SALINE CO.— A Harrisburg woman has been charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine after authorities were alerted that the white Ford extended cab she was driving on July 6 contained stolen firearms.

Officers spotted the truck and followed it to Auto Zone, located at 318 South Commercial St., Harrisburg, where officer Kenny Shires activated his emergency lights and executed an investigative stop of the truck.

Registration on the truck came back to John A. Thompson, of 521 O’Gara St., Harrisburg.

Authorities identified Brianna Elizabeth Sisk, 21, of 855 Beech Hollow Rd., Harrisburg, as the driver and her passenger as Dennis Deon Jackson, 29, of Harrisburg.

Consent to search the vehicle was obtained via phone from John Thompson.

Authorities found a small case between the driver and passenger seats, which contained a small semi-automatic pistol.

A quick check showed that Sisk did not have a FOID card.

A search of her purse subsequent to her arrest revealed that Sisk had a small plastic baggie with a white powdery substance in it that later tested positive for methamphetamine.

She was booked into the county jail on a single count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.

There was no mention of charges against Mr. Jackson, who has quite the criminal history in Saline County including a 2005 conviction for Manufacture/Delivery of Cocaine for which he was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for six years.

Jackson was sentenced to another 48 months IDOC July 10, 2009 when he was convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.

Currently Jackson has a pending case from December 31, 2009 in which he is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (prescription medication) and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis.

Thus far there has been no mention of firearms, stolen or otherwise.

Cash bond in the case of the unmarried, unemployed mother of one was set at $1,500.

 Meth delivered to police source

An Eldorado woman has been charged with a pair of drug felonies after authorities say she intended to deliver the drug to others.

Darlene Randolph, 45, of 38 Carter Rd., Eldorado, has been charged in one case with Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine after authorities say on May 13 she knowingly delivered less than five grams of meth to a police informant.

The second case alleges that Randolph committed the same offense on June 4.

No bond information was available in the case.

SALINE CO.— A Carrier Mills man has been jailed after authorities say he threw a female into a chair on the front porch and proceeded to strangle her.

According to information filed in the case, on July 20 at approximately 1:35 a.m. Carrier Mills Sgt. Billy Duncan was dispatched to 202 West Washington St., to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.

Sgt. Duncan and deputy Mike Casteel arrived on scene at approximately 1:43 a.m. and met with Christopher and Nicole Duncan.

Officers separated the couple and discovered that both had been drinking and had had an argument.

Nicole said she had gone out on the front porch to smoke a cigarette and for some reason was bumping a plastic trash can against the living room window.

She said she was trying to get her husband’s attention so that she could give him a lighter.

Well she apparently got his attention, but it was not what she was expecting, according to police.

Christopher is said to have come out onto the porch and shoved Nicole onto a recliner (which was on the porch) and flipped the recliner back and began strangling her.

Nicole told officers that Christopher is a “great person” when he doesn’t drink alcohol.

She said they had both been drinking and that she didn’t mean for anything to happen.

Nicole informed officers she didn’t want to “press charges” but was informed the incident fell under the definition of domestic violence and it was out of their hands.

One of the officers noticed that Nicole had a cut on her left wrist that she declined medical treatment for.

He also noticed redness on her neck and upper chest.

Christopher Duncan was transported from the scene and booked into the county jail on charges of Aggravated Domestic Battery and Disorderly Conduct.

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

SALINE CO.— A second predatory sexual assault case has been filed against a Harrisburg convicted drug felon.

On July 9 Assistant Saline County State’s Attorney Eva Walker, commonly known as a sex offender’s worse nightmare, filed a second case against 51-year-old Mark Anthony Stricklin, formerly of the 1600 block of Daisy Lane, Harrisburg, now of some cage at the county jail.

In this second case in as many months, Walker’s charging document alleges that between January 12 and February 9, 2012 Stricklin committed the offense of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child when he committed an act of sexual penetration with a victim younger than 13 years of age in that he placed his penis in the vagina of the victim.

Walker has also charged Stricklin with a single count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse alleging that between February 10, 2012 and November 22, 2013 he committed an act of sexual penetration upon the same victim, who was at least 13 years of age but younger than 17 years of age, when he placed his penis in the vagina of the victim.

Last month Walker filed a one-count charge against Stricklin of a more recent accusation of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child.

The information filed in that case it is alleges that on or about June 1, Stricklin, 51, committed an act of sexual penetration with an 11-year-old victim.

On June 10, an 11-year-old female is said to have told authorities that Stricklin rubbed his penis on her vagina.

She also said he had her perform oral sex on him and had her masturbate him.

The sexual abuse is said to have taken place multiple times over the past several years.

Not necessarily indicative of anything more than an abundance of caution, Walker has petitioned the court for Stricklin to be ordered to undergo testing for any sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

With $50,000 cash bond in the earlier case, another $25,000 cash bond has been added by Judge Walden Morris with the latest charge.

SALINE CO.— An Eldorado teen who seemed to think he was a minor and police couldn’t do much to him found out exactly the opposite.

Zachary T. Dolden, 18, of Dewey Road, Eldorado, has been booked on charges of Residential Burglary and Burglary after authorities say they believe he went on a crime spree July 15.

Authorities were flooded the next morning with reports of stolen items.

Penny Baugher of the 1200 block of Byron St., reported that her husband’s 1994 silver Nissan Altima had been broken in to and the radio face plate and radar detector was missing.

Moments later Johnny Bob James contacted authorities and reported a 2003 red Harley Davidson, later identified as belonging to Roger Jones, laying in a ditch at the end of Temple Street.

And shortly thereafter Teresa Pankey, of the 3000 block of Temple St., advised officers that her black Chrysler four-door had been gone through and some CDs were missing.

As the officer was speaking with Pankey he was approached by Krystal Willis, also of the 3000 block of Temple St., who advised that her white 2015 Dodge Journey had been broken into and she was missing a keyless remote.

Moments later the officer was notified of another break-in at the Donna Bradley residence located at the 2600 block of Willis St. Bradley advised that someone had forced open her north garage door and had gone through her vehicles.

She said assorted change was missing from her console and cassette tapes were missing from her black 2000 Ford pickup.

Elizabeth Lane, of the 1200 block of Byron St., informed police that she had a vehicle burglarized and even offered video footage of two individuals breaking into her outbuilding.

Robert Bradley told officers that sometime during the night his silver 2005 Dodge pickup had been entered but he didn’t believe anything was taken.

The officer was then dispatched to the 2300 block of Locust St., where he was advised by Cynthia Hogg that during the night someone had broken open her outbuilding door and took bicycles.

She also advised that her husband had kept tools in specific locations and they looked to be missing as well.

At one point while authorities were questioning young Mr. Dolden, he advised that he was a minor, implying that he didn’t have to answer their questions.

Dolden was quickly advised by officers on scene that as of his 18th birthday, believe it or not, he was considered an adult.

And with that said, cash bond was set in Mr. Dolden’s case at $2,500.

Hardin Co. meth connection made in Saline Co. bust

SALINE CO.— Recent arrests over a stolen 4-wheeler have lead authorities to tie in the names of at least four suspected methamphetamine movers.

According to police reports, on July 1, at approximately 10:50 a.m. authorities received a phone call from John C. Parkinson, who reported to the Saline County Sheriff’s office that he had observed a white male riding his son’s stolen 2002 red Yamaha Big Bear 4-wheeler at Hathaway’s One Stop, located at 1600 Hwy. 145 South.

Parkinson told authorities that the white male he had spotted on his son’s 4-wheeler was in the company of a black male, later identified as Zachary Allen Russel, 56, of 603 Madison St., Eldorado, who was riding a red Honda 4-wheeler.

Parkinson told authorities that he confronted the white male, later identified as   Tony D. Patrick, 30, of 7998 Grater Rd., Equality.

Parkinson said he grabbed Patrick’s arm to keep him from riding off and Patrick hit the gas, striking Parkinson in the leg with the front carriage rack of the 4-wheeler.

Parkinson said Patrick also struck him in the arm with an open hand to get him to let go.

Russel remained at Hathaway’s and informed Parkinson that the man he had confronted was Tony Garrison.

Russel then left the area on the Honda with two white females later identified as Kasey Potts and Sara Milligan.

Harris meth connection

The next day, July 2, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Eldorado Police Chief Shannon Deuel spotted Russel riding a black 4-wheeler on Trolley Road in Eldorado accompanied by a female passenger identified as Devon Morse.

Inspector David Blazier of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force was called to the scene and spoke with Morse, who informed him that the red 4-wheeler could be located at the residence of Donald Dean Harris, 56, at 603 Madison St., Eldorado.

Russel was taken into custody at that point.

When Blazier and Deuel arrived at Harris’ residence, Harris informed than that Russel had arrived at his house on the red 4-wheeler and wanted to trade it for Harris’ black 4-wheeler.

Harris said he wasn’t interested in trading but sold Russel the black 4-wheeler for $500.

Russel was to come back and retrieve the red 4-wheeler later.

A quick run of the VIN number proved the red 4-wheeler was the Honda belonging to Parkinson’s son that had been reported June 26 to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office as stolen.

Harris was then advised that he was going to be taken into custody for Unlawful Possession of Stolen Property.

Subsequent to being taken into custody Harris was asked if he had any illegal drugs on him and he said he had some weed and a little bit of crystal ice (methamphetamine) in his pocket.

Authorities retrieved two small bags of meth and two small bags of cannabis complete with a glass cannabis smoking pipe.

Harris is the first leg in a multiple connection to the meth traffic in the area.

He is a convicted felon from October 7, 2003 when he was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine 15-100 grams and sentenced to IDOC for nine years.

He still owes $654 in fines and fees from that case.

Harris was sentenced to 30 months DOC January 29, 2009 for Driving Revoked/Suspended 4-9.

He still owes $155 in fines and fees from that case.

Rovito meth connection

During an interview, Patrick at one point told officers that the Yamaha 4-wheeler had been parked at the South Webster, Harrisburg residence of none other than Lori Christine Rovito, 43.

Russel is a convicted meth felon from September 1, 2011 when he was found guilty of Unlawful Possession of Meth and sentenced to probation for two years and ordered to fork over $6,119.35, of which he still owes $3,194.35.

Methamphetamine may very well be the connection with Rovito as she is a convicted Methamphetamine felon from 2010 when she was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for five years after she was found guilty of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Theft $300-$10,000.

She still owes $3,187.80 in fines and fees from that case.

Currently Rovito has a pending case in Saline County from March 21, 2015 in which she is charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine 15-100 grams and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Alprazolam).

Rovito was released from custody March 23, after a $1,500 cash bond was posted on her behalf by Leslie E. Alyse Williams, 18, of Largent Street in Harrisburg.

Williams n Patrick drug connection

In May of this year Disclosure ran a story in which Williams, previously of rural Cave-in-Rock, was involved in a high-speed chase reaching speeds of 120 mph with Kentucky authorities in pursuit of her and none other than the aforementioned Tony Patrick.

Kentucky authorities ultimately closed in on the car and one was able to do the “PIT” maneuver (“precision immobilization technique”) on it, which involves a law enforcement car “tapping” the bumper of the fleeing car, causing it to go out of control, and the vehicle was finally stopped on Interstate 24.

After authorities pulled Williams and Patrick from the vehicle, they searched it and located marijuana, a plastic baggie full of a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for meth, and a “large sum of money,” the exact amount undisclosed.

Daddy Williams posted bond

Back in Harrisburg in the instant case: Russel, Patrick and Harris were all charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of Stolen Property,

Harris was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of Stolen Property, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis.

Russel was released from police custody July 10 after a $1,500 cash bond was posted on his behalf by David Williams of 510 Cherry St., Rosiclare, father of Leslie E. Alyse Williams, former running buddy of Tony Patrick.

Harris was released from police custody July 6 after a $2,000 cash bond was posted on his behalf by Amy Dodd of 2100 Crossroad School Rd.

As of press time Patrick remained behind bars in the Saline County Detention Center.

SALINE CO.—Some repeat offenders and familiar names appear in this issue’s misdemeanor coverage.

It begins, however, with a Golconda woman who probably should have known better than to try what she allegedly tried upon a search of her cell at Saline County Detention Center (SCDC).

On July 1, Sgt. Brett Upchurch, working at the SCDC, advised corrections officer Lindsey Mason that one Dawn Helms, 49, needed to be strip searched and dressed out because she had feces on her. While Mason was doing this, she located a small bag of green leafy substance that looked to be cannabis fall from Helms’ bra.

The green leafies field tested positive for cannabis; the bag weighed out at 4 grams total.

The stuff was taken into evidence and on July 7, Helms was charged with a misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of Cannabis.

There was no further word of how the woman got feces on her, or how on earth the stuff got in her bra to begin with.

The pregnant chick didn’t want pot around

A familiar name in Saline County, Taborn, is sported by the next misdemeanor recipient, Charvon A., who, at age 23, has been charged with Domestic Battery after an incident on July 6 in Eldorado with a Monica Turner.

Eldorado officer Gabe Schimp made the arrest, which was called in on 911 as a “disturbance” between two females at 816 High Street.

Schimp made contact outside that residence with Taborn; Officer Ryan Ward Turner made contact with Turner inside the residence. As Schimp was speking with Taborn, he reported that she ran into the house swearing and yelling at Monica. “Charvon refused to listen to mine and Ward’s commands,” Schimp reported. “Ward and I detained Charvon and took her outside. Ward continued to speak with Monica as I stayed with Charvon.”

Schimp then reported that Turner advised Taborn had marijuana in the house and Turner didn’t want it in the house. Turner said to underscore this, she flushed the pot down the toilet. Taborn began cursing at Turner then pushed her in the chest, almost causing her to fall. Turner advised the officer that she’d reminded Taborn that she (Turner) was pregnant.

Taborn was arrested on a preliminary domestic battery charge and placed in handcuffs and transported to the SCDC, where unlike Helms, she apparently didn’t have any pot to put in her bra.

Brittany Taborn posted Charvon’s bond for her, and Charvon was told not to have any contact with the pregnant Ms. Turner until further notice of the court.

Independence Day: It’s a song, not a guideline

Another incident of domestic battery in ’rado came up, this on July 4, where “Independence Day” was apparently not just a song, but a guidebook for one guy.

At about 9:06 p.m. that night, Ryan Ward was dispatched to a location on Ridge Street reference a Jennifer Rumsey, 36, who said she was struck with a bat and was locked in the bathroom…and the guy who struck her was trying to get in there, apparently not wishing to use the facilities.

When Officer Joel A. Stanley arrived and entered the place through the back door, two small children were observed playing in the room just inside that door and a female was coming down the stairs. She said the male was still up the stairs at about the time one Ryan Swallow was coming down…with blood coming from his mouth.

Stanley went up and told the woman still in the bathroom that she would come out; he saw two spots on the bathroom door that appeared to be hit with the bat.

Jenifer Rumsey and Polly McWilliams then came out of the bathroom, Rumsey holding a rag to her chin. She stated that Swallow had hit her with a drinking glass, then with a bat to the back of her head. She had a small cut on her chin.

Outside in the squad car, Swallow told Stanley that he was the one hit in the mouth with a bat and he was just defending himself. He said Rumsey hit him in the mouth with the bat as soon as he walked in the door, so he started to hit her back. He was placed under arrest.

Rumsey said though that when she came into the house, Swallow began to argue with her and then struck her with a cup, so she hit him with a bat in self defense. He took it away from her and started to hit her with his hands, she said; he hit her in the back of the head with the bat once. She then went to the bathroom door and locked it, calling 911, and he was hitting the door with the bat while she was on the phone. McWilliams vouched for what Rumsey was saying. But, it’s Illinois, so both of Swallow and Rumsey were charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and jailed.

Driving, endangering

It’s not all domestic battery and stupidity in southern Illinois this issue; there was also a little bit of Reckless Driving and Endangering the Life/Health of a Child charged.

This would be one Jessica Combs, 27 and old enough to know better, of Locust Street in Carrier Mills (at least on the charging documents; on the bond form, she magically has a residence in Eldorado), who was cited by ISP Trooper Roy Glasscock on the afternoon of June 15 out on U.S. 45 northbound a quarter-mile south of Cook Road along and north of Cook Road in East Eldorado Township.

It’s unclear what she was doing that was so reckless, but it was enough for the citations to turn into misdemeanor complaints, which were subsequently filed July 10, thus making this report.

The prosecution claims that Combs knowingly permitted RJP, a child under the age of 18, to be placed in circumstances that endangered the child’s life or health, in that she drove a motor vehicle, when the minor was a passenger in the vehicle, with willful and wanton disregard for the safety of the minor.

One Sadie Hernandez, also of Eldorado, posted her bond upon arrest and Combs was free to be a little less reckless til her court date.

Steve Austin, a man who got…kicked

One David L. Newman, of Eldorado, emerged as another accused batterer, and he’s apparently fortunate that his alleged victim is “Steve Austin” in name only, and not really the 6 Million Dollar Man.

Newman, at age 55, is old enough to remember that TV show from the 70s, as well as old enough to know better than what he was alleged to have done back on June 9 that got him charged on July 16: “Made physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with Steve Austin, in that he kicked Steve Austin.”

Newman was issued a notice to appear in court August 10.

No condition on the duplicate Mr. Austin was given in court documents.

Pot usually makes you calm…

And another Weatherington has popped up in the court documents, this time for something as innocuous as pot possession, but also for alarming and disturbing someone, apparently at the same time.

Back on June 5, one Kody K. Weatherington, 27 of Harrisburg, was popped by Officer Zach Popetz of HPD for that charge. It was filed July 16.

Popetz also reported, however, that Weatherington had “acted in such an unreasonable manner as to alarm and disturb” three others, Roland J. Trosclair, Frankie J. Trosclair and John A. Thompson, so Weatherington was also charged with three misdemeanor counts of Disorderly Conduct.

Weatherington was issued a notice to appear for an August 3 court date.

Child in the middle of the street

And finally, a warrant was issued on July 17 for the arrest of one Jennifer L. Vickers, aka Jennifer Verduzco, 32, of Harrisburg, on a criminal complaint of Endangering the Life or Health of a Child, CJV, not even two years of age.

The charging documents state that Vickers, on July 10, caused or permitted CJV to be placed in circumstances that endangered the child’s life or health in that the minor was found standing in the middle of the street on Poplar Street, near Sperling Auto Body Shop in Harrisburg, as a result of being unsupervised.

The baby will be two on October 8.

It’s unclear the circumstances that lead up to this…and unfortunate that only a misdemeanor can be charged out of it.

SALINE/JOHNSON COs.—A man originally from Buffalo, Missouri, is being held at the Saline County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond in a child abduction and sex case after he was found in neighboring Johnson County with a 12-year-old Harrisburg girl July 19.

The girl, who was the subject of a missing child alert in the hours leading up to the discovery of the two on the Tunnel Hill bike trail, initially told investigating Johnson County officers that the man she was with had “adopted her.”

This, however, turned out to be one of the many ruses David Patrick Sheppard, 42, is alleged to have run in the five months leading up to the case.

And now, he’s charged with significant felonies in two counties, the seriousness of which can get the married-with-kids “family” man put in DOC as a sex predator for a very long time.

Reported missing

The situation emerged at about 10:30 a.m. July 16, when the juvenile girl, FPH, was reported missing by her mother Alma Hagan, who contacted Harrisburg police upon making this discovery.

While details weren’t given in the subsequent police report, it was somehow discovered that the child was taken from her residence in the 400 block of South Ledford Street in the early morning hours of that day, without her mother’s consent, by Sheppard, with a reported address in Bolivar, Missouri.

Later the next day, July 17, at approximately 2:08 p.m., Sheppard and the girl were located by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office on the Tunnel Hill State Trail at mile marker 216 1/2..

Sheppard was placed under arrest and taken to Saline County; the girl was taken to the Harrisburg Medical Center ER for examination.

In the subsequent interviews, authorities learned that the two had had an ongoing electronic relationship, the nature of which is vexatious for parents who are trying to control the electronic communications of their hormone-driven children and the people who want to prey on that.

Questionable messaging service

During the girl’s interview, she said that she and Sheppard had been communicating via text as well as Kik Messenger.

It’s the latter that creates the concern: Kik is one of those “secure” apps that can be downloaded to a computer or phone, and utilized in “private” communications. This differs from other kinds of messaging such as on Facebook or Twitter, wherein people have to “friend” or “follow” each other in order to communicate effectively. Kik users can interact at any time. Predators can use the service to type in an “age range” and “location” where they’re scouring for a victim, and all the kids using Kik fitting the description just show up on the application.

Then, the predator can message that kid directly…and once a message is sent and the other person receives it, that message is off Kik’s server, deleted permanently. This makes it impossible for the authorities to obtain search warrants if a predator is arrested and charged, and evidence needs to be collected. The conversation deletes off the app of the user, too…so there are no bread crumbs at all to try and get information pertinent to the pursuit of the case.

In this instance, fortunately, the girl—whose face and name were in the public eye for well over a full day, thus there was no protection for her identity once she was formally identified as the ‘victim’ in the case—told the truth about the Kik messaging.

She said it had been going on for approximately the last five months, and some of it was substantiated by texts as well, which she was able to show investigators.

There, the girl and Sheppard “discussed acts of sexual conduct and acts of sexual penetration,” according to an Illinois State Police report.

Sheppard also sent photos of his penis (commonly known as “dick pics” these days, they are apparently so frequent); in return, the girl sent Sheppard photos of herself wearing only a bra and shorts (and unfortunately, the girl was considerably developed for a 12-year-old).

The content of the texts, authorities stated, provided that Sheppard was luring FPH for the purposes of having sex.

Alleges forced sex

She then disclosed that while in the custody of Sheppard (from early morning July 16 until the afternoon of the 17th), he “forced her to have sex with him on at least two occasions in the Saline/Johnson county area of the Tunnel Hill State Trail.

The sex, reports show, consisted of vaginal intercourse, oral sex on the girl, and digital penetration of the girl.

Sheppard corroborated this during his interview, admitting to having sex on three separate occasions.

In a statement that would be comical if the situation itself weren’t so tragic, during the interview, Sheppard stated he “thought the girl was 16 when he had sex with her the first time.”

He then admitted to having the other two sexual encounters after she told him she was only 12.

He apparently had little remorse over the fact that as an adult five years older or more than the juvenile, 16 is still illegal.

It was unclear from police reports where, exactly, all of this took place.

Johnson County reported that they had learned that Sheppard was in the process of moving his family from Buffalo, Missouri, to Bolivar, both of these being on the more western side of the state…and a considerable drive from southeastern Illinois.

Sheppard had told his family that he was working on moving items to the Bolivar location and would be gone for a couple of days, these being the days when the alleged abduction occurred.

The felonies

A probable cause hearing was held for Sheppard’s detention on July 19 and his bond was set.

In Saline, he is currently charged with Aggravated Kidnapping in that on July 16, by knowingly deceiving or enticing, he induced FPH to go from one place to another with intent secretly to confine her against her will; this is a Class X felony;

Indecent Solicitation of a Child, in that he, as a person over the age of 17, between February 16 and July 16, 2015, knowingly solicited FPH to perform an act of sexual penetration with the intent that the offense of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child be committed; this is a Class 1 felony;

A second charge of Indecent Solicitation of a Child lists the same, but is a Class 3 felony because it alleges that the solicitation was with the intent that the offense of aggravated criminal sexual abuse be committed.

In Johnson County, however, there are four counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Victim under the age of 13; each of those are automatically Class X felonies due to the victim’s age.

Whether the victim lied about her age on the Kik and text messages are unknown; nevertheless, authorities believe Sheppard was looking for a young child for the sole purpose of pursuing a sexual relationship with, no matter how brief.

Wife says ‘not him’

Sheppard’s wife was noted by authorities as having stated that she believes Sheppard “isn’t their man,” and that they have the wrong person, despite the fact that Sheppard was the one who was found walking the bike trail with the girl, and despite the fact that upon Johnson County deputy contact, that was when the girl allegedly covered for Sheppard and told them that he was “adopting” her.

Sheppard’s wife has stated she believes the law enforcement needs to look more closely at the situation so that her husband can be exonerated.

It appears authorities are indeed tooling at the situation closely, up to and including DNA evidence that will indicate whether or not it was Sheppard who had intercourse with the pre-teen.

In Saline County, Sheppard had yet to be set for a next court date as of press time, July 24, 2015.

In Johnson County, Sheppard had been set for a preliminary hearing on delivery date of this issue, July 29.

Roberta Wallace from a friend's Facebook page

HARRISBURG, Ill.--The woman missing from Harrisburg Medical Center since July 19 has been found, and she is alive and well.

Roberta Wallace, reported to have walked away from HMC more than a week ago, was found in a thicket in the Gaskins City area of Harrisburg about a mile or so from HMC by a search party organized by friends and family

Wallace was the subject of this report Saturday.

Saline County Sheriff's Department, Harrisburg police and MedForce ambulance were at the scene. All are saying they have NO idea how Wallace survived that long in the heat and elements without assistance.

She is alert and talking, at the hospital. Family is telling us that a guy she'd been seeing lately had picked her up at the hospital that Sunday night and took her back to his place. She spent the night there; however, when he got up the next morning, she was gone. So it's possible the was only missing since Monday, July 20.

More as we get it.

James Houston

SALINE CO., Ill.--On July 28, 2015, Saline County, Illinois Circuit Judge Walden E. Morris sentenced James E. Houston, age 34, of Harrisburg, Illinois to 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following Houston’s convictions for the offenses of Attempt First‐Degree Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Battery of a Child, Endangering the Life or Health of a Child and Criminal Damage to Property. A Saline County jury found Houston guilty of those offenses on May 29, 2015 following a jury trial handled by Saline County Assistant State’s Attorney Jayson M. Clark.

Houston’s Attempt First‐Degree Murder and Aggravated Domestic Battery convictions arose out of an incident in which it was alleged he shoved and grabbed his former girlfriend, Amber F. Akins around the throat and subsequently pressed a pillow on the back of her head, forcing her face down onto a bed and strangling Akins in her apartment in Eldorado, Illinois. Houston’s Aggravated Battery of a Child conviction arose out of an incident in which it was alleged that, earlier that same day, Houston caused bodily harm to Akins’ two year old child by injuring the child about the face, head and body. Joseph Hunt of Eldorado, a neighbor of Akins, ultimately came to assist Akins and her child.

The investigation of Houston’s case was led by Investigators Donna Hesterly and Michelle Dirden of the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services and Officer Justin McKinney of the Eldorado Police Department. Assistant State’s Attorney Jayson M. Clark handled the successful prosecution of the case, including trying the case before the jury. He was assisted in that jury trial by Saline County Assistant State’s Attorney Letitia Wiggins.

UPDATE 10:50 A.M.

Just heard from Eldorado Chief Shannon Deuel. The young man our source observed sitting on the ground this morning following the burglary (which, Deuel said, occurred at about 5:50 a.m.; our source was a little off on his gas-up time) was indeed Cody Ward....but authorities are now looking for him...because he escaped from police custody out the back of the cruiser at the scene.

Deuel said they're currently speaking to someone about the whereabouts of Ward.

Further, surveillance video shows two males allegedly perpetrating the burglary at Medicap...this video is being studied for potential further arrests.

If you know of Ward's whereabouts, contact the Eldorado Police Department at 618-273-2141, or Saline County Central Dispatch at 618-252-8661.

Original story and updates below.

UPDATE 10:10 A.M.

A reader has reported that when he was gassing up at Huck's in Eldorado this morning at about 5:30, he observed  police with a young man handcuffed and sitting on the ground outside nearby Medicap. This would be Cody Ward, 19, of Eldorado; authorities are looking for a second suspect in the burglary of the pharmacy.

Below is the original post.

ELDORADO, Ill.--Police presence was observed at Medicap Pharmacy in Eldorado this morning, as seen in the photo here shot at about 9 a.m.

There was city present, one state police cruiser, and one ISP CSI agent toting some papers around.

It appeared there were no employees or customers at at the business, and the drive-thru was taped off with yellow crime tape.

We've contacted Eldorado police and are waiting for a return call; when we know something, we'll pass it along.

Photo credit: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

ELDORADO, Ill.--A rumor going around about attacks on the bike path in Eldorado is completely false, according to police chief Shannon Deuel.

We received an inquiry earlier this afternoon; apparently, there are some rumors afloat around town that there have been attacks on isolated parts of the bike path that runs through town into Harrisburg, the locations being mentioned including near one of the schools.

We contacted the chief, who said that not only have there been no such reports, but there haven't been any incidents at all on the bike path so far this year...something that's actually fairly unusual.

Of course, anyone who does experience a problem on the bike path is urged to contact local authorities. But, no validity to the current rumors going around about it.

Cody Ward

ELDORADO, Ill.--Authorities are still searching for the punk who got away yesterday from the scene of a burglary at an Eldorado pharmacy.

Cody Ward, 21, of Eldorado, was able to somehow escape police custody early Friday morning after cops caught him at the scene of the break-in, has not yet been located, despite best efforts by the local and state cops who've been questioning those around Ward. Valerie Grace Jones, 25, who is Ward's girlfriend (and who is about to have her fifth child...the second by Ward) has been questioned, as well as some others; also, video surveillance footage of the area surrounding Medicap Pharmacy in Eldorado is being examined for clues as to who it was that was with Ward when the alleged burglary took place.

Ward, shown here in a previous Saline County mugshot, stands five-foot-nine, weighs about 140 scrawny pounds, and has the obligatory 20-nothing tatts on both arms. He was said to be wearing the obligatory pajama bottoms (since it was 5:30 in the morning when the alleged break-in was going on) and a dark sweatshirt (shockingly, not a hoodie) but may already have ditched the clothes...if, that is, he was able to get them off over the handcuffs, which an eyewitness said he was wearing when last he saw Ward sitting on the ground outside Medicap, this while our eyewitness was getting gas at nearby Huck's.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Cody Ward is urged to call  Eldorado PD at (618) 273-2141 or Saline County Central Dispatch at 618-252-8661.

Cody Ward

SALINE CO., Ill.--Cody Ward has been found.

Ward, who escaped from police custody very early yesterday morning (Friday, July 31, 2015) was picked up shortly before 5 p.m. this evening, August 1, in Wasson on Goolsby Road, this according to Eldorado Police Chief Shannon Deuel. Saline County authorities did the honors.

Deuel said that Ward, who is a suspect in the Medicap Pharmacy burglary early Friday, was in handcuffs when he got out of the back of the police cruiser he was sitting in at about 5:50 a.m. yesterday, but, Deuel said, he'd recovered the handcuffs already.

"They were in about six pieces," Deuel said of the expensive police item.

Ward is under suspicion of Criminal Damage to Property and Burglary in the Medicap issue; and Escape as regards allegedly fleeing from police.

SALINE CO., Ill.--A Marion man was injured in a collision with a semi trailer this morning in Saline County, Illinois State Police reports.

The traffic crash occurred on U.S. 45 approximately three-tenths of a mile north of Cook Road this  morning (Saturday, August 1) at 9 a.m.

ISP reports that according to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, Brian S. Barringer, 43, of Marion, was driving a white 2002 Ford passenger car southbound on U.S. 45 when, for an unknown reason, he drove into the northbound lane.

At that point, he struck a white 2006 Wabash semitrailer being pulled by a blue 2002 Freightliner truck-tractor, being operated by Andrew Jordan Harris, 31, of Champaign.

Barringer was transported by helicopter to an Evansville, Indiana hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained in
the crash.

He was subsequently cited for Improper Lane Usage.

ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the Saline County Sheriff's Department, Eldorado Police Department, and Eldorado Fire Department.

The third of many print editions running every other week is now on stands, and once again, this one is full of amazing articles you won't read anywhere else...not just because mainstream media outlets are shutting down all over, but because there are some things they just don't touch, and what they do, there are aspects that they just don't tell.

Kinda like several of our front page articles.

Without keeping you wading through a whole bunch of preamble, we're going to just jump right into what Print Headlines are: A preview of what's in the current print edition, presented in sections (Front Page, Back Page [our second front page], Pages 2 & 3, Features if there are any (generally running on page 12 or 13 or both, as in this issue), Egypt, Heartland and Central, and then Op-Ed.) They are presented by dateline first (where the material in the article took place), headline with link to the e-Edition version, and a brief synopsis in our own snarky Disclosure style. The headline links will take you right to the article on the e-Edition page if you're an online member; if you're not, they'll take you to the sign-up page, where you can get either a full month's access for $5.99 (a real bargain, as we're doing a new issue every other week right now!) or a 24-hour pass for only $2.99 (be sure you follow the instructions explicitly so you don't experience the glitch that sometimes hits new subscribers). And now, without further ado...here are THIS ISSUE'S PRINT HEADLINES.

FRONT PAGE

SALINE/JOHNSON COs.--Missing girl found, man charged with sex offenses: How did a guy from Missouri hook up with a 12-year-old in Harrisburg, then come to allegedly have sex with her in the Shawnee National Forest? This is one of those articles that shows you can't be too careful with monitoring your kids...and you certainly shouldn't be.

LAWRENCE CO.--Inmate sues prison personnel: Have people been rather tense out at Lawrence Correctional Center outside of Sumner the past few years...? You betcha, and this would be the reason why. While everybody else in the state was hoping this would just blow over, on July 7, it did not...and we have the full story right here.

Deeboy, disparaged deputy

EDGAR CO.--Deputy bankrupt: We're not telling you something about Dee Burgin you don't already know if we're meaning "morally" bankrupt. But we're not; we're meaning financially bankrupt. Which isn't that unusual of a thing these days; a lot of us have suffered a bankruptcy, and might someday again. But the "lot of us" I'm talking about aren't public officials entrusted to give it their all for the public paychecks taken by force of threat from the rest of us private sector dweebs. And we expect those who receive public paychecks to be a little more responsible with what's being taken from us...and when they're not, it makes it to the front page.

Gerald Foster

RICHLAND CO.--IEPA onto Foster: The article we held since early June when the case was filed, hoping to see how it was going to shake out; the Illinois Attorney General is AGAIN getting onto Gerald Foster, and their "getting onto him" seems to coincide with a recent arrest. So this begs the question: Is David Hyde pushing Foster off onto the IAG to be dealt with financially instead of forcing his DUIs through the system..? Because he's still got that one languishing since 2007. And no, we're not writing about any other supposed junkyard Foster has; we're only mentioning the ones the IAG has mentioned, because that's what's in court docs, for those who were wondering.

SALINE CO.--A night for Danton: Photo coverage of the event from this past Sunday in Harrisburg, wherein police chief Whipper Johnson helped raise money for a local autistic boy.

BACK PAGE

CLAY/MARION COs.--Chief's son's party makes waves: After a crazy, 80-plus-something-comment thread was pulled from our Facebook page back in early July (and no, we didn't pull it; it appeared when we were in delivery and we simply let it go until it got out of control and someone involved in it complained enough to have Fecesbook pull it), our interest was piqued as to what actually happened at Flora Police Chief John Nicholson's kid's party out in rural Marion County back in June. We researched it, and this is what we found out.

WILLIAMSON CO.--Fosse out of county process-serving job: Much speculation surrounding the reason why Jim Fosse no longer works for the Williamson County Sheriff's Office as a process server; we researched this one, and while many simply won't believe it (because, you know...Marion. There HAS to be something corrupt and underhanded going on, right?), this is what we learned. If it changes in the future, we'll report it. But for now, this is all there is to know, according to officials.

LAWRENCE CO.--Youngster sues Lawrence County sheriff after arrest and alleged illegal detention: Here's one that's going to slip right through the cracks in the floor that's barely supporting local mainstream media, just like the one about the prison. Because, you know...they can't produce anything bad about the hand that feeds. And as much as we try to get along with the local constabulary in Lawrence  - and we do get along with them - we have to write about this kind of stuff when it comes up.

PAGE 2

SALINE CO.-Messed-up misdemeanors this month in Saline: We opted to put the big Saline County misdemeanor report on page 2 because...why would a woman let her barely-two-year-old, just-walking child get out into the intersection of Poplar Street on a main drag through Harrisburg? We don't have the answer to that, but it makes for an interesting piece, as do the rest of the misdemeanors compiled into one article. Enjoy our newest feature in the every-other-week offerings.

PAGE 3

RICHLAND CO.--Olney man sues popular restaurant for 'unhealthful food' after strange experience: We say it in the article - This guy, like a dozen hundred other people in the 618, probably didn't know that you can't eat shrimp tails, and that when you order shrimp, especially in a Mexican dish, you need to make sure they're pulled off the little shrimp bodies in the meal, otherwise, you could choke on them and they'll cut up your throat. Now, after this lawsuit, it's a pretty sure bet EVERY Mexican restaurant in the 618 will have to carry a "CAUTION - Shrimp tails" warning...although there's no indication whatsoever in the lawsuit that that's what dude swallowed that cut up his esophagus. In fact, he never says, in the suit, what it is that DID. Which leads us to guess: Shrimp tails. We'll see; somebody will be calling us whining about it; that's more than a pretty sure bet.

FEATURE (PAGE 12)

McLEANSBORO--McKamey Manor still seeking to site in McLeansboro despite opposition: A recap (with additional material) of the article/situation that had (and still has) everybody in Hamilton County worked up. Will the world-famous 'haunt," McKamey Manor, actually site in McL? Looks like it. Read the piece and see.

EGYPT

SALINE CO.--Father confronts thief who stole his son's 4-wheeler: Unbelievable story that ties a whole bunch of Hardin County elements right in with the Saline County elements...and beyond.

HARDIN CO.--More drug sweep warrants served in Hardin: Three more names released in the warrant sweep, one of which we already knew; a couple of others, not so.

SALINE CO.--Eldorado teen charged after crime spree: Because, apparently, very few teens in Eldorado have anything else to do with themselves, especially now that school's out...

SALINE CO.--Second case filed in Harrisburg predatory sexual assault charge: The case against this particular accused sex offender gets bigger and bigger.

GALLATIN CO.--Equality man charged with climbing in woman's window: Fortunately, not a common occurrence in the village of Equality.

SALINE CO.--Carrier Mills woman strangled in recliner on front porch: No, the recliner didn't close up upon her and almost strange her. That honor was left up to the man of the house. Allegedly, of course.

SALINE CO.--Anonymous tip about stolen firearms lands Harrisburg woman behind bars on drug charge: Unfortunately for this gal, it was stupid criminal time in early July.

HARDIN CO.--Karber's Ridge man popped for DUI at county line: Now, seriously...you're leaving The Gap, you're weaving all over the road...what do you THINK is going to happen to you when you get out of Pope and into Hardin?

HARDIN CO.--Defunct Reed's locations targeted by IAG--More gas tank woes, these in Hardin County: And the headline says it all. Bottom line is: The state's hard up for money, so they're going after any and every body they can, and telling people they're going to sue them for $25,000 or $50,000 per violation...and settling for a few measly thousand each so they can make next week's payroll. In the meantime, the little guy suffers. Way to go, Illinois.

SALINE CO.--Residential burglary over ring leads to drug-buy possibilities: It's amazing how many times a dope-related suspected criminal can change his story before the truth comes out. Check out this article for a prime example of it.

SALINE CO.--LED lights hidden in toilet paper holder ends in arrest: The means by which alleged kleptos will go to in order to carry out their crimes never cease to amaze us here.

SALINE CO.--Woman screws up her first time offender status in matter of months: You're given a break by being put on first-offender status, have enough respect, at least, to get off your sentence before screwing up.

HARDIN CO.--Why is Hardin County prosecutor covering details of suspected child sex offender? Tara Wallace usually doesn't list the information that's statutorily required for her to list on charging documents, and that's alright; let someone in Hardin get on to her about that. But it just really gets annoying when it's an alleged child sex offender, and people need to KNOW, you know?

SALINE CO.--Rosiclare man jailed after threatening to carve up attorney: Was it all an act? Or does this guy have an organic or a drug-induced problem in his brain? Whatever the case, it'd be a funny situation if it weren't so...well, dangerous and creepy. Read it to see what we're talking about.

Carolyn Glore Butter McGhee

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, BENTON--Carolyn Sue Glore-McGhee finally into something that even a little black book won't get her out of: Poor Carolyn Sue. Here's print coverage of the article we brought you online on deadline. Doesn't look good for Butter right now.

SALINE CO.--Syringe filled with meth found in purse of wanted woman: Hint: if you are wanted for a probation violation, don't, I repeat, DON'T, tote around contraband/illicit items in your purse. And don't have alleged meth in those items of contraband.

HEARTLAND

CLARK CO.--Lease after-the-fact: Water well owned by former board member on public property for 25 years: Ahhhhh the perks of being a public official of a board that no one has ever bothered to oversee. Until the Edgar County Watchdogs were called into the fray. Will the excesses ever end???

EDGAR CO.--Time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all...including crazy Jan: Poor Jan Burno (Payton, Mills, etc)...hubby DuaMe dead. Ones of people affected. Go ahead, Jan, start another tirade on topix. It's kinda over....wouldn't you agree?

JASPER CO.--Violence report includes firearms, sex charges: The crimes against persons report out of Jasper County, where it's been unnervingly quiet for awhile.

CRAWFORD CO.--Felonious pair charged with weapon possession: The Crawford County crim report. One of them, anyway.

CRAWFORD CO.--One McCormick charged with stabbing another: Crimes against persons report in Crawford County.

CRAWFORD CO.--Domestic features Duran v Duran: Crawford crimes against persons...some more. 80s music fans...don't get too excited. It's not Duran Duran. There's a little 'v' in there.

CRAWFORD CO.--Suspects face felonies after police say they lied: Don't lie to police. That'd be your FIRST felony.

CENTRAL

WHITE CO.--White woman charged with stabbing man in butt: Actually, she stabbed him in the abdomen. How it got to his butt, we'll never know. But that's what's in the report.

HAMILTON CO.--Two of three in pill sting convicted: The Hamilton County dope report...and it's a doozy.

WHITE CO.--Charged with grooming 13-year-old: In a report we brought the initial information to you here at the site, here's the rest of the story.

Former Lawrenceville mayor Brian Straub, catching flies at the jail last week.

LAWRENCE CO.--Former mayor arrested again: Brian Straub can't stay out of trouble. Man, when some of these public officials fall, they fall HARD.

RICHLAND CO.--Doper fresh out of prison faces meth charge: A little cross-county action with a guy who came over from Lawrence (Sumner, to be precise) to allegedly violate the law in Richland.

WABASH CO.--Mt. Carmel thief charged with beating six-year-old: While most prosecutors in downstate can't seem to wrap their heads around the fact that when a child repeatedly says she's being beaten, that means she's being beaten, they apparently don't have that issue in Wabash: Cassandra Goldman charges a guy for striking a 6-year-old with a clothes hanger.

CLAY CO.--Flora man jailed after fighting with officers: Always a bad idea, to fight with police officers in Flora; they don't hold no truck with that kind of thing.

LAWRENCE CO.--Three facing meth charges in Lawrence: The Lawrence County dope report.

WHITE CO.--Has hot Harley lead authorities to theft operation? Fascinating situation with vehicle theft being alleged, and what this might mean for those involved.

LAWRENCE CO.--Noncompliant sex offender and lost Focus: The crimes against persons/property report out of Lawrence.

RICHLAND CO.--Meltdown leads to trashed police cruiser: This guy. Man, when we get a new prosecutor in Richland and this guy goes off the deep end again, he's not gonna get out unscathed...simply because it's going to be "not David Hyde" prosecuting.

CLAY CO.--Pair of Louisville couples face felony drug, child endangerment: The big dope roundup in Clay County.

HAMILTON CO.--Mr. Rogers charged in Hamilton County with threatening Toon: It sounds like something that should be on Saturday morning children's programs. It's not, believe it.

WABASH CO.--Smelling of alcohol gets three charged with DUI: When you're driving and you're stopped, "smelling of alcohol" is gonna get you busted every time.

RICHLAND CO.--Iuka man charged with sexual abuse; charges not dismissed in another case: You need to read the second one in this article, because it's all typical David Hyde BS.

RICHLAND CO.--Vincennes man found passed out behind the wheel in Noble: What'd I say about "smelling of alcohol"...you shouldn't consume it, get in a car, and pass out, either.

WHITE CO.--One-legged stand refusal and PBT end in DUI charges: Lots of alleged driving drunk going on in the area in July.

CLAY CO.--Three charged in ground wire theft: Clay County crimes against properties report.

OP-ED

SURLY & UNCOOPERATIVE (Jack): Here's one about empty flower beds, baggy shorts and "mix-matched" socks
ICY (Ang): New laws: Who wants to be a whiner now?
MINKUS INK (Bubba): Letting the Dead live, and the living fade away...

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (Letters): Doesn't like duly-appointed commissioner in Mt. Carmel; wondering about that 'murdering' gun in Carbondale; wants more info on Bobby Downen matter.

BACK OVER YOUR TALES: From the pages of the August Special Edition 2010 - Todd Fort is arrested and charged with child sex abuse; the Earp/Trout bunch cause trouble in Olney; Raymond Martin's federal jury trial is moving closer to kickoff; a pastor in a relatively-new church in Lawrenceville and his wife are busted for dope; Old Shawneetown Street Rally is featured; lots and lots and lots more.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS--Readers need to be advised that in some areas of downstate Illinois, as well as southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky, the potential for heavy flooding exists for Wednesday and throughout Thursday, August 5-6.

Here's the hazardous weather outlook as issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
322 PM CDT TUE AUG 4 2015

...WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.ONE DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE EAST NORTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA EARLY
WEDNESDAY...WHILE ANOTHER STRONGER SYSTEM WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST
THROUGH THE REGION LATER WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THE RESULT WILL
BE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY
RAINFALL.

WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-HAMILTON-WHITE-SALINE-GALLATIN-GIBSON-
PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH-WARRICK-SPENCER-UNION KY-WEBSTER-HENDERSON-
DAVIESS-MCLEAN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FAIRFIELD...ALBION...MOUNT CARMEL...
MCLEANSBORO...CARMI...HARRISBURG...SHAWNEETOWN...FORT BRANCH...
PETERSBURG...POSEYVILLE...EVANSVILLE...BOONVILLE...ROCKPORT...
MORGANFIELD...DIXON...HENDERSON...OWENSBORO...CALHOUN
322 PM CDT TUE AUG 4 2015

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS... SOUTHWEST
  INDIANA AND WESTERN KENTUCKY...GENERALLY TO THE NORTH OF A LINE
  FROM HARRISBURG ILLINOIS TO CALHOUN KENTUCKY.

* FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING

* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD 2 TO 3 INCH
  RAINFALLS. SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE.

* STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL THAT MAY
  QUICKLY INUNDATE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS...RESULTING IN FLASH
  FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

From Weatherunderground

The situation persists beyond Thursday in certain areas:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
807 PM CDT TUE AUG 4 2015

JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON-
WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-JOHNSON-POPE-
HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH-
WARRICK-SPENCER-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-
LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL-
UNION KY-WEBSTER-HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN-
MUHLENBERG-TODD-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER-
RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-
807 PM CDT TUE AUG 4 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO SPREAD BACK INTO THE AREA
AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...IMPACTING PRIMARILY SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIGHTNING WILL
BE THE PRIMARY CONCERNS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CREATE A
SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING OVER MUCH OF THE AREA
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH
FOR DETAILS.

A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY
NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS RETURNS SUNDAY
INTO MONDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIGHTNING WILL BE THE
PRIMARY CONCERNS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

If severe weather breaks out, we'll have it. Check with us frequently.

The story of Jrak and Jrai

SALINE CO.— The story of twin Indianapolis brothers, charged in an April burglary and theft case out of Harrisburg, just won’t seem to go away despite one of the twins having his charges dismissed.

It seems the criminal world is determined to present for your approval, or disapproval depending on which side of the tracks you are on, Jrak Owens and his brother Jrai Owens, both 19, and both of 12331 Tescupp Way, Indianapolis, Ind..

In May the pair were charged with one count of Residential Burglary and two counts of Theft alleging that on or about April 16 and 17 they entered the home of Aljandro Aguilar and James Barnard, located at 4440 Muddy Rd., Apt. 2B, Harrisburg.

While inside the apartment the twins were accused of helping themselves to a safe containing one World Championship Skeet Shooting ring, two watches and vapor equipment valued in excess of $10,000 belonging to Barnard and a Marlin .22 caliber rifle, a Phillips flat screen television, vapor equipment and one Bose speaker valued in excess of $500 belonging to Aguilar.

Charges dismissed, re-filed

Court documents indicate that during a preliminary hearing for Jrai Owens held on or about July 16, Judge Walden Morris found there was no probable cause to bind the teen over for trial and the charges were dismissed.

However within days those charges were re-filed by assistant state’s attorney Eva Walker.

Jrai Owens is currently being held in the Saline County Detention Center on $2,500 cash bond.

The status of his brother’s case however, remains somewhat of a mystery.

It appears that Jrak Owens hasn’t faced the music from the charges filed in May.

It seems that warrant has not been served.

The warrant not being served could very well mean that Jrak hasn’t lit in one place long enough for the cops to nab him or he headed back to Indy and is blending in with the local populace.

Whatever the case, someone is apparently going to answer for the Muddy Road burglary.

Unrelated glass breaking

In an unrelated story, a Harrisburg man has been charged with Criminal Damage to State Supported Property.

Reports indicate that on July 31, Harrisburg officer Bob Ragsdale was dispatched to Sneed High Rise, located at 215 South McKinley Ave., in reference to a report of property damage.

Upon arrival he spoke with Saline County Housing Authorities employees Keith Griffin and Jeff Minor, who informed him that when they arrived they noticed the bottom glass of the back door into the facility had been busted.

The two said they watched video and spotted Anthony C. Cox, 20, of apartment 202, try to open the door with his car key several times and then when it didn’t work kicked out the glass.

Griffin and Minor said when they spoke with Cox he admitted breaking the glass.

And then when Ragsdale spoke with him he admitted that he was angry because his card rarely worked but that he didn’t mean to break the glass, only kicked it out of frustration.

When Ragsdale asked if he kicked the glass to gain entry or simply out of anger, Cox said that it was out of anger.

Cox was then taken into custody and transported to the county detention center where he was booked on a $750 cash bond.

SALINE CO.— It appears that driving without a license and the like to the point of prison time is not much of a concern to numerous individuals in the region.

According to court documents, on Wednesday, July 29, at 12:57 a.m. Harrisburg Police Sgt. David Morris was southbound on South Cheney Street when he spotted a blue 1993 Chrysler passenger car traveling at a high rate of speed on South Land.

Morris happened to be running parallel with the other car and was having to travel 45 mph to keep even.

When the Chrysler came the intersection of West Robinson and South Feazel, it executed a left turn without using its turn signal.

When Morris conducted a traffic stop, he identified the driver as James Matthew McEwan, 31, of the 200 block of Skaggs St., Harrisburg.

When asked for his driver’s license McEwan informed Morris that he didn’t have one because it had been revoked.

He also admitted that he was wanted on two outstanding warrants.

McEwan was taken into custody and booked into the county detention center on a charge of Driving While Revoked.

When Morris checked on the warrants he found that they were indeed active but not within the geographical limits of Saline County and therefore had no authority to take McEwan into custody on that account.

McEwan was not alone at the time of the stop.

His passengers included Andrew L. Young, 42; Rhiannon M. Underhills, 38; and Barbara M. Malone, 25.

McEwan is a felon.

He was convicted of Misuse of a Credit Card May 9, 2002 and sentenced to 120 days in the county jail, probation for 24 months and ordered to pay $809.52 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $289.52.

He earned himself a sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) of two years March 30, 2004 after he was convicted on a Theft charge.

He was also ordered to pay $245 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $225.

On March 1, 2005 he was sent back to IDOC on a sentence of three years after he was convicted on a Forgery count and he still owes $463 in fines and fees from that case.

Cash bond in the case was set at $500.

Math genius gets prison

Kelly Joe Barger, 29, of the 500 block of East Locust St., Harrisburg, was sentenced July 1 to IDOC for two years following a brief stay of 180 days in the county jail after he was convicted on two counts of Driving Revoked and one count each of Reckless Driving and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

He was also ordered to pay $915 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $715.

This isn’t the first time Barger has been in trouble for his poor driving habits.

He was convicted of Driving Suspended July 9, 2008 and sentenced to 60 days in the county jail, conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay $1,101 in fines and fees.

Approximately two years later, July 28, 2010, he was convicted on two counts of Driving Revoked and one count of Theft for which he was sentenced to IDOC for four years, probation for 18 months.

He still owes $180 in fines and fees from that case.

Obviously a math genius, Mr. Barger listed under ‘liabilities’ on his statement of assets and liabilities: Amount owed on car- a lot; Personal debts- a lot; Other debts- a lot, which he quickly added up and filled in the bottom line for Total Liabilities and Debts- a lot.

SALINE CO.— A Raleigh woman with more than just a couple of different names has been charged with a pair of felonies.

Sandra Ellen Thomas, also known as (AKA), Sandy Thomas, AKA Sandra Ellen Kin, AKA Sandra Ellen Szepi, 53, of Maple St., Raleigh, has been charged with Unlawful Possession of Meth and Driving Revoked.

Information filed in the case shows that on July 31 Harrisburg police officers were doing extra patrols in the area of Largent Street due to recent crimes and numerous reports of drug activity in the area when one spotted Thomas-Kin-Szepi traveling southbound on Delmar Street at Largent Street.

She caught the attention HPD Sgt. Michael Riden when, once she saw the police cruisers, she backed up her car and parked at a house at the corner of Delmar and Largent streets, got out and started knocking on the door of a residence.

When Sgt. Riden checked the plates through dispatch they came back suspended.

Riden approached Thomas-Kin-Szepi and informed her that plates on the vehicle she was driving were suspended and asked for her driver’s license and proof of insurance.

That’s when Riden discovered that Sandra Ellen Thomas, Sandy Thomas, AKA Sandra Ellen Kin, AKA Sandra Ellen Szepi was wanted on several outstanding warrants and that her license had been revoked.

Ms. AKA was taken into custody and subsequent to her arrest her purse was searched.

Inside a black makeup container, Riden found a small plastic bag containing methamphetamine.

A passenger in the car, Theresa Wilkins, was run though dispatch and came back clear.

No illegal items were found in her possession.

However, Theresa Wilkins, 48, of Harrisburg, was out on bond on July 5 charges of Forgery, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Driving Suspended.

Wilkins was told she was free go to and go she did, and quickly walked away from the traffic stop.

This isn’t the first run-in with the law for Ms. AKA.

She was convicted of Obstruction of Justice March 27, 2000 and sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for three years.

Ms. AKA was sentenced to IDOC again on November 16, 2006 after she was convicted for Obstruction of Justice—again.

She has an numerous outstanding case in Saline County including one from April 10, 2011 in which she is charged with felony Driving Revoked; one from June 20, 2011 in which she’s charged with Deceptive Practice; one from August 10, 2013 in which she is charged with one count each of Unlawful Possession of Meth, her specialty, Obstruction of Justice and her favorite past time, Driving Revoked.

Cash bond in the case of Sandra Ellen Thomas, Sandy Thomas, AKA Sandra Ellen Kin, AKA Sandra Ellen Szepi was set at $1,500.