Number of Halloween Activities Set For Friday And Saturday Night

Several special 'haunted' activities are planned for Halloween this weekend. The Kaskaskia College Student Activities Department and Phi Theta Kappa are turning Kaskaskia College's new Fitness Trail into a Haunted Trail from 5:30 to 7:30 Friday night. The entire family is invited for an evening of fun and fright. The event will include spooky music and fright stations. All participants will receive a glow stick, candy, hot chocolate and toothbrushes from the dental assisting club. Costumes are encourages and participants are asked to bring flashlights. The Kinmundy American Legion has been turned into a Haunted Ice House from seven to eleven both Friday and Saturday night. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for kids 13 and younger. Proceeds will go to the legion's building fund. The Kinmundy United Methodist Church is holding their first annual Halloween Carnival from six to ten Friday night in the church parking lot. Lots of games, a haunted house, treats and prizes. All ages are welcome. There is no charge for any activities, but you are asked to bring canned food items or diapers for the food pantry. This is the final weekend for the Orchardville Ghoul School. The transformed Orchardville Grade School will be open from seven to midnight both Friday and Saturday night. Admission is five dollars. Proceeds go to charities. A number of area communities are holding Trick or Treat Friday night. They include Centralia, Central City, Wamac, Sandoval, Kell and Iuka. Trick or Treat is from six to eight pm for those 12 and under. - http://goo.gl/6fEPa

Police Beat for Friday, October 28th, 2011

Marion County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested an 18-year-old Odin man for residential burglary. Roy Cochrum of Franklin Street was arrested for a burglary earlier this month to the basement of the Kevin Burleyson home on the Odin Road in rural Odin. A compound bow and related hunting items were allegedly taken. The sheriff's department's break in the case came when some of the stolen items were found in a pawn shop. A 50-year-old Wamac man has been arrested by Wamac Police on two counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, criminal damage to property and resisting arrest. Dale Boatman of West 16th allegedly attempted to hit a Wamac officer with his closed fist when he was being taken into custody after allegedly causing criminal damage to property owned by Peggy Wollitz of the same address. Wamac Police say Boatman was eventually wrestled to the ground and was still struggling to get his second hand handcuffed when Centralia Police arrived to provide assistance. 20-year-old Jeremiah Bobbett of South Poplar n Centralia was taken to the Marion County Jail after being arrested by Centralia Police on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. Two others remained in the Marion County Jail after being arrested on petitions to revoke their probation. 44-year-old James Horton of Rolston Street in Wamac was arrested by Salem Police while 21-year-old Leslie Chumley of James Street in Wamac was arrested at the Marion County Probation Office. 31-year-old Jason Phillips of Euclid Street in Iuka was arrested by Iuka Police on an outstanding Fayette County warrant. He was later transferred to the Fayette County Jail. Salem Police arrested two Centralia men after being called to the Hardee's Restaurant in Salem. 20-year-old Zachary Pierce and 20-year-old Julian Heffron of South Hickory Street are accused of trying to start a fight with a third person. Pierce was arrested for alleged obstructing a police officer and violation of bail bond. Heffron was arrested for alleged resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Pierce had just posted bond at the Marion County Jail a short time earlier for alleged driving under the influence. Both were released after posted $150 bond. - http://goo.gl/yLLsK

$5.7-Million Refrigerated Warehouse Coming To MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A $5.7 million refrigerated warehouse is coming to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah and it's expected to bring about 80 jobs to southwestern Illinois. The St. Clair County Public Building Commission approved a 15-year deal for the warehouse Thursday. North Bay Produce Inc. of Traverse City, Mich., plans to build the warehouse, which is slated to be open by June. Officials say it will serve as a year-round distribution center for apples, blueberries and other fruits shipped in from Michigan and other states, as well as from other countries. MidAmerica has struggled since opening in 1998, and it lost its last passenger service a decade later. An audit release recently shows that the airport continues to lose money, posting roughly $12 million in red ink last year. - http://goo.gl/mHPAf

Mt. Vernon man sustained a gunshot wound to the lower back near the intersection of 20th Street and Conger Avenue

A Mt. Vernon man sustained a gunshot wound to the lower back near the intersection of 20th Street and Conger Avenue Tuesday evening.

According to a Mt. Vernon Police Department report, Tevin R. Edwards, 19, of the 800 block of South 20th Street, was admitted to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital at 9:46 p.m. Monday. The hospital phoned police when medical personnel discovered Edwards sustained a gunshot wound.

MVPD Chief Chris Mendenall said Edwards told police at the hospital that he was walking westbound on Conger past his residence Tuesday night when he felt a stinging pain in his lower back.

Edwards said he was unable to identify a shooter and he immediately returned to a friend’s residence on 17th Street to get a ride to the hospital.

Mendenall said the incident is under investigation.  Rmfif

Potential payment for Superintendent Daniels

Illinois regional superintendents may be getting paid soon, but the state wouldn't be signing the check.

Legislation approved by the Illinois House of Representatives would take about $14 million in funds from the Personal Property Replacement Tax Fund, which provides funds to schools, cities, counties and park districts to pay for the salary and benefits of more than 40 regional superintendents, who haven't been paid since at least July.

Hamilton-Jefferson Counties Regional Superintendent of Schools Ron Daniels said he would like himself and his fellow regional superintendents to get paid, but a money grab from the PPRT fund isn't the way to go.

"That will have a negative impact on our schools and counties, who both receive funds through that revenue source," Daniels said. "I think as we are employed by the state, our income should be provided by the state."

The Illinois Municipal League, which lobbies for local governments at the state house, opposes any diversion of local PPRT fund dollars.

Joe McCoy, legislative director for the league, said schools receive 60 percent of the PPRT fund's billion-plus dollars each year.

McCoy said it's not proper for "municipal money to be used for the salaries of non-municipal officials as a result of the governor electing not to cover the salaries with state money."

However, Daniels, who is currently in Springfield, said he and others are being told that this may be their only option to be paid.

He said Speaker of the House Michael Madigan was the sponsor of the original bill to pay regional superintendents that was vetoed by Gov. Pat Quinn and that he has heard Madigan is not likely to recall the bill.

Daniels said among the regional superintendents in Springfield right now to encourage the state to pay them, there is a lot of frustration.

"If something isn't resolved in a couple of weeks, a lot of people are going to have to start looking for other jobs," Daniels said. "It's a chaotic situation for our schools when no one is taking care of the Health, Life and Safety payments or safety compliance checks. We provide a service to our schools. ... It would be nice to receive a paycheck."

Daniels said he was returning to Mt. Vernon on Wednesday to prepare for the Mt. Vernon Conference, which provides training to more than 100 teachers. - http://goo.gl/NouXK

Marion County Board Looks For More Than a Half-Million Dollars in Budget Cuts; Operations of Sheriff's Department Come Under Fire

The Marion County Board's Finance Committee is looking for more than a half-million dollars in budget cuts. The committee spent three hours Wednesday night going through each line item of the budget, but by the time they were done they had only able to reduce the anticipated budget shortfall by $69,000. Nearly $20,000 of that amount was taking out pay raises put in the budget by county department heads until an across the board pay increase is settled upon for non-union employees. The committee's next step is to call each office holder back to look for budget cuts. However, committee members seem resigned to finding bigger cuts at the sheriff's department or face layoffs or furlough days for courthouse employees if they want to avoid eating into their anticipated $1.3-million cash reserve at the end of this fiscal year. The law enforcement budget makes up about 42 percent of the county's expenditures. The committee even brought up the idea of looking for a private company to operate the jail if it could produce cost savings. The county's shortfall is being made worse because the coming fiscal year is one of those rare years where there is an extra payday, adding another $160,000 in expenses. Another unknown is if the State will force counties to pick up the cost of the Regional and Assistant Regional Superintendents of School out of money the counties currently receive from the personal property replacement tax. Committee member Richard Sinclair estimates the budget shortfall at $411,000 without any contingency fund. Member Erwin Hahn would like to see a $200,000 contingency fund to cover any unanticipated expenses. While he might settle for a smaller figure, Hahn said he would not vote for a budget without some contingency. Most of the cuts made Wednesday night were in the sheriff's department. The sheriff's requests for a new car was cut along with a one-dollar an hour raise for his part time employees. Committee members expressed frustration with overtime running over budget. Finance Committee Chair Dolores Wanzo says the Fraternal Order of Police Contract is not the total blame, saying a lot of the problem has to do with scheduling. There were also questions why a full-timedeputy is assigned to court security when court is in session only limited hours of the day. The committee was also critical ofthe court security officer having a county provided squad car. They rejected raising the Deputy overtime line item even though it is $13,000 over budget for the current fiscal year. The committee also cut $1,000 from the prisoner clothing fund, wanting the sheriff to pay that expense out of commissary fund proceeds. They feel that is a much more justified expense than the money the sheriff took out of the fund to purchase a new prisoner transport vehicle. With the need for more cuts, the finance committee no longer expects to make its original deadline of the regular November county board meeting to approve a tentative budget. No dates have yet been set to call in the office holders to look for ways to cut the budget. - http://goo.gl/BpGmB

Centralia Children's Halloween Parade Start Time Changing

The Centralia Children's Halloween Parade start time on Saturday is changing. Halloween and Fall Festival Committee member Butch Mathus says the decision was made so people didn't have to choose between going to the Children's Halloween Parade or the Centralia High School Football team first round playoff game. 　 "We'll move the parade from 1:00pm to 11:00am, and judging will start at 10:30am at the Centralia Library Park, and we hope everybody understands these unfortunate circumstances, but overall I think it's going to be a wonderful, busy day in Downtown Centralia", said Mathus. 　 Mathus says with the new 11 am start time for the Children's Halloween Parade, it will be over before the football playoff game begins at one at Evers Field in Centralia. There will also be one change in the Fall Festival schedule to accommodate the earlier start time of the Children's Halloween Parade. The public tasting for the Chili Cookoff has been moved to immediately after the parade. 　 Meanwhile, the 85th Annual Centralia Halloween Parade will step off as planned at seven Saturday evening. You'll be able to hear live coverage on WJBD-FM 100.1 or watch via video streaming on WJBDradio.com. - http://goo.gl/ZU47T

Two Morning Accidents in Marion County Sends One Person to Hospital

A 19-year-old Iuka man has been injured in a single car wreck Wednesday morning on State Route 37 just south of Salem. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say Tyler Powless of Kasznel Road in Iuka ran off the right side of the road, came back across the road, and ran off the left side of the pavement before overturning. The wreck occurred just north of C.J. Heck Road. Powless was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment of injuries. A 24-year-old Flora resident escaped injury in a car-deer collision on the State Route 161 Extension near the Roosevelt Road intersection in rural Iuka. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say Iuka Fire Department first responders and an ambulance was initially dispatched, but the driver, Heather Henson of South Main, did not require any treatment. The wreck occurred at 8:20 Wednesday morning. - http://goo.gl/Q5p04

Illinois Lawmakers OK Electricity Measure Despite Veto

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois lawmakers have approved major changes to the state's electricity system over Governor Pat Quinn's veto. Both the House and Senate voted to override the governor Wednesday. They rejected Quinn's argument that the legislation guarantees unfair profits to power companies and seriously weakens the oversight power of state regulators. The Senate voted 36-19 to override. Moments later, the House did the same on a 74-42 vote. The legislation lets ComEd and Ameren raise rates to pay for improving electrical systems, including the creation of a high-tech "smart grid." Supporters say it will create jobs and help customers conserve energy. Critics call it a sweetheart deal for power companies.  fBlk8

No Injuries Reported In Two Car-Deer Accidents

A Salem woman escaped injury when her car overturned on its side when she swerved to miss a deer that had been hit earlier. Cynthia Tucker of West Main was able to get out of the car on her own before emergency help arrived. The wreck occurred on U.S. 50 at the Norton Road. Her car reportedly spun around and left U.S. 50 and ended up coming to a stop on the Norton Road. Sandoval Fire and Ambulance personnel were called to the scene, but say Tucker did not require any treatment. A Marion County ESDA member conducting Halloween Patrols for the sheriff's department collided with a deer near the Omega and Bee Branch Road intersection north of Iuka. Sheriff's Deputies say Greg Masters of Jefferson Street in Kell escaped injury. - http://goo.gl/BiHTy