Marion County Police Beat for Sunday, January 29th, 2012

A 21 year old Centralia man is being held in the Marion County Jail for alleged domestic battery. Centralia Police arrested Dustin Wilson of South Maple after responding to a domestic battery in progress. Police say Wilson entered the Donna Campbell on South Maple Street without permission, pulled Campbell off the couch and pushed her outside, and later when she came back into the home allegedly picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. Wilson then allegedly dumped a glass of milk on Campbell. 30-year-old Doneka Jones of East 13th in Centralia is being held in lieu of $3,000 bond for failure to appear on an unlawful possession of controlled substance charge. Salem Police arrested 23-year-old Andrew Howell of Salem Mobile Home Park for alleged disorderly conduct when he allegedly refused to leave the Guesthouse Inn when asked to do so. 23 year old Adam Joseph Felton of Meridian Road in Sandoval was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence by Illinois State Police. Felton posted $100 and driver's license and was released. 33 year old Kristy Lauren Marshall of East Nollman in Centralia was arrested for driving on a revoked driver's license by Illinois State Police. Marshall posted $150 cash and was released. - http://goo.gl/b0tUL

Illinois Trying to Add More Female Prison Guards

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - State officials are looking for ways to increase the number female prison guards. The (Decatur) Herald-Review reported Sunday that the Illinois Department of Corrections wants to boost female and minority recruitment within the department. Corrections spokeswoman Stacey Solano says female guards are critical at both male and female prisons. The state operates all-female prisons in Lincoln, Decatur and Dwight. The announcement comes after a recent report by the Chicago-based John Howard Association on the Dwight Correctional Center. The watchdog group said that it received reports of inappropriate behavior from male correctional officers at the all-female prison. The watchdog group's report alleges that "inmates expressed distress over lack of privacy." Corrections officials say the ratio of male to female guards throughout Illinois' prison system is 5.4 males to 1 female.  full story

Illinois Governor Faces Hurdles As New Legislative Session Looms

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - It's tough being governor of a state weighed down by debt, overdue bills and rising expenses. It's even tougher when lawmakers seem happy to ignore your ideas when it suits their mood. That's the situation facing Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. The Chicago Democrat has seen his share of legislative victories, but he has also seen lawmakers ignore his budget proposal, routinely overturn vetoes and brush aside proposals like consolidating small schools. As Quinn prepares for his State of the State address, he faces twin challenges. He must come up with proposals to ease the state's massive financial problems and a strategy to increase his ability to enact those proposals. The governor says he has a strong relationship with the General Assembly.  full story

Local energy-efficient businesses earn award

MOUNT VERNON - Energy-efficient efforts by Mount Vernon businesses have earned the city the ActOnEnergy Most Progressive City Award.

The award was presented by Ameren Illinois to Mount Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley in recognition of 19 Mount Vernon businesses that completed 26 ActOnEnergy projects between June 1, 2010, and May 31, 2011, according to George Justice, manager of Ameren Illinois Division VI.

"It's wonderful," Chesley said. "Through what I call a powerful partnership between the city and its businesses and industries, we are creating awareness, saving energy and helping the environment."

The projects, which received almost $265,000 in ActOnEnergy incentive payments, resulted in a savings of 4.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year for the businesses.

"That is enough electricity to meet the demands of 470 single-family homes for a year," Justice said. "Through these projects, power plant emissions and carbon footprints are reduced, resources are conserved and businesses become more competitive, all of which benefit employees, consumers and the community at large."

ActOnEnergy offers business customers - including private schools and nonprofits - energy efficiency incentives for lighting, refrigeration, motor systems and HVAC systems.

Incentives also are available for retro commissioning, multi-family buildings, commercial kitchen equipment and hotel and motel guest room energy management systems.

ActOnEnergy also offers a program for grain and livestock farmers, providing incentives for lighting upgrades, livestock waterers and such high-efficiency equipment as circulation fans, water heaters and exhaust fans.

Since ActOnEnergy was launched in 2008, the amount of annual incentive dollars available to business customers has grown from $3 million to $19.2 million. full story

Ten Hour Standoff Ends In Edwardsville When Truck Driver Shoots Himself In The Head

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A nearly 10-hour standoff with aMetro-East truck driver who rammed into a trucking facility has ended after the man shot himself in the head. The 51-year-old from Alton has been taken to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.

His condition wasn't immediately available Saturday afternoon. Authorities say he rammed his truck into the Schneider National trucking facility in Edwardsville at about 2 a.m. Saturday. He's a driver for Schneider. The crash ignited a fire that burned itself out. Police received a 911 call from the driver at the time of the crash saying he had no intention of being taken into custody alive.

Police say he shot himself just before noon. Madison County state's attorney Tom Gibbon says about 50 emergency responders were at the scene. - http://goo.gl/3BFbY

Waltonville High School Homecoming King and Queen candidates

The Waltonville High School Homecoming King and Queen candidates are, front row from left, Mallory Owens, Hannah Herzing, Shelby Majewski and Caitie Wisniewski; back row from left, Jacob Phillips, Dan Halleran, Dylan McLean and Blake Tepovich. The event, which is sponsored by the Waltonville High School Student Council, will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. on Jan. 28, with coronation at 10 p.m.  full story

Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, January 28th, 2012

A 38-year-old Centralia woman remains in the Marion County Jail on a petition to revoke her probation. Bridget Dahn Bone of South Poplar was arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies. 21-year-old Michael Naugle of East South Street in Irvington posted $250 bond and was released after being arrested by sheriff's deputies on a petition to revoke probation. 25-year-old Derek Caswell of South Broadway in Salem posted $750 bond and was released after being arrested on an outstanding warrant for domestic battery. The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating the attempted theft of a large electric motor from outside Phillips Electric Motors on Route 37 South in Kell Thursday night or early Friday morning.  full story

Irvington Man Arrested for Alleged Prostitution and Armed Robbery

A 27-year-old Irvington man has been arrested by Centralia Police for alleged prostitution and armed robbery. Jeffrey Fleming of Sixth Street said he had made an agreement at a bar to perform a sex act on a 35-year-old Centralia man. The two later went to the Centralia man's room at the Centralia Motel where the act allegedly occurred. Fleming said he grabbed the agreed upon $20 from a table in the room when the man refused to pay. A scuffle ensued. Fleming eventually was able to run from the room. Police had initially been called to the motel room after the occupant called police to say a man had just broke through the door and put a knife to his throat. Fleming was taken to the Marion County Jail, pending the setting of bond.  full story

Huck’s Convenience Store robbed in Mt. Vernon

MT. VERNON — The Huck’s Convenience Store at 201 Main Street was robbed Thursday night.

According to police reports, the clerk contacted police shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday to report a black woman in a dark blue hooded sweatshirt had robbed the store at knife point. She allegedly displayed the white handled knife during the robbery.

Police responded and discovered the suspect fled on foot south bound from the store in the area between Silver Streak and Life Star Ambulance.

At this time, police are still searching for the suspect, according to Mt. Vernon Police Chief Chris Mendenall.

Anyone with information about the incident are asked to contact the Mt. Vernon Police Department at 242-2131 or the Jefferson County Crimestoppers at 242-8477. Anyone who shares information with Crimestoppers does not have to leave a name or telephone number and can remain anonymous. Any information that leads to an arrest may make the caller eligible for a cash reward.  full story

Illinois Leading The Charge For Renewable Energy

Illinois is among the top states in the nation when it comes to renewable energy. Kevin Borgia, with the Illinois Wind Energy Coalition, says recent growth will have a strong impact in Southern Illinois. "The primary beneficiaries are going to be rural communities that are going to get new jobs, new economic development, new payments to new farmland and land owners, and new property-tax revenue. That's going to be a huge infusion for those communities", said Borgia. Borgia says increased renewable energy could also translate to stable energy costs for homeowners and businesses. That means it could ward off more potential rate hikes. Illinois added more turbines than any other state last year and ranks fourth in the nation when it comes to overall wind energy.  full story