Illinois House Republicans are gathering to consider electing a new leader following a summer of internal squabbling while the current caucus chief debated his political future.
Here’s the link at the Springfield State Journal-Register.
McKinney enters ‘not guilty’ plea to all charges
August 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
BENTON – William P. McKinney, the former Buckner police officer facing charges in the death of Roy D. Barnhart, has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Barnhart was also a Buckner resident.
During a court appearance on Wednesday, the 60-yer-old McKinney was also appointed a new attorney — his third attorney since the charges were filed six weeks ago — after newly-appointed attorney David Garavalia withdrew due to a conflict of interest. Garavalia was appointed only last week to replace Eric Dirnbeck who also cited a conflict in representing McKinney. Veteran Benton attorney Brian Drew was appointed by Judge Paul Lamar to represent McKinney.
The incident that led to McKinney’s arrest took place on July 7 when the former Buckner officer responded, along with other law enforcement officers, to a report of a fight in progress. Barnhart and McKinney engaged in a heated argument before Barnhart was placed under arrest. Several witnesses told authorities that McKinney continued to beat Barnhart after he was handcuffed and on the ground. Barnhart died four days later in a St. Louis hospital. McKinney is charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery of a senior citizen and official misconduct in connection with the death of Barnhart.
A jury trial was set for Nov. 5. McKinney remains in custody at Franklin County Jail.
Garavalia appointed as attorney for former Buckner police officer charged with involuntary manslaughter
August 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Staff Report
Benton attorney David Garavalia has been appointed as legal counsel for former Buckner police officer William P. McKinney, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of 62-year-old Roy D. Barnhart, of Buckner.
The appointment of Garavalia to replace Eric Dirnbeck, who had previously filed a motion to withdraw as McKinney’s attorney due to a conflict of interest, took place during a Wednesday court hearing in Franklin County Circuit.
The incident that led to McKinney’s arrest took place on July 7 when the former Buckner officer responded, along with other law enforcement officers, to a report of a fight in progress. Barnhart and McKinney engaged in a heated argument before Barnhart was placed under arrest. Several witnesses told authorities that McKinney continued to beat Barnhart after he was handcuffed and on the ground. Barnhart died four days later in a St. Louis hospital.
McKinney is also charged with aggravated battery of a senior citizen and official misconduct in connection with the death of Barnhart.
McKinney is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, August 28 in Franklin County Court.
Obituary – Philip Gene Adams – Benton
August 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
BENTON – Philip Gene Adams, 50, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, in a single-vehicle accident south of Benton.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, with the Rev. Gary West officiating. Friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.
Leffler-Poulson Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of arrangements.
Court: Peabody liable for retiree benefits
August 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
ST. LOUIS — Coal producer Peabody Energy Corp. remains obligated to continue health-care benefits for some 3,100 retirees of one of the company’s former holdings, an appeals court ruled Wednesday in reversing a bankruptcy judge’s absolving Peabody of that tab.
Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.
Four indicted following raid at The Smoke Break in Benton
August 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Jim Muir
A Franklin County Grand Jury has handed down indictments against four people who are accused of possessing and delivering illegal drugs from their Benton business.
Daniel Schmechel, 46, and Cindy Schmechel, 44, both of Mount Vernon, are owners of The Smoke Break, located at 601 West Main St. are both facing a 13-count indictment charging them with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Dorothy Williams, 62, of Valier, and Erin Williams, 30, of Mount Vernon are also accused of unlawfully delivering and possessing controlled substances or controlled substance analogs.
The indictments came as a result of a joint investigation between Benton, West City and state police, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged offenses took place within 1,000 feet of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, making the charges each a Class 2 felony.
Law enforcement officers from Illinois State Police, Benton Police Department, West City Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department converged on The Smoke Break last week armed with a search warrant. The search warrant was obtained based on information conducted by state police and the Benton Police Department.
The Smoke Break has been the scene of police raids in the past. Last year law enforcement officers searched the business as part of an investigation centered around allegations into the alleged delivery of a controlled substance analog or synthetic drug. Bath salts, spice and incense are oftentimes sold as a synthetic drug, which is illegal in the state of Illinois.
Sales of the drugs are illegal in the state.
The Schmechels each posted $15,000 bond and have a first court appearance set for Sept. 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Dorothy Williams and Erin Williams each posted a $2,000 cash bond. Dorothy Williams is also set for a first appearance at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 3, and Erin Williams will appear Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Benton man killed in single-vehicle accident
August 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Franklin County authorities are continuing to investigate a fatal single-vehicle accident Tuesday evening south of Benton.
Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler identified the victim as 50-year-old Philip Adams, of Benton. The accident occurred on South Hill City Road, one-fourth mile south of Forest Baptist Church Road.
According to Leffler, a passerby saw a vehicle in a corn field and stopped to investigate and found the body of Adams inside. A 911 call was placed to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 6:01 p.m. and deputes, Illinois State Police and personnel from Abbott’s Ambulance responded to the accident scene. Leffler was notified at 6:10 p.m. about the fatal accident.
Leffler said no foul play is suspected and said alcohol is “a suspected factor in the fatal accident.”
Leffler said an autopsy is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Franklin Hospital in Benton.
Benton Police Blotter
August 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
On August 19, 2013 Benton Police arrested William Adams Jr., age 19, of Benton for driving while license suspended. Adams was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On August 19, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 900 block of S. First Street in reference to a battery complaint. Through investigation, police arrested Deanna Pierce, age 42, of Benton for battery. Pierce was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On August 19, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1400 block of N. Lincoln Drive in reference to a civil standby. Through investigation, police arrested Phillip Spohn, age 31, of Christopher on an active Franklin County warrant for deceptive practice. Spohn was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
Franklin County Farm Bureau News
August 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By J. Larry Miller
Pleasant temperatures, low humidity and showers certainly make for good conditions for humans and livestock. Pastures have been better this summer than I have ever seen. The good condition of the cattle is indicative of the plentiful forages as feeder calf weights coming off of cows should be very good. Prices for feeder cattle will make for very good income on cow-calf operations.
Larry Miller, executive director Franklin County Farm Bureau
What makes good livestock conditions does not necessarily translate into good conditions for crops.
With lower temperatures, crops are maturing very slowly and harvest will not occur until at least the middle of September. Farmers are gearing up for drying some of the corn artificially which will slow harvest and increase cost. We hope that Jack Frost will be late this year!
Tuesday August 20 the Franklin County Farm Bureau will be conducting their annual Corn Yield Tour of the county. We are pretty sure that they will find record numbers in the fields this year. The tour begins at 9 am and everyone will leave the Farm Bureau at that time to spread out and count the “ears” and the kernels.
U of I farm management specialist Gary Schnitkey says there continues to be a movement away from share-rent leases to cash rental arrangements.
While a number of reasons can be given for this switch, he says one of those should not necessarily be higher returns from cash rental arrangements. Since 2006, during a period of relatively high agricultural returns, share rent landlords received higher returns than the average cash rent as reported by NASS.
Share rent landlords had comparable returns to negotiated average cash rents on professionally managed farmland. Of course, many professionally managed acres have higher than average returns, likely following the desires of the owners of that farmland.
Comparison of share-rent returns to cash rents will be of interest in the next several years.
Schnitkey says lower agricultural returns likely will lead to lower cash rents. How fast cash rents will come down is an open question.
Share rent returns will react to the market; hence, share-rent returns will closely follow changes in market conditions. Just as share-rent returns moved up since 2006 as a reflection of higher agricultural returns, they will move down when agricultural returns are lower. This characteristic of share-rental arrangement may be an advantage, as renegotiations of cash rents do not have to occur during times of changing agricultural returns. It also could cause share-rent returns to be below cash rents in a declining agricultural return environment.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday the United States is at risk of losing its position as the preeminent exporter of corn, soybeans and other commodities unless Congress steps up its investment in the country’s aging infrastructure and moves quickly to pass a farm bill.
“We’re in a global marketplace and whatever advantages we have can disappear pretty quickly because other countries have extraordinary opportunities,” Vilsack said in an interview from Brazil where he is meeting with agricultural officials during a week-long trip. “If our Congress and House of Representatives can’t pass a farm bill, the message that sends to the rest of the world is we can be caught.”
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.
Obituary – Ronnie Jay Stroud – Valier
August 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
VALIER – Ronnie Jay Stroud Jr., 23, died Saturday Aug. 17, 2013, from injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident north of Sesser on Route 148.
Ronnie was born June 12, 1990, in Carbondale, to Ronnie J. Stroud Sr. of Valier and Jennifer (VanHoorebeke) Donaldson of Valier. His stepfather was Dennis Donaldson of Valier.
Ronnie worked as a mechanic at Sesser Auto Body.
Survivors include his grandparents, Pam and Steve Miller of Valier, Pete Rask of Herrin and Charles VanHoorebeke of Eldorado; step-grandparents, Ed and Barb Donaldson of Oswego; sister and brother, Jessica Stroud of Mount Vernon and Jerry Stroud of Valier; stepbrothers, Reid Donaldson and Collin Donaldson, both of Benton; and aunts and uncles, Mary Jennings of Valier, Bryan Jennings of Valier, Alberta VanHoorebeke of Eldorado, Charles VanHoorebeke Jr. of Eldorado, Danny VanHoorebeke of Eldorado and Tammy and Billy Lorang of Oswego.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Karen Rask, uncle, Billy Stroud and great-grandparents George and Mary Bymaster.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 in Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home Sesser. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 22 after 5 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the family and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information, go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
