SALINE CO.—A Harrisburg man was taken into custody after police say he blamed a skunk for the squealing of his tires and getting the cops’ attention in the first place.

According to police reports, on May 9 at 8:21 p.m., deputy Mike Stover was out of his cruiser at 706 Main St., Harrisburg, when he witnessed a 1995 red Nissan squeal its tires on Fife Street.

Stover stopped the car on Trammel Street, noticing three occupants.

The driver was identified as Cody Austin Duncan, 23, of 800 Granger St., Harrisburg.

A man in the front passenger seat was identified as 28-year-old Keith G. Coston and the backseat passenger was identified as Chaquille T. Jefferson, 19.

Duncan told the officer he was sorry for squealing his tires but did so because Coston had told him there was a skunk in the area.

He said he realized it was not a good reason but that’s what happened.

Stover said he asked Coston to get out of the car and step to his cruiser and once there informed him that as he was stopping the Nissan he noticed a lot of activity in the car and asked if anybody was hiding anything.

“He told me no and that he was just getting something out of the glove box,” Stover said.

Stover went through the same routine with Jefferson with the same results.

The deputy patted both men down for contraband and found none.

He then turned his attention with Duncan.

When he stepped out of the car Stover said he spotted an oblong yellow pill where Duncan had been sitting.

Asked if he or anybody else had been hiding anything while the deputy was stopping them, Duncan said no.

As Duncan made his way to the deputy’s cruise, Stover retrieved the pill and identified it as 325 mg of acetaminophen and hydrocodone.

After informing Duncan, Duncan told the deputy that it had been a couple days since he last smoked cannabis.

During a pat-down, Stover retrieved a metal Altoid breath mint container from Duncan’s pocket which contained pills later identified as six alprazolam, five diazepam, 13 clonazepam, and a small plastic bag containing cannabis.

Duncan was booked into the county jail on two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis less than 2.5 grams.

Coston and Jefferson were released.

Duncan was released from custody May 11 after a $1,000 cash bond was posted on his behalf by Blake Tate of 12 East Walnut St., Harrisburg.

Keith Coston is a convicted drug felon from 2009 when he was found guilty of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (prescription medication).

In the same case, two additional charges of Aggravated Discharge of a Weapon from a vehicle and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia were dismissed and he was sentenced to 24 months probation.

In 2010 Coston was convicted of Aggravated Battery and fined $2,000.

He has a pending case from 2011 in which he is charged with one count of Felon in Possession of a Weapon/Machine Gun and Felon In Possession and Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon.

Jefferson was arrested in 2011 and charged with Aggravated Unauthorized Use of a Weapon. The charge was later dismissed.

Sees error of his ways

On May 5, at 3:38 p.m., Joshua David Smith, 25, of 12 West Lincoln St., Raleigh, driving a red 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse, was the subject of a traffic stop on Small and Commercial Streets, in Harrisburg near the Zephyr Gas Station.

When trooper Holbert (Hobie) Boyles (of the Tim Monroe cocaine trial fame…or infamy, as the case may be) approached the vehicle he spotted an amber-colored pill bottle, later determined to contain four tablets of hydrocodone.

Smith exited the vehicle when instructed but refused to place his hands behind his back when told he was under arrest, instead jamming them into his pocket.

As he continued to resist, Boyles called for backup, which arrived in the form of Harrisburg officers Nathan Moore, Zach Popetz, Sgt. Todd Cavendar and trooper Roy B. Glasscock.

With all hands on deck, out-manned and out-gunned, Smith saw the error of his ways and became compliant.

He was later booked into the county jail on Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (prescription medication) and Resisting a Police Officer.

Cash bond in the case has been set at $1,000.

Not far from the tree?

Dillon J. Glore, 18, reportedly the son of Harrisburg woman Carolyn Glore-McGhee (who was at the heart of one of the city’s most publicized cocaine trials in 2010, again, Tim Monroe’s) has found himself in headlines as of late.

Glore, who court documents show has a most recent Harrisburg address of 305 North Sherman St., was wanted on a Failure to Appear warrant when Harrisburg police officer Nathan Moore spotted him sitting in a silver passenger car in the Wal Mart parking lot May 19.

Knowing Glore was wanted, Moore pulled over and approached the car.

As he approached the rear passenger side door he saw that Glore was holding a Bud Light Lime-A-Rita.

Given the outstanding warrant and the fact that Glore is only 18 years of age, Moore took him into custody and transported him to the county jail where he was booked on two counts of Failure to Appear and one count of Unlawful Possession of Alcohol by a Minor.

Glore is being housed in the county jail on $1,300 cash bond.

Mann charged with DUI

A man believed to have been a major cannabis supplier to federally convicted former Gallatin County Sheriff Raymond Martin, who will spend the rest of his days behind bars, has been arrested.

Since Martin’s trial, Brian C. Mann, 39, of 1580 Raintree Road, Harrisburg, formerly of rural Shawneetown, has not been mentioned in headlines—until now.

According to court documents, at 9:40 p.m. on May 29, Mann was driving a 1990 white Buick on Rte. 145 southbound at Triple S Road in Saline County when he was the subject of a traffic stop by trooper Justin Mitchell.

Mr. Mann was ultimately taken into custody and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.

Plays shell game, loses license

The old stop-and-go-so-your-buddy-can-run-from-the-cops routine landed a Stonefort man behind bars.

According to police reports, on May 20, at 11:50 p.m. Harrisburg Police Sgt. Todd Cavender spotted a black car traveling at a high rate of speed across the Walmart parking lot.

Cavender had his window down and heard one of the individuals in the car, as it paused at a stop sign say, “There’s a cop!”

The car then took off and Cavender followed as it performed rolling-stops and slow-n-goes through intersections.

Cavender lost sight of the vehicle and reacquired it at Farm Fresh, located at 508 East Poplar.

That’s when the vehicle came to a momentary stop and an individual got out and fled on foot.

The driver did one more stop-and-go before finally coming to a stop.

Sgt. Cavender asked the driver, Nathan Alan Kole Reeder, 20, of 23 Bill Hill Hollow, for his driver’s license. Reeder said he was driving on a ticket and didn’t have it with him.

When both Reeder and his passenger, Amanda M. Price, 19, were asked who the individual was who ran off, later identified as Mac Joseph Lands, 35, they both said they only knew the man as “Matt.”

Reeder later failed a field sobriety test miserably, refused to give blood or alcohol, blew a .024 and was taken into custody on one charge of Obstruction of Justice and Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, but NOT a DUI, for whatever reason.

Price was charged with one count of Obstruction of Justice.

Reeder pled guilty to the Obstruction charge June 6 and was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to pay $3,247 in fines and fees.

Because he failed to complete requested field sobriety tests by refusing to give blood he also had his license revoked for six months.

Price was arrested again on or about May 20 and charged with one count of Theft.

All of her charges are still pending.

At the time of his arrest Reeder was on probation after being convicted January 3 on a Criminal Damage to Government Property charge.

He still owes $3,462 in fines and fees in that case, which brings him up to $6,709 in unpaid fines and fees.

Lands is also on probation for a 2012 conviction on one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Manufacture Materials for which he was sentenced to two years probation.

Lands owes $6,492 in unpaid fines and fees in that case, which he’ll have a bit of trouble paying since he landed in the hoosegow out of a Hamilton County arrest June 2 (see related story).

Charged with cooking

And finally, the drug report is rounded out with a “Z”—Michael A. Zentz, 29, of 325 East Locust St., Harrisburg, has been charged with numerous drug counts after authorities say on November 13, 2012 he committed the offense of Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing with intent to manufacture 100-400 grams of meth, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Manufacture Materials identified as drain opener, muriatic acid, three generator bottles and tubing, Unlawful Use of Property for allegedly using his 325 East Locust St. residence located at to manufacture meth, and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine less than five grams.

SALINE CO.— It appears a night of drinking, spontaneous sex in somebody’s grandmother’s field and a trip to the store for dog food landed at least one couple in the middle of a criminal investigation.

According to police reports, on May 19, Saline County Central Dispatch was advised of a stolen green Ford F-150 pickup.

At approximately 3:46 a.m. that morning Harrisburg officer Tom Leverett was on routine patrol when he spotted taillights in the park around the pool area.

As Leverett was turning around he spotted a green Ford F-150 with plates that matched those of the stolen vehicle.

Initially when the officer went to stop the vehicle it sped up, but shortly thereafter turned on to Denison Street and pulled over.

The driver followed instructions to throw the keys out the window and all four people located inside the vehicle were ordered out with their hands in the air.

All were taken into custody, transported to the detention center and interviewed.

The driver was identified as Austin A. Wolf, 17, of 190 Carter Rd.; others in the truck include Shane PJ Walters Robbins, 21, of Poplar Street, and Valleri L. Fogle, 24, of 815 Liberty Rd., both of Harrisburg; Robert Allen Tennant, 49, of 55 Angel Rd., Wasson; Timmy Ray Roberts, Jr., 16, of 11009 Murray St., Eldorado and Aaron Rector, 16, from Broughton.

Several statements were written.

Text for sex

In his statement Robbins said he was at the bar, EL Shagwell’s, earlier and left with friends.

“Got text From Valory saying she wanted Intercoarse I told her Where I was. went to her gramma’s Field and had intercoarse. After I said I was thirsty before you take me home. She said had to get dog food any ways so went to walmart started getting text From austin saying Im at your house. I said I wasn’t there but at walmart. they said they can pick me up. they did at walmart Austin convinced valory to Follow want to park we hang For awhile. Then austin said he wanted a drink me and austin hopped in front oF truck Val and erin in back started to Leave park and got pulled over.”

One hopes the nearly illiterate Mr. Shane PJ Walters Robbins wore protection during his alleged sex with Ms. Valleri Fogle as not only is his literacy in question but not being able to spell the name of the woman you are having “intercoarse” with in grandma’s field is most likely not a recipe for a long, meaningful relationship.

No mention of granny’s field

Valleri Fogle’s statement doesn’t mention anything about “intercoarse” in granny’s field.

In fact, there is no mention of breeding at all.

“Me + shane went to Shagwell’s after that we went to walmart to get dog food. He got a text and said that they were in the parking lot. All 4 of them were in the truck. Shane got in the truck. They asked if I wanted to hangout for a little bit and asked me to follow. We ended up at the park. We got out and talked a little bit that’s when 1 of the guys said it was his grandpa’s truck and his grandma would be mad if she knew it was gone. Then austin said he wanted a drink because he had a dollar. He offered to take me because I didn’t have much gas. We [Fogle, Rector, Robbins and Wolf] were heading that way then austin saw the cop. The he turned the wrong way. Then I started thinking something fishy was going on. Then the cop pulled us over and They were like everything is going to be fine. But when you guys brought backup and telling us to put our hands up I knew I was diffinently at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Men of few words

Timmy Roberts simply wrote, “Austin and Aaron said as they were walking away from the car that they checked a truck and it was unlocked and they took off in it and then picked me up in rado.”

Robert Allen Tennant wrote that, “I was at home in wasson and Austin and His Frindes pick me up. we went to walmart they pick up shane and a girl then we went to the park. They pick me up in dark Green. Recker kid”

Confession from problem child Rector

As the investigation continued, officers were told by both Fogle and Robbins that only after the police became involved did Wolf and Rector say that the truck was in fact stolen.

Timmy Roberts went on to say that Rector and Wolf had told him they had stolen the truck after they had burned another vehicle in Eldorado.

Rector also talked to police and confessed that he and Wolf had stolen the truck and were out riding around in it.

Rector also said that he and Wolf had stolen a Jeep from Harrisburg and wrecked it in Eldorado.

Leverett told both Wolf and Rector they would be taken into custody and charged with Unlawful Possession of Stolen Property over $10,000 for the F-150 and that further charges would be filed concerning the Jeep from Harrisburg.

Court records indicate that Wolf was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Converted vehicle identified as a 1995 Ford Taurus, belonging to Anne Smith; Arson for allegedly setting the car on fire on David Road, on May 19.

Aaron Rector’s file was not available; he continues to be on juvenile status, and at last check, he was being housed in the juvenile detention facility in West Frankfort.

Rector continues in and out of juvie because he has a penchant not only for hanging out with the wrong people, but for allegedly stealing vehicles, the most recent occurrence being about a year ago in Eldorado.

SALINE CO.—The Eldorado man who was charged a few months back with multiple sex crimes against children has been charged in Saline County with yet another felony.

Only this time, it doesn’t have anything to do with children, or sex crimes.

James G. Roberts, 70, was on May 17, 2013, charges with a single count of Escape, and under a rather unusual circumstance:

The charges read that while he was charged with the felony offenses of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and who was conditionally released from the Saline County jail through an electronic home monitoring detention program, violated it by driving to and going inside C&D Rebuilders in Eldorado without seeking prior approval from the state’s attorney’s office via probation, prior to leaving his home.

In other words, for whatever reason, Roberts either not supposed to be driving on his own or traveling outside his home, did both, which actions constituted an “Escape” charge.

Roberts was rearrested on that same day and held on a $10,000 cash bond.

And there he sits in the Saline County Detention Center, as his family (the ones who will still speak to him, anyway) have already ponied up several thousands of dollars for his first and second felony counts, the ones regarding sexual abuse of neighborhood kids, as young as 6 and 7.

While the county is making out well with the money family members have managed to come up with (in particular, Tina from Warner-Robbins, Georgia; see previous issues of Disclosure’s online edition for details on her), Roberts is now back under the speedy trial clock, and a September 11 jury trial has been set for the Escape charge.

The jury trial date on the first set of sex charges, in which a brother and sister accused him of molestation, is Sept. 4 at 9 a.m.

That date is the same for the second set of sex charges as well.

SALINE CO.—As promised in the May-June 2013 issue of Disclosure, here are the details of the arrests involving Madison Medley and Jariah T. Moss…they are, however, quite thin.

Last month it was reported that Medley, 24, had contacted the Saline County state’s attorney’s office in late April because he needed to “confess” having gotten “messed up” (reportedly on cocaine, but that’s not been definitively established) and gone on a “rampage” at his boss Terry Mott’s place of business. Moss, 32, was reported to have been with Medley when this went down, but that had been unconfirmed as of press time.

Now, court filings show at least the surface issues of the matter.

Moss, of Harrisburg, was the first to be charged, this on May 17. His first charge is Residential Burglary and reads that between April 21 and 22, 2013, he committed that crime by entering the dwelling place of Terry and Jerry Mott on Highway 34 South in Harrisburg with the intent to commit a theft.

Moss’ second charge is of Theft over $500, a felony, when on the same day, he exerted control over the Mott’s property, being various guns and two jars containing an undetermined amount of money, with total value being in excess of $500.

Medley, also of Harrisburg, was charged with the same Residential Burglary and theft counts/circumstances; however, his information, court records show, came in about a week and a half earlier than Moss’; May 8. He was nevertheless charged at the same time Moss was.

Medley’s financial affidavit on file shows that he is single and unemployed, and owes a sum in “school loans,” although he is “unsure” of the amount.

Interestingly, a separate charge shows that medley is accused of Burglarizing Mott Builders on North Jackson Street in Harrisburg on April 21.

No upcoming court information for Moss’ case was available as of press time.

Medley was set for a preliminary hearing on both charges June 14. He is a nephew of local Harrisburg attorney Robert Wilson, which makes the case of keen interest to the public, as Wilson is also a former city attorney and former mayor of Harrisburg.

HARRISBURG—A spat between the adult children of two of Harrisburg’s best-known judicial families grew heated after a late-May incident that sent one of them to the hospital, then prompted a petition for OP and rebuttal in response.

While it remains unclear exactly why Appellate Judge Bruce Stewart’s daughter Christine (Christy) Stewart became so ill on Thursday, May 30, at her home that an ambulance had to be called for her (reports of an overdose on some drug or medication went unconfirmed as of press time), that’s exactly what happened.

And later that day, it was reported that her family was searching for a judge in the First Judicial Circuit who would be willing to hear a petition for an Order of Protection, and grant it, against one of Judge Stewart’s employees, Jesse Nelson, former boyfriend of Christy Stewart and the son of another long-time judge, David Nelson, who at the time was working for Judge Stewart.

Ambulance responds

The matter came to the attention of Disclosure when it was reported that an ambulance had responded to the 200 block of East Locust in Harrisburg that Thursday afternoon, and Stewart, 25, had been toted out on a stretcher.

Sources close to the situation have advised that Nelson, 37, had not been in the house that day, and Disclosure later learned that he was at work.

Reports that some kind of fight or argument preceded the collapse of Stewart, prompting the call to 911 (who called is unclear) proved to later be unsubstantiated.

However, the veracity of the OP Stewart was able to get issued against Nelson proved to be true.

Not your average OP prose

In her petition, Stewart, who has most recently come into a job working for Representative Brandon Phelps (after losing a job with the Harrisburg newspaper last November, after she fell asleep on the floor of the courthouse while covering election returns), noted that Nelson was her former boyfriend, and made several inflammatory allegations against him, in prose much cleaner and literate than the average OP-requestor:

“I started dating Jesse Nelson in the Summer of 2012,” she stated in a typed-out petition. Though he is quite a bit older than I am, I thought I knew him and could feel safe with him due to our families’ long histories. He moved in with me in the Fall. After several months of living together, sick of the constant fighting and verbal abuse, I asked him to move out.

“This led to an increase in both the severity and frequency of our arguments, but it took some time before he finally finished moving out of my house. During this time, the police were called on several occasions. Jesse often became angry, making him loud and scary. I was awakened several times to the sound of Jesse pounding on my front door and yelling through my windows. My neighbors have even called me over to warn me about the possibility that I have a stalker. During any period of time in which I do not respond to him, he begins harassing me with a barrage of emails, text messages and phone calls. Recently, I have received text messages from him that say things like, ‘I don’t understand how you could possibly think that ignoring me will have a different result than when you did it in the past. As you know, all it does is make me ore determined to talk to you.’”

No attachments

Even though she referenced them, Stewart failed to attach to her petition anything that would serve as evidence of her next allegation:

“Every day I ignore several dozen calls from a variety of phone numbers and receive an equal number of text messages and emails from a long list of phone numbers and email addresses. It is impossible to block all of these numbers, which grow in number every day thanks to free voice and messaging applications accessible to just about anyone.

“In addition, Jesse has threatened to ‘exact vengeance’ upon me, especially if he is fired from his position as an Appellate Clerk by my father. He has directly sent me copies or otherwise made me aware of several pictures and videos he took, and may have in some way distributed pictures of me nude or partially nude. He has used my knowledge that he has access to these photos as a bargaining tool to either convince me to give in and talk to him or not to seek legal help.

“Specifically, he has threatened to do something to hurt my new job working for State Representative Brandon Phelps, or to physically harm my male friends. I have spent many nights lying awake, scared of what he might do.”

Wants no disclosure

Stewart’s requests further into the document seek remedy in the form of “refrain(ing) from any disclosure to third parties of any and all photos and videos of petitioner” and “refrain(ing) from calling, texting and/or emailing petitioner.”

For whatever reason, Stewart believed it necessary to include in the petition Nelson’s limited criminal history, which amounts to more arrests than actual convictions, and all of it from 1999: Misdemeanor Knowingly Damaging Property, Criminal Trespass to Land and two DUIs as regards convictions; and arrests for separate counts of Criminal Trespass, multiple Disorderly Conduct, three counts of Hate Crime, Knowingly Damaging Property, and one count of Resisting a Peace Officer, all of which were dismissed.

Stewart, unlike most OP petitioners, was represented at the emergency OP hearing by Howerton, Dorris and Stone attorneys in Marion.

The OP was granted by Judge Joseph Jay Jackson, in Saline County circuit court on the day it was petitioned, May 30.

Files response

A week later, it was Nelson’s turn.

On Friday, June 7, Nelson filed a response.

“My work address as stated on page 1 of the petition is no longer correct,” Nelson wrote, “as petitioner Christine Stewart’s father, Justice of the Appellate Court of Illinois The Honorable Bruce D. Stewart (my then-employer), was at the time the petition was filed in the process of orchestrating my termination, ostensibly for work-related efficiencies, after having previously assured me the ‘short of physical violence’ my relationship with the petitioner would have no impact on my employment.”

Notably missing from Stewart’s petition for OP, unlike most other OPs throughout the state, was any allegation of any physical violence or brutality in any form.

His second paragraph states “I do not intend to initiate any contact with the petitioner, but I do not doubt, based on her prior history, that she will attempt to initiate contact with me, if for no other reason than to cause my arrest for violating any order of protection unless such an order is also entered against her.”

Knows his First Amendment rights

“I do not intend to disseminate any pictures or videos of the petitioner,” Nelson wrote in his third paragraph, “but any order placing a prior restraint upon my freedom to disseminate any documents, pictures, videos, or other communications would violate my First Amendment rights, and I therefore object to the entry of such an order in this order of protection proceeding.”

In his final paragraph, Nelson states, “The petitioner neglected to note in her petition that she has repeatedly contacted me in recent weeks, including on May 21, 2014, or just more than one week prior to the filing of her petition, at which time she urged me to call in sick to work, which I refused to do, and asked if she could, after she felt that she looked sufficiently ‘sexy and delicious,’ stay the night at my house, to which I acceded, thus casting serious doubt on her claim that she is frightened of me and has been since before I moved out of her house in March.

“For the foregoing reasons,” Nelson concluded, he “respectfully requests that this Honorable Court dismiss this case.”

Loose ends

Nelson, like Stewart, is represented by council in his matter: Steve Stone.

The cause is set for a Plenary (two year/permanent) hearing on June 20.

It’s anticipated that at that time, the filing by Nelson will be taken up first, and, if the judge finds that his more reasonable petition has more weight than Stewart’s rather scattered one, the whole matter may be dropped—unless in the interim, Stewart decides she’s “sufficiently sexy and delicious” and wants to get back with her former live-in.

SALINE CO.—New information in a story Disclosure has been following for a number of years shows that a local girl with a penchant for cops and wealthy businessmen is wreaking havoc in the lives of all of them, and apparently going on as if none of it is going to affect her chances at getting to keep her kids.

Filed in the divorce case of Trooper Brett Lane and his errant but estranged badge-bunny wife, Brittany Lane, who is only 24 years of age, has been material gathered through an investigation into what the missus Lane has been doing in the two years she’s been separated from her husband after a violent outburst one morning in July 2011. While the material was apparently under seal when the file was examined May 31, it had already been sent to Disclosure via electronic image in early May…and what the investigation showed was a textbook case of a bad influence, not only for kids, but for anyone coming into the sphere of existence of Brittany Lane.

Self-obsessed, hedonistic and petulant, the young woman is shown, through interviews with those closest to her as well as by her own behavior (shown in the accompanying photo) and handwriting (shown below) to likely be a danger to herself and those around her; but worse, the type of people she’s taken up with, seemingly ‘incidentally,’ have been shown to be somewhat dangerous as well. Now, all that remains is to convince a court of this, but that might prove to be more difficult than the evidence makes it seem, as the Brittster’s behavior, while shocking to most, has become more and more acceptable to mainstream society, who glorifies the clueless and most brazen across the pop culture spectrum.

‘Kept’ in Johnson County

Brittany made headlines before getting into a physical altercation in July of 2011 with her husband at their Raleigh home, but nothing the likes of which caught the attention of folks when the trooper took out an OP against his young wife, who had come in that morning at about 8 a.m., having had a night out with her boyfriend, Chris E. Schimp, 52, whom Brittany had long been rumored to be seeing.

Schimp is considered an entrepreneur of sorts in the Raleigh/Eldorado area, having developed Compressed Energy Systems, a natural gas company that pulls methane gas out of old mines in the area and puts it on a pipeline for use after processing.

The operation has made Schimp a lot of money, which is, according to friends of Brittany Lane, one of the main attractions she has to him.

Schimp, who is married and has adult children, purchased a home for Brittany shortly after the split with her husband the trooper. The house was an exclusive place in an exclusive address: Lake of Egypt, outside Goreville in Johnson County. Brittany moved in with her children as a “kept” woman in 2011, and, according to court paperwork, soon began conducting herself along the lines of what got her in trouble in the first place: she discovered that she had a neighbor, Dusty Lingle, who was a police officer in Marion, up in Williamson County not far from Goreville.

And the rest of the antics add up to a disaster for the kids of the flagrant woman, whose husband, apparently, is trying to get them out of the home and away from her…even though the older of the two isn’t his, and the younger might not be, either.

The kept woman’s sister interviewed

The interviews, according to documents Disclosure received, were begun a year ago in April with Kathy Lane, Brett Lanes mother, although those documents were not received by Disclosure.

But a more pertinent interview came from Brittany’s own sister, Adrienne Holland, who, documents show, was interviewed by phone May 30, 2012.

At the time of the interview, she was living in Goreville at the residence Schimp had purchased for her sister, having moved in to the place for an undisclosed reason in March of that year.

Holland had nothing negative to say about Brett Lane, noting he was really a very quiet person. She was “somewhat critical of Brett as she said when Kingston acts up with bad language or sexual behavior, that she did not think that Brett was forceful enough to stop Kingston from continuing.”

Kingston is Brittany’s five-year-old son by who was believed to have been Jeff Cain in Eldorado, but who was proven to NOT be in August of 2010 in a family case in Saline County court, filed after Brittany beat up Cain’s new wife during a visitation; his paternity is unknown.

Brittany’s sister Adrienne said Brittany “Is generally a good mother in the sense that she does not harm her children and takes care of them.”

She commented, however, that Brittany’s lifestyle is “messed up.”

Messed up; lost the 

little boy his friends

Asked to clarify, Adrienne said “Brittany had been with Chris Schimp in a sexual relationship both with and without the children present” and stated that “there had been other men in the house with and without the children present, and other men were involved in sexual relationships with Brittany as well.” Adrienne didn’t know if there were money or gifts involved in the other relationships, but Brittany had begun dating Jonathan Smith just after Adrienne moved in, even while “having an affair with her neighbor, Dusty Lingle, at the time Adrienne moved in.”

Lingle, it turned out, was the “father of Kingston’s best friend Nick.”

Once the affair was discovered, Adrienne’s interview documents show, the friendship between Kingston and Nick was “terminated by the Lingles and Brittany’s efforts at reestablishing that friendship for the children was refused.”

Adrienne advised that she was aware of another child in Kingston’s class that was a friend to Kingston out of the relationship between the children and this was also ended because of the relationship between Brittany and Dusty Lingle.

“She said it was very hard on Kingston when he no longer had the friends he had enjoyed before, and could not understand the reason why the friendships had ended.”

Bad mouth and likes being nekkid

Adrienne advised that her sister didn’t work, and that Schimp had arranged for her to get a job somewhere but she never turned in the application nor followed it up; going to school at a junior college met a similar fate, Adrienne said, and advised that her sister “had no real goal in mind.”

She then elaborated on the “bad mouth” the 5-year-old had on him, stating he “speaks in a way that, in her opinion, is filthy.” She herself had scolded him for his language. She said that Kingston knows about sexual behavior and knows that he has exhibited it to other children, advising she hadn’t observed it herself, but that she’d been told it had happened at her mother’s home with one of her younger siblings.

“Kingston gets out of the shower and while he is naked runs around and seeks out people to look at him,” Adrienne reported. “He gets that from Brittany, as she has always done that throughout her lifetime…she enjoys being naked and wants to be noticed.”

He also was allowed to view Brittany’s breast augmentation job, Adrienne reported, and Brittany “saw nothing wrong with that.”

The bigwig effect

Adrienne opined that while the interview was going on, Brittany was moving out of the Goreville house to move in with Smith, and Adrienne had reported this to Schimp as she felt her sister was “playing Chris” in order to continue to get money from him, which “wasn’t fair to Chris, as he gave (Brittany) a weekly allowance and was unaware of the relationship with Jonathan Smith.”

Asked if there was any concern of drug use during the time she’d been living there, Adrienne advised that Brittany asked her to join in using cocaine and commented that she “knew how to get it.” She said they did not do so, however, because Adrienne refused.

Dusty the cop

One of the earlier interviews was with Dusty Lingle.

Conducted by phone on March 9, 2012, Lingle indicated that he was acquainted with Brittany because they were neighbors. He identified himself as a police officer and said that his children were friends with Brittany’s children; that Brittany is a good mother; and that she is doing the best she can.

He also advised that he had “no concerns with her as a mother” and that she had a “clean and beautiful home, the kids were well-fed and no one lived in the home except Brittany and the two children.”

Lingle said he’d never met Brett but “knew him by reputation because of being a police officer” and he “did not indicate that there was any further relationship between himself and Brittany.”

In more recent activity with Lingle, however, he is no longer on the job in Marion.

This came about earlier this year (February) when in-house video recorded on Feb. 10 showed Lingle and another officer, Bryan Dernatti, “handle an arrestee in a manner that appeared to both violate the law as well as departmental policy.”

Lingle resigned shortly thereafter; Dernatti was on administrative leave at last check (March 20 was the last available material on the subject) pending outcome of disciplinary proceedings.

The case was brought to the state’s attorney in Williamson, Chuck Garnati, who isn’t afraid to bring charges against police officers in his county. The matter had been turned over to the FBI on Feb. 15, having been initiated by ISP.

It’s unknown if Brett Lane was involved in the initial investigation in any manner.

(Next month: the interviews with Schimp and Smith, and an incident that took place in Saline County involving local law enforcement officials there, as the article continues in various parts).

SALINE/HAMILTON COs.—Official sources have confirmed that Saline County has been dispatched to “be on the lookout” for a possibly armed gunman after an alleged bank robbery attempt this morning in Hamilton County.

Sources have confirmed that the attempt was made at People’s National Bank in Dahlgren.

There is NO information on whether the attempt was successful. However, there was information given indicating that there was a “possible armed gunman” and that Saline County needed to “be on the lookout.” All information is that NO ONE has been harmed in the situation.

The dispatch came from Saline County, one of the last in the area to have open dispatch as opposed to narrow-band, which prompted calls to Disclosure, from which we confirmed afterward through various sources on the ground.

ISP, we’ve had confirmed, has also been alerted and is on the highway. We don’t know the status of Hamilton County authorities on the matter, nor of any adjacent counties, but those surrounding HamCo are White, Franklin, Gallatin, Jefferson and Wayne.

We will update as we get it…calls are coming in right now. Keep checking back.

We begin this month’s “read the lead” series (wherein we give you the first few paragraphs of our major stories in the current issue, those graphs known as the “lead” in journalism parlance, then a link to where you can read the full story right here online with a membership to the e-Edition) with the article about Todd Fort.

We chose this one to start off with because on Friday we read the Harrisburg paper’s coverage of it, and from the looks of it, you’d think they were covering Todd Fort’s ass on this lawsuit…a total departure from the way things were being done back in the day when Fort was charged with his multiple sexual assault counts in 2010. It’s hard writing a story when you’re leaving out key facts…such as the main one, being that Fort named US in the lawsuit. But to appear that you’re siding with Fort…it’s very strange. So here’s the real deal, under Read the Lead!

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SALINE CO.—The case of former Saline County chief deputy Todd Fort, thought to have been over and done with more than a year ago, has reared its ugly head again, this time in the guise of a frivolous lawsuit against the county’s prosecutor.

Todd Fort

And the gist of the lawsuit is that Fort is upset with Saline County State’s Attorney Mike Henshaw for turning over to Disclosure recorded phone calls of Fort’s conversations with friends and family while Fort was jailed at the Jackson County Detention Center in Murphysboro pending trial in his 2010 felony sexual assault case.

Fort, who is reportedly broke and is not working, has somehow managed to secure the services of a high-end Carbondale attorney, Darrell Dunham, a move in itself that is highly suspect.

However, what’s even more suspect are the pleadings in the suit, which make no sense given the evidence readily at hand. This alone is causing many to wonder if Fort hasn’t gone off the deep end…and is being manipulated by powers-that-be in the Saline County area who have an axe to grind with Henshaw.

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To read the real deal, just click this link if you’re an e-Edition member, or follow the prompts if you’re new to the online version. Or, check the vendors list here to pick up your copy of the newest print version, which is only on stands for about two more weeks…don’t miss out!

HARRISBURG—The city of Harrisburg has a temporary mayor until swearing-in of Ron Crank, following the 8:30 resignation this morning (07.08.13) of Eric Gregg.

Ron Crank, Harrisburg mayor pro tem

Crank handled a special meeting this morning at 9, which apparently was called by Gregg last week in order to address some street issues in town. At the outset of the meeting, Crank announced that Gregg had “resigned at his home this morning at 8:30.” There was a letter of resignation on file, which Disclosure obtained. There is no reason for resignation stated openly, only alluded to in the second paragraph, which is as follows:

When I was asked to serve on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board by Governor Quinn, it was an honor for me and my family as well as this community. I knew when I accepted the position that I would be stepping down as mayor of this great city. I have stayed on these last few weeks in order for Councilman Ron Crank (who is taking over as mayor) to complete his treatment for cancer in St. Louis. He finished his treatment on July 3, last week. I thought it was the right and honorable thing to do for him, this council and our city. I pray for his continued success in overcoming this illness.

The city is on a commission form of government, which was explained this morning. The line of succession to the seat, if a mayor steps down, goes to the finance commissioner, which is Crank; he is temporary now, but is expected to be sworn in this week to fill the unexpired term Gregg has left. The next-highest vote recipient amongst the commissioners then steps up to finance commissioner position, and so on and so on, until there’s a vacancy that will be filled by appointment. So there was never any question that Crank would fill the mayor’s seat once Gregg finally stepped down; it’s just that no one understood it because it wasn’t being adequately explained—including to Disclosure by Gregg, even after when asked repeatedly.

Eric Gregg

The questions began for Gregg on April 27 after Disclosure learned he had been appointed to the Prisoner Review Board. Gregg hedged and was never clear on the answers, telling Disclosure just three weeks ago that “the lawyers were handling it.” But the fact is this: Gregg remained in violation of 730 ILCS 3-3-1 for MONTHS by maintaining his office as mayor, even after “giving back his pay” last month (which he took in May, as well as at the end of April.) Gregg should have given up the position immediately according to statute (LAWS, those things that you and I have to abide by every day or we get in trouble.) We’ve learned that this is not a new thing with Quinn’s executive appointments. We’ve also learned that “the lawyers” should have told Gregg to resign, and that it also wouldn’t have mattered whether Crank was available to become mayor pro tem in April; someone else could just as easily have filled the seat. It is, after all, “pro tem” (temporary). But that’s not what was done.

Now, with the mayor’s office out of the way, the Senators who have been examining Gregg’s appointment are going to be working on other things…like employment he claimed he didn’t hold when he filled out his application for the spot on the PRB:

A portion of the application for the Prisoner Review Board, filled out last year…One of the MANY things Eric Gregg has been caught lying about.

There is an executive appointments meeting scheduled for tomorrow. Whether Gregg will make it through that meeting with his appointment intact remains to be seen.

Whether he is facing serious charges for lying under oath on his application, as well as other matters that have arisen since this whole thing came to the fore, also remain to be seen. One thing is for certain, however: Now that Gregg is no longer an employee of the city, any charge filed against him won’t be litigated with the city as the one providing legal counsel (and thus funding, which costs the city taxpayers).

More as we get it, including what REALLY may have been the impetus for Gregg to have resigned when he did, especially after leveling threats against us as recently as a little over a week ago, and against Ang specifically, two weeks ago; keep checking back.

The two year term of Harrisburg’s latest mayor (elected 2011) is now history…but it’s applicable because many believe the subject matter in the next “Read the Lead” posting is what prompted the resignation to begin with.

There are several factors that are keeping Eric Gregg under the microscope of scrutiny and have been for a number of months now, not the least of which is his appointment to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board by Governor Pat Quinn…on which the application, we learned after this article was produced for the print version last week, Gregg lied about his income and standing with public bodies within the state of Illinois.

This application was obtained via FOIA by one of the many State Senators who are looking into Gregg’s appointment, and which Disclosure obtained via FOIA to one of the Senators.

This is the article about those Senators and their efforts to gain control of the rampant abuse in the executive appointments that Quinn, and those before him, have taken advantage of for their own corrupt reasons.

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FORMER mayor Eric Gregg

HARRISBURG—It appears that Harrisburg Mayor Eric Gregg’s appointment by Governor Pat Quinn to the Prisoner Review Board is a violation of Illinois statute, and this, Disclosure has discovered, is not sitting well among some of Illinois’ State Senators.

Gregg, however, has asserted that he’s doing nothing wrong by not only holding the salaried public office of mayor (that he’s “donating back” his salary to some organization or charity notwithstanding, as the fact remains that he continues to be in office and on the payroll, as well as likely holding at least one other paying job), and has told those in his circle that Governor Pat Quinn’s office has told him “Take as much time as you want” before departing not only the mayoral office, but before quitting any other employment, while collecting a state salary of $85,886 annually.

However, that’s not how it’s supposed to work in the real world of black and white and laws that define what is right and what is wrong, known in Illinois as “compiled statutes.”

Among other things defined by statute 730 ILCS 3-3-1, it clearly states: “Each member of the Board shall serve on a full-time basis and shall not hold any other salaried public office, whether elective or appointive, nor any other office or position of profit, nor engage in any other business, employment, or vocation.”

“Violation of statute” is another term for “breaking the law.” And this has been an issue since the day it was announced that Gregg had been appointed the position, April 26, 2013, one that has heaped increasing pressure on Gregg and has created a situation in which he attempted to have Disclosure Publisher Jack Howser’s wife, Angela, arrested in mid-June (see related story).

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To read the whole story, just click this link if you’re an e-Edition member, or follow the prompts if you’re new to the online version. Or, check the vendors list here to pick up your copy of the newest print version, which is only on stands for about two more weeks…don’t miss out!

Supporters of Eric Gregg may be haranguing Disclosure in an effort to detract from their favorite pol’s problems, but the bottom line is: He brought it all on himself.

Commissioner John McPeek and former mayor Eric Gregg

Eric Gregg didn’t resign as mayor on April 27, 2013, like he should have when he was appointed to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

He lied on his application to the PRB by stating he didn’t have income from the multitude of jobs he’d held over the previous year prior to signing on May 20, 2012.

He continued to use city equipment in violation of city ordinance, just like he claimed Gerald Mahan did…which was cause to “get rid of” Mahan.

And something or someone of high importance, according to Evansville, Indiana, authorities, intervened on behalf of his nutjob daughter, Paige, after she allegedly beat her husband bloody with a shoe heel, much like what she did to Dr. Larry Jones’ son, Braden, a few years ago in Carbondale.

This latter factoid is what Gregg used as an excuse for his atrocious behavior since June 14, a few days after we began investigating his whacko daughter and when he accused Ang of “extorting” him, a claim he made public (albeit not mentioning names) just two weeks later…and about a week and a half before he resigned his position. Read now all about what Eric Gregg put us through for those two weeks—his final weeks in office—in this Read the Lead offering, “Mayor uses public resources for private problem, leads to assault on Disclosure.”

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HARRISBURG—The mayor of Harrisburg has been using city, county and state resources to intimidate Disclosure and, at one point, in an effort to have publisher Jack Howser’s wife arrested.

Since June 14, Eric Gregg has utilized resources that entail private use of public funds for his own purposes in an attempt to keep Disclosure from publishing not only alleged criminal activity of his elder daughter, but his own alleged criminal activity, including vast sums of money discovered missing from city funds, as well as threats issued against Angela Howser, both direct and indirect…both of which could be charged against him as felonies, and both of which involve substantial evidence which would aid in prosecution.

The threats, posturing and increasingly-bizarre behavior displayed by Gregg comes at a time when state legislators are scrutinizing his executive appointment to the Prisoner Review Board, with more and more senators openly stating that, per statute, Gregg can’t be holding a job with the PRB at the same time he receives other income from any source, or at the same time he’s holding a public office (mayor; see related story page 1).

But all of it is serving to show that there’s a serious problem with Gregg, which many Harrisburg residents are now attributing to a mental condition. What that’s brought on by, however, remains unclear at this point; but the following information will underscore just how significant it is, and what it means for the future of the city.

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To read the whole story (and this one is MASSIVE; over 5,000 words), just click this link if you’re an e-Edition member, or follow the prompts if you’re new to the online version. Or, check the vendors list here to pick up your copy of the newest print version, which is only on stands for about two more weeks…don’t miss out!

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, BENTON/SALINE CO. — A Harrisburg woman faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty Tuesday, July 2, in Benton federal to a meth charge.

Ashley Renee Uze

According to federal court documents, Ashley Renee Uze, 27, formerly of 121 West Midkiff St., Harrisburg, pled guilty to one count of Unlawful Possession of Pseudoephedrine with Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine.

Uze was indicted by a federal grand jury March 5.

Her sentencing has been scheduled for October 24 at the U.S. District Courthouse in Benton.

In addition to the possibility of a 20 year prison sentence, Uze also faces up to $250,000 in fines and fees and three years parole following her incarceration.

Uze remains in the custody of the U.S Federal Marshals awaiting her sentence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin and the result of an investigation of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force.

HARRISBURG—A Harrisburg IYC employee is under fire from DCFS for an incident that occurred recently at the juvenile facility in Harrisburg.

John Mark Simpson and his sleeves.

John Mark Simpson, a very unlikely person to be working at a juvenile facility with his tattoo sleeves and unkempt appearance, has been accused of striking an inmate at the Illinois Youth Center (juvenile detention) facility. It’s been confirmed that the incident is under investigation by DCFS, but no one would confirm when the incident happened, nor what has been or is being done with Simpson in the interim.

Regular readers will recall that Simpson has been accused of violence in the past, particularly the domestic type, as this article from 2011 reveals. Somehow, the Simpsons always manage to evade any kind of serious investigation, and then of course there are no charges filed…and John Mark continues on at the IYC.

Now, however, since DCFS is involved in all allegations of such a nature at the facility, there might actually be something done about the errant John Mark.

Check back frequently is this is a developing situation; we’ll try to keep you updated.

HARRISBURG—Our details are few, but we’re hearing from sources both official and unofficial that a person has been injured in a shooting at a Harrisburg bar earlier this morning (Saturday, July 13, 2013).

One man, reported to be Michael “Mikey” Lawler, 36, is injured after the shooting, which took place OUTSIDE the bar, not inside. The injury was declared NOT life-threatening, and was reported to be in Lawler’s left arm. He was, however, reported to be flown to St. Mary’s in Evansville for treatment.

Our sources are telling us authorities believe Lawler wasn’t the intended target.

There has been no one arrested in the incident, which is reported to have happened shortly before 1 a.m. 2 a.m., although that time has not been confirmed by officials.

Whether the shooting was related to something going on inside the bar that spilled outside, or is one of Harrsiburg’s infrequent random drive-bys, is unknown.

What is known is that former mayor Eric Gregg gave only lip service to the violence that goes on at the bars in town on occasion, and that many of our sources, including officials, have noted that now would be a “good time for (mayor pro tem) Ron Crank to jump into action” if indeed the shooting had anything to do with Shagwell’s and something that went on inside.

We’re awaiting word on details from sources, and will bring them to you as soon as we get them; keep watching.

HARRISBURG—Once again, information is scant, but we’ve learned that a domestic that was reported at about 9:45 a.m. this morning (Saturday, July 13, 2013) has sent the alleged victim to the hospital in Harrisburg.

The alleged victim is a 23-year-old female, who was reported as receiving “several injuries.”

We don’t have any names at this time. There is someone in custody, but no identity yet. The incident occurred at Lincoln and Mill by the water tower.

When we learn more, we’ll bring it; check frequently as the situation is updated as we receive it.

HARRISBURG—Yesterday we were notified that there had been a series of burglaries and car break-ins occurring in the areas between Lincoln and Raymond streets these past few days in Harrisburg.

Victims were the ones to come forward and tell us this has been an ongoing problem; there’s been no word about this sudden surge of crime from authorities, the ones you would expect to hear it from.

We first learned of these happenings yesterday (Saturday, July 13, 2013), with reports indicating that they’d been going on for at least the previous four days.

Then today (Sunday, July 14, 2013), we learn of this posting by a gentleman on Raymond Street, Eric Hess:

It appears Mr. Hess has a strong suspicion of who managed to break into his place…and that it saddens him. We’ve got to hope that Hess made a police report…as did the others who were experiencing break-ins or car burglaries.

The problem is, it seems Harrisburg police—SOME, not all—don’t pay a lot of attention to this kind of thing.

After the threats leveled by former mayor Eric Gregg a couple of weeks ago against us and “anyone who associates” with us, one of our vendors experienced damage to a door of one of his buildings. We asked if it was reported; the answer was “Why? They won’t do anything anyway. I’ve reported vandalism before and nothing was ever done, even though the same kids were out doing it to other buildings just a few days later.”

This is what promotes the kind of lax attitude some police departments are plagued with. It may start with a disinterested cop or two, who tells the victim “there’s not a lot we can do.” But it’s perpetuated when the victim himself gets disinterested in pursuing it. He tells others, and then when they’re victimized, they ”don’t report it” either because “the cops won’t do anything.” And the vandals/thieves/burglars/miscreants have the run of the place. And that lax attitude by the cops spreads, just like the helpless feeling amongst victims does….until nobody does anything except ignore it and become victims. You wonder why there are certain neighborhoods in Harrisburg that are by and large unsafe. This is why.

There are some neighborhoods, however, who’ve started up watch groups, and have tried to offset this. They also don’t let it stop with one errant cop who refuses to take a report. At that point, you take it to the chief (who also by and large won’t do anything…but don’t let that stop you.) At that point, you take it to the city council and the mayor. And if that doesn’t get anything done, you take it farther…you petition for a referendum on the next ballot to get rid of someone (like the useless police chief), or put a new ordinance in effect that will impact positively what’s going on in your neighborhood, etc. There are remedies. You just have to get creative.

Whatever you do, never neglect to report it. And if you’re not seeing anything on the media about the break-ins, go to them. Doesn’t matter which media. For some reason, today’s cops don’t want to let people know when crime is going on in their town; in some places it’s an “appearance” thing or even a “tourism” thing, and they don’t want to report anything negative to the general public. But that’s exactly the opposite that needs to be happening. When there’s a crime series going on, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. They can take extra precautions, watch out for unusual activity in the neighborhood, keep an eye out for others living next door. Why wouldn’t the cops want that kind of vigilance? We don’t know the answer to that…but we see it repeatedly, especially in places like Lawrenceville, and Harrisburg.

So let us know if it continues, ‘burg residents. There IS something you can do. These are but a few suggestions. Let us know if you come up with something equally as workable.

SALINE CO.—Emergency crews, fire and police responded to a rollover single-vehicle accident that resulted in no serious injuries this evening, Sunday, July 14, 2013

The accident was reported some time before 7 p.m.

The driver is reported by unofficial sources to have been a younger female; we have no indication of passengers. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and extrication crews sent to the scene were advised that they weren’t going to be needed; the young gal had made it out okay.

When we learn more details, we’ll post it all.

Emergency personnel responding to the accident, just off 13 and on the east side of Southeastern Illinois College

A view toward 13

The view toward the east. Very lucky girl.

HARRISBURG—We received numerous calls, texts, messages and emails this morning about this:

Now, our sources on this tell us they don’t listen to the program and never have, but of course, everyone is wondering why this is continuing, as the “hook” of it was the fact that Eric Gregg was the mayor, so that was supposed to be a draw for the show.

So…he’s no longer a mayor. Where’s the hook with “former” mayor? There are lots of former mayors in town. Why doesn’t Valerie Rose Mitchell have her own show? Or Ron Fearheiley? Or Chicken Bob?

It’s because Eric Gregg is employed, in a fashion, at this radio station. And since the state is letting him get away with lying on his application for his job at the Prisoner Review Board about employment in the calendar year prior to the appointment, why not continue whatever jobs he currently has that people don’t know he’s getting paid for?

The way it works is this: Eric Gregg actually runs the station during his show. He operates under one of the only two deals WEBQ offers: He buys the time block and any ads he sells during the block, he gets to keep, or, they pay him and all ads are WEBQs. How do we know this? Because we ourselves looked into this deal before we started doing podcasts regularly. This is the way it is and has been since at least that time when Eric Gregg became the mayor and started his little show.

Which means he has another source of income that he didn’t report, and isn’t reporting, in violation of 730 ILCS 3-3-1.

Now, since we’ve brought this to the public’s attention, and since Eric Gregg has given up his position as mayor, he’s probably gonna say “Wallll no, I don’t take any money for that show; that’s just something they do now, you know, because people listen.” Maybe. But all radio stations are hurting, and charge ridiculous amounts for advertising; we know, we advertise infrequently. And there’s just no radio station out there that’s going to give up income out of the kindness of their hearts, even for Eric Gregg. Especially for Eric Gregg…or anyone of his ilk.

So what can we do about this turn of events?

Well, we’re going to contact the senators who have been watching Gregg’s every move for about three weeks, ever since he threatened to “bring us to our knees…and anyone who associates with us” in response to us learning that he’s been operating in violation of the statute since April 27, 2013, and in advance of the article appearing about his crazy offspring. The senators are compiling a list of lies Gregg has been telling his employer, the state (funded by we, the taxpayers, remember), and are pretty upset with the way this appointment not only was made, but how it’s been going. They’ve discovered, through Freedom of Information Act requests, that Gregg has been holding jobs through which he’s receiving compensation in direct violation of the statute…the LAW, that thing that the rest of us must follow or we get in trouble.

That’s what we’re going to do. Now here’s what YOU can do.

Call the radio station and ask them if the former mayor can answer a few questions on his next “Monday Morning with the (former) mayor” show, such as:
Is it true that Eric Gregg lied on his application for the state appointment?
How many jobs WAS the mayor holding during the previous calendar year prior to the signature on the application, May 20, 2012?
How much income came in from those jobs, and is this not in direct violation of 730 ILCS 3-3-1?
Why did the mayor put “none” in all the blanks on his application when it referenced jobs and income for the preceding calendar year?
Who paid his medical bills in 2012? And wouldn’t that be considered a “gift” of monetary form, in violation of the directives of the application?
How much money was raised at the fundraiser held for the mayor last year? And wouldn’t THAT be considered a “gift” under the directives of the application?
Is he still claiming to have no income from any source except the state of Illinois?
Are you doing this show for free, and are you willing to prove that?
Did you or someone operating for you have anything to do with your daughter being let go by the Evansville police department?

Then when you get done with that call, call your Senator and tell him or her that you’re tired of favoritism being shown certain people on the state level, such as Eric Gregg.

The appearance of Pat Quinn in Marion today is nothing but a distraction, a smokescreen, damage control. This situation with Eric Gregg has severely damaged Quinn in this region, and don’t think Quinn doesn’t know it: our reach far exceeds anything any other spoon fed state-suckup media does, and Quinn knows it. While he’s here, who knows…he might pop over to Harrisburg and make sure everybody knows things are all hunkydory with Eric. But they’re not. Because Eric Gregg isn’t the only one who is getting this kind of favoritism. Our staff is turning up other incredible cases whereby someone gets an executive appointment, and the taxpayer is soaked. It’s a long, complicated story, and we’ll be brining it to you in upcoming editions of the print version and here online at the e-Edition. People wonder what we can do to control egregious spending in this state. Controlling these ridiculous appointments, of people who are violating the law when they take them, is a good way to save the taxpayers huge sums of money.

Be watching for the next print version, and pick up the current one at these vendors or right here at the e-Edition if you want to know the truth about what’s going on in this situation. Of course, if you enjoy having smoke blown up your ass and want to believe Eric Gregg would do no wrong, don’t bother…but more and more people are wanting reality instead of fantasy, and we’re here to give it…so get it.