SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka says the stack of unpaid bills in her office tops $4.2 billion and even more bills are piled up in other government departments. She said Wednesday the state's overall backlog is about $8.5 billion. That means organizations that provide services for the state, from businesses to hospitals to charity groups, must wait months to be paid for their work. Topinka's office is still paying bills that date back to September 1st, four and a half months ago. Illinois is behind on its bills even after officials cut spending and raised taxes. Topinka's report predicts the backlog will continue at similar rates. Some officials want to borrow money so state government can pay its vendors, but Topinka argues against more borrowing. full story
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Attorneys: Teen May Get Deal in Clock Factory Fire
PERU, Ill. (AP) - Attorneys say they expect to work out a plea deal for a teen charged in a fire that destroyed part of a massive clock factory in northern Illinois. Attorneys told LaSalle County Judge Daniel Bute on Tuesday that they anticipate an agreement by the time the 15-year-old Peru youth returns to court next week.
The boy is accused of helping set fire to the Westclox building on New Year's Eve. He is not subject to prison time in the Illinois Department of Corrections. But that's not the case for his alleged accomplice.
A La Salle County grand jury on Tuesday returned a one-count indictment against 17-year-old Steven Gallacher of La Salle on a charge of aggravated arson.
Gallacher will appear Thursday before a judge, who may schedule a jury trial. - http://goo.gl/IUPnX
Mo. student loses driving rights for Confederate flag
REPUBLIC, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri student lost his driving privileges at school for flying a Confederate flag on his truck.
The Republic school district twice suspended Riley Collier's driving privileges because of concern that the flag distracted some students and was offensive to others.
Collier says he does not understand why he can't fly the flag while driving to and from Republic High School. He does not consider the flag racist. He says it's about history and the way of life where he grew up.
Republic School District Superintendent Vern Minor says he can't talk about the situation because it involves a student. - http://goo.gl/mMZ1A
Illinoisans urged to take part in earthquake drill
CHICAGO - Authorities want more Illinoisans to register for the "Great ShakeOut."
It's not a new dance or exercise craze. It's a multistate drill meant to raise awareness about potential earthquakes in the region.
More than 152,000 Illinois residents have already signed up to participate in the second annual "Great Central U.S. ShakeOut" on Feb. 7. The drill starts at 10:15 a.m.
The director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Jonathon Monken, says the mantra of earthquake preparedness is "Drop, Cover and Hold On."
That is a reminder for people during an earthquake to drop to the floor, take cover under something sturdy and hold on to it until the shaking stops. - http://goo.gl/2aMIG
Autopsy Shows Centralia Woman Found Dead in Alley Apparently Died From Natural Causes
Preliminary autopsy results indicate a 62-year-old Centralia woman found dead in a city alley Monday morningdied from natural causes. Mary Brenton of South Poplar Street was pronounced dead on the scene by Marion County Deputy Coroner Roger Sutherland after her body was found lying face down in the middle of an alley about a half-block from the Huck's Store at Calumet and Poplar. The coroner's office reports pending toxicology and microscopic examination, the preliminary results show that Brenton died of a massive heart attack due to extreme blockages of coronary arteries and resulting enlargement of the coronary walls. There was also a significant amount of fluid surrounding the heart, making it work even harder, and ultimately contributing to her death. The examination revealed no signs of foul play. Brenton appeared to have been walking the short distance home with groceries she had bought at the Huck's store when she collapsed. - http://goo.gl/wi4uy
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Illinois Family Escapes Italian Cruise Disaster
Jim Salzburg says the scene on the Costa Concordia was "complete chaos." The 71-year-old Richmond man was taking a 16-day trip with his 70-year-old wife Josephine Salzburg and their 39-year-old daughter Mary-Jo Salzburg. Salzburg says "everybody was just running around looking for a lifeboat." The three were able to put on life jackets and secure spaces on a lifeboat to escape the Friday accident.
They were home in Richmond by Sunday evening. Jim Salzburg says the family is lucky to be alive. Richmond is near the Illinois and Wisconsin border, about 65 miles northwest of Chicago. full story
Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a burglary at the Tonya Allen residence on North Main Street in Sandoval. Allen reported medication was stolen. Two persons were arrested on Monday on outstanding warrants. 20-year-old Andrew Dixon of East McCord in Centralia is being held on outstanding Marion, Clinton, and Illinois Department of Corrections warrants. 21-year-old Thomas Garrison of North Boyd Road in Mt. Vernon is being held for failure to appear in court for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing justice. - http://goo.gl/BeRnH
Woman Found Dead in Centralia Alley, Heart Attack Suspected
A 62-year-old Centralia womanwas found deceased Monday morning in an alleyway about a half block south of the Huck's Store at Calumet and South Poplar Street on the south side of Centralia. Deputy Marion County Coroner Roger Sutherland says it appears Mary Brenton of the one-thousand block of South Poplar suffered a heart attack. However, because she had no previous history of health problems an autopsy will be performedTuesday to confirm a cause of death. Sutherland says Brenton was apparently walking the short distance home after going to the Huck's Store when she fell face down in the alley. Employees say Brenton had been in the store around 7:15 am. She wasn't found until around 9 am, indicating she had apparently fallen at least an hour before being discovered. Sutherland says Brenton's purse and the groceries she had purchased were lying beside her. - http://goo.gl/eSDIU
Severe Weather Pushes Through Area, Hail Reported In Some Areas But No Structural Damage
Two lines of strong thunderstorms triggered severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings across South Central Illinois Tuesday morning. Parts of Clinton and Washington County were placed under a tornado warning, when National Weather Service doppler radar indicated rotation in some of the strongest thunderstorms. The storms also produced hail in many places, including dime size in Salem and inch size in both the Aviston and Carlyle area. Several accidents were reported during the height of the storm activity, including two reports of cars being at least partially blown off the road. Iuka Police report 46-year-old Linda Shehorn of Tree Farm Road in Iuka lost control while traveling on the Iuka Road just south of U.S. 50. She escaped injury, but her car ended up in the roadside ditch. The Clinton County Sheriff's Department also had a report of a car that left the Shattuc Road. Once again there were no injuries. There have been no reports of any structural damage. There have been reports of periodic power outages in the Sandoval and Tonti area. The Salem Water Plant recorded 1.06 inches of rain and the Centralia Water Plant 1.18 inches of rain. The heavy rains resulted in a small and urban flood advisory to be issued for Marion, Clinton, Fayette, Bond and northern Washington County that expired at 8:30 Tuesday morning. - http://goo.gl/2SrHH
Mt Vernon/Jefferson Co. Daily Arrest Record - Jan 17 2012
Mt. Vernon Police Department Arrests
- Roberto M. Roman, 23, of the 100 block of Welkins Street, was arrested Saturday at 12:17 a.m. on a charge of criminal damage of state property. Bond was set at $10,000.
- Michelle A. Baker, 36, of the 300 block of North Fifth Street, was arrested Saturday at 7:47 p.m. on a charge of retail theft.
- Sherry L. Thomas, 57, of the 2400 block of Perkins, was arrested Sunday at 12:27 a.m. on a charge of aggravated battery. Bond was set at $30,000.
- Rachel Lynn Mooney, 34, of the 600 block of South 18th Street, was arrested at 1:51 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license. Mooney was released.
- Ashley N. Jenkins, 23, of the 1100 block of South 23rd Street, was arrested at 2:15 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500 and Jenkins was released.
- April D. Derry, 32, of the 14600 block of North County Farm Lane, was arrested Sunday at 8:14 p.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Derry was released.
- Owen L. Buchanan Jr., 37, of the 800 block of South 21st Street, was arrested at 12:24 p.m. Monday on a charge of domestic battery.
- Kathern L. Nason, 33, of the 16500 block of North Illinois Highway 37, was arrested at 12:35 a.m. Monday on a charge of driving with a suspended/revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500 and Nason was released.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Arrests
- Trynesa P. Thrailkill, 42, of Columbus, Miss., was arrested Saturday at 2:15 p.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Thrailkill was released.
- Woodrow W. Tharp, 42, of St. Louis, was arrested at 2:37 a.m. Sunday on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition with no FOID and two in-state warrants.
- Lisa Taylor, 18, of the 17000 block of North Illinois Highway 37, was arrested Monday at 2:16 a.m. on a charge of resisting, obstructing or disarming an office. Bond was set at $1,000.
- Zachary L. Ford, 18, of the 17000 block of North Illinois Highway 37, was arrested Monday at 2:17 a.m. on a charge of resisting, obstructing or disarming an office. Bond was set at $1,000. full story