'Meat shoots' target of Swansea, Ill. village board

SWANSEA, Ill. - A southwestern Illinois town is considering a new law that could make it more difficult to have fundraisers known as "meat shoots."

The Belleville News-Democrat reports on meat shoot fundraisers in which attendees compete for steaks and other prizes by shooting at targets placed against bales of hay.

During one recent shoot at a local meeting hall, someone walking nearby the hall heard shotgun blasts and was startled. Now, the village wants civic groups holding the shoots to obtain liability insurance first.

The village board is drafting an ordinance and could vote on it next month.

An official at the meeting hall warns that requirement might end up costing the village money if groups decide to hold meat shoots elsewhere.  full story

Seven hospitalized in Chicago after grill used indoor

CHICAGO (AP) — Seven people were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning after someone used a charcoal grill inside a Chicago home for Thanksgiving.

The Chicago Tribune reports that ambulances were called to a home on Chicago's North Side before 11 p.m. Thursday. Twenty people reported symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Seven people were taken to area hospitals. The others were treated at the home.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that charcoal should never be burned inside because it gives off carbon monoxide.  http://bit.ly/uORZ6W

Wednesday Marion County Court Report

A 29-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to 240 days in jail as part of a guilty plea in Marion County Court to a domestic battery charge. William Eagan admitted to pushing Katie Herman against a wall and slapping and punching her. Eagan will also have to pay court costs. In addition, Eagan faces a 20 day county jail sentence for direct criminal contempt of court for outbursts that had occurred during a court appearance on November 17th. Three people face new drug charges in Marion County Court. Bond was set at $100,000 for 20-year-old Dustin Cody of South Pine in Centralia after he was charged with three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. He's accused of delivering heroin to a Centralia Police confidential source in March of this year. 32-year-old Samuel Bass of Tulsa Street in Salem had bond set at $25,000 for unlawful possession of less than 15 grams of heroin. 30-year-old David Gibson of East 17th in Wamac had bond set at $5,000 for possession of drug paraphernalia. Four Centralia residents have been formally charged with failure to register as a sex offender following a check on sex offenders last week by the U.S. Marshall's office and Centralia Police. They are 24-year-old Matthew Stebbins of Brookside Avenue, 37-year-old Richard Warren of South Cherry, 48-year-old Kary Prather of South Pleasant, and 59-year-old Anita Schneider of East Broadway. All are accused of moving without notifying police of their new address within three days. A 27-year-old Salem man has been charged with domestic battery. Quinton Nix of North Miller is accused of biting Sarah Nibert on the arm. Bond was set at $7,500 and a public defender appointed to represent him. Bond was set at $5,000 for a 20-year-old Centralia man charged with escape. Tyler Wilkins of Linden Street is accused of failing to report to the Marion County Jail to begin serving a jail sentence. 40-year-old David Hopper of Case Street in Wamac has been charged with resisting a peace officer. He is accused of running from Wamac Police when they were trying to take him into custody on an outstanding warrant. Bond was set at $7,000.  http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Unemployment up slightly in Jefferson County

Unemployment in Jefferson County rose to 9 percent in October, up from 8.8 percent in September and down from 9.1 percent in August.
Jefferson County is still below the state unemployment rate, which was at 10.1 percent in October, according to information released Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The county was even with the national unemployment rate for the month at 9 percent.
"Historically, the unemployment rate tends to creep upward at this time of year as weather conditions limit work opportunities," information from IDES states. http://goo.gl/19b2T

Plane crashes into Arizona mountain; fires burning

An airplane crashed Wednesday evening into a rugged mountain east of Phoenix, creating a small wildfire that crews were unable to immediately reach, Arizona officials said.

The aircraft, possibly twin-engine, crashed around 6:30 p.m. in the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, said spokesman Elias Johnson of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.

A man who said he witnessed the impact told CNN that a mushroom cloud of flames lit up the evening sky.

It's a six-hour hike to the site and crews were uncertain how many people were on the plane or its destination, Johnson told reporters. He indicated crews will be in a recovery operation.

A ranger dropped near the scene saw a tire from the plane that suggests it was not a commercial aircraft, he said.

"This is some of the toughest country you can experience," Johnson said. There were at least two debris fields. "That plane is all over the place up there."

Kevin Cunningham, 44, of Apache Junction, said he was talking on the phone from his back porch and saw the crash a few miles away.

"The flames lit up the mountain," said Cunningham, adding the plane appeared to be flying level before the crash. "I didn't see where it was in distress."

The photogenic peak is popular with hikers and horseback riders, the resident said.

"Somebody didn't know the mountain was there or they had false readings," Cunningham speculated.

CNN's Phil Gast contributed to this report.

Read full article at http://goo.gl/iEAje

Marion County Police Beat for Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

A 27-year-old Kinmundy man was taken to the Marion County Jail after being arrested for alleged domestic battery. Quinton Nix of West First Street was arrested by sheriff's deputies.

A 26-year-old New Baden woman is being held in lieu of $15,000 bond on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for alleged domestic battery.

Kristine Randall of East Hanover was transferred from the Clinton County Jail.

27-year-old Devon Hidlebaugh of North Elm in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police on an outstanding Coles County warrant.

35-year-old Chad Wolfe of Chicago was arrested for alleged driving under the influence of drugs after his car came to rest in a ditch after running off the Kinoka Road west of Interstate 57. Wolfe was given a notice to appear in court.  http://bit.ly/tenSb0

Mt. Vernon Projects Making Progress

Infrastructure projects on the west side of town are moving forward, with two expected to go out for bid in January.

"On the Veterans Memorial Drive and Davidson project, we expect to receive the permit Dec. 1," City Manager Ron Neibert said. "We spoke to them last week, and they said it would be to us by Dec. 1."

The city has been waiting on permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for construction of the extensions of South Davidson and Veterans Memorial Drive, which will allow for traffic from the new interchange to travel behind Wal-Mart and up to South Davidson. South Davidson now ends between Wal-Mart and Kohl's Department Store.

"I'm hoping to have the request at the second (city council) meeting in December or the first one in January to authorize us to go out for bid on the project," Neibert said.

In addition, sewer and water lines for the Veterans Memorial Drive/Davidson extension are expected to be ready for construction as well, with design engineering complete.

"Again, I hope that in January or February to be able to go out for bid," Neibert said.

Construction work is also expected within the next few weeks on the Times Square Mall water tower. CB & I of Plainfield was chosen to construct the new tower in July, with a bid of $989,300 — well below the estimated $1.2 million for the project.

"They are still working on some issues with the shop drawings and foundation," Neibert explained. "We hope to have those issues rectified next week and they should begin the actual construction shortly thereafter."

Work is still underway by the city to obtain right-of-way for the widening project on South 34th Street, and Neibert said he is beginning to look to the Comprehensive Plan for the next projects to present to the council.

"We're looking, trying to decide which ones identified in the plan to implement next," Neibert said. "We want to keep projects going in cycles, and it's almost time to start the next projects going."  http://bit.ly/tmFEds

Salem High School Open, With Precautions, Following Bomb Threat

Salem Community High School is open Wednesday following a bomb threat found at the school Tuesday afternoon. Superintendent Brad Detering says the school put it's emergency response plans into effect. "We were notified of a potential bomb threat that was written ona wall at 2:50 Tuesday afternoon. We secured the area and contacted law enforcement immediately.Secretary of State was contacted and bomb sniffing dogs were dispatched. Tuesday evening all buildings were swept and found to be clean. At that point in time the buildings were cleared for occupancy by law enforcement," said Detering. Detering says entrance to the school this morning is limited through doors 1, 11 and 16. "This morning we are taking safety precautions in terms as students come in we are taking a look in backpacks and duffel bags. We understand that they have them at home andneed to bring them back and that certainly is not aproblem. Once students are check in for the morning, it's back to educating kids," explainedDetering. Detering says police were assisting with checking students into the building. The district requested that students leave backpacks or duffle bags at home if at all possible. Detering says the safety of the students is the top priority in the school district and they are satisfied that every possible step has been taken to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. He notes they have a plan in place to respond to hazards and threats and that plan was followed. Detering says Salem Police are currently investigating who may have been responsible for the bomb threat.  http://bit.ly/tenSb0

President Obama Pardons Former Alton Woman for Selling Cocaine

Alton, IL -- A former Alton woman who was convicted and sentenced in 2001 for selling cocaine is being released. Eugenia Jennings has been pardoned by President Barack Obama. She was sentenced to 22 years in jail ten years ago in the Southern District of Illinois, but the president signed an order allowing her to go free next month. A Washington law firm and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin appealed on her behalf. They claim Jennings was selling drugs to support her family and at one point traded drugs for clothing. Those supporting her release told a Congressional panel that she was the victim of a disparity in sentencing between those who sell crack cocaine and those who sell the powder form. Jennings was sentenced for selling 13-point nine grams of crack cocaine to a police informant. She will still have eight years of supervised release.  http://goo.gl/w6Ax9

Veterans Affairs moves Harrisburg office

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) has moved its Saline County Veterans Service Office to a new location in Harrisburg.

The new location is housed in the Illinois Department of Employment Security offices located at 320 East Raymond.

IDVA's new office will continue to be staffed by Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Lisa McBride, who can be reached at (618) 253-2005. The fax number is (618) 253-6106. VSO office hours will be maintained from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Harrisburg Veterans' Service Office is part of a statewide network that serves about 1.2 million veterans by increasing awareness of available state and federal benefits. Offices are staffed by VSOs who provide accurate, up-to-date information, answer questions, assist with paperwork and filing of claims for federal, state and local benefits completely free of charge.  http://bit.ly/rrqYsG