Father, daughter seriously injured after hit-and-run, shooting

WILLIAMSON COUNTY - A Hurst woman is in a St. Louis hospital with life-threatening injuries after she was struck by a vehicle driven by her enraged father Monday morning in Williamson County. The incident sparked a shooting a short time later in Royalton.

Mary A. Halleran, 33, was struck by the pickup truck driven by her father, 55-year-old Dennis J. Hahn of Royalton, according to a release from Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick. She was taken to a local hospital and later airlifted to St. Louis.

Hahn allegedly hit his daughter with his vehicle after firing five to six rounds from a large caliber handgun into the house she and her 27-year-old husband, James Halleran, lived in along Gosnell Road south of Hurst, according to police reports.

James Halleran reportedly confronted Hahn at the front door of the home after shots were fired at it. Police said Halleran was also injured when Hahn allegedly hit him in the head with the barrel of the gun but refused treatment at the scene.

Hahn fled the scene at his daughter's house, police said, back to his home near Royalton in Franklin County. His wife, 57-year-old Betty Hahn, had learned of what happened, took the pickup truck back to the Halleran home.

Hahn was reportedly shot by one of his sons a short time after he arrived back home, police said. He was taken to a local hospital and was scheduled for surgery Monday afternoon.

The name of the son who shot Hahn has not been released by authorities. Two weapons have been recovered by Franklin County authorities and further details are being investigated by both Franklin and Williamson counties.  full story

Marion County Police Beat for Monday, February 20th, 2012

A 59-year-old Centralia manwas arrested by Salem Police Sunday afternoon for alleged domestic battery. James Cates of Cherry Street was taken into custody following a domestic dispute involving his wife at a home on North Dawley Street in Salem late Sunday afternoon.

A 54-year-old Wamac man was arrested during an early Monday morning traffic stop by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for alleged possession of a controlled substance and driving on a revoked license. Deputies say a search of the car being driven by Terry Finley of Wabash Avenue turned up a white substance that field tested positive as the drug commonly referred to as bath salts.
23-year-old Willard Neff of North Locust in Centralia is being held on outstanding Marion and Jefferson COunty traffic warrants. 29-year-old Steven Palmore of Kankakee remains in jail after being arrested by Kinmundy Police for no valid drivers license.

29-year-old Amanda Schramm of Delaware Grove in Richview posted $150 bond and was released after being arrested for not having a valid drivers license. - http://goo.gl/E9Tzd

Jefferson County and Mt. Vernon Fires Displace Six Families

Six families are displaced following fires in Mt. Vernon and the Miller Lake area of Jefferson County late Sunday afternoon.  

Mt. Vernon City Firemen say the Red Cross assisted five families who occupied an apartment building at 2221 Casey that was damaged by fire.  The blaze started in one of the upstairs units, with fire damage also reported to a second upstairs unit and in the attic of the building.  There was smoke, heat and water damage to the rest of the structure.  

Firemen say there were a total of six apartment units in the building, but only five were occupied.  All the residents who were home were outside when firemen arrived at 5:05 Sunday night.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  Firemen were on the scene for just over three hours.  

Jefferson Rural Firemen say a mobile home and two or three additions were destroyed in a fire at 19,725 Miller Lake Lane northeast of Mt. Vernon Sunday afternoon.  Firemen say no one was home at the time the fire call came in and ownership of the property was not immediately clear.  Kell and Bluford Firemen provided mutual aide assistance.  There were no injuries in fighting the fire.  The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.  The Red Cross provided assistance to the occupants of the mobile home. - http://goo.gl/Ho3Vr

Red Feather Ball

MT. VERNON - Community members celebrated the accomplishments of the United Way of South Central Illinois in 2011 on Saturday during the Red Feather Ball. United Way members were able to raise more than $10,000 on Saturday for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which sends age-appropriate books to children once a month. Richard Straeter, Executive Director of the Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County, was announced as the recipient of the Champion of Hope Award. Next year’s UWSCI president will be Bill Whisenant of Continental Tire the Americas. The Midwest Dueling Pianos duo provided the evening’s entertainment.  full story

Brad Cohen Keynote Speaker at Tri-County Education Conference Friday

       The keynote speaker at the Tri-County Education Conference Friday explained the importance of teachers reaching out to students in the correct way. Brad Cohen said he was bullied and neglected as a child because he has tourette syndrome. He hated being at school when he was younger because of the bullying and non-sympathetic teachers. Finally he got the help he needed from the school principal who allowed him to educate fellow students about tourettes syndrome.
          Cohen later went to Bradley University and began a career in teaching. Now he has a made for TV hallmark film made after his life story.
          "I think teachers need to treat every single child the same way. It doesn't matter if they're a special needs child or not. They still want to be accepted, they still want to be motivated to be the best that they can be, and I think many times that if we start to treat them as different people, then society will look at them that way. The truth is that they have the same dreams and aspirations as any other kid, and we need to be able to honor that", said Cohen.   full story

Illinois' Exports Increase 30% In Last Year

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn has made a habit of bragging that Illinois increased exports last year by 30 percent. He cites it when questioned about a tide of business complaints about the state's economic climate.  The real figure is slightly lower, but there's no doubt 2011 was a good year for the state's exports.

Adam Pollet heads Quinn's trade office. He says overseas trade offices and other Quinn-backed moves deserve part of the credit.   But economists say Quinn can't take much credit himself for it.   Economics professor Fred Giertz of the University of Illinois says there really isn't much any politician can do to create that kind of growth.   He also suspects the figure may be an anomaly, given Illinois' high unemployment rate.

Top Illinois Exports for 2011
     By category, in billions of dollars
     Category / 2011 / 2010
     1. Machinery / $17.79 / $12.49
     2. Chemicals / $8.50 / $6.48
     3. Transportation equipment / $6.67 / $5.33
     4. Computer and electronic products / $6.07 / $5.49
     5. Electrical equipment, appliances and components / $3.113 /$2.64
     6. Petroleum and coal / $3.10 / $1.02
     7. Fabricated metal products / $2.85 / $2.25
     8. Food and Kindred Products / $2.71 / $2.64
     9. Agricultural products / $2.62 / $1.45
     10. Miscellaneous Manufactured Commodities / $2.30 / $2.23
     Midwest Export Increases by State for 2011
     In billions of dollars
     State / 2011 / 2010 / Percentage increase
     Illinois / $64.57 / $50.06 / 28.9 percent
     Iowa / $13.28 / $10.88 / 22.1
     Michigan / $50.80 / $44.77 / 13.5
     Indiana / $32.20 / $28.75 / 12
     Ohio / $46.41 / $41.49 / 11.9
     Wisconsin / $22.05 / $19.79 / 11.4
     Missouri / $14.15 / $12.93 / 9.4
     Minnesota / $20.28 / $18.90 / 7.3

     Source: U.S. Census Bureau  full story

Two Killed In Head On Crash On U.S. 51 South of Vandalia

Both drivers died in a fiery head on collision on U.S. 51 two miles south of Vandalia early Sunday morning. 

Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen identifies one of the victims as 74-year-old Robert Norris of Vernon.  The second victim was burned beyond recognition.  Dental records will be used during an autopsy scheduled for Monday to try and confirm the victim's identity.  A passenger in the Norris vehicle, Shawn Norris, was airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital. 

Bowen says Robert Norris was traveling southbound on U.S. 51 near Fayette County Road 1150N when a northbound vehicle crossed into his lane.  The two collided head on.  The northbound vehicle then burst into flames.  The Vandalia Fire Department responded to the scene, extinguished the fire, and extricated the victims.  Robert Norris and the unidentified person were pronounced dead on the scene by Bowen at 4:06 Sunday morning. 

The crash occurred around 3:30 Sunday morning.  It remains under investigation by the Fayette County Coroner and Illinois State Police, who have assigned an accident reconstructionist to the case.  - http://goo.gl/7bya6

Governor Asks Constitutional Officers To Cut Budgets At Least 9%, Lt. Governor Says She Will

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is planning to cut her budget by 9.4 percent to help Illinois deal with its multibillion-dollar budget deficit. Simon's spokeswoman said Saturday her office is requesting $1.9 million for fiscal 2013, compared to $2.1 million for the current year, marking the lowest requested appropriation in 16 years.

A spokesman for the Secretary of State Jesse White, whose office had a $390 million budget this fiscal year, says the governor asked White to make a 9.4 percent reduction and that he's looking into it. The governor's office confirmed Saturday that Gov. Pat Quinn has asked the state's constitutional offices to consider cutting their budgets by at least 9 percent. Quinn will detail his budget plan Wednesday. Illinois' other constitutional offices are the Attorney General, Treasurer and Comptroller.  full story

Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, February 18th, 2012

A 22-year-old Centralia man has been arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. Gregory Mays of East Tenth was arrested by Centralia Police on Friday. Two others are being held on outstanding warrants.

34-year-old Jarrin Lee Boyles, who told State Police he is homeless, is being held on a Jersey County warrant. 27-year-old Brett Gaines, who told Salem Police he was homeless, remains in jail on outstanding Washington and Clinton County warrants.

47-year-old David Sullens of Gray Road in Alma was arrested by State Police for alleged driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted $100 bond and was released.

20-year-old Konner Beer of Metcalf Road in Iuka was arrested by Salem Police during a traffic stop for alleged possession of liquor by a minor. Beer posted $150 bond and was released.

24-year-old Ashley Higgins of East Broadway in Centralia posted $250 bond and was released after being arrested at the courthouse on a petition to revoke his probation.

19-year-old Kyle Kloppedal of Cross Road in Salem posted $200 bond and was released after being arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies on an ordinance violation warrant. Salem Police are investigating a vehicle theft.

Gerald Barnhart of South Marion in Centralia reported his car stolen Friday from the Bettendorf-Stanford parking lot at 1370 West Main.  full story

Southern Illinois Insurance Agent Draws 17.5 Year Prison Term For Swindling $6-Million From Clients

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois insurance agent and securities broker has been sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty last year to an investment scheme that swindled roughly $6 million from clients. Victoria McGee-Harris of St. Louis declined to make a statement during her 6 1/2 -hour sentencing hearing Friday. She pleaded guilty in March to one count each of mail fraud and engaging in a monetary transaction with property derived from illegal activity. She admitted using client money from Swansea-based Metro East Insurance Group for personal use, including travel and operation of a chain of clothing stores in Missouri. Authorities say McGee-Harris was doing business as a licensed insurance agent and securities broker between 2003 and 2010 when she got clients to buy investment and insurance products she never purchased. full story