinois.

AGE has been chosen as the consultant for electric aggregation for the city of Mt. Vernon, the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County, Ina, Bluford, Dix, Waltonville, Woodlawn, Bonnie and Belle Rive. In addition, the company has signed with unincorporated areas of Washington County, Nashville, Ashley, New Minden, Okawville, Central City, Junction City, Odin, Iuka, Kinmundy, Patoka, Lawrenceville, Grayville, Crossville, St. Elmo and Watson.

Haarmann said he is pleased to have a “great cross section of customers to bring to the table and negotiate with.”

“We’ve spoken with three or four suppliers at this point,” Haarmann said. “They are just as interested in getting 6,000 customers at one time as they are to get 15,000 or 20,000 all at one time.”

The next step toward electric aggregation is for voters to approve the referendum in April.

“If the vote is approved, that allows us to begin negotiating,” Haarmann explained. “Once approved, we can negotiate then get the rates back, bring them to the individual mayors and it’s up to them to accept the price on behalf of their community.”

Haarmann said he wants all voters to know there are protections built into electric aggregation by statute, and anyone can opt out of electric aggregation and continue to purchase their electricity without a change in the service provider. In addition, although all voters will have an opportunity to cast their ballot on the question, only Ameren customers in this area are eligible for electric aggregation — Tri-County Electric Cooperative members already own a part of their electric service provider.

“When we negotiate a fixed rate, that rate can’t go up during the course of the term we negotiate,” Haarmann explained. “But, if the Ameren utility rate falls below the negotiated rate we have, we have the flexibility to either renegotiate with the supplier for a lower rate or can default everyone back to the Ameren rate. ... The rate can’t go up, and there’s also a safety net if the rate ever falls below what we secure.”

The referendum will state: “Shall the (City/Village/County) have the authority to arrange for a supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such a program?”

Illinois businesses have had the opportunity to use their own chosen electric supplier for about eight or nine years, Haarmann said.

“The rules in Illinois changed about a year-and-a-half ago to make it easier for municipalities to combine their communities together to get a better rate for their residents,” Haarmann said. “Other communities are also taking advantage of the changes.”

Haarmann said the Illinois Commerce Commission has a website which addresses residential electric aggregation at www.pluginillinois.org.

“On that site, there is a section, a tab, on municipal aggregation,” Haarmann said. “It includes a list of every community in the state that has either passed a referendum or has a referendum approved and is waiting for a price.”

Residents who would like to learn more may also contact Haarmann at 207-3450 and go to a Facebook page set up by Haarmann, “Vote yes for lower electricity rates in City of Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County.”

mvnNews

Marion County Unemployment Rate Increases Half-Percent for December

Unemployment in Marion County increased for the month of December.  The State Department of Employment Security reports the county unemployment rate was at 11.3-percent, up a half-percent from 10.8-percent in November, and down from 11.2-percent a year ago.  

Marion County has the highest unemployment rate in the region and one of the highest in the state.  2,050 people were unemployed in the county in December, up from 1,960 in November.  16,000 people were employed in the county in December, down from 16,125 people in November.

Labor Market Specialist Dennis Hoffman says the increase in unemployment is from mostly seasonal layoffs in retail and hospitality, as well as construction and some recreation areas.  However he states there has been some permanent layoffs in the area as well.  "Further south of Marion County, they've had some issues in terms of manufacturing and also some mining layoffs fifty-to-sixty miles away in the Saline County area.  So in general there's been some layoffs, both temporary and permanent, both locally and within driving distance", said Hoffman.    

Washington County had the lowest rate with 6.8-percent, down from 7.5-percent a year ago.  Clinton County has seven-percent, down from 8.5-percent.  Jefferson County had 8.6-percent, down from 9.1-percent.  Wayne County had 8.7-percent, up from 8.5-percent a year ago.  Fayette County had 10.2-percent, down from 10.7-percent a year ago.  Clay County had 10.7-percent, down from 11.5-percent a year ago.  

County residents to vote on aggregation

County residents to vote on aggregation

MT. VERNON — All villages and unincorporated areas of Jefferson County will be voting on the question of electric aggregation in April.

According to information from Jeff Haarmann of Affordable Gas and Electric, his company will be representing more than 20,000 households total in Southern Illinois.

AGE has been chosen as the consultant for electric aggregation for the city of Mt. Vernon, the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County, Ina, Bluford, Dix, Waltonville, Woodlawn, Bonnie and Belle Rive. In addition, the company has signed with unincorporated areas of Washington County, Nashville, Ashley, New Minden, Okawville, Central City, Junction City, Odin, Iuka, Kinmundy, Patoka, Lawrenceville, Grayville, Crossville, St. Elmo and Watson.

Haarmann said he is pleased to have a "great cross section of customers to bring to the table and negotiate with."

"We've spoken with three or four suppliers at this point," Haarmann said. "They are just as interested in getting 6,000 customers at one time as they are to get 15,000 or 20,000 all at one time."

The next step toward electric aggregation is for voters to approve the referendum in April.

"If the vote is approved, that allows us to begin negotiating," Haarmann explained. "Once approved, we can negotiate then get the rates back, bring them to the individual mayors and it's up to them to accept the price on behalf of their community."

Haarmann said he wants all voters to know there are protections built into electric aggregation by statute, and anyone can opt out of electric aggregation and continue to purchase their electricity without a change in the service provider. In addition, although all voters will have an opportunity to cast their ballot on the question, only Ameren customers in this area are eligible for electric aggregation — Tri-County Electric Cooperative members already own a part of their electric service provider.

"When we negotiate a fixed rate, that rate can't go up during the course of the term we negotiate," Haarmann explained. "But, if the Ameren utility rate falls below the negotiated rate we have, we have the flexibility to either renegotiate with the supplier for a lower rate or can default everyone back to the Ameren rate. ... The rate can't go up, and there's also a safety net if the rate ever falls below what we secure."

The referendum will state: "Shall the (City/Village/County) have the authority to arrange for a supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such a program?"

Illinois businesses have had the opportunity to use their own chosen electric supplier for about eight or nine years, Haarmann said.

"The rules in Illinois changed about a year-and-a-half ago to make it easier for municipalities to combine their communities together to get a better rate for their residents," Haarmann said. "Other communities are also taking advantage of the changes."

Haarmann said the Illinois Commerce Commission has a website which addresses residential electric aggregation at www.pluginillinois.org.

"On that site, there is a section, a tab, on municipal aggregation," Haarmann said. "It includes a list of every community in the state that has either passed a referendum or has a referendum approved and is waiting for a price."

Residents who would like to learn more may also contact Haarmann at 207-3450 and go to a Facebook page set up by Haarmann, "Vote yes for lower electricity rates in City of Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County."

S&P Lowers Illinois Credit Rating, Blames Pensions

CHICAGO (AP) - Standard & Poor's rating services has lowered Illinois' credit rating, blaming the state's pension problems.  

The New York-based agency said Friday that the rating on the state's general obligation bonds was downgraded to A- from A. The agency also gave an A- rating to $500 million in general obligation bonds that the state plans to release in February. The agency says the outlook is negative.  

Standard & Poor's credit analysts say the downgrade reflects what the agency sees as the state's "weakened pension-funded rations" and lack of action on reform measures to improve the state's worst-in-the-nation pension crisis. Illinois has a $96 billion pension deficit.

Eight Cars of Norfolk-Southern Freight Train Derails in Mt. Vernon

Mt. Vernon Fire officials say eight cars of a Norfolk-Southern freight train derailed Sunday morning.

The derailment is in the area of Liberty Road and Rackaway near Mt. Vernon Township High School. Mt. Vernon Police say one of the derailed cars was releasing ethanol. They report there have been no evacuations or injuries reported. The derailment has closed off Liberty Road at the dog pound and Perkins at Shawnee. Mt. Vernon Police are asking everyone to stay out of the area to prevent interference with Fire Department operatons.

The Mt. Vernon Fire Department's hazardous materials team is on the scene handling clean-up. The detailment was first reported at 6:25 Sunday morning. Watch for further updates.