SALINE CO. – The woman “in control” of a weapon in the home she allegedly shares with a felon has been charged in Saline County Circuit Court over the incident.

In the case that made the front page of the September 2015 edition of Disclosure, wherein a child was reported to have “bumped” a coffee table that held a weapon which discharged, Dana Lynn Hayes, of West Lincoln Street in Harrisburg, has had five counts filed against her, this on August 31.

Hayes, 32 and the wife of convicted cocaine felon James E. Hayes, 33, was herself the victim of the gunshot August 15 that ostensibly occurred when a child in her home bumped the table and caused the weapon to discharge. The bullet grazed the little boy on the leg just under one butt-cheek, and struck Dana Hayes in the knee as she sat near the table.

What the weapon was doing out – as well as loaded and apparently with a round chambered and ready to go, while children were in the house – remains unsaid among authorities.

As well, the story that was given to the police (at least by Dana Hayes) about the boy “bumping” the table on which the weapon sat was apparently not exactly the case, as court documents show that the boy “touched” the gun, not just “bumped” the table.

The charges are four of Reckless Conduct and one of Endangering the Life or Health of a Child.

The first Reckless Conduct states that Hayes committed the offense when she recklessly performed and act that caused bodily harm to E.D. (the little boy in question, who had just turned 6), when she left a loaded handgun on a coffee table and the handgun discharged when touched by E.D., causing a bullet to strike E.D.

The second is that she endangered the safety of Bryan Patterson when she left the loaded handgun on the coffee table and it discharged when touched by E.D. while Patterson was in the room.

The third is that she endangered the safety of Debra Patterson under the same circumstances as Bryan Patterson.

The fourth is that she endangered the safety of Taylor Patterson under the same circumstances as the first two Pattersons.

The fifth charge, Endangering the Life or Heath of a Child, states that she cause the life or health of J.H., Jr., born June 11, 2015, to be endangered when she left the handgun on the coffee table and the rest ensued while the infant was in the room.

In the twist that ties it all together, J.H. Jr., is Dana Hayes’ husband James Hayes’ most recent offspring by young Taylor Patterson, a girl in her early 20s, whom Hayes apparently knocked up while still married to Dana Hayes and subsequently moved the new pregnant gf into the household.

Patterson’s family members were visiting on Aug. 15, which resulted in the names mentioned of those present.

The one who wasn’t present was Hayes.

Thus far, no one is saying where he was, exactly, and while it appears that the charges against Dana Hayes are fair and with merit, many in their circle are expressing their opinion of wondering whether the charges weren’t filed in an effort to get someone to roll on James Hayes, since he’s the felon and is currently out on bond on yet another felony accusation (Intimidation) from earlier this year.

A felon cannot knowingly be in the presence of a weapon, even if there is a lawful weapons owner in the house (Dana Hayes, it’s been reported, did have a FOID card). That, however, doesn’t excuse the fact that the weapon was out, loaded, chambered, and ready to fire.

Dana Hayes was the subject of an arrest warrant on Aug. 28, and despite all her Facebook protestations that she bore no guilt in the entire debacle, she was taken into custody. A $500 cash bond was posted on her behalf by her husband James. She was given a court date of Sept. 21.

James Hayes has never been charged in the incident, but he’s set for a next court date in his Intimidation case (wherein he recently threatened yet another girlfriend with exposing her to ridicule by releasing nude photos he had of her) of October 16.

SALINE CO.— Harrisburg authorities got a surprise August 27 when Jeannine O. Wiese, 36, of East Walnut St., Harrisburg, walked into the police department saying she was there to turn herself in for beating her elderly mother-in-law.

According to a report filed by officer Todd Cavendar, Wiese walked into the department at approximately 1:41 and was escorted into an interview room.

Once inside Wiese informed Cavendar that she had been receiving counseling at a local counseling center and had been advised by a counselor that the family should sit down and discuss their issues.

Wiese told Cavendar that her main issue was that her mother-in-law, Norma S. Rogers, 62, has been smoking cannabis in the home.

Wiese said the family discussion escalated into an argument.

She gave her two-month-old baby to Rogers and then commenced hitting the elderly woman while she was holding the baby.

Wiese said she then started strangling Rogers, who was still holding the infant, and said that when she felt that wasn’t working, she went back to hitting the 62-year-old mostly blind woman.

She said she stopped the attack when she saw the infant in her mother-in-law’s arms, then walked to the police department.

Cavendar seated Wiese in the lobby and went to the East Walnut Street address to speak with Rogers.

Upon arrival, Wiese’s husband Michael informed Cavendar that his wife had hit and choked his mother.

When Cavendar asked to speak with Rogers, her son had to assist her getting to the front porch where she admitted to Cavendar that a discussion about her smoking cannabis in the house lead to Wiese getting more and more upset.

Rogers said that Wiese did indeed hand her the infant and then hit and choked her.

Cavendar photographed the injuries on Rogers and returned to the county detention center where he took Wiese into custody on charges of Aggravated Domestic Battery/Strangulation, Aggravated Battery of a Victim Over 60 Years of Age and Child Endangerment.

Wiese was released from police custody the next day after a $1,000 cash bond was posted on her behalf by her husband Michael.

Conditions of her bond include that she have no contact or communication with her mother-in-law.

SALINE CO.— A routine traffic stop produced one of the largest syringe, needles, steroids and pill hauls in recent memory in Harrisburg.

According to information filed in the case, on August 24 at approximately 5:33 p.m., Harrisburg Sergeant David Morris was on routine patrol eastbound on Dorris Heights Road at Wilmoth Street when he got behind a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Morris noted that he was traveling at 20 mph and the Jeep was pulling away from him.

The area is a school zone, posted 20 mph when the sports area is in use…and it was.

Morris increased his speed and by the time the two vehicles reached North Webster Street, the Jeep was traveling 50 mph.

Sgt. Morris activated his lights to execute a traffic stop and the Jeep pulled into the parking lot of Auto Trim, located at 1421 North Main St.

A quick check of the vehicle information showed the registration had expired July 2015.

The driver was identified as Kirby Columbus Crabtree, 28, of the 100 block of Shaw St., Harrisburg.

Crabtree informed Sgt. Morris that he did not have his driver’s license on him and did not have an insurance card.

Following a quick check through police computers, Morris discovered why Mr. Crabtree didn’t have his license on him: It had been suspended.

When Morris informed Crabtree that he was under arrest, Crabtree whined in an attempt to dissuade Morris from writing him the citation.

Failing to talk himself out of his jam, Crabtree was transported to the county detention center while Sgt. Morris remained behind to inventory the vehicle prior to towing.

Motherlode of dope

By the time Morris was done, he had two sheets filled with illegal items found inside the vehicle.

Found under the front passenger seat was a pill bottle with a cigarette wrapper containing seven tablets of lortab.

Found in the center console tray was a pink zip pack containing seven unidentified tablets.

The console itself contained one tablet of hydrocodone.

When Morris looked in the rear passenger side seat he discovered a black Armour Bag which contained one vial marked Super Nova Industries, one vial with an unknown substance in it, one vial marked Asylum Pharmaceutical Group, a water bottle with several syringes and needles inside and seven syringes with needles and a lone needle.

Found in a cooler compartment in the rear cargo area was a blue metal pill container which contained one tablet of hydrocodone-elavil and 13 tablets of ultram.

Morris found a red cooler bag in the rear cargo area which contained 16 needles with syringes, six syringes, 22-22 gauge x 1 ½-inch needles, 12-22 gauge x 1-inch needles, two 20 gauge x 1 ½-inch needles, four 22 gauge x 1-inch needles, six needles of an unknown length or gauge, two packages of needles with a total of 10 needles and two empty package tops.

In the same cooler Morris found 11 vials of different types of steroids, one pill bottle with the name Karlie Williams (owner of the Jeep) containing 13 tablets of flexeril, a pill bottle with the name of Christy Reed containing four pink methanbol-steroid tablets, and one unmarked bottle containing five flexeril.

Morris also located $300 in cash inside the vehicle, but noted that when Wilson was searched while being taken into custody he was found to have on his person $1,224 in cash (12-one hundred dollar bills, one twenty dollar bill and four one dollar bills).

Crabtree was booked into the county jail on one count of Unlawful Possession of Hypodermic Syringes/Needles and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Crabtree was released from police custody Aug. 25 after a $2,000 cash bond was posted on his behalf by Jaime Hollaway, of the 500 block of Grayson Lane, Eldorado.

Although the charge sheet lists Shaw Street in Harrisburg as Crabtree’s address, he listed the Hollaway, Eldorado, address as his on his bond sheet.

SALINE CO.— An Eldorado coal minor has been charged with six felony counts alleging that he molested a young girl under the age of 13.

On August 25 Jacob Lawrence Foster, 33, of 319 Lentz Lane, was charged with three counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault.

Two of the counts date back to October 1, 2005 and the third to June 1, 2010.

On September 10 he was additionally charged with one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Victim Under 13 Years of Age, dating back to May 13, 2010, one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Victim While in a Position of Trust dating back to July 1, 2015 and one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault dating back to December 29, 2009.

Details of the charges include allegations that Foster performed oral sex on the minor, digitally penetrated the vagina of the victim, touched her vagina with his hand and penetrated her vagina with his hand.

The filing was only the first to involve Foster, however.

The subsequent investigation, conducted by Illinois State Police Trooper Anthony Johnson, also turned up two more alleged victims.

As a result of that, on Sept. 10, a second, two-count charge was filed against Foster: Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse alleged to have occurred between May 13, 2010 and May 12, 2011 wherein he’s alleged to have touched the vaginal area of JJF, born in May 2002, who was under the age of 13 when the alleged act was committed; and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse against JJF, alleged to have been committed in July of 2015, in which it’s charged that he touched the girl’s vaginal area with his hand for the purpose of his own sexual gratification.

Also filed on Sept. 10 was a count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child, NEF, born in December 2003, and which act was alleged to have occurred between December 29, 2009 and December 28, 2010; this act is alleged to have been that Foster “penetrated her vagina with his hand.”

All three victims are said to be his own daughters.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Saline County State’s Attorney Eva Walker, who has earned the reputation for being the toughest sex crimes prosecutor in southern Illinois.

Foster, who listed 408 North McLeansboro, Benton, as his address, is a married father of four, who has worked for American Coal for 10 years.

He is currently being held in the Saline County Detention Center on $25,000 cash bond.

SALINE CO. – What appears to be an ongoing feud involving members of a Harrisburg family, and potentially over a female, resulted in two incidents of gunplay in early September on the city’s northwest side.

And while no one was hurt in either of the incidents, now residents in both locations, one north of the bypass and one just south, are worried that more is to come and that frequent shootings will again become the norm in Harrisburg, as was happening three years ago.

The situation is being exacerbated by the fact that while many peripherally involved in the feud claim amongst themselves that they know exactly what’s going on, when authorities come to speak to them, these same ones clam up and won’t give any information at all, let alone details…apparently believing that it would be an acceptable risk for innocent people to be hurt than to bust out their own family and friends.

Weekend shooting

The first incident occurred either very late Sunday, Sept. 6, or into the early morning hours of Monday, Sept. 7 (between just before midnight to just after 1 a.m.) in the vicinity of North Jackson, roughly the same area where a December 28, 2014 shooting took place that seriously injured Bobby R. Evans Jr., 32.

The shots were reported to police by neighbors, and officers arrived, looked around, asked questions, and were unable to learn anything at all about it.

The location is south of the Bill Franks Bypass, which is Illinois Route 13 running east-west through Harrisburg, and is considered the northern section of the mid-town area of Harrisburg off Poplar and the area around the courthouse.

No further disturbances were reported after the early-morning incident.

That changed on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 9.

At about 5:15 that afternoon, neighbors in the vicinity of the double-digit block of West Towle, just off Main Street (Illinois Highway 34) behind Cool Water Car Care reported numerous gunshots ringing out around a small set of apartments on West Towle.

This location was off the bypass to the north, and not far from the section of North Jackson Street in that area of town, as the bypass splits North Jackson from the north side and the mid-town area.

Multiple shots fired

Most neighbors reported that they heard between five and nine separate shots.

Initially it was believed that the situation broke out when individuals were involved in some kind of argument on either Facebook or some kind of social networking, wherein threats were issued and then were carried out in person. There was rampant speculation that the matter had something to do with the Rebel Flag, which had emerged as an issue at Harrisburg High School in late August and which had heated up for about a week; the matter had calmed down as the calendar moved into September.

However, there were, into the second week of September, still a large number of vehicles around town bearing Rebel Flags of all sizes, and there were several bearing these in the neighborhood where the second shooting took place.

As police officials began arriving, however, they learned that the matter had nothing to do with Rebel Flags, and everything to do with an ongoing feud.

Interviewing residents of the metal-sided apartments that sit on West Towle midway between North Main and North Jackson, responding Harrisburg police, as well as Saline County Sheriff’s officials (including Sheriff Keith Brown) and a number of Illinois State Police troopers learned that two vehicles had pulled up to a location on Towle just west of the apartments and the occupants had fired shots at each other.

Vehicle, building, struck

Both vehicles had sped off, with at least one of them having been struck by rounds. Some of the rounds had struck the metal that overlays the exterior of the apartment buildings; Disclosure couldn’t learn from authorities whether any of the apartment locations that were struck had currently held occupants. However, no one was injured, including the people inside the vehicles.

Crime Scene Investigation techs from Illinois State Police were searching the area around where the two vehicles were parked, including the weedy lot to the northwest of the apartment buildings, while other officers investigated residents of the occupied apartments, consisting primarily of those in the units situated on the east side of the layout.

For the most part, it appeared that those being interviewed by authorities were cooperative, and were outraged and upset, but as it turned out, they didn’t have any information to offer as to who would be involved in such a shootout. Despite being aware that rounds were “flying both directions,” and despite all the arm-flapping going on amongst babymommas and other relatives, no one would give much info.

Godsey taken in

One person who finally did come off a little bit of information was Byron Godsey. Disclosure was on scene when Godsey, 35, of Carrier Mills, was talking to authorities and it was apparent that he was being cooperative while being questioned, ultimately acquiescing to getting in a squad car and going to the police department to tell them what he knew.

Disclosure learned later from those at the scene that Godsey was one of the men driving one of the vehicles from which shots were fired/at which shots were fired.

Whether Godsey gave up the identities of the others in the vehicles, however, was unknown.

As of press time, Godsey hadn’t been charged with anything in connection with the shooting. Disclosure was unable to learn whether or not he had been held, however, pending any formal charges.

Those at the scene were able to get information to Disclosure in the days following, however.

A Moss in the mess?

Apparently, street talk is that the mess involves Chris Ward and Jared Crawford, both of them local felons and reportedly into it over Mykhandha Moss.

Moss’ residence was the one where the drive-by that ultimately injured Evans had occurred back in December, on the section of North Jackson south of the bypass.

That would make the Sunday/Monday shooting make sense. That Ward has been seeing Moss would then be the exacerbating issue; how Crawford is involved in it, however, was something the street talk couldn’t explain.

None were willing to commit to stating that any of it had to do with dope, despite the fact that both Ward and Crawford as convicted felons and have drug charges/convictions in their histories.

In 2012, shootings on Granger just up the way from North Jackson (south of the bypass) injured a woman in a home and caused a lot of concern in the mid-town area, as the drive-bys were at that time said to be drug-related and possibly had bigger connections …including tendrils leading over to Carbondale and on up the rail line (Amtrak) to Chicago.

None of those drive-bys were ever solved.

The December 2014 incident resulted in the arrest and charge of young Xzavier Gibbs, whose cases are currently making their way through the court system; his issues are also clogged by juvenile matters, as he started very early and was but 17 when he was alleged to have shot Evans.

Street talk had it that Gibbs was alleged to have hung out with some of the same characters reported to be involved in this latest incident.

View looking northeast up West Virginia Street to the west of the burning buildings.

HARRISBURG, Ill. - A fast-spreading fire erupted at a house just off the corner from West Virginia on North Webster Street in Harrisburg this evening on the city's north side.

The home destroyed, we're being told, was a rental owned by the owner of Opie's Towing, which is situated right across the street from the burned structure.

Sources at the scene told us that the family renting the home had placed bug bombs in the house and had left, but it's suspected that something in the way the bug bombs went off may have created a spark which lead to the fire.

Neighbors of the house saw flames shooting out of it, this at about 8 p.m. this evening (Monday, September 14) and called 911. Neighbors told us there were at least four people standing outside on Webster calling for the fire department at the same time.

The entire block of North Webster was without power. The fire from the initial source took out the power line in front of the house, and another on West Virginia was also down for an unknown reason. Emergency services personnel were kind enough to accompany us back down the street while power crews were working on the situation; there were live wires down in two locations.

The fire quickly spread to the house on the corner of North Webster and West Virginia. We've not been able to get a straight story about whether anyone was there or not, but we have had it confirmed that there were no injuries in the fires.

The fire also spread to the house to the north on North Webster, but the only damage there was melted siding on the south side. Firefighters had to access that house by busting through the front door in order to make a determination as to whether anything inside was ablaze. That house is owned by a man in the military and it's for sale and unoccupied.

The family who lost their home in the initial blaze was on scene; we didn't get to talk to them. The family in the house next to it on the corner is a rather large family, from what we've been told.

We'll try to get information together for you when donations are set up; these families will need a lot of help.

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HARRISBURG, Ill. - A relative of one of the families that lost everything in a fire in Harrisburg last night is collecting items for them, for those who care to donate.

Desirea Jo Melchor, a cousin of the family on North Webster that lost everything, has advised of the items the family is in need of:

boy's size 7 clothes and size 2 shoe 

girl's size 10/12 

boy's size 10

women's size 9-11 pants and med/large shirt 

women's size 20 clothes 

men's size 34/34 pants and size 12 mining shoes

women's size small and med shirt and size 5-6 pants

women's size 8 shoe and size 7 shoe 

baby girl 3-6 month and 6-9 month

Desiree advised that there were several people living in the home when it was lost to the fire that started up at about 8 p.m. last night. She also advised that the baby is in need of Enfamil formula; the baby received WIC (Women/Infants/Children), however, WIC doesn't replace coupons if they're lost for an reason.

The items can be dropped off with Desirea at 104 East Walnut in Harrisburg.

SALINE CO., Ill. - A Galatia woman was injured today when authorities say she ran a rail signal in her vehicle and collided with an engine at the rail crossing in her hometown.

The crash occurred on South Main Cross Street at Railway Street in Galatia today (Tuesday, September 15) at 2:20 p.m.

At that time, according to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, the driver of a blue 2006 Dodge Durango, Tina M. Sloan, 58, was traveling northbound on South Main Cross Street at Railway Street in Galatia, when she failed to yield to a southeast bound train at the railroad crossing on South Main Cross Street. The 1997 CWA44AC train engine, operated by Donald F. Cain, 55, of Neoga, struck the front driver's side of Sloan's vehicle.

Sloan was transported from the crash scene by the Saline County Ambulance Service to an area hospital. Neither Cain, nor a passenger on the train, Edward L. Flanigan, 49, of Ashley, received any injuries as a result of the crash. Sloan's Dodge Durango was towed from the scene.

While ISP stated that the cause of the wreck was Disobeying a Railroad Signal, it doesn't appear any citations have been issued yet.

Saline County Ambulance Service transported Sloan to an area hospital.

ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the Saline County Sheriff's Department, Galatia Police Department, and Saline County Ambulance Service. Sloan was cited for Disobeying a Railroad Signal.

While ISP stated that the cause of the wreck was Disobeying a Railroad Signal, it doesn't appear any citations have been issued yet.

SALINE CO.— It appears that concerns over fertility issues has landed an Eldorado man and woman behind bars after a sticky-fingered trip to a local nutrition center.

The story began to unfold Tuesday, September 15 at approximately 11:58 a.m. when Zach Thai, employee from General Nutrition Center (GNC) contacted authorities requesting a police officer at the store, located at 701 North Commercial St., #13, in Harrisburg.

Thai advised that he had a couple of subjects acting suspiciously inside the store earlier but that they had left in a gold-colored Toyota Camry.

Thai advised he had done a computer check after the pair departed and found that several items were missing from the store.

When officer Brent Davis arrived he spotted a gold Camry parked in the fire lane in front of the Sun Loan business, directly next door to GNC.

Davis said when he walked past the Camry he noticed a white male driver and a white female passenger in the back seat.

Davis logged the license plate information with dispatch before getting out of his cruiser.

“They both looked at me very nervous as I walked by,” Davis said.

When Davis spoke with Thai he described the Camry and its occupants Davis had just walked past.

Just then Davis noticed the Camry was attempting to drive off so he stepped back out of GNC and yelled for the driver to stop, which he did.

Davis identified the driver as Charles William Ryan Ray, 36, of the 700 block of Big Four St., Eldorado and the passenger as 30-year-old Rebecca Evelyn Butler, of the 1900 block of Benton St., Eldorado.

Officer Davis asked both if they had any items from GNC on their persons or inside the car and they both said no.

Both subjects were run through police computers and returned clear of any outstanding warrants.

However, Ray was shown to have had his driver’s license suspended.

Ray said he had no idea his license had been suspended but did admit to driving from Eldorado to Harrisburg.

Officer Nathan Moore arrived on scene a short time later and stood by with Ray and Butler while Davis went back into the store to speak with Thai.

Thai said that Butler had walked into the store first and began looking around.

Ray entered next and had asked about the price of a testosterone product and when told the price said he would be back after he got paid.

Thai said that while he was assisting Ray Butler left the store.

He said that he did not see either Ray or Butler hide anything on their persons while inside the store but that when he went back and checked, he noticed items missing from store shelves.

Davis went back outside and informed Ray that he was under arrest for Driving Suspended and called for a tow truck to remove the vehicle.

During an inventory of the car prior to it being towed, Davis and Moore found six items from GNC hidden underneath the driver’s seat.

Neither Ray nor Butler had receipts for the items.

And if that weren’t bad enough, a bottle of Fertility Blend was found in Butler’s purse and an empty box for the bottle beneath the driver’s seat.

Both Butler and Ray were taken into custody and transported to the county detention center where they were booked on a charge of Retail Theft greater than $300.

Ray was additionally charged with Driving Suspended.

Ray was arrested Sept. 30, 2009 and charged with Home Invasion Armed with a Firearm, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Knowingly Damaging Property.

He pleaded guilty to the property damage charge January 23, 2009 in return for the remainder of the charges being dismissed and was sentenced to probation for 12 months and ordered to pay $5,100 in fines and fees.

Cash bonds in both their cases were set at $1,000 each.

SALINE CO.— Harrisburg authorities were called to the local Taco Bell to handle a complaint involving a group of convicted/possibly soon-to-be convicted felons.

Information filed in the case indicates that on Saturday, September 12 at approximately 9:58 a.m. Chief Whipper Johnson was dispatched to 712 South Commercial St., Harrisburg on a report of a fight in the parking lot.

Upon arrival the chief spotted a pair of felons he was familiar with in Jerry Dale Leach, 44, of West Sloan St., Harrisburg and Matthew Ray Ozment, 37, of Harrisburg, along with suspected thief 22-year-old Amber L. Tolley, also of Harrisburg, all standing in the Taco Bell parking lot near the south entrance of the restaurant.

Johnson immediately noticed that Ozment had an abrasion on his arm with fresh blood and well as blood on his nose and mouth.

When asked if he needed an ambulance, Ozment said no.

And that’s about the time Leach piped up, claiming that Ozment had stolen his wallet.

The two men argued back and forth about who did or didn’t steal whose wallet until Johnson was forced to have one of them place his hands on the front of his police cruiser and the other place his hands on the trunk of the cruiser.

When Johnson tried to ask Tolley what had happened, Leach would not keep his mouth shut long enough for her to respond.

Johnson stepped to the rear of his squad and asked Ozment what had happened.

Ozment said that Leach accused him of taking his wallet and attacked him.

Ozment declared that he did not want to seek criminal charges.

Again Leach suffered from the inability to keep his mouth shut, making it difficult for Johnson to determine exactly what had transpired.

Based on the injuries to Ozment, Leach was taken into custody and escorted by officer Bobby Ragsdale, who had responded as backup, to his waiting cruiser.

Johnson then went inside Taco Bell and viewed video footage showing Leach chasing Ozment through the parking lot on foot and shoving him to the ground.

Criminal workup

As far as the criminal workup on the trio, Leach was wanted on an outstanding August 3 arrest warrant out of Saline charged with Criminal Damage to Property.

He was also out on bond in an August 2014 case in which he is charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of Stolen Vehicle Title and one count each of Driving Suspended and Resisting a Peace Officer.

Ozment has been a felon since March 4, 1999 when he was convicted of Burglary and sentenced to probation for 24 months, screwed that up and was re-sentenced to probation for another year on September 4, 2001.

He struck a plea deal Aug. 9, 2000, on an Obstruction of Justice charge in return for a drug charge and providing false identification to a minor being dismissed, and a sentenced of four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).

Ozment was convicted again August 11, 2005 on one of three Aggravated DUI charges and one count of Retail Theft and sentenced to IDOC for four years and ordered to pay $2,613.44, of which he has paid nothing.

At the time of his beating at Taco Bell, Ozment was out on bond in a pending Saline 2015 case from March 18 in which he is charged with Burglary and two counts of Theft.

And Ms. Tolley, who always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, was out on bond in two separate cases the first from June 9, 2014 in which she is charged with Theft and Disorderly Conduct and the second from June 26 in which she is charged with Retail Theft greater than $300.

Cash bond in Leach’s latest case was set at $1,000.

SALINE CO.— A Harrisburg convicted felon has been charged with child abuse.

According to official reports, on Monday, September 14, at approximately 11:42 a.m. Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) agent Donna Hesterly contacted authorities and requested an officer meet with employee Debbie Richey at West Side School regarding a report of child abuse.

Officer Brent Davis responded and met with Richey and principal Kim Williams.

Williams told Davis that she had a seven-year-old boy, identified here as HJ, who they had been having some behavioral problems with over the past several days.

Williams said that HJ had been doing worse since last year and was being very aggressive toward other students including pushing them and tackling them.

She said in the past week HJ had been placed on in-school detention meaning he was separated from his normal class and placed into another classroom where he could be supervised by an aid.

Williams said that aid Sharri Powell had noticed that HJ was having difficulty sitting still and so she asked him if he was alright.

When he told her his rear end was hurting she took him to the school nurse’s office.

HJ told the nurse, Alexandra J. Barton-Lexie that Kenneth David Hren, 30, of the 200 block of West State St., Harrisburg, had “beat his butt” the day before.

HJ is then said to have shown Lexie his rear end.

The injuries were later described as “the entire buttocks covered with black and blue bruises.”

Lexie photographed the injuries and contacted DCFS.

Richey and Davis agreed that Richey should interview the child alone since he was afraid to tell anybody about what had happened.

In the meantime Davis said he would locate the child’s mother, Margaret Rosie Leigh Holt, who goes by Leigh.

Officer Davis located Leigh at the West Barnett Street housing apartments.

When she answered the door she let Davis in and he began asking her about HJ’s behavior in school and asked her what had taken place last week.

Leigh reported HJ having problems at school with being aggressive toward other children and that he had begun refusing to bring home his homework.

She said she had gone to the school to speak with someone about the behavioral problems and been informed about the in-school detention.

She said that since that time she had spoken with her son about bullying and how it was wrong to put his hands on other people.

When Davis asked her if anyone ever stayed with her son when she wasn’t around she said that her boyfriend, Kenneth Hren, stayed with him when she had to work the night shift at Casey’s.

She said the last time Hren stayed with HJ had been the night before when she had to work 3 to 10 p.m.

“I then showed her the pictures of HJ’s injuries,” Davis said. “She immediately broke down and started crying and stated she had no idea what had happened to her son.”

Davis informed her that her son had informed the school nurse and his teacher that his rear end was hurting him and that Kenneth Hren had beat him with a brush.

Richey from DCFS arrived shortly thereafter and asked Leigh of she had a hairbrush that was pink in color and she said yes.

Leigh retrieved the brush and it was photographed.

Richey said that HJ had informed her that just before dark Hren made him go into the kitchen and place his hands on the wall and then began beating him with the flat end of the brush.

HJ told Richey that the only thing he could do was lay on the couch and cry.

HJ stated that it wasn’t the first time that Hren had hit him with the brush.

Richey informed Leigh that she had contacted the school and informed them that HJ could be released to her but that Hren was not to be around the child until the investigation was complete.

Richey also informed Leigh that HJ was having a difficult time using the bathroom when having a bowel movement and that she needed to take him to the hospital to be seen by a doctor.

Davis was accompanied by Harrisburg officer Todd Cavender when he went to Hren’s residence, where they were told by his mother that he was not at home but was working his fines off at the local Salvation Army.

Officers arrived at the Salvation Army where they found Hren sitting on a bench outside the store.

Davis informed Hren that he needed to speak with him about what had happened with HJ and the school issues.

Hren said that HJ was being a bully at school and that he had punched one to two students on the playground.

He told officers he disciplined the boy by giving him a pop with a brush.

“I asked him how many times he ‘popped’ HJ and he stated once,” Davis said. “I asked him if he had ever hit him with the brush before and he stated yeah and that HJ’s mother does it all the time.”

Hren then asked if there was something wrong with spanking the boy with a brush.

“I advised Hren, ‘You can discipline your child with a spanking, but leaving his entire buttocks covered with black and blue bruises is not acceptable and would not be tolerated by anyone.”

And that’s about the time Mr. Hren was fitted with a pair of handcuffs and walked over to the Saline County Detention Center where he was booked on a charge of Aggravated Battery of a Child Causing Bodily Harm.

Cash bond in the case was set at $2,500.

Conditions of the bond, if Hren isn’t beaten to death in his own jail cell first, include that he have no contact with the seven-year-old victim.

Assistant State’s Attorney Eva Walker is in charge of prosecuting the case.

SALINE CO. – A September 2 civil suit filed in Saline County Circuit Court has pitted the parents of an injured child against each other over who was ultimately responsible for his injuries.

The child in question is Brian Michael Gibbs, now 7 years of age. His father, Danny Michael Gibbs, of Galatia, filed the case as Next Friend for the child, against Cynthia K. Tennessen, of Thompsonville, who is Independent Representative of the Estate of Maurice Hall, deceased.

Cynthia Tennessen is apparently immediately related to the child’s mother, Heather Tennessen, of Marion, who is mentioned in the court documents somewhat peripherally.

The basis of the case is an incident that took place on June 6, 2013, when the child’s maternal great-grandfather, Hall, was mowing his lawn on a riding lawnmower and he took the little boy, age 5 at the time, as a passenger on the mower.

The child fell off the mower and his right foot was struck by the moving mower blade, severing a portion of the foot.

Gibbs claims that this was caused proximately by one or more acts of negligence on the part of Hall: Allowing the child to ride as a passenger, allowing a second passenger on an operating riding law mower designed to carry only one occupant, failure to secure the child from falling off the mower and failing to properly supervise the child around the mower in order to prevent him from getting his foot under the rotating blades.

The child, Gibbs claims, endured serious pain and suffering and lifelong disfigurement, along with increased risk of future harm as a result of the damage to the foot.

On April 27 of this year, Hall died of causes unrelated to the incident. On May 15, Cynthia Tennessen, Hall’s daughter, was appointed as the Independent Representative of the Hall estate.

Therefore Gibbs, as the minor Gibbs’ father, is seeking a judgment against that estate in excess of $50,000.

No court setting has been made in the case as yet.

SALINE CO. – A Harrisburg convenience store is under fire from a civil complaint filed in Saline County Circuit Court this past month.

Martin and Bayley, doing business as Huck’s at the West Poplar Street location just off the midtown area in Harrisburg, found themselves the recipient of a complaint filed by Ruby Kiper, this on September 18.

In the suit, Kiper complains that on October 19, 2013, she stepped out of the vehicle she was traveling in that day and when she stepped onto the Huck’s parking lot, her foot landed in a hole in the surface of said parking lot, causing her to fall.

She filed suit based on what she perceives is the negligence of Huck’s, who, she claimed, failed to provide a good, safe and proper place for her to be and to walk on; allowed the lot to become and remain in a broken, cracked and deteriorated condition, resulting in a hole; failed to fix, repair, replace or mend the surface of the parking lot when she knew or should have known it was in use and need of repair; failed to inspect the premises to be certain that they were in good, safe and proper condition, and negligently failed to warn her and others of the unsafe, defective and dangerous condition in the area.

Kiper claims that as a direct and proximate result of one or more of the negligent acts or omissions to act, Kiper claims she sustained painful and severe injuries, including a broken wrist, back injuries, bruises, abrasions, injury to her left should, and other injuries which caused her to be sore, disabled and disordered, and suffered excruciating pain, incurred medical expense and lost time from usual occupation and activities.

There was no listing of Kiper’s age, nor of her employment, previous or current.

She is making a $50,000 demand, and asking for a six-person jury to determine fault by Huck’s.

Gov’s office says Gregg lied

HARRISBURG –  Nearly three years after his indiscretions were brought to the public regarding the viability of his holding of the position, former Harrisburg mayor Eric Gregg is no longer a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB).

Gregg was removed from the $86,000-a-year state position, which he’s held since April 26, 2013, on Friday, October 2, 2015, by Governor Bruce Rauner a few months after Rauner’s office opened an investigation into Gregg following discrepancies Gregg listed in his 2014 bankruptcy.

Disclosure, discovering Gregg’s Chapter 13 (restructuring/repayment) bankruptcy in December 2014, covered the matter in full in the January 2015 Special Edition and at that time sent a notice to the Rauner campaign/transition team (as he had just defeated former governor Pat Quinn in the November election and had not yet taken office) that there had been many spurious issues surrounding Gregg’s seat on the PRB.

Several months later, the bankruptcy of another PRB member, Vonetta Harris from the Metro-East area of Illinois, caught the attention of the Belleville News Democrat, and members of that newspaper also contacted the governor’s office asking about both Gregg and Harris.

Whether the primary question of “how state employees making more than twice the average pay of a privately-employed citizen could fall into bankruptcy” was posed by that paper or not is unknown.

However, repeated inquiries by first Disclosure and then the BND apparently prompted the investigation into not only Gregg’s bankruptcy filing, but into other doings within the PRB…which resulted in the resignation of the board’s former chairman Adam Monreal, one of the people who, when Disclosure was investigating Gregg’s appointment in 2013, was helping to obscure information or outright withholding it about the legality of the former mayor’s placement on the board.

Governor’s office advised months ago

In late December of 2014, Disclosure advised the Rauner transition team that Gregg was lying in his Dec. 22 bankruptcy paperwork, as was pointed out in the January 2015 front-page article, which appeared on stands December 30.

Informing the governor-elect that one of his PRB members had not only lied on the bankruptcy paperwork, but had lied on his application for employment in the state, Disclosure asked Rauner’s staff whether or not he had the option of “wiping out the Blagojevich and Quinn appointees on the PRB and replacing them with his own picks.”

Disclosure never received an answer from the governor or any staffer, and so believed that the Rauner administration might not’ve been any more interested in Gregg’s duplicity than the previous administration was.

In the article, Disclosure pointed out that Gregg deliberately did not place on his bankruptcy petition “all other names used by the debtor in the last 8 years, including trade names,” as required by law. Gregg listed only “formerly doing business as Southern IL Energy Group.”

Documents Disclosure obtained via FOIA in June of 2013 during the investigation into Gregg holding the position on the PRB in violation of state statute (which states that a PRB member must not hold any other position elected or appointed, nor have any other source of income or compensation in any form) show that the name of the company Gregg incorporated and sold energy aggregate to local entities under was “MidAmerican Energy Services.” On his resume to the state senate, through which he applied for the PRB position, he also listed “CenterPoint Energy Services” and indicated that he held a job as “Eric E. Gregg Consulting Services.”

The issue of the additional income

The fact that Gregg was receiving income from various sources while holding the position on the PRB from time of appointment until at least July 8, 2013 was also part of the genesis of the investigation conducted by Disclosure.

This paper learned that not only was Gregg holding the PRB position illegally as long as he was mayor (which he resigned on that July 2013 date) but that his income from the energy aggregate company had still been coming in until mid-June 2013, when he switched ownership of the company to his wife, Patti.

As well, he was reportedly receiving income from two other sources: The Saline County Industrial Commission, which sources within that agency confirmed in June 2013 that Gregg received compensation of about $25,000 annually; and, from the local radio station in Harrisburg, where he had a morning show for which, it was reported to Disclosure, he sold ads and benefited from a portion of those in order to keep the show on the air.

None of this was reported on Gregg’s application for employment through the state when he applied for the PRB position in 2012.

As required by law on the application, Gregg was supposed to have listed all jobs/positions in the previous calendar year (2011) that provided any income.

Greg listed only his $800-a-month income from holding the position as mayor of Harrisburg.

Quinn didn’t care

Disclosure informed the Quinn administration of this disturbing set of facts in 2013 when it was all uncovered via Freedom of Information Act requests, which FOIA’d material also turned up the actual application itself.

Quinn, naturally, paid no attention to the repeated inquiries Disclosure was making.

Disclosure also repeatedly attempted to reach Ken Tupy, legal counsel for the PRB, as well as all other members of the PRB as listed on the agency’s website (which included Monreal), and contacted every member of the Senate Approval Committee, which confirms or denies gubernatorial appointments to the various agencies within the state.

Only a few responded to the inquiries; among these were Sen. Tim Bivens, who voiced his dismay that Gregg had so blatantly lied on his application and no one seemed willing to give this the time of day.

Bivens also turned information over to Bill Brady, who in 2014 ran for the office of governor as a Republican in the Primary election, eventually losing out to Rauner.

Disclosure spoke with Brady in early 2014 at an event, and was told that he was examining what could be done about people who filed fraudulent applications for employment with the state…but nothing much more was done about it.

That is, until Gregg’s bankruptcy.

Objection hearing

Within a few months of filing, things began to heat up for Gregg.

During a March 18 objection hearing for the bankruptcy, LuAnn Walker, the Harrisburg woman who was in partnership with Gregg in his energy aggregate venture in 2011-12, argued her objection to Gregg’s petition for consolidation of debt under the bankruptcy.

His consolidation plan effectively entailed that he not pay back any of the $10,000 she claimed Gregg owed her, this as outlined in a Saline County civil suit she was forced to file in 2012 when the two “wrapped up their partnership” in the energy business venture.

Walker claimed at that time that Gregg took money owed to her through her work for his energy company and deposited it into a personal account of his, basically stealing wages from her.

The case has dragged through Saline County’s civil court for years now with nothing meaningful being done in it except to show that Gregg can’t keep any attorneys…likely because he can’t pay them.

During the March 2015 federal bankruptcy hearing, it was brought into question that Gregg had falsely filed certain details in his bankruptcy, as already listed in this article, which include false information on how much money he had coming in.

Gregg gave testimony regarding discrepancies in the disclosures of financial assets and liabilities, stating that his wife’s income was what was making it appear as though he was making $48,000 annually more than what his state salary was.

Patti Gregg, however, was listed as a “non-filing spouse” on the bankruptcy…so her income, as such, could not be taken into consideration. Therefore, Gregg was caught in the situation of “were you lying then or are you lying now?” when he stated that he would have Patti listed as a bankruptcy filer in order to rectify the mistake.

Therefore, it appeared, he couldn’t make up his mind as to which time was a lie…a typical state of things for Eric Gregg.

Gov’s office reminded of Disclosure’s earlier inquiry

It’s unclear as to whether it was the Walker camp, via her attorney Michael Twomey, who ultimately contacted the governor’s office to further enlighten them as to one of their agency’s employees.

The BND would like to take full credit for getting the Gregg investigation kicked off, but Disclosure has been advised that it was going full force long before the BND got involved in mid-August 2015.

Confirming the status of the investigation on August 23, Disclosure staffer Angela Howser reminded the governor’s office of the late-December 2014 email to them and their question regarding whether Rauner now had the option of “wiping out” Quinn appointees such as Gregg, also reminding them that Disclosure had a host of FOIA’d documents pertaining to proof of Gregg’s inability to tell the truth, including material on his energy aggregate companies, as well as contracts with local entities such as the Harrisburg School District (something else Gregg lied about on his application to the Senate, wherein he was to disclose whether or not he’d been under contract with any state agency in the previous calendar year).

Disclosure also reminded the governor’s office that the paper was in possession of the full application, with specific falsehoods highlighted for ease of reading and determination that they were, indeed, falsehoods.

Rauner’s staffer Katherine Kelly advised Disclosure that the administration was interested in any and all material, and Howser forwarded that along, including all articles produced by the paper on the fraudulent acts/statements Gregg had engaged in over the past several years.

Bye Felicia

A week and a half later, Gregg was out.

Per a statement from the governor’s office, the basis for the ouster was “false statements made on a bankruptcy filing.”

This in and of itself could spell something worse for Gregg than a restructuring bankruptcy.

In October of 2014, an Eldorado couple in their 60s, Gary and Lucy McGill, were sentenced after pleading guilty earlier in the year to making false statements on their bankruptcy in the same federal court system where Gregg’s is taking place (Benton).

The McGills had filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009. The McGills opted not to disclose money they’d been paid in the settlement of a couple of lawsuits ($22,000), falsely stating that that amount in two accounts in Mrs. McGill’s name actually belonged to her sister. Further, Mrs. McGill admitted that she’d created fake receipts to show that the money was her sister’s, not hers. As well, they concealed the fact that they’d given their son cash gifts that year in the amount of $6,800.

That amount of money – $28,800 – is considerably less than the amount of money Gregg is trying to say wasn’t “his” in his bankruptcy paperwork, but was actually “his wife’s.”

Federal bankruptcy courts take this kind of prevarication very seriously. Discharging of debt in a Chapter 7 costs all consumers and taxpayers alike – consumers in the form of higher costs of doing business with credit card companies and other credit agencies; taxpayers in the form of increased expenses associated with the court system itself, including increased caseload and objection hearings the likes of which Walker called in March in Gregg’s bankruptcy, wherein she took issue with discharge of a “debt” which hadn’t even been litigated in Saline County yet.

The federal system took it so seriously in the McGill’s case that the two were sentenced to two years probation, four months’ home confinement on electronic monitoring, 20 hours of public service, and fines of $1,000 each.

No charges have been filed by the feds in Gregg’s case. It appears, however, that that’s a distinct possibility.

Don’t lie to officials

But further will be the state’s investigation into the false statements Gregg made on his 2012 application to the Illinois Senate for the position on the Prisoner Review Board.

As Disclosure pointed out in a July 2013 article about Eric Gregg’s duplicity at that time, the penalty for lying on the Senate appointee resume is stated next to the signature block on the form: “I understand that the penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement shall be a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment.”

While that’s the definition of a misdemeanor, an argument might well be made for an upcharge to a felony if Official Misconduct can be proven in the course of the 13 weeks Gregg held an office against state statute that proscribes PRB appointees.

Disclosure has learned that the local state’s attorney (Mike Henshaw) doesn’t have to be involved in this matter. If the governor’s office wants to pursue charges against Gregg over the case, they can simply call upon the Attorney General’s office to step in and handle it all.

As of press time (Oct. 4), there has been no indication of any charges being considered. However, none of it is out of the realm of possibility. And if Rauner is serious about “turning around” Illinois, he’ll send a strong message to those who subvert the law and lie with impunity, all while on the taxpayers’ dime – that it won’t be tolerated, no matter who you are or who is pulling strings on your behalf.

HARRISBURG, Ill. - A freak accident resulted in the death of a Harrisburg man Tuesday afternoon.

According to Harrisburg officials, Mike Cagle, 54, died after a fall from a ladder at the Town Square Pub, located at 23 East Poplar across from the courthouse in Harrisburg.

Cagle was reportedly hanging Halloween decorations when he fell.

More information will be made available as we get it.

October already!

And actually, we'll be having two papers in October (the next one is the 28th) but for now, we're pleased to bring you the regular OCTOBER 2015 edition of Disclosure, which hit the stands Tuesday with nearly all deliveries being mad on that day, a feat, believe me! And so now, it's time for us to tell you what's in this issue, in brief, with THIS MONTH'S PRINT HEADLINES.

Print Headlines are how you can get a quick overview of what's in this issue. They are presented in order as they appear in the paper sort of...Front Page, Back Page (second front page), Pages 2 & 3, Features if any (presented on pages 12 and 13), Egypt, Heartland, Central, and Op-Ed. They are shown here dateline (the area of our coverage region where the subject material comes from) first, followed by headline with the e-Edition link, then a brief synopsis in our own snarky Disclosure style.

And now, without further ado, we present to you THIS MONTH'S PRINT HEADLINES!

FRONT PAGE

CRAWFORD CO. - Coroner closes wreck, death investigation: The article Crawford County has been waiting for regarding the July death of Michael Brenton. Don't miss it.

Eric Gregg

HARRISBURG - Former mayor gets fired from state job: The full backstory on the massive downfall of Eric Gregg, whose duplicity regarding finances has finally come round full circle...and is almost certain to take down others with him this time.

HARDIN CO. - Concerns over young Hardin County deputy quashed: On deadline we learned of a sitch in Hardin that was causing some grief and consternation for locals as well as quite a bit of buzz. We made some phone calls and got the sitch sorted.

CLAY CO. - Child porn felon gets 12 years: The wrap on Mychal Bush-King and his perverted ways with extremely young girls.

BACK PAGE

CLARK CO. - Clark County Circuit Clerk, deputy clerk arrested and charged in theft-related case: Full coverage of the crazy turn of events in Clark County with their circuit clerk and a deputy clerk, her daughter, and time sheets.

GALLATIN CO. - Gallatin County sues coal company for damage to road and bridge by subsidence: Of all things...the county has taken a formerly major employer to court to fix a road and a bridge.

HAMILTON CO. - McLeansboro man charged with damaging high school: The situation with Tee J. McDonald, whose parents apparently couldn't give him a real name.

PAGE 2

HARDIN CO. - Housekeeping in Hardin: Tara does a little cleanup of the files and bond money: Tara Wallace has been returning more of the county's money than she's been making. What's UP with this...? Avoiding lawsuits and civil litigation..?

WHITE CO. - White man not issued tickets in collision, but sued by two: Poor Braden Willis. Has a car crash a couple of years ago, didn't get cited...but got sued. Welcome to the litigation society.

SALINE CO. - 2013 fall at Huck's out on Poplar in Harrisburg results in lawsuit in Saline: The litigious society continues, this one in Saline, where a pothole on a parking lot allegedly created a fall.

PAGE 3

WHITE CO. - Carmi couple sues two school districts, driver, bus provider after accident: And here's the BIG lawsuit coming out of White County this month, where a traffic accident on yet another parking lot lead to serious injuries and this.

SALINE CO. - Parents file over boy who lost foot in lawnmower accident: Another Saline County filing, this one pertinent to an 8-year-old child losing part of a foot in an accident a few years' back.

LAWRENCE CO. - Lawrence prison guard faces felony, accused of battering inmate: A little piece coming out of Lawrence, where they get a serious batch of filings every month because of the prison in Sumner.

FEATURE

MARION - Mayor's family parcels turned over to trusts, with daughter as co-trustee: A fine little article from one of our Williamson County correspondents regarding property tax filings that are highly suspicious...and all of them have to do with the mayor of Marion.

HARRISBURG - Fowler-Bonan Foundation provides assistance for fire-stricken families: A re-cap for our print readers about the wonderful thing the mayor of Harrisburg and his partner in a charitable organization, Bill Bonan, did for a now-homeless family and others living with them after they lost everything in a fire a few weeks ago.

EGYPT

SALINE CO. - Harrisburg man charged with beating seven-year-old child black and blue: Why would Kenneth Hren get his butt arrested NOW? the answer is in this article.

HARDIN CO. - Littering charge could tax Hardin County prosecutor's prowess: It's already been established that Tara Wallace doesn't like bigamists. Now, she's being clear on where she stands with the heinous crime of littering. It's going to destroy southern Illinois, I'm here to tell ya.

SALINE CO. - Felons throw-down in Taco Bell parking lot: It's always a riot in Harrisburg.

SALINE CO. - Fertility issues land Eldorado pair behind bars following GNC heist: Really, those who are inclined toward the criminal activity of theft probably need to watch what they're (allegedly) stealing...otherwise it could make a hysterical headline.

SALINE CO. - Eldorado man on probation for holding teen against her will arrested again: This guy is due for a nice long stint in DOC in order to get past some of his propensities.

HARDIN CO. - Three DUIs charged in the hills: Well, at least Tara's TRYING to take care of the alleged drunk drivers in Hardin.

SALINE CO. - Suspected meth dealer busted with 188 grams of product after crashing car: Word to the meth deliverers: When trying to make your rounds, be sure that you do not crash your car.

SALINE CO. - Inmate attacks officers with handmade weapon: Seems to be a lot of this going on lately.

SALINE CO. - Sister turns brother in for boosting booze from Huck's: It's hard to find good employees these days. It's harder to find those who would turn their own family members over if they're observed in wrongdoing. Huck's in Harrisburg has both, however.

GALLATIN CO. - Violence, drugs and DUI top Gallatin crim roundup: The general crim roundup from GallCo.

HEARTLAND

From Michelle Hamilton's Facebook page

EDGAR CO. - Coroner's investigation says: Edgar Co. Jail death due to morphine overdose: It was an OD, just as we suspected.

CRAWFORD/RICHLAND COs. - Richland suspected meth dealer charged with same in Crawford: At least the Richland and Crawford authorities are working this great cross-county thing with the drug profusion.

CRAWFORD CO. - Authorities say hammer used in altercation: Hammers. They appear to be a weapon of choice in some sectors of southern Illinois.

CRAWFORD CO. - Popular Oblong watering hole among burglary targets: Nobody took too kindly to it when Floyd's Place was burglarized. Now, there's a little justice.

CRAWFORD CO. - Lawrence sex offender charged in Crawford: Them cross-contaminators...

CENTRAL

EDWARDS CO. - Suspected drug dealer charged with weapon, could lose his cash on hand: Isaiah Tapia. AGAIN. And this time, he's down a little cash reserves.

RICHLAND CO. - Teen from incest case to get fitness evaluation: Another David Hyde failure in the form of the Kimmel kid. But at least Brad Vaughn is on the case this time.

WHITE CO. - Pundrake fracas lands belt-wielding woman behind bars: Carmi seems to be taking the lead in strange weaponry this month. Here, we have a belt allegedly being used as a weapon.

CLAY CO. - Fairfield man charged with biting, beating a family member on her face: Another crossover, this one from Wayne into Clay County.

EDWARDS CO. - Drunk child endangerment leads Edwards crim sweep: Well, at least SOMEONE in Edwards County has been charged with child endangerment...

RICHLAND CO. - Suspected shoplifter boosts new phone, set of clothes: What's the use of having new clothes if you don't have a phone so you can take selfies of yourself in them...?

CLAY CO. - Flora doper charged with peeing in front of restaurant: It saddens us that we didn't submit for mugshots of the misdemeanors this issue out of Clay. We'd have loved to have had this gal's. I guess when ya gotta go, ya gotta go.

RICHLAND CO. - Drug connection found in recent violence cases: The violent crimes wrap-up in Richland for the previous three weeks. And there were a lot of them.

LAWRENCE CO. - Doper charged with stashing bottle in her vagina: Again with the cough-&-squat. Seriously...yall dopers think you're REALLY going to foil a pee test? They've seen it all in the probation office; they don't care.

HAMILTON CO. - Two teens snagged in recent Hamilton DUIs: Seriously...? Teens...? Why...???

RICHLAND CO. - Richland lawmen crippling meth trade: Richland County deputies doing their usual good job of ensuring that the dope flowing through the county is at least stemmed and staunched a little bit.

WHITE CO. - Carmi doper gets five years in a boot camp: Not a lot of people believe it's going to do him any good...but one can never tell. See who and how, here.

OP-ED

COLUMNS

SURLY & UNCOOPERATIVE (Jack): The things you don't miss until they are gone - It's not what you think it's about.
ICY (Ang): About dogs, bats, snakes and getting old - It IS what you think it's about.
MINKUS INK (Bubba): The problem with voters is an old one - Voting your conscience...? No, not exactly.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letters): Nepotism in Williamson County; Harrisburg needs to be aware of Mrr. Brown; a letter with lots of deletions.

BACK OVER YOUR TALES: From the September-October 2010 edition of Disclosure: Raymond Martin trial given full coverage, Todd Fort case gets more and more bizarre; John B. Jones finally taken into custody and charged with theft, and more.

CARMI, Ill. (Dist. 19 ISP) - Illinois State Police District 19 Commander, Captain Kelly Hodge announced today activity and enforcement figures for the month of September.

Troopers in District 19, which includes Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Saline, and Gallatin counties, recorded 1,329 incidents during the month.

Enforcement activity consisted of 684 citations and 951 written warnings, including 326 speeding citations, 8 DUIs, 109 seatbelt citations, 5 child restraint citations, 371 written warnings for speeding, and 21 criminal
arrests.

Troopers also assisted 58 motorists, conducted 163 Motor Carrier Safety Inspections, and investigated 23 traffic crashes.

There were no fatal traffic crashes investigated by District 19 during September.

In addition, 462 citations and 480 written warnings were issued for "Fatal Four" violations. These violations are most associated with fatal traffic crashes and include Speeding, DUI, Failure to Wear a Seatbelt, and Distracted Driving.

KYLE MARTIN DAY

SALINE CO., Ill. - A long-time Saline County crim is headed to DOC for his latest, and possibly most heinous, infraction.

Saline County State's Attorney Mike Henshaw advised that Kyle M. Day, 24, of Carrier Mills, Illinois, pled guilty and was sentenced on October 9, 2015 in Saline County Circuit Court by Judge Walden E. Morris to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 3 years mandatory supervised release and fined Five Thousand One Hundred Twenty-five ($5,125.00) dollars.

Mr. Day was found guilty of Home Invasion. Home Invasion is a Class X Felony punishable by a term of 6 to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and a $25,000 fine.

The Harrisburg and Carrier Mills Police Department led a joint investigation of Mr. Day in regards to the Home Invasion. On April 19, 2015 Mr. Day along with Carl Campbell broke into homes in Harrisburg and Carrier Mills, Illinois while armed with a knife. Mr. Day and Mr. Campbell stole various amounts of U.S. currency and miscellaneous items while armed with the knife. Each of the homeowners were present during the home invasion.

Assistant State's Attorney, Jason A. Olson, led the successful prosecution of Mr. Day.

SALINE CO., Ill. - A traffic crash involving a vehicle rolling over has killed one in Saline County this evening.

The crash occurred a little after 6 p.m. on Illinois Route 13 just west of the Harco blacktop this evening (Saturday, October 17, 2015) and involved a car traveling east 13, which left the roadway, rolled over and landed facing west in the ditch.

According to state police one elderly female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle and a small child survived the crash.

More if we get it; check back frequently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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SALINE CO., Ill. - A single-vehicle traffic crash on Illinois Route 13 west of Harco Road has claimed the life of a local woman.

The fatal crash occurred on Illinois Route 13, just west of Harco Road in Saline County on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 4:27 p.m.

At that time, reports Illinois State Police who worked the scene, a tan 2000 Mercury Mountaineer being driven by  Nicole M. Wright, 43, of Marion, was eastbound on Illinois Route 13, just west of Harco Road in Saline County, when for unknown reasons, she drifted from the driving lane to the passing lane, overcorrected, and left the south side of the roadway. After leaving the roadway, the vehicle struck a ditch and overturned.

Lesa M. Grover (backseat passenger), 64, of Carrier Mills, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced deceased at the crash scene by the Saline County Coroner's Office. Wright was transported from the crash scene by Air Evac to an Evansville, Indiana, hospital. The 10-year-old  juvenile male (front seat passenger) from Marion was initially transported by the Williamson County Ambulance Service to an area hospital, before being transferred to an Evansville, Indiana, hospital.

Nicole M. Wright was transported by Air Evac to an Evansville, Indiana, hospital. The juvenile male was transported by ambulance to an area hospital, before being transferred to an Evansville, Indiana, hospital.

ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the Saline County Sheriff's Department, Saline County Coroner's
Office, Carrier Mills Fire Department, Saline County Ambulance Service, Williamson County Ambulance Service, and Air Evac. In addition, an Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Officer (C.R.O.) has been assigned to the investigation.

Nicole M. Wright was issued a citation for Improper Lane Usage.

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