JCHS holds Chocolate Fest as fundraiser

Chocolate in all its glorious forms is the centerpiece of the Jefferson County Historical Society's newest fundraiser.

Brownies, cake, candy, cookies, pie and other confections will be judged and sampled at the first JCHS Chocolate Festival Dec. 8 at the Mt. Vernon Elks Lodge.

The day will begin with a check-in for registered entries from 7 to 9 a.m. for judging from 9:30 to 10:45. Chocolate recipes submitted before Dec. 1 will be considered for each of the six categories and a $250 overall grand prize.

Winners will be announced at 11, after which attendees will be able to pay $5 and sample as many as desserts as they wish.

"Hopefully this will make money for the historical village so we can keep doing high quality programs," she said.

"I think it's going to be a fun event to be with people in the holiday spirit," she said. "Who doesn't love chocolate?"

For more information or to enter a recipe in the festival, contact Jamie Wheeler of the Jefferson County Historical Society at 246-0033, www.jchs.mvn.net or 1411 N. 27th St. Entry forms are also available at City Hall, the Mt. Vernon Tourism Department and www.mtvernon.com.     http://goo.gl/NyWW8

UMCH to offer new service

 A new service and an expanded one at a new location are broadening the reach of United Methodist Children's Home this fall.

"(Helping Hands) Home Improvement is an opportunity for our YouthBuild graduates while they're looking for full-time employment to continue to hone their skills and earn some income," said Kay Zibby, vice president of operations for UMCH. "I think of it as a bridge for these young adults in the community."

Residents of Jefferson and surrounding counties can now hire Helping Hands employees, usually former YouthBuild members, for construction projects of all kinds. Zibby said the service has, since its formation in late summer, helped construct an office building in Pinckneyville, built several garage additions and repaired a roof in Centralia.

"We've been doing some of this all along. It's really a formalizing of what's come out of YouthBuild," she said. "There are a lot of projects in the works."

Zibby said residents who hire Helping Hands will get a free estimate, fair price and quality work as well as helping troubled young adults, many of whom have families to support.

Zibby said no specific expansions of Community Connections have been finalized for the new location, the seventh opened by UMCH, but the extra breathing room could lead to big things.

"It gives our therapists a better environment to give this service to the community," she said. "We'll be able to expand similar types of services."   http://goo.gl/TF2ZE

Jefferson County / Mt. Vernon Daily Record - Nov. 5, 2011

Mt. Vernon Police Dept. Arrests

  Laura Kristian Joyce, 26, of the 600 block of Oak Street, was arrested at 11:29 p.m. Thursday on a charge of sale or delivery of drug paraphernalia.
  Terri D. Repp, 37, of Dowell, was arrested at 4:31 a.m. Friday on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $3,000.
   Byron M. Wyatt, 29, of Evansville, Ind., was arrested at 10:36 a.m. Thursday on an in-state warrant.

Thefts

   A garden arch was reported stolen in the 1100 block of Oakland Avenue at 12:29 p.m. Friday.A resident of the 900 block of South 23rd Street said at 11:16 a.m. Friday his home was burglarized.
   Residential burglary was reported in the 4200 block of Lincolnshire Drive at 11:01 a.m. Friday.
   A woman told police at 8:02 p.m. Thursday the hubcaps were stolen from her vehicle while it was parked at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital.
   Prescription medication was reported stolen in the 600 block of Oak Street at 3:37 p.m. Thursday.

Incidents

   An American Cab driver told police at noon Friday a man was jumped by three other men outside a liquor store in the 300 block of South 12th Street. A witness said the suspects left in a silver vehicle but he couldn't get close enough to see the plates. The witness gave the victim's identity to the police.
  A woman told police at 11:33 a.m. Friday two of her tires were slashed while her vehicle was parked in the 2400 block of Perkins Avenue.
   Local authorities responded to an Illinois State Police broadcast at 9:18 p.m. Thursday that a red vehicle with Kentucky plates involved in a possible kidnapping was spotted at Shell on Potomac Boulevard. A witness said she was approached in the bathroom by a woman who claimed she was driving the vehicle against her will with stolen items in the back. The vehicle was not located.
   A two-vehicle accident was reported in the 4500 block of Broadway Street at 6:22 p.m. Thursday. According to an MVPD report, Crystal D. Wagner, 60, of Nason, was waiting at the stop sign in front of Wal-Mart to turn onto Broadway when her vehicle was rear-ended. Joseph F. Sunberg, 68, of Wayne City, said he was watching traffic on Broadway and failed to see Wagner. Wagner and a passenger refused medical assistance at the scene but said they would check into St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital for stiffness in the back and neck.

Jefferson Co. Sheriff's Office Thefts

  A resident of the 1200 block of North Ninth Street reported at 11:19 a.m. Friday her prescription medication was stolen.Theft was reported in the 200 block of Park Street in Woodlawn at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Incidents

  A one-vehicle accident was reported in the 18600 block of North Tolle Lane at 7:09 p.m. Thursday. Blake R. Miller, of the 16500 block of North Illinois Highway 37, told deputies he was injured when his car rolled over.   http://goo.gl/Px65n

Mount Vernon trying to control deer

MOUNT VERNON - Mount Vernon city leaders want to yank the welcome mat out from under the feet of some unwelcome four-legged visitors.

A rash of complaints about destructive deer prompted the Mount Vernon City Council to discuss this week ways to rid the city of the unwanted company.

The deer are destroying property and creating safety hazards for the driving public, city manager Ron Neibert said.

"We've seen an influx of deer and that's brought the matter to the forefront in terms of safety and property damage," he said.

For instance, a deer recently caused a crash on Broadway Street, the city's busiest thoroughfare, and deer have been blamed for the destruction of some pricey landscaping in residential areas of town.

The deer population is not necessarily growing, but deer are on the move at this time of year, deer project manager Tom Micetich of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said.

"The breeding season is kicking in. Girls are avoiding boys and boys are not taking no for an answer. They never did look both ways before crossing the streets and they're even less inclined to do so right now," he said. "It's also harvest time and they're moving around a lot, trying to find someplace else to provide cover." http://goo.gl/2nIFK

AIG loses $4 billion on planes, weak markets (Reuters)

   Insurer American International Group lost more than $4 billion in the third quarter, as its aircraft leasing unit took an impairment charge on a portion of its fleet and the fair value of the company's one-third stake in Asian insurer AIA fell.

It was the 10th time in the last 15 quarters, dating to 2008, that AIG lost at least $1 billion.

Shares fell 3.2 percent in after-hours trading after the company announced its financial results, then rebounded a bit after AIG said it would launch a $1 billion share buyback.

AIG's core insurance businesses were profitable on an operating basis, and its mortgage insurance unit both raised prices and gained market share amid difficulties in that industry.

But those results were not enough to overcome the charges, which were partially driven by declining equity and debt markets during the quarter.

AIG reported a loss of $4.11 billion, or $2.16 per share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $2.52 billion, or $18.53 per share. In the year-earlier period AIG took a number of charges on asset sales; it also had a smaller share count.

On an operating basis AIG lost $3.04 billion, or $1.60 per share http://goo.gl/FXJx5

Young Child Causes Centralia Accident, Then Runs Off

A 22-year-old Centralia man was injured in a car wreck blamed on a young child bolting into the street in front of his vehicle. Centralia Police say Eric Miranda of South Lincoln swerved to miss the child while westbound on Sixth Street near Sycamore and crashed into a utility pole. Miranda told police he saw the child in a yard while stopped at the stop sign and waived the child across the street in front of him. However, the child did not appear interested in crossing the street until he headed into the intersection. Miranda was taken to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment of injuries. The child ran off and has not been located. The wreck occurred at 1:45 Wednesday afternoon. - http://goo.gl/0uULk

Area Counties Declared Federal Disaster Area Following Summer Drought And Extreme Hot Temperatures

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 44 counties, including South Central Illinois, as natural disaster areas because of losses caused by drought and excessive heat that began on July 1st and continued into the fall months. The counties included in the disaster declaration include Marion, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Jefferson, and Wayne. Washington County farmers will also be able to qualify for assistance because they are contiguous to the disaster area. The designation makes all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency if eligibility requirements are met. Farmers have eight months to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. Help may also be available from several other programs. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak says Illinois producers can continue to count on USDA to provide emergency assistance during difficult times. Vilsak says he and President Obama are committed to using the resources at their disposal to reduce the impact of this disaster on Illinois producers and help to get those affected back on their feet. - http://goo.gl/aszmG

Helping Hands Offers Construction Services in Centralia and Mt. Vernon

Helping Hands Home Improvement is offering construction services while ensuring productivity and stability of at-risk young adults in the Centralia and Mt. Vernon area. Vice President of Operations Kay Zibby says they offer services of construction, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, and other services. "If someone maybe has an addition to their home they're looking at, or some existing structure, then we would provide a free estimate and quote on what it would cost to complete that project for someone in the community", said Zibby. 　 Zibby says Helping Hands hires recent YouthBuild graduates and other young adults served through United Methodist Children's Home. She says they have a handful of young people that are working with them, and the jobs being offered to young people in the program are based on the workload. "Right now, as we're just getting started, they are already working on a couple projects, and then we'll plan things accordingly based on the time frame we have", said Zibby. 　 Young people employed through the program are led by a team of experienced tradesmen who oversee that the work is done well. Anyone who needs home or business improvements can call 618-204-1071 for a free estimate. Helping Hands Home Improvement and YouthBuild are services provided by the United Methodist Children's Home. YouthBuild of Jefferson and Marion Counties teaches work skills, life skills, and leadership skills through construction to young adults who are studying to get their GED. For more information, please visit www.umchome.org. - http://goo.gl/UcbVC

Help Being Sought In Solving Dozen Vehicle Burglaries On Westside of Centralia

The Clinton County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in solving a dozen car burglaries that have occurred over the past week on the west side of Centralia. The breakins have occurred on the Jolliff Bridge Road, Linn Street and West Tenth Street Road. Chief Deputy Mark Etter says all the burglaries have occurred at night and most of the vehicles have been unlocked. In most cases, small amounts of cash have been stolen. However, a few electronic devices have been stolen. Etter reports at this point no one has reported seeing any suspicious activity. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Clinton County Sheriff's Department at 594-45-55 or the Clinton County Crimestoppers Tip line at 1-800-918-89-11. A Crimestoppers reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Meanwhile, Centralia Police report two burglaries have occurred on the westside of the city during the past week. Both were in the area behind Murray Center. - http://goo.gl/ljJyn

More Details Released on Fatal Jefferson County Traffic Crash

Jefferson County Coroner Eddie Joe Marks says a 33-year-old rural Mt. Vernon womanis dead following a three vehicle crash late Monday afternoon on Illinois Route 15 in front of the East Hickory Hill Baptist Church eight miles east of Mt. Vernon. The victim is identified as Tamara Barnes of Route 37 North. Marks says initial information indicates Barnes was unable to slow in time for a vehicle in front of her. Barnes clipped the rear of the vehicle and then slammed into an on-coming westbound car head on. Those at the scene attempted CPR unsuccessfully and Barnes was pronounced dead on the scene. Marks says there was Halloween activity taking place at the church apparently resulting in the traffic slowdown that set off the series of events. Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch says the car Barnes initially struck was driven by 29-year-old Travis Hayes of Mt. Vernon. Hayes had apparently slowed to make a right turn into the church. Mulch says the car that Barnes hit head on was driven by 58-year-old Jane Colvin of Wayne City. Colvinwas initially taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon and then transferred to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana for treatment of incapacitating but non life-threatening injuries. Hayes, his wife, and two young children, all refused medical treatment. Mulch says the accident remains under investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Division. The wreck occurred at 4:55 Monday afternoon. - http://goo.gl/2RrH1