SPRINGFIELD – Ghosts, goblins and the best dressed Trick-or-treaters today visited the Governor’s Mansion. Professor McGonagall, also known as First Lady Diana Rauner, greeted children and handed out treats with Dragon (Sugar) and Dobby the Elf (Stella), from Harry Potter. The Illinois Association of Wholesale Distributors provided the Halloween treats.

The children also had the chance to see the Great Pumpkin Display. Pumpkins were courtesy of The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, Illinois.

“Stella, Sugar and I are excited to welcome trick-or-treaters to the Mansion this year, our first Halloween celebration since the Mansion’s grand re-opening this summer,” said the first lady and the chair of the Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association, a not-for-profit organization.  “We enjoyed seeing all the children’s costumes and sharing in the capital city’s Halloween festivities.”

 

A Sparta woman has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for her role in a meth distribution ring that spanned multiple counties in Southern Illinois.

Here’s a link to the story at the Belleville News-Democrat.

Standing across from a private Christian high school, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner repeatedly declined Tuesday to use a profanity uttered in his new TV attack ad against J.B. Pritzker, instead saying that Illinois would be “screwed” if the Democrat wins.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

CARBONDALE — Ahead of a presidential visit on Saturday and a tight election looming in November, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost is hosting one of his first public town halls since a public movement last year called for him to be more available to constituents.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

While the opioid epidemic keeps claiming the lives of Americans, deaths from another drug are picking up.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Carbondale residents and others planned to protest against a visit by President Donald Trump, but those plans were thwarted when Mayor Mike Henry cancelled the Tuesday night meeting due to what he called “credible indications that there will be multiple acts of civil disobedience” in a prepared statement to The Southern Illinoisan last week.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake is offering the opportunity for hunters with disabilities to enjoy the sport of waterfowl hunting.  A specially designed in-ground waterfowl pit, located just east of the Mine 21 parking area, features a gradually sloping sidewalk which provides easy access to persons with mobility impairments.

A sliding roll-top allows for easy shooting while providing maximum camouflage.  The pit accommodates parties of up to 5 hunters. All hunters are required to hunt from within the pit and must abide by all Federal, State, and Rend Lake site-specific hunting regulations.  Rend Lake is in the South Central Zone for Illinois, Canada Goose season runs November 10, 2018 through January 31, 2019. Duck season runs November 10, 2018 through January 8, 2019.

The Rend Lake waterfowl pit is available by reservation, to persons with disabilities, during the main goose season. A reservation allows a disabled person and up to 4 able-bodied assistants to hunt the waterfowl pit on the date their reservation is valid. Persons with a reservation are allowed to pull their vehicles close to the blind for parking and unloading.  A reservation to hunt the waterfowl pit can be made by either of these methods:

1. Submit an application in person by bringing it to the Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
2. Call the Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center at (618) 724-2493 during regular business hours and reserve the site over the phone.

Applicants will be contacted to confirm the date of their hunt and a permit will be issued. Disabled hunters must be accompanied by at least one able-bodied person who can assist with all aspects of the hunt.  On days that the waterfowl pit has not been reserved by a disabled hunter, it will be available to any group of hunters (disabled or able-bodied) wishing to utilize it on a first-come, first-served basis.  Walk-in hunters do not require an application or a reservation and may access the area by walking from the Mine 21 parking lot to the blind.

For additional information, contact Molly Rawlinson or Cassie Magsig, at the Rend Lake Project Office, 618-724-2493.

10-12-18 at 8:14 am Deputies responded to a report of a fight in progress at a residence in Royalton.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of Richard E. King age 52 of Royalton and Jonathan C. Love age 43 of Christopher.  Both men were charged with battery.

10-13-18 at 8:24 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. Rt. 14 in Buckner.  A 2015 Chevrolet driven by Robin L. Vinyard age 45 of Buckner, was east bound and stopped in traffic to negotiate a right turn onto Market Street in Buckner.  A 1999 Silverado Pick-Up, driven by Dalton K. Risley age 16 of Sesser, was also east bound behind the Vinyard vehicle and struck the Vinyard vehicle in a rear-end type crash.  Neither driver was injured; however, a 48 year old male passenger, Chad M. Vinyard of Buckner, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S.   Risley was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

10-13-18 at 11:38 pm Deputies responded to a reported single vehicle traffic crash that had occurred at the intersection of Crocker Road and Il. Rt. 148 north of Sesser.  It was reported that the red Chevrolet driven by a male subject had been east bound on Crocker Road, struck the stop sign at the intersection with Rt. 148, traveled into a ditch striking a Frontier cable box and then a fence.  The vehicle then fled the scene south on Rt. 148.  A Deputy was able to locate the vehicle on the north edge of Sesser.  The vehicle was a 2009 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Brian L. Sledge age 40 of Sesser.  Sledge was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a property damage crash, driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal transportation of alcohol.

10-14-18 at 2:33 pm Deputies responded to a disturbance at a residence in rural Benton.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of Jennifer R. Shelton age 29 of West Frankfort for criminal trespass to a residence and resisting arrest.

10-14-18 at 10:17 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash in rural Thompsonville.  A 1997 Ford Ranger Pick-Up had crashed on Timothy Lane at Ross Briley Road.  The driver had left the scene and was located the following day.  The driver, Steven M. Bruce age 29 of West Frankfort, was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and leaving the scene of a property damage crash.

10-15-18 at 9:43 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. Rt. 37 one mile south of the Franklin-Jefferson county line.  A 2016 Hyundai driven by Elva R. Scantlan age 83 of Harrisburg, was north bound on Rt. 37 and came to a complete stop as directed by an I.D.O.T. flagman in a single lane construction zone.  A 2004 Chevrolet driven by Rebecca L. Reese age 18 of Christopher, was also north bound, failed to stop and struck the Hyundai in a rear-end type crash.  There were no injuries and Reese was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

10-15-18 at 4:52 pm Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in Buckner.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of a 15 year old female for domestic battery.

10-17-18 at 10:38 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. Rt. 184 at Hyde Park Road.  A 1995 Ford driven by Marcus S. Jennings age 34 of Royalton was south bound and in the process of negotiating a right turn onto Hyde Park Road.  A 2008 Kawasaki Motorcycle driven by Matthew W. Loucks age 23 of Sesser was north bound on Rt. 184 and crossed into the south bound lane and struck the Ford on the driver’s side.  The motorcycle rider was ejected and received major injuries.  Abbott E.M.S. and Royalton first responders also responded to the scene.  The injured driver was flown out to an out of state hospital by Air Evac.  The driver of the car was not injured.  The crash is still under investigation.

10-18-18 at 7:30 am Deputies arrested Robert E. Withrow age 47 of Mulkeytown as a result of an investigation of his sex offender registration status.  Withrow was charged with a violation of the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Statue.

10-19-18 at 10:17 pm Deputies were investigating a series of thefts that have been occurring in Valier and were also attempting to locate an individual wanted on a warrant.  A search of a residence was conducted utilizing K-9 Diego.  The wanted subject, Shawn P. Zook age 41 of Macedonia, was located by K-9 Diego hiding in a false wall behind a water heater in the bathroom of the residence.

The subject was wanted on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving personal injury.  He is also now charged with obstructing justice.  Also arrested for obstructing justice was Ryan A. Karabec age 34 of DuQuoin.  More arrest and charges are anticipated.

WARRANT ARRESTS

 10-11-18 Chase M. Johnson age 25 of West Frankfort.  Failure to appear on aggravated battery of a child.

10-11-18 Britny L. Sutton age 22 of Christopher.  Failure to appear for felony theft and retail theft.

10-11-18 Loren J. Owens age 38 of Benton.  Failure to appear on traffic charges.

10-13-18 Catlin D. Boswell age 21 of Tamaroa.  Failure to appear for aggravated battery.

10-14-18 Shane F. Utley age 30 of Marion.  Failure to appear for domestic battery.

10-14-18 Cody L. Collins age 21 of Woodlawn.  Failure to appear for possession of cannabis.

10-14-18 Brieanne E. Johnson age 24 of Carbondale.  Failure to appear for criminal trespass to property.

10-15-18 Michael A. Meinert age 42 of Benton.  Failure to appear for criminal damage to property.

10-16-18 Dustin M. Jones age 25 of DuQuoin.  Failure to appear for domestic battery.

10-17-18 Todd M. Taylor age 36 of Desoto.  Failure to appear for theft, obstructing justice and traffic charges.

10-18-18 Jennifer L. McNabb age 50 of Eldorado.  Failure to appear for a Saline County warrant for possession of illegal gambling devices.

10-18-18 Candace V. Perez age 33 of West Frankfort.  Failure to appear for unlawful violation of an order of protection and domestic battery.

10-18-18 Virginia A. Campbell-Melton age 47 of Sesser.  Petition to revoke probation.  Unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

10-18-18 Michael L. Smith age 45 of Opdyke.  Failure to appear for retail theft.

10-19-18 Crystal M. Rold age 40 of Marion.  Failure to appear for fraud.

10-19-18 Michael D. Needham age 22 of Cambria.  Failure to appear on traffic charges.

10-19-18 James L. Weir age 21 of Herrin.  Failure to appear for obstructing identification.

 

 

After the federal government and the majority of states have scrapped it, should Illinois do away with its “death tax?”

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources is telling deer hunters about a few changes for the 2018 deer hunting season. 

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.