Former Harrisburg mayor Eric Gregg. Now also former PRB member.

SALINE CO., Ill. - In keeping with his utter hubris - and an ill-founded apparent belief that he's somehow still a protected and favored special individual in downstate Illinois politics - former Harrisburg mayor Eric Gregg has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner in Saline County Circuit Court, seeking to be reappointed to his previous position on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

Gregg was a 2013 appointee to the PRB by former governor, democrat Pat Quinn, who rewarded Gregg, a Republican (on paper, anyway) with the position after Gregg helped cover over the fact that Quinn screwed up getting federal disaster assistance to the city of Harrisburg following the February 29, 2012 Leap Day Tornado that tore apart the Gaskins City neighborhood of the town and killed eight.

The problem came in when Gregg issued false information on his application for the job, wherein he claimed that he'd had no other sources of income in the previous calendar year, as well as other little falsehoods, other than his mayoral pay...a fact that he should have known we'd pick up on when we started submitting Freedom of Information Act requests in June of 2013 after Gregg was holding the PRB position at the same time he was receiving income from that mayoral position (Illinois law has it that a person cannot hold any positions, elected, appointed, hired, etc., nor have any income from any source, while working on the PRB.)

Then when Gregg filed bankruptcy in late 2014, he fudged a little on those documents, too...a huge no-no in the federal realm, and something that we here at Disclosure emailed the governor's office about in January, asking if Rauner intended to keep Gregg on the taxpayer payroll on the PRB, given that the man couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it.

The gov did something about it (resulting in this front-page article in the current issue) - he terminated Gregg - and in response to this, last Wednesday, Gregg shot back with a lawsuit against Rauner and the chairman of the PRB, Craig Findley...wanting his job back.

In the filing, Gregg claims that under the same LAW that prohibited him from holding the position of mayor of Harrisburg even one day while also holding the position with the PRB (730 ILCS 5/3-3-1...which he violated from April 26, 2013, to July 8, 2013), the gov can't fire him because that law lists that grounds for removal from the PRB can only be "incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance or inability to serve."

Gregg claims he didn't commit or endure any of those...apparently not aware that the legal definition of "Malfeasance" is "wrongdoing, especially by a public official."

The Governor has Eric Gregg eight ways to Sunday on malfeasance...and Gregg's apparently too ignorant to see it. So he's putting up a fight. One must wonder why, if he's in bankruptcy, he's able to afford yet another attorney, Thomas F. Crosby of Winters, Brewster, Crosby and Schafer LLC in Marion, to pursue this frivolous thing in Saline County Circuit Court.

We'll have the entire thing in the upcoming print edition, on stands a week from tomorrow...and available by e-Edition a week from tonight. If you don't have a subscription to either the print or the e-Edition, what are you waiting for? You can sign up right here online...or you can rush out and get a copy of the current October 2015 issue, still on stands at vendors because we loaded em up, as this one's a hot one. Check our vendors list at the link to see where your nearest vendor is...and don't miss this issue, where Gregg is on the front page, a spot we're firmly holding for him in the November Special Edition hitting stands in a week.

Tony D. Patrick

SALINE CO., Ill. - On October 21, 2015, Tony D. Patrick, age 30, of Equality, Illinois entered a plea of guilty in Saline County, Illinois Circuit Court to a Class 2 felony charge of Possession of a Converted Vehicle.

Judge Walden E. Morris sentenced Patrick to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and 2 years of mandatory supervised release. Pursuant to the plea agreement entered into between Patrick and the Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office, Patrick will also be required to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victim.

On July 8, 2015, the Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office filed an Information charging Patrick with a Class 2 felony count of Possession of a Converted Vehicle based upon a report that Patrick was found in possession of a stolen Yamaha four‐wheeler in Saline County. Class 2 felonies are normally punishable by a term of incarceration from 3 to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. However, based upon his criminal history, Patrick was eligible for, and received, an extended term sentence of 12 years.

The investigation of Patrick’s case was led by Detective Michael Jones of the Saline County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant State’s Attorney Jayson M. Clark handled the successful prosecution of the case.

HARRISBURG, Ill. - The Harrisburg Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in identifying the woman in this photo.

If you know who she is, please contact HPD at (618)252-8661, or send HPD a message at their Facebook page.

SALINE CO.— A Harrisburg teen is facing a couple of felony charges after authorities say he broke into a local business and, only after he was recorded on surveillance cameras, decided to destroy the video system.

According to information filed in the case, on Wednesday, September 20, at approximately 2:48 a.m. county dispatch received a call from Darren Jackson concerning damage to the FS Twin County Service Co., located at 5 West Robinson St., Harrisburg.

Jackson, speaking with police chief James “Whipper” Johnson, said that he had walked to FS to purchase a soft drink from the vending machine outside the front door of the business when he noticed the door had been busted.

Chief Johnson and officer Kenny Shires arrived on scene moments later and inspected the outside of the building.

After determining that someone had entered the business, officers received permission from FS operator Danny Evans to enter the structure.

Once inside, officers spotted several pieces of concrete on the floor along with some kind of inspection plate for a housing box for electrical components.

Johnson spotted markings on the globe covering a surveillance camera, as though it had been struck with something.

And that’s about the time he spotted the wires had been pulled from the camera and the conduit on the wall and either cut or ripped apart.

Takes out vid after recorded

Evans arrived several minutes later and he and the officers viewed surveillance footage.

The footage showed a mid-sized blue Chevrolet pull through the parking lot, traveling east to west, in front of the store entrance before disappearing from camera view.

A short time later a male with a limping/staggering gait, wearing a gray t-shirt, blue jeans and multi-colored basketball style shoes, entered the camera field and began throwing something at the front door, breaking the glass.

Footage showed the male suspect using his foot to knock away some of the glass to create a larger hole for him to enter through.

Once inside the suspect is seen taking a set of keys and meddling with the cash drawer.

The male left and entered the store at least two more times; the last time he was shown to be disabling the surveillance system, but not before his crimes were recorded …as well as his clothing, including the jeans, colorful shoes and the gray shirt with a large tan tag on the back with “VOLCOM STONE” printed on it.

On his final trip out of the store, the suspect took the register key, making it inoperable, along with a cattle stick and a metal pole type device with a hook used to direct the movement of livestock.

Officer Shires believed the suspect on the video footage was 18-year-old Austin Kelly Weatherly, of 905 South McKinley St., Harrisburg.

A quick check on Facebook confirmed the suspect on the surveillance tape was indeed Weatherly.

Answers door wearing same clothes

When Shires arrived moments later at the South McKinley address he spotted the blue Chevy from the video complete with someone asleep in the passenger seat.

When Shires knocked on the door of the residence, Weatherly answered, limping and still wearing the “VOLCOM STONE” t-shirt.

Weatherly informed officers that he had just undergone neck surgery, which caused him to favor his right side.

When Chief Johnson arrived, he asked where the jeans and shoes were and Weatherly said his girlfriend Caitlyn Price would get them, which she did.

Weatherly was transported to the county detention center where he was charged with Burglary, Theft and Criminal Damage to Property.

The Chevy used in the burglary was registered to Bryan Abell.

Price gave authorities permission to search the home for the register key and cattle pole but nothing was found.

Abell gave permission for the search of the car but nothing was found there either.

Weatherly was released from police custody October 6 at a $1,000 cash bond was posted on his behalf by Price, who listed 215 West Lincoln St., Harrisburg as her residence.

SALINE CO.— A domestic situation involving allegations of violence and someone “f&^king” someone else’s wife has ended with one man behind bars and two divorces filed.

Eldorado authorities say the ruckus began September 18 at 1:52 a.m. when they were notified by dispatch that they had received a call from Jeff Edwards, advising them that Daniel M. Curry, 41, of 2510 Wasson Rd., Eldorado, had walked into his home uninvited and began rambling about Jeff’s father, 57-year-old Dale Edwards, seeing Curry’s wife, 39-year-old Angela Curry, and asked where Jeff’s mother (Dale Edwards’ wife) was.

As Eldorado officer Joel Stanley approached the Edwards residence, he spotted Curry leaving on his motorcycle.

Stanley heard Curry squeal the tires on his bike and initiated a traffic stop on Dewey Street, near the Eldorado Police Department.

“When I spoke with Dan he stated that he had found Angela Curry and Dale Edwards together on the side of the road in Angela’s van,” Stanley said. “When I asked Dan what was going on he said he ‘caught them f&*king around down the road.”

Stanley said that Curry also told him that he slapped Edwards in the head “a couple of times” and that Edwards tried to fight back.

At about this time, Stanley was advised by another officer that Jeff Edwards was not interested in pursuing charges against Curry and that he just wanted him to stay away from their house.

Wife’s story

At approximately 3:02 a.m. Angela Curry and Dale Edwards arrived at the Eldorado PD to tell their side of the story.

Angela Curry, who said she works as a bartender at the Eldorado American Legion, said that after closing she was simply giving her “friend” Dale Edwards a ride to his vehicle.

Edwards had to apparently park away from the Legion because it was so crowded that night.

Curry said she made the offer because Dale had hurt his leg the week prior.

Angela said as she and Dale circled the block headed toward Dale’s vehicle, her husband pulled in front of her van.

“We panicked because I was alone with Dale. Dale tried to hide in the back of my van,” she said. “Dan was screaming at me and threw open the driver’s side sliding door and punched Dale.”

Angela said at that point she jumped into a middle seat in an attempt to keep her husband from beating her friend.

“Dan stood back up and stuck his hand in his pocket,” she said. “I knew he was getting a knife.”

Angela said that her husband proceeded to “go after” her friend and so she pushed him as hard as she could and he punched her in the left jaw.

“Dan started screaming ‘I’m going to kill you’ to Dale, yelling something else about f^&king his wife,” Angela said.

Mrs. Curry said shortly thereafter, her husband stopped the attack, took the keys out of her van and left the area.

Friend Edwards’ story

Edwards told authorities that Angela was giving him a ride back to his van after the Legion had closed and when she spotted her husband, told him to hide because her husband thought she was “messing around with somebody.”

Edwards said he was laying in the middle of the floor in the van when Mr. Curry began punching him.

“Danny punched me a couple of times and then pulled out a knife and said, ‘I’m going to kill you.’”

Edwards said at that point he started fighting back.

He said Danny Curry swung the knife at him in a downward motion, cutting his left bicep, right elbow and the middle finger on his left hand.

Officer Stanley documented cuts on Edwards and swelling on both his and Angela Curry’s face where they had been punched.

Divorces filed

Danny Curry was taken into custody without incident at approximately 3:08 a.m. behind the old J.R. Country building off Veteran’s Drive in Eldorado.

Curry was booked into the county jail on two counts of Aggravated Battery in a Public Place and one count of Criminal Trespass to Residence.

Danny Curry was released from police custody Sept. 18 after a $2,500 cash bond was posted on his behalf by William Boggess, of Eldorado.

Despite the claims of just giving a “friend” a ride, Mrs. Angela Curry filed for divorce from her husband on October 6; then nine days later, Oct. 15, both Mrs. Curry and Mr. Edwards took out Orders of Protection against Danny Curry.

The next day, Oct. 16, Dale Edwards filed for divorce from his wife Sandra.

No matter how the case is looked at, those orders of protection are probably a very good idea, but then some believe you can’t stop the inevitable with a piece of paper.

Other acts of violence

In other acts of violence presumably not having anything to do with allegations of f^%king someone else’s wife, another Illinois Youth Center (read: kiddy prison) inmate has been charged with thumping on one of the employees of the fine institution.

According to information filed in the case, Kameron Moore, also known as inmate #D49277, 18, of 1201 West Poplar St., IYC, Harrisburg, has been charged with three counts of Aggravated Battery.

Charges allege that on August 21, Moore punched employee Jacob Miller at least twice in the face and tackled him to the ground.

Whether the tackle or the face punch came first was not made clear.

Also not made clear was the reason, if any, for Moore suddenly taking a dislike to Miller.

SALINE CO.— A Harrisburg degenerate, who was out on bond after he forged checks belonging to a man who was in the Illinois Department of Corrections at the time, has been busted along with several others.

It appears that Kyle Dewayne Weatherington, 30, of 412 South Vine St., Harrisburg, is continuing to expand his criminal endeavors using nearly the same cast of felonious characters he has been involved with in the past.

The most recent crime spree centered around one of the burg’s more low-life crims began Friday, June 26 at approximately 2:17 a.m. when Harrisburg officer Nathan Moore was dispatched to the Shawnee Rose Nursing Home, located at 1000 West Sloan St., Harrisburg.

Once on scene Moore met with night nurse Debra K. Humm, apparently Weatherington’s aunt, who informed him that she had gone outside the nursing home and discovered that her 1998 Chevrolet Blazer had been broken into.

Humm pointed out that the perpetrator had busted the rear window of the SUV and had taken her purse.

She also pointed out that the center plastic tray had been lifted out of the console and a pack of cigarettes had been taken.

Moore located a black tire iron near the vehicle and spotted glass embedded on one end.

When he asked Humm if the tire iron was hers, she said it was not.

Moore took the center plastic tray into evidence, noting partial fingerprints on the tray. He also placed the tire iron into evidence.

Humm advised Moore that her purse contained a Woodforest debit card, her checkbook, LINK card and a prescription bottle of lortabs and two blood pressure medications.

Hit ATMs

A little more than eight hours later, Humm made her way to the county law enforcement center to report that her Woodforest bank card had been used.

Humm handed Moore a printout which showed three transactions at People’s National Bank ATM: one at 3:34 a.m. for $303; one at 3:35 a.m. for $53 and another at 3:45 a.m. for $53.

The printout showed the card was used again at 4:38 a.m. at the Old National Bank ATM machine, on East Locust Street, in the amount of $203.50 and again at the Old National Bank ATM location on Rollie Moore Drive in the amount of $103.50.

The next day, Saturday, June 27, Moore viewed multiple video surveillance tapes from multiple locations and spotted a silver Dodge Durango pull into the Old National Bank parking lot, near the city’s Walmart, at approximately 4:48 a.m.

Moore said the vehicle parked away from the building in an apparent attempt to avoid surveillance cameras.

At 4:52 a.m. the Durango was seen on video pulling out of the ONB parking lot, exiting the Walmart parking lot and headed north on Rte. 45.

The video showed no other vehicles in that area prior to or more than an hour after the Durango showed up on camera.

The Durango was spotted seconds later pulling into the Huck’s, located on Rte. 45.

At that point Weatherington, wearing a green t-shirt, was positively identified as the individual getting out of the SUV and placing the gas pump in the tank before going inside the store.

While Weatherington was inside the store another individual, wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, got out of the Durango and pumped gasoline into the SUV.

Huck’s video showed Weatherington purchasing several items and paying in cash.

Girlfriend gets pissed

The next day, Sunday, June 28, at approximately 1:49 p.m. Moore contacted Weatherington at his home accompanied by Harrisburg Chief of Police James “Whipper” Johnson and Saline County Deputy Steve Sloan.

Weatherington’s girlfriend Jessica Williams was also present.

Weatherington initially denied being at ONB but eventually admitted to being there.

At one point Weatherington argued whether or not Moore had video of his Durango and its license plate.

Moore informed the dirtbag that it didn’t matter because he had him on video.

Weatherington then spun a story about Jeremy Hodge, whom he identified as “Booty,” coming to his house Friday morning June 26 and wanting a ride to Huck’s.

Weatherington said that it was Hodge who had gotten out of the SUV and pumped the gas.

When Moore told him that he had no doubt that it was not Hodge who got out of the SUV, Weatherington then said that the hooded individual was actually Amber Tolley.

He reluctantly explained to officer Moore that Tolley had been walking down East Sloan Street and that Hodge had gotten him to stop and talk to her.

Tolley then, according to Weatherington, asked for a ride to use the ONB ATM machine.

He added that he had no idea that she had his aunt Debbie’s card.

That’s about the time Weatherington and girlfriend Jessica Williams began arguing about him picking up Tolley.

The arguing became so intense that Moore had to ask Weatherington to step outside to continue their conversation.

Vehicle searched

Once outside Weatherington asked Moore if he could have a cigarette and Moore told him he could if he thought he could find a lighter inside the Durango parked nearby.

Moore watched as Weatherington fumbled around inside the vehicle, reach into the pocket of his jeans and drop something in the console.

That’s about the time he stopped looking for a lighter and sat down on some steps to talk with Moore.

After a few minutes Moore asked Weatherington what he had dropped into the console and he went back to the Durango and brought out a USB lighter plug.

And that’s about the time Moore had Williams step outside.

When asked, she said she had no idea if her boyfriend had been out that Friday morning because she was asleep.

After Moore received consent from Williams to search the Durango, since it was registered to her, he discovered a multi-colored glass pipe in the console along with Illinois driver’s licenses for Debra Humm, Jennifer Humm and James Humm.

Weatherington claimed the driver’s licenses came from his grandfather’s house and that his aunt Debra knew he had them.

Hodge denies, Tolley denies, Humm confirms

Moore next visited with Jeremy Hodge who admitted that he did get a ride from Weatherington, but that it was later in the day when the sun was up.

That was confirmed by Hodge’s mother.

The next investigative move was to Amber Tolley’s residence.

Tolley denied having gotten a ride from Weatherington at all.

She said that she saw him and Williams Thursday afternoon when they drove by her house yelling at her.

She denied being with Weatherington Friday morning.

During a check back with Debra Humm she confirmed that the medical card and driver’s license he had recovered had been in her purse and said that Weatherington would not have gotten them from his grandfather.

Dressed in drag?

Moore later checked the video surveillance from the sheriff’s department and found that it showed the Durango pass by the department at 4:35 a.m. headed in the direction of ONB ATM on East Locust Street.

Video from People’s National Bank showed two males walking across the drive towards the ATM at that location.

One of the males was wearing a long blonde wig, flat-billed baseball cap and a green t-shirt.

The male in drag, wearing the green t-shirt, appeared to fit Weatherington’s build.

The second male was wearing a baseball cap with a hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head, just like the subject pumping gas at Huck’s.

Weatherington was formally charged with three felony counts, including two counts of Identity Theft and one count of Theft $500-$10,000.

Bond was set at $1,000.

Fast forward to Sunday, Oct. 11

It appears that Weatherington struck again Sunday, Oct. 11 but this time with a different cast of characters.

On that Sunday morning, at approximately 9:37 a.m. Harrisburg officer Brent Davis was dispatched to 1400 South Oak St., Harrisburg, on a report of a burglary.

Upon arrival, Davis spoke with Sandy Milligan, who told him that sometime during the overnight hours someone entered her garage, got into her unlocked vehicle and stole several credit cards, a bank card, her checkbook and her personal identification which were all located inside her purse.

Davis advised Milligan to cancel all her credit cards immediately and to let him know if any of the cards were used.

Five hours later Milligan contacted Davis and informed him that her Discover card has been used at several locations in Harrisburg.

She reported the following: $177.01 at Hibbett, $469.80 at Hibbett, $68.03 at Dollar Store and $18.00 at Sonic.

Hibbett employees Shawn Bigley and Mitch Daniels confirmed that Milligan’s credit card was used for the purchases and described the suspects who made the first purchase as two skinny white males in their early 20s, one with blonde hair and the other with red hair.

The suspects for the second purchase, which the employees were less sure of, were described as two males and a female.

Foiled at Fred’s

Milligan contacted Davis at about 3:30 p.m. that day and informed him that her Discover card had been declined at the Fred’s store in Eldorado.

When Davis arrived he spoke with manager Rebecca Patterson who informed him that two white males and a white female came into the store and tried to use the credit card but it was declined.

The cashier recognized the white female as Brianna E. Sisk, 21, of 855 Beech Hollow Rd., Harrisburg and the white male as Justin Dorries, 20, of 2 North Skaggs St., Apt. 603, Harrisburg, because she went to school with him.

The other skinny white male suspect, trying to use the card, was later identified as none other than Kyle Weatherington.

After the card was declined, Weatherington attempted to use a check belonging to a subject by the name of Hale from Galatia, but manager Rebecca Patterson told him she knew Hale and that he was not Hale.

Weatherington produced an Illinois driver’s license belonging to Kevin Wallace.

The only problem with that stunt was that Patterson also knew Kevin Wallace and informed Weatherington that he that he was not Kevin.

Weatherington told Patterson he was Wallace’s son and the trio promptly left the store.

Red wanted on two outstanding warrants

During a quick check with dispatch, Davis discovered that Dorries was wanted on two active warrants, one out of Saline and the other out of Franklin County.

Deputy Chuck Welge checked with Dorries’ father and was informed that Justin had been shacked up with Brianna Sisk at the local Economy Inn and Suites for the past several nights.

By 6 p.m. Welge confirmed that Sisk and Dorries were indeed holed up in room 213 at the Economy Inn and Suites and that Sisk had paid for the room.

Armed with a key to 213 and after getting no response from knocking on the door, officers entered the room to find it empty.

Empty, that is, except for a large Hibbett bag, shoe boxes, new clothing tags and a receipt from Hibbett’s showing a Discover card was used in the exact amount Milligan reported.

Officers backed out of the room without touching anything, secured it and contacted state’s attorney Mike Henshaw for a search warrant.

Henshaw met with Davis, reviewed the information, signed off on the search warrant and promptly contacted judge Todd Lambert advising him that a search warrant complaint was ready for the judge’s final approval.

Crims return to scene

As officer Davis arrived back at room 213 he spotted both Dorries and Weatherington in handcuffs being escorted to different police cruisers.

Apparently the trio had pulled up while the search warrant was being signed and they were promptly taken into custody.

During the execution of the search warrant officers located many of the items purchased with Milligan’s stolen credit card.

Located in the bathroom of room 213 was the beige flowered purse Milligan had reported stolen.

The personal items Milligan kept inside the purse were located in a trash bag.

Officers also located pieces of paper and personal checks belonging to Brent Gibbons, who had reported his vehicle burglarized shortly after Milligan contacted authorities about her car being broken in to.

Upon closer inspection, the receipts seen on the floor of room 213 matched the last four numbers on Milligan’s stolen credit card.

Authorities contacted Weatherington’s brother Cody and gained consent to search the car the trio had pulled up in, as it was his vehicle.

Located inside the car was another receipt matching the numbers to Milligan’s stolen credit card.

Apparently not pleased with his new digs in the back of a police cruiser, Weatherington made his plight worse when he kicked out the side window of the squad and escaped.

As soon as officers heard the glass breaking they gave chase, unceremoniously apprehending the fleeing Weatherington in the parking lot of the Economy Inn and Suites.

Sisk

When Sisk was interviewed she admitted to being with the two men during the second trip into Hibbett’s.

She said she had no idea the credit card was stolen.

She also denied knowing anything about vehicles being broken into.

Sisk was asked about a key belonging to an Arctic Cat All Terrain Vehicle found in her purse upon her arrest.

Shannon Rider had reported the vehicle stolen Sunday, Oct. 11.

She said Weatherington threw the key into her purse as the trio pulled up to the hotel.

Dorries

Dorries admitted to being with Weatherington during the purchases but also had no idea the credit card was stolen.

He said that Weatherington merely asked him to pick out some shoes at Fred’s.

Dorries also claimed ignorance when it came to vehicles being burglarized and said he knew nothing about a stolen ATV.

 The mysterious Gumby

The energetic Weatherington admitted to his activity at Fred’s, saying he was trying to purchase cleaning supplies for Sisk’s house in Broughton.

He also said he purchased men’s t-shirts and boxer shorts at the Dollar Store.

Weatherington said he received all of the stolen checks, papers and credit cards from a black guy named “Gumby.”

Charges

Weatherington was charged with three counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, Felony Escape from a Police Officer, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (prescription medication) and one count of Criminal Damage to Government Property $500-$10,000.

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

Sisk, an unmarried, unemployed mother of one, was charged with two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft.

Cash bond in her case was set at $1,500.

And finally Mr. Dorries, also unemployed, had added to his legal woes two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft.

Cash bond in his case was also set at $1,500.

Monday’s moped

The next day, Monday, Oct. 12, officer Moore reported for duty at 6 a.m. and began searching for the stolen Arctic Cat ATV Sisk was believed to have had the key to.

One of the places Moore checked out was the residence of Jessica Williams, Weatherington’s girlfriend.

When Moore drove past Williams’ residence at 412 West Vine St., Harrisburg, he traveled down the alley behind the house but didn’t spot an ATV.

What he did observe was what appeared to be a blue and white mo-ped partially covered with a tarp.

Moore checked back with the office and discovered that on Oct. 10, Sheila Pyle, of 119 West Sloan St., had reported that her blue and white mo-ped had been stolen.

When Moore and Asst. Chief Todd Cavender returned to Williams’ residence at about 12:05 p.m., Moore knocked on the door while Cavender ran the plate on the mo-ped.

At about the time the plate came back stolen, Williams answered the door and immediately informed officer Moore that she was just about to call authorities and report that she had a mo-ped in her backyard that did not belong to her.

She said she had observed Weatherington push the mo-ped into the back yard the night of Oct. 10.

Weatherington was charged additionally with Possession of a Stolen Vehicle.

Another $1,500 cash bond was set in that case.

Tuesday’s cat

Then, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, after authorities gained consent to search an outbuilding located at 1415 South Feazel St., Harrisburg, belonging to Kody Weatherington, Kyle’s brother, they unlocked the outbuilding using one of the keys found on Sisk’s keychain in her purse and discovered the stolen Arctic Cat ATV.

No one seemed surprised when the Arctic Cat ATV key, also found in Sisk’s purse, started the four-wheeler.

Both Sisk and Weatherington were additionally charged with Possession of a Stolen Vehicle.

Cash bond in those cases were set at $1,000 each.

Dan Moutria, after the explosion of a hot water tank in May of 2014 that he is blaming Knapp Oil for.

SALINE CO. – A twist to the case of a metro-east man who moved to Harrisburg, and subsequently tried to sue a local propane provider after an explosion, has occurred in Saline County Circuit Court.

The convoluted situation involving Dan Moutria, formerly of Granite City but who moved to Harrisburg after volunteering with a church group post Leap Day Tornado in 2012, has by turns gotten more convoluted as well as, in some respects, straightened out.

The latter situation comes in the form of a woman from the western side of the state who has a Madison County judgment of $43,000 against Moutria, with whom she formerly had a relationship.

The former, however, puts the onus on Moutria, who, if he becomes the recipient of funds in compensation or punitive damages, as he’s seeking against Knapp Oil of Xenia, will be prohibited from collecting those funds until the judgment is settled against him.

The situation came to light in early 2014 after Moutria made Harrisburg his home, following getting hooked up with the freshly-divorced former Mrs. Tom Franks (Franks being a well-known banker in Williamson and Saline counties).

Moutria makes it a practice to “volunteer” with church groups doing the kind of work that was being carried out by many of them in the days after the February 29, 2012 tornado that ripped up the southwest side of Harrisburg.

During his work – which he conducted while still living in the southwestern portion of Illinois – he met and began a relationship with Nanette Franks.

At some point in time after her divorce was making its way through the court in Williamson County (it was filed in 2012, but wasn’t finalized until August of 2014), Franks reportedly assisted Moutria in finding a place to live in Harrisburg. In May of 2014, Moutria was at Franks’ home in rural Saline County attempting to help her get propane at her home for her hot water heater, and Knapp Oil delivered the propane after the on site tank was purportedly out and the pilot light, of course, had gone out in the house.

When Moutria went to light the pilot on the heater, he claims, the whole thing blew up on him, leaving him with significant burns and precluding him from doing anything resembling “work” (supposedly including volunteer work), which of course precluded him from making good on the massive debt he’d agreed to pay to one Sherrie Finke, who had a judgment against him in 2013 originating out of Madison County.

The judgment came about after Finke, having had a relationship with Moutria, got out when it became apparent that all he was doing was using her for money…well over $60,000 in a short amount of time, according to Madison County court documents Disclosure obtained in early 2014.

They agreed to a repayment amount of $43,000, and a judgment was entered. Moutria, however, not known for a stellar record of long-term employment, never repaid.

Instead, he moved to Harrisburg after working with the church group Franks was in post-tornado, struck up the relationship, and found someone new to ostensibly carry out his ways with.

While Franks herself didn’t have gainful employment, the early-60s woman was receiving a decent maintenance from the wealthy ex, and apparently that was enough for Moutria…until the May 2014 explosion.

About a year later, Moutria, being represented by Michael Doerge of Jelliffe, Ferrell, Doerge and Phelps of Harrisburg, filed against Knapp Oil, claiming that they were negligent in the way they provided propane to Nanette Franks’ residence as well as negligent in following through with lighting the pilot light, etc.

The actual truth is probably somewhere in the middle: Moutria was probably trying to imitate some semblance of machismo in lighting the pilot, possibly even telling Knapp not to bother. Then when the explosion occurred, someone within his realm likely suggested the lawsuit as a way to ease his financial woes, since it seemed at that time that Nanette wasn’t really assisting (given that there had been no payments made toward the Finke debt, and that another collection agency had filed suit in Saline County in April of 2014, seeking money from Moutria on one of many judgments out of Madison County from the previous years).

The Knapp suit was filed July 6, 2015. Knapp responded on August 10, claiming they had done their due diligence as they usually do in the course of their business with their many customers, none of whom had blown up a hot water heater, then blamed Knapp for it. Moutria fired back on August 24, attacking their answers and stating they were still in the wrong.

Judge Todd Lambert heard the filings on September 3 and denied Moutria’s petition to strike Knapp’s answers, noting that the answers were sufficient to proceed with the case with some apparent modifications.

Then on October 1, an entry of appearance was filed by attorneys retained by Finke.

The attorney, John H. Leskera of Collinsville, entered a Petition to Intervene and File Judgment Lien, citing the 2013 Madison County lawsuit arising out of the contract Moutria had made with Finke for repayment.

In the suit, Finke had filed a Citation to Discover Asset, and this citation revealed the Saline County case against Knapp.

Leskera then noted that on Sept. 16, 2015, the Madison County Circuit Court entered an order forbidding Moutria from disbursing any of the assets of the case that might come about without notifying Finke and her counsel.

Thus, Leskera said, the Madison County court also granted leave for Finke to intervene for purposes of ‘perfecting her judgment lien against any proceeds Moutria recovers in this lawsuit.’

This was what Finke was asking now of the Saline County court: the right to intervene in the Moutria v. Knapp case, should it bear fruit.

A handwritten order from Madison County was submitted with the petition, showing that the judge was allowing Finke to pursue the case in Saline, as she was owed the $43,000 by Moutria.

Other paperwork on file, including Order Forbidding Distribution of Personal Injury Proceeds, points out that Moutria is forbidden from distributing or accepting distribution from any proceeds arising out of the Knapp Oil suit “without appeal from the Court of payment in full of the debt owed to Sherri Finke.”

Lambert, as of press time, hadn’t addressed the petition to intervene.

He likely will within a reasonable amount of time, however, as a collector of debt basically has dibs on any excess a debtor might come into, be it income, gifts, tax return, or proceeds from a litigation.

This puts Knapp in an interesting position, however.

If the matter is litigated (and not thrown out on the face of it, which is still possible) and a judgment to Moutria is awarded, they won’t be issuing it to Moutria; they’ll be sending it to Finke.

This makes it difficult to know who to root for, for those who do that kind of thing and watch the court report like it’s a big-league playoff.

And under the circumstances, it might, at the very least, be high stakes for Moutria, whose bad habits may finally have caught up with him.

FORMER HARRISBURG MAYOR SUES GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER

SALINE CO. – Harrisburg’s former mayor has ratcheted up the situation he found himself in in September – by filing a lawsuit against Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.

And as is usually the case, it appears that Eric Gregg is trying to fall back on what appears to be a clever sleight-of-hand “glitch” that makes it appear as though what might be charged against him was simply an “oversight” – filing false documentation in both his Statement of Economic Interest (SoEI) for his job on Illinois’ Prisoner Review Board (PRB), as well as on his Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

The governor’s counsel, Jason Barclay, called Gregg out on both the SoEI and the bankruptcy filings – which Barclay is suggesting in veiled terms is “criminal conduct” – in an October 2 letter in which Gregg was notified that he was officially terminated from the PRB, and ordered to return state property still in his possession, in the termination that was reported in this publication’s October 2015 edition.

Now, with the filing in Saline County civil court of the lawsuit against Rauner and Craig Findley, chairman of the PRB, Gregg appears to believe that he’s fired back with his characteristic blustering intensity…but legal experts around the area are opining that Gregg has overstepped his bounds, and the suit is likely not only going to fail, but will cause closer scrutiny on his actions over the past several years, many of which have come to light since he was holding the position on the PRB in 2013 for several weeks illegally…something Disclosure pointed out at the time, and which Rauner’s office has only just now obtained paperwork proving.

TRO

In the suit, filed October 14 by Gregg via attorney Thomas F. Crosby of Winters, Brewster, Crosby and Schafer in Marion, Gregg is requesting a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and a Preliminary Injunction against Rauner and Findley.

Simply put, the TRO is requested to prohibit Rauner or Findley from firing Gregg – an action that’s already been taken – and the injunction is a request of a county judge to order the governor to allow Gregg to go back to work – and collect a paycheck on the taxpayers’ back – on the PRB.

The ridiculousness of these requests is offset by the spurious arguments Gregg sets forth in the filing, but only slightly.

Gregg’s attorney provides a good set of rationalizations that “explain,” in effect, the actions Gregg took that got him into the mess in the first place.

The first is the SoEI.

A state employee who is a gubernatorial appointee, as Gregg was for the job on the PRB, as appointed by former governor Pat Quinn, has to file a statement of economic interest, not just so the state can see what the paycheck is going to go toward, but so an individual, appointed to a job where there might in the future be bribes, graft, etc., won’t be swayed based on financial considerations.

The PRB is one of those boards. If a wealthy, powerful family in the state has a member of the clan who’s an inmate in an Illinois correctional facility, there exists the possibility that this family could, when their loved one comes up for parole consideration or even clemency, offer PRB members – who review the inmate’s case – financial or other compensation for their consideration.

While that’s highly illegal, it happens. It also happens across other boards in the state, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and others. A member of a board might be persuaded to “look the other way” when something is being conducted by a rich, powerful individual or company that’s regulated by the agency. So an SoEI is a minor step toward transparency in government, something Illinois suffers a dearth of.

The sleight-of-hand in action

Gregg filed an SoEI…but he filed it in 2012, when he applied for the position on the PRB, that 2012 SoEI being for the previous calendar year, 2011.

As it turned out, Gregg didn’t file an SoEI in 2013 for the previous calendar year 2012.

When he was questioned about that in written correspondence (which is on file in the Saline County case), Gregg rationalized that he had “no statutory duty” to file a SoEI in 2013 for 2012 and that it was up to the Secretary of State’s office to remind him that he needed to file one, which they did not…ergo, that’s why he didn’t file a SoEI for 2012.

Had he filed the SoEI for 2012, however, it would have picked up what Gregg is in court for in Saline for another purpose: a lawsuit filed against him by LuAnn Walker, a former business partner with him in an energy aggregate program, in which Walker is accusing Gregg of absconding with about $10,000 she claims he owes her as a wind-up of their partnership. Gregg had specific commission income on that job, the commission of which Walker said was hers and he took, depositing it into an account that only Gregg could get to. Walker has been trying to get a settlement on that matter for three years now.

Walker was in federal court in March of this year, attempting to tell the federal bankruptcy judge that Gregg has lied on his bankruptcy paperwork…an act which happens to be a federal felony. All Walker is seeking is to be paid what she’s owed, and by Gregg filing bankruptcy, he’s trying to bankrupt, in advance of the settlement of Walker’s case, out of having to ever have to pay her what she can prove he owes her.

This, some are saying, was what kicked off the current gubernatorial administration’s investigation into Gregg’s financial activities, and was how Rauner’s team learned that Gregg had likely been falsifying documents all along, either in his PRB paperwork that it’s required he file, or in the bankruptcy; it didn’t matter which one. Taking such action is what’s known as “malfeasance” (the legal definition being “wrongdoing, especially by a public official,” which Gregg is).

“Malfeasance” is one of the four terminating offenses Rauner has at his disposal if he is seeking to get rid of a gubernatorial appointee/public employee, such as someone on the PRB. The other terminating offenses are listed in state law as “incompetence, neglect of duty, or inability to serve.”

Barcley fires back

Astonishingly, in his TRO/injunction filing, Gregg is claiming that Rauner wrongfully terminated him, as Gregg didn’t conduct himself, while in the official capacity of serving on the PRB, in any of those manners: “incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance or inability to serve.”

Barclay, however, in his Oct. 2 letter, straightened Gregg out on a lot of the matters – including the sleight-of-hand Gregg was attempting to pull with the 2011/2012 SoEI, by telling him this:

“…it is not a defense that at the time you signed your Statement of Economic Interests it was truthful, but it was false more than 11 months later when it was formally filed with the Secretary of State. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act is clear that it was your legal obligation, not the Governor’s Office, to file your own Statement of Economic Interests and that the additional obligation to ensure that the statement is truthful and complete comes at the time of filing the document, not simply when you sign it.”

Barclay pointed out that this conduct may constitute a Class A misdemeanor. He mentioned this after telling Gregg that filing false information on his bankruptcy paperwork (outlined in last issue, wherein he claimed he made more money than what he was supposed to have in the year preceding the bankruptcy, a big no-no, as a board member of the PRB, he is prohibited from receiving income beyond that of his statutory salary for employment on the board) may constitute violations of state and federal laws.

“Whether your conduct constitutes willful criminal violations or whether your belated efforts to correct that conduct are sufficient to cure any possible criminal violations is for law enforcement officials to decide,” Barclay wrote. “Our review of the conduct, your supporting information, and your admissions constitute a sufficient basis for your removal pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Illinois Constitution.

“Please cooperate with legal counsel at the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to ensure the proper return of any property or other information in your possession that belongs to the State.”

Hubris

In his hubris, Gregg states in his lawsuit that Barclay’s letter didn’t set out which of the constitutional grounds for removal the governor was invoking.

Instead, he said, it cited two bases for removal: A false statement on Form 22c of the bankruptcy, and a false statement of economic interest filed with Illinois Secretary of State on April 26, 2013.

Apparently Gregg’s attorneys, as well as Gregg, remain unaware that ANY ‘false statement’ constitutes malfeasance (wrongdoing, especially by a public official)…or they’re trying desperately to use legalese to gloss over what is most certainly one of the most overt acts of corruption Gregg has engaged in yet.

Since the filing of the lawsuit against the governor, no one within the bankruptcy court has raised the issue of how it is, if Gregg is bankrupt and is also now out of a job, he can afford Crosby to mount the offensive strike he is.

Many believe it’s Gregg’s corrupt connections with even more corrupt officials in Marion, where ten years ago Gregg was slinking around with a smarmy DJ service and a pseudo-real estate license, learning about Home Rule and TIF ventures, the types of problems which are plaguing Marion and Williamson County as a whole.

Requests under the suit

Whatever the case, under Count 1, Gregg is seeking a Temporary and Preliminary Injunction, hoping that a  judge will order injunctive and declaratory relief of giving him his job back, restoring his paycheck and perks like a car, and other benefits, and restrain the governor or his agents from “interfering with Gregg’s performance of his duties as a duly-appointed member of the PRB until the case can be heard on the merits.”

He claims the balance of the political parties on the board is being impacted by this. He also claims that as ground for removal, malfeasance “must have direct relation to, and be connected with, the performance of official duties and amount to willful and intentional neglect and failure to discharge the duties of the office. Neglect of duty must be a substantial failure to perform the official duties of the office.”

It’s apparent that Gregg is reading that into it, however; there is NO direct association with those two. Malfeasance is malfeasance; it doesn’t say malfeasance of the office, just “malfeasance.”

Gregg then whines on a tortious level, saying “the information contained in the termination letter is highly offensive to a reasonable person, and Rauner had actual malice in issuing the allegations when Rauner knew the statements to be false or acted with reckless disregard to the truth.”

This has caused Gregg, in his estimation, “through the acts of publication by Rauner…to be placed in the public eye with the perception of a criminal and perjurer.” This, he claims, has caused him to suffer injuries including to his reputation, embarrassment, and potential damages related to injury to future employment or ability to obtain political office (which isn’t anyone’s responsibility except the candidate, but now, it appears, everybody else is responsible for someone’s win or loss.)

He wants compensatory, actual and punitive damages as a result of all of it.

As of press time, no future setting had been made on the case.

SALINE CO.— Drugs, large amounts of cash and the crash of a stolen truck are believed by some to be the first chink in the armor of what many have described as an exclusive club for high rollers in Harrisburg.

What appeared at first to be just another vehicle crash involving a pair of societal doper rejects has brought several sources out of the woodwork alleging that there is more to the story.

The offer of inside information, which has yet to be substantiated, alleges there is an exclusive “gentlemen’s club” operating within the confines of the City of Harrisburg.

Sources claim members with “special access” are openly offered everything from stripper prostitutes to drugs, all the while the regular members believe they are merely part of an exclusive club where they can go and “let loose” away from the prying eyes of the public.

Upside-down in a ditch

The first of what several believe will be many chinks began the night of Thursday, October 1, at approximately 11:20 p.m. when Harrisburg Police Sgt. David Morris was dispatched to what is commonly referred to as the City Ditch, located at Parish and Cheney streets, on a report of an overturned vehicle in the ditch.

When Sgt. Morris arrived on scene he observed a silver and gray Dodge truck upside-down in the ditch.

Several people were gathered around the truck and Sgt. Morris said he could hear someone pounding from inside the overturned truck.

One of the witnesses said there was someone inside the vehicle.

Morris called for the local fire department to respond to extract the subjects inside the vehicle, and an ambulance in the event of injury.

Witness says they were intoxicated

Morris made his way down into the ditch as one of the witnesses, identified as Kyle T. Hicks, told him that he had seen two people inside the truck several minutes prior to the crash at the West Poplar Casey’s convenience store.

Hicks told Morris that both individuals appeared to have been intoxicated.

He also reported that the pair got into the truck and drove off erratically and he began following them.

Hicks said the truck ran at least two stop signs on Land Street, turned onto Parish Street, went approximately one block, drove off the roadway, and slammed into a concrete apron around the bridge, flipping the truck upside-down into the ditch.

He said neither of the occupants had gotten out of the truck following the crash.

Once he arrived at the truck, Morris said he attempted to open the doors and found them to be jammed.

“I told them to calm down and that the fire department was on its way to get them out,” Morris said.

Don’t know nothin’

Within several minutes of their arrival, fire rescue personnel freed the two men from the overturned truck and escorted them up from the ditch to the side of the roadway.

Both subjects, who were said to smell of alcohol, refused medical treatment.

The pair was identified as convicted drug dealer Brian J. McBee, 22, of 262 Trammel St., Carrier Mills, and 25-year-old Forrest Lee Zaranti, of 410 Cotton Rd., Harrisburg.

Sgt. Morris asked McBee who had been driving the truck, and McBee said he didn’t know.

That’s about the time McBee was informed that he was under arrest for Obstruction of Justice for interfering with an accident investigation, and placed in handcuffs.

Morris then asked Zaranti the same question, got the same response, and took the same action, placing Zaranti in cuffs as well.

Amnesia lifts

It appears the amnesia lifted slightly on the way to the county detention center for booking.

En route, McBee informed deputy Mychal Gooch that it was Zaranti who had been driving the truck when it hit the bridge and flipped into the ditch.

And oddly enough Zaranti, while making his way to the county jail comfortably seated in the cruiser of Harrisburg Police Officer Zach Popetz, suddenly remembered that it was his buddy McBee who had been driving the truck.

But neither of the men happened to make mention of the bag of weed that was found in the console of the truck.

Both men were booked into the county jail on charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Resisting and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis.

‘Lil Bill’ Bonan

But that’s not where the story ends.

Apparently the truck that ended upside-down in the ditch came back as being owned by Peoples National Bank, out of Mt. Vernon.

The next day, Oct. 2, authorities contacted PNB owner Frank W. Bonan, Jr., affectionately known as ‘Lil Bill.’

Lil Bill told officers that the truck had been parked at his Harrisburg home, located at 110 Waterhole Rd., Harrisburg, the night before.

He confirmed that truck did indeed belong to Peoples National Bank.

Junior told authorities the truck was used for maintenance and yard work around his residence.

At some point authorities became aware of the fact that Zaranti works for Lil Bill.

There was no mention in the report as to what exactly Mr. Z does for Lil Bill.

At any rate, Junior informed officers the truck was not to be removed from the property unless Zaranti was using it for employment.

Follow the money

There is no clear indication that Zaranti was on the job the night of the crash.

In fact Lil Bill told investigators that he had not given either Zaranti or McBee permission to use, remove or drive the truck.

Why Junior felt it necessary to include McBee in with Zaranti not having permission to be using the truck is unclear.

What is clear is that Bonan said he had given Zaranti a sum of cash that Zaranti was to return to him but that he failed to do so.

Exactly what Zaranti was supposed to do with the cash and what form of transportation he was expected to use while doing it was not addressed.

Then there’s the unanswered question: Why give someone cash if the only thing you expect is to have it brought back to you?

But the money trail didn’t go cold there.

Authorities say that McBee also “had a large amount of cash on his person, could not explain how he got it or where it came from.”

Lil Bill did not mention whether or not he had given any cash to McBee.

The cash from both men has been seized pending further investigation.

Drugs and violence

McBee is a convicted drug dealer, having been charged October 12, 2011 with two counts of Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine 15-100 grams, two counts of Unlawful Manufacture/Delivery of Cannabis 30-500 grams and one count each of Unlawful Possession of Cocaine 15-100 grams, Unlawful Possession of Cannabis 30-300 grams, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On June 28, 2013 he pleaded guilty to one of the Unlawful Manufacture/Delivery of Cannabis charges and was sentenced to probation for 18 months and ordered to pay $4,569.80 in fines and fees.

Zaranti appears to have a tendency toward violence, having been arrested March 11, 2008 and charged with Unlawful Vehicular Invasion, Property Damage $300-$10,000 and two counts of Aggravated Battery in a Public Place.

In a plea deal he pleaded guilty October 31, 2008 to an amended charge of Battery and was ordered to pay $2,800.20 in fines and fees.

He was convicted of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Child March 1, 2010 and sentenced to court supervision for six months.

He was also convicted July 26, 2010 of Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and fined $1,185.

Released from custody

The other thing that happened the same day Lil Bill spoke to authorities is that both McBee and Zaranti were released from police custody after a $1,000 cash bond was posted for each of them.

McBee’s bond was paid by Kristine R. Miller, of 508 West South St., Harrisburg and Zaranti was bonded out by Hugh Zaranti, of the same 410 Cotton Rd., Harrisburg address Forrest gave as his own.

What exactly the cast of players in the overturned truck case has to do with an alleged “gentlemen’s club,” if anything, is unclear.

However, sources close to the story continue to insist there is a connection.

CARMI, Ill. - Press information from District 19 in Carmi indicates that dates are set for Illinois State Police patrols in the area.

District 19 will conduct a Nighttime Enforcement Patrol (NITE) in Saline County during the month of November, according to District 19 Commander, Captain Kelly Hodge.

The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired drivers. Therefore, officers working NITE patrols will be watchful for drivers who are operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, transporting open alcoholic beverages, driving under the influence, and are not properly buckled up.

Alcohol and drug impairment is a significant factor in over 40 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. These nighttime patrols are designed to keep our roads safe by taking dangerous DUI offenders off the road and ensuring all vehicle occupants are buckled up.

Officers will also conduct special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) during the month of November in Wayne and White counties.

District 19 Troopers will concentrate on speeding, failure to use occupant restraints, and other driving offenses as part of their enforcement efforts. The sTEP program involves a combination of increased enforcement and public information designed to raise public awareness and compliance to all traffic laws. Speeding is a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes nationwide. In Illinois, speed-related crashes account for over 40 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Safety Belt Enforcement Zones may also be used during the sTEP program. Troopers will enforce the primary safety belt law to ensure drivers and all of their passengers are buckled up. Every hour someone dies in America simply because they are not wearing their safety belt. Statistics show that half of all people killed in traffic crashes are not properly buckled up. You can save your life by driving safely and simply buckling up.

And District 19 Troopers will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Wayne, White, Saline, and Gallatin counties during the month of November.

OREP allows the ISP to target an area with saturation patrols that focus on traffic violations and related compliance with safety belt and child safety seat laws. Safety belt enforcement zones will also be set up to ensure the driver and passengers are buckled up. Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers (front and back) to be buckled up!

Safety belts are one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles today, estimated to save over 12,000 lives each year. Over half of vehicle occupants killed in a traffic crash were not properly buckled up. The objective of this program is to increase compliance of occupant restraint laws through education, child seat inspections, and enforcement. Greater awareness, acceptance, and use of occupant protection equipment will save many lives.

These projects are funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Safety

Dan Moutria

MADISON CO., Ill. - This issue's Page 3 mug has a NEW mug courtesy the Saline County Detention Center.

Dan Moutria, 52, who has been in the pages of Disclosure many times since April of 2014 (and is on page 3 of the current edition), is in custody tonight (November 2) at the SCDC ...not in connection to one of the many civil cases in Saline and Madison counties he's embroiled in, but instead, it's a criminal issue: He's been charged out of Madison with felony counts in connection to Forgery and Exploitation counts.

Moutria, who has a lengthy record in the Granite City area of never being able to pay his bills, made the pages of Disclosure when he "escaped" from Madison County to Saline County, having taken up with the former wife of an area bigwig, Farmers State Bank high roller Tom Franks' ex, Nanette Franks. The two met while Moutria was doing "mission work" with a MadCo-area church, since Nanette was working with a Harrisburg church post-2012 Harrisburg tornado. Moutria, an apparent ace at "skipping" debts, left a Madison County-area woman $60,000-plus in the hole and, when he settled for $40,000-plus on a repayment after a judgment, he opted to move to Harrisburg and never paid much more than a few dollars on it.

He put off the woman last year when he claimed he was burned in an explosion re-lighting a pilot light at Nanette's house after she ran out of propane. He sued Knapp Oil over that earlier this year.

Now, he's charged with Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person and a person with a disability, and four separate counts of Forgery (for signing someone else's checks). Sources are saying they believe Moutria might've been doing this to his own parents.

He was arrested this past Friday, October 30, and housed at SCDC on $80,000 bond.

You can read about the wranglings in the current civil action Moutria's involved in by picking up a copy of the current edition of Disclosure (which is flying off the stands; you'd better get out and get one, as we can't restock anymore because we're OUT of papers here at the offices), or by clicking this link to take you straight to the e-Edition, where you can find the Page 3 article, Man suing Knapp Oil may never get to see his proceeds – if he gets them.

With the release of the most recent paper being at the end of October, that means your newest edition of Disclosure is NOVEMBER 2015!!

While there WILL be another issue in November, we’re out of the every-other-week papers and for this one and the next, we’re also out of every-three-weeks. Why? We needed a little break, actually. So we’re taking one, and we’ll have this current issue on stands for FOUR weeks, back to the usual cycle, meaning the next issue is scheduled to hit Nov. 25…but we’ve held the best for you, starting with this issue, for the next several. Why…? Something we’ve been working on for a number of months is the top article in this issue; something else we’ve been working on for the past two and a half YEARS is on page two, a couple of other things that we’ve known but have held out of respect to the investigators have hit the big headlines in this issue…and we figure everybody needed a chance to catch up, so you’ll get four weeks.

Now, we’re ready to post your PRINT HEADLINES. Print Headlines are an easy way for you to get to see what’s going on in this issue; and once you see it, you can decide if you want to hurry out and buy this issue or if you want to hit one of the convenient links here in the post to go right to the e-Edition! Print Headlines are presented in the order in which they appear in the paper (for the most part) according to Page 1, Back Page (our second front page), Pages 2 and 3, Features if any (usually presented on pages 12 and 13), Egypt, Heartland, Central, and Op-Ed. They are shown dateline first (the area of our coverage were the article happened) followed by the headline, which links directly to the e-Edition article for those who have an online membership. That's followed by a brief synopsis of the article, usually in our singular snarky Disclosure style (for those who aren't familiar with it...you might want to familiarize yourself with it. This is news with an edge; you should be careful where you stand when it comes to edges). And now, without further ado, here are THIS ISSUE'S PRINT HEADLINES.

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PAGE 1

SALINE CO. - Beginning of the end for an elusive "gentleman's club"?: While we didn't think we actually had that subject matter (the gentleman's club) in mind when we first pulled the file on the action that occurred that prompted this article, we soon came to realize, through a bit of digging, that that's EXACTLY where it lead. No, we hadn't turned a blind eye to what's going on in the Clearwave Building, Harrisburg...we just can't write about it until we get absolutely solid information on it. You should know that. And thanks to a couple of local rejects allegedly crashing Lil Bill Bonan's truck a few weeks back...we got it. This is the article that's blowing this issue off the shelves in South Counties; hurry out and get one before they're gone, and if you buy em up early enough (like this week), we might go ahead and do a reprint.

LAWRENCE CO. - Massive dope ring links Lawrenceville: Links Lawrenceville to WHAT, you might be asking...? Pretty much to EVERYTHING. In this article, you're going to see the criminal meth links between and among several southeastern Illinois counties, including Lawrence, Crawford, Richland, Clay and Edwards. This most unbelievable thing is very believable, however, if you've been following our coverage of the many busts as they began to go down a year ago with Nathan Headley...and carried forth from there. We've been pointing out the players for years. Now you have to ask yourselves: How do we know...? Turns out someone very close to us was on the inside for a long time...and this is one of the only few who are still out running around scot-free. Maybe, however, not for much longer. In the meantime, read this article and connect some dots...because the circle's getting bigger and bigger.

This photo purportedly shows a Flora police officer who's going through a divorce, here seen with his new girlfriend. Who took it? Why? Read the article and see.

FLORA - Cop followed in wake of divorce: This article is the reason this issue is flying off the stands in the NorthEast Counties of the coverage area. And even though we issue a caution at our "about us" page, regarding "no personal vendettas" being investigated by our journalist teams, some people just don't get it. So when they show up with one, we set the record straight. That's what this article is about.

RICHLAND CO. - Elbow Lane suspected drug dealer one of the latest to fall - Authorities tout snitches as making difference in drug war: And in one of our home counties, Richland, the war on meth has hit a crucial juncture. And...they're getting closer and closer to the big dealers/runners/suppliers, too. One of these days, hopefully very soon, the names making the headlines here are going to be some that you've never seen...and which are going to leave some of you aghast, and some of you going "Yep. I KNEW it."

BACK PAGE

JASPER CO. - Six Jasper/Richland County residents busted in major Wheeler meth roundup: On deadline weekend when we were producing this article, the Jasper County Sheriff's Department was busy busting SIX MORE alleged meth co-sonspirators, likely an offshoot from this first six. We didn't get that material until AFTER this issue went to press, so here's what graces the back page for an entire month. However, what a rummy bunch...many of them having records in Richland as well, including none other than loser Seth "Biggie" Hahn. The circle keeps expanding....

Curtis Goolsby

HAMILTON CO. - Insurance company fights claims on devastating accident: Remember the accident occurring last year involving Curtis Goolsby...? Well there's been a development, this while the guy is sitting in DOC.

HARDIN CO. - Special prosecutor handling prison worker's Forgery case: This is a strange one. And had it not actually been charged formally, we out here in the civvie world never know about it....but what it amounts to is that someone's been alleged to have faked an illness...of a kid. In order to skip work. At a prison. And then alleged to have falsified documents from a doctor. Oh what a tangled web...

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Eric Gregg

SALINE CO. - Sleight-of-hand in Gregg case probably won’t save his job… and might get him charged: Coverage of Eric Gregg lawsuit against the governor of Illinois, which you heard here first. If you ever had any doubt that Gregg is whackadoodie, please, read this article to remove it. You're better off understanding the truth. You'll also ask yourself the question: If Eric's bankrupt, how in the world is he paying for the attorney to sue the gov....?

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Dan Moutria

SALINE CO. - Man suing Knapp Oil may never get to see his proceeds -- if he gets them: Slimy Dan Moutria got the jump on Print Headlines when he got his rear tossed in the hoosegow here in Saline this past Friday. You can read about that sitch at this link here; in the meantime, hit the headline link to see how the suit with Knapp is going, as there's been a development.

FEATURE

MARION - Seminar at the Pavilion: Patient education event on medical cannabis held in Marion: Quite the neat deal at the Pavilion, with a lot of attention being given to what pot REALLY does for those with medical conditions.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Radioactive material in container missing in southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana: That thing, which we featured at this link here, is still missing and has been since September, they're now saying. This is an expanded piece over the original presented here at the site, and will cause you to understand why this isn't really THAT big of a deal....except for Wayne County Well Surveys, who are likely going to be fined.

VINCENNES - Book signing in Vincennes, Ind.: Ang's book is now in its second edition, and right on deadline, because we're hard workers like dat, she had a book signing at the Knox County Public Library. Check it out; more to come, which you can see at the book's Facebook page.

EGYPT

SALINE CO. - Multiple felonies charged in wake of trio being nabbed in Harrisburg burglary/theft ring: This is one of those articles where all the best crims are gathered together in one place. You'll recognize some frequent flyers right here.

HARDIN CO. - The Wallace saga continues - Robinson woman accused of animal cruelty in E'town: It seriously just looks like Tara tries to find the most diverse things possible to charge in Hardin; you know, in order to ensure that she has a well-rounded resume when it comes time to run again. Somehow, we doubt that will work. At any rate, she got a woman all the way from Robinson up in Crawford County charged, probably down here enjoying the tourism. Wtg, Tara.

SALINE CO. - Violence breaks out after 'rado man claims to have caught wife with another man: Well, this is the ages-old story, told here in part on the parking lot of a local club/watering hole.

SALINE CO. - Teen destroys surveillance system after he is caught on tape committing his crime: This would be absolutely hilarious if it weren't so awful. I can't even describe it; and I certainly can't explain it. You just have to read it to see.

SALINE CO. - Carrier Mills woman inadvertently points cops to drug stash during traffic stop: Hey, we've said it for years: You can't explain them unless you're the one ON them.

SALINE CO. - Flora and Marion thieves join locals plying their trade: This issue is FULL of crossovers. And here's one with folks from Clay and Williamson, respectively, traveling to Saline to do alleged badness.

SALINE CO. - Homeless Hamilton woman charged with delivering dope: And yet another crossover, only this gal didn't have to travel as far to get into alleged naughtiness as the person from Flora did.

HEARTLAND

COLES CO. - Gym owner admits to coworker he lies; testimony about audiotape given: The situation with Zac Lawson gets more and more explosive by the week, it seems. Read about what an ISP investigator testified to in court just a few weeks ago. Nobody else is covering it.

JASPER CO. - Acts of violence top Jasper Co. arrest log: The Jasper County crimes against persons report.

JASPER CO. - Runaway-harborers enter pleas in their cases: These gals whose involvement in this case was rather inexplicable settled their charges right away: here's the outcome

Chazz Lindsey

MARSHALL - Marshall animal cruelty video leads to charges: This has lit up social media for a couple of weeks now, and while everyone is outraged, the charges, as they turned out, aren't even felonies. What's up with this case...? Read this article and see.

EDGAR CO. - Thousands of dollars disbursed to Edgar County board members improperly: Just when you think the Edgar County board can't sink any lower, along comes a couple of people who can't seem to control being sneaky and disingenuous. And yes...they're costing the taxpayers.

CRAWFORD CO. - Drugs, thieving and a kicked cop top police blotter:  The Crawford County general crim report.

EDGAR-CLARK COs. - Can the Clark-Edgar Rural Water District collect certain fees...or is collection illegal?: The CERWD has had a whole heap of trouble for years. Now, they're once again up to no good. Read about it at the link.

CENTRAL

CLAY CO. - Clay County man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2009 picked up on DUI: Remember Codi Busby, the kid who got hit on by an old guy a few years ago when they were drinking (with Codi underage) and Codi freaked and beat the guy to death...? Yeah, Codi got a DUI.

CLAY CO. - Former sheriff's son has an OP filed against him AGAIN: There just isn't anyone in that McCulley clan worth what a pig can spit. Too bad lil Bradley has procreated. And by that I mean too bad for the kid, that he has that kind of trash for a dad.

LAWRENCE CO. - Inmate issues mandamus demand against Lawrence County judge: Easily the strangest story to come out of Lawrence in a long time, and definitely the strangest story in the Central section: A former inmate at Lawrence Correctional has sued Judge Robert Hopkins. Check this out...you'll either be laughing, or scratching your head by the end of it.

WABASH CO. - Crim roundup in Wabash has a Lawrence offender on board, sexual solicitation and more: Lots of crossover this month; not very many people stayed in their own counties to commit their alleged crimes.

CLAY CO. - Faked prescription form charged in Clay, same as Wayne: Well, at least Melissa looks a LOT better in this mugshot than she did in the Wayne County one a coupla months back.

WHITE CO. - Woman injured in car-tractor accident sues: White Coutny has become the weird magnet of lawsuits. This one not only is strange, but it also doesn't make a lot of sense. Maybe White's wanting to contend with Madison-St. Clair county for the judicial hellhole of civil litigation...? Who knows.

LAWRENCE CO. - Questions arise in case of woman who confessed to severely beating child: Crim roundup in Lawrence.

CLAY CO. - Woman accused of biting nose: Attempted cannibalism on the rise in most counties; this month, it's Clay.

WHITE CO. - Exes' violent clash lands both behind bars: This is one of those "good for the goose/good for the gander" articles.

OP-ED

COLUMNS

SURLY & UNCOOPERATIVE (Jack): And I have been made to promise not to kill
ICY (Ang): State's budget disaster brings out the randomness
MINKUS INK (Bubba): There is about to be some serious sh!t go wrong
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letters)

SALINE CO., Ill. - The following people were sentenced in September/October, 2015 in Saline County Circuit Court:

Tajuana Sullivan was sentenced on September 1, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 4 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and 1 year mandatory supervised release for the offense of Theft (Over $500.00).

Tevin Tate

Tevin J. Tate was sentenced on September 9, 2015 byJudge Walden Morris to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and 2 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Falsely Making a Terrorist Threat. Mr. Tate was also sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 2 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Attempted Armed Robbery.

Austin Wolf

Austin A. Wolf was sentenced on September 10, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and 2 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Residential Burglary.

Joshua S. Headrick was sentenced on October 7,2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 8 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and 1year mandatory supervised release for the offense of Aggravated Battery.

Kyle Day

Kyle M. Day was sentenced on October 9, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 3 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Home Invasion.

Daniel L. Vanhoorbeke was sentenced on October 9, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 1 year mandatory supervised release for the offense of Unlawful Possession of Weapons by Felon.

Michael R. Brogan was sentenced on October 13,2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 2 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Unlawful Possession of a Methamphetamine Precursor. Mr. Brogan was also sentenced to 3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 1 year mandatory supervised release for the offense of Unlawful Possession of Weapons by Felon, with the sentence to run consecutive for a total of 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Matthew S. Denbow was sentenced on October 16, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 2 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Residential Burglary. Mr. Denbow was also sentenced to 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 1 year mandatory supervised release for the offense of Theft (over $500.00).

Tony D. Patrick

Tony D. Patrick was sentenced on October 21, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 2 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Possession of a Converted Vehicle.

Robert S. Jones was sentenced on October 21, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 3 years mandatory supervised release for the offense of Methamphetamine Possession.

And Edward Denham was sentenced on October 28, 2015 by Judge Walden Morris to 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 1 year mandatory supervised release for the offense of Methamphetamine Possession.

SALINE CO., Ill. - An astonishing number of sex assault crimes have been filed in a massive Saline County case against an Equality man, who faces six to 30 years on each count if convicted of any of the 16 counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault.

According to Saline County State’s Attorney Mike Henshaw, Ronald C. Yarber, 48, has been charged with the 16 counts of predatory criminal Sexual assault, Yarber has been charged with 240 counts of Criminal Sexual Assault.

The criminal sexual assault charges carry with it a four to 15 year sentence on each count.

Information filed in the case alleges Yarber committed his crimes over approximately five-year period from 2004 to 2009.

Charges also allege the victim in the case was 12 to 17 year of age.

Yarber was formally charged in Saline County November 8 and currently holds the dubious record of having the most sex offenses charged against him in recent history.

Assistant State's Attorney Eva Walker is handling the prosecution against Yarber.

CARMI, Ill. - Illinois State Police District 19 Commander Captain Kelly Hodge announced on Tuesday activity and enforcement figures for the month of October.

Troopers in District 19, which includes Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Saline, and Gallatin Counties, recorded 1,105 incidents during the month.

Enforcement activity consisted of 627 citations and 878 written warnings, including 266 speeding citations, 6 DUIs, 111 seatbelt citations, 9 child restraint citations, 314 written warnings for speeding, and 28 criminal arrests. Troopers also assisted 50 motorists, conducted 292 Motor Carrier Safety Inspections, and investigated 49 traffic crashes. There was one fatal traffic crash, resulting in one fatality, investigated by District 19 during October.

In addition, 402 citations and 397 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.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - The National Weather Service has been issuing flood and flash flood warnings for the area in the wake of the rain being dumped on central and southern Illinois.

Here's the information from NOAA:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
337 AM CST MON NOV 16 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-
337 AM CST MON NOV 16 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...AND FAR SOUTHWEST KENTUCKY STARTING AT MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT. REFER TO THE WATCH FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

WET WEATHER RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. RAIN MAY BE
HEAVY AT TIMES WITH THUNDERSTORMS ALSO FORECAST. A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDDAY WEDNESDAY FOR THE WESTERN
HALF OF THE AREA. AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM 2 INCHES ACROSS OUR EAST
TO AS MUCH AS 3 TO 5 INCHES IN THE WATCH AREA. LOCALLY HEAVIER
AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE. REFER TO THE WATCH FOR DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELAY RAINFALL AMOUNTS AND FLOODING
IMPACTS.



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

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
252 AM CST MON NOV 16 2015

JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON-
WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-JOHNSON-POPE-
HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD-
MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-
CARTER-RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOUNT VERNON...FAIRFIELD...ALBION...
MOUNT CARMEL...PINCKNEYVILLE...WEST FRANKFORT...MCLEANSBORO...
CARMI...CARBONDALE...HERRIN...HARRISBURG...SHAWNEETOWN...
JONESBORO...VIENNA...GOLCONDA...ELIZABETHTOWN...CAIRO...
MOUND CITY...METROPOLIS...HICKMAN...CLINTON...BARDWELL...
WICKLIFFE...PADUCAH...MAYFIELD...PERRYVILLE...MARBLE HILL...
CAPE GIRARDEAU...PIEDMONT...VAN BUREN...DONIPHAN...POPLAR BLUFF...
BLOOMFIELD...SIKESTON...CHARLESTON...NEW MADRID
252 AM CST MON NOV 16 2015

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND SOUTHERN
  ILLINOIS...AND A SMALL PART OF FAR SOUTHWEST KENTUCKY.

* FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING

* A LARGE SCALE STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING A VERY WET WEATHER
  FORECAST TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. RAIN CHANCES GRADUALLY
  INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY TODAY...AND BY LATE TONIGHT...HEAVY
  RAIN SETS IN AND CONTINUES OFF AND ON THROUGH WEDNESDAY
  MORNING.

  FORECAST RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM AROUND 3 INCHES ALONG
  AND JUST WEST OF THE WABASH AND LOWER OHIO RIVERS...TO AS MUCH
  AS 4 OR 5 INCHES ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND FAR SOUTHWEST
  ILLINOIS. LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE.

* THESE ACCUMULATIONS OVER SEVERAL DAYS MAY OVERWHELM LOCAL STORM
  DRAINS AND GUTTERS...ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CLEARED OF
  FALLING LEAVES AND OTHERWISE BUILT UP DEBRIS. AFTER THE FIRST
  RAINS SET IN...AND GROUNDS SLOWLY BEGIN TO SATURATE...ADDITIONAL
  HEAVY RAINS COMING...ESPECIALLY TUESDAY NIGHT...MAY RESULT IN
  RAPID RUNOFF AND FLASH FLOODING COULD OCCUR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

IF YOU ARE DRIVING AND ENCOUNTER A FLOODED ROADWAY...TURN AROUND
AND DONT DROWN. BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR RISING WATERS...ESPECIALLY
AT NIGHT WHEN THEY ARE HARDER TO SEE. SEEK HIGH GROUND IMMEDIATELY
IF YOU ENCOUNTER RISING FLOOD WATERS.

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

This applies to most of southern and central Illinois; please be safe when driving or when out in areas that become saturated and can be prone to flooding.

CARMI, Ill. -  The Illinois State Police (ISP) is urging the motoring public to drive safe and avoid the Fatal Four moving violations; Speeding, DUI, Failure to Wear Seatbelts, and Distracted Driving, this holiday season.

Traditionally, the Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of the busy holiday driving period. Beginning on Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29, high traffic volumes are expected on roadways throughout the state. As traffic volume increases, so does your chance of being involved in a traffic crash. Avoiding the Fatal Four can help decrease your chances of being involved in a serious traffic crash.

ISP troopers will be extra vigilant during the holiday travel period. Officers will be conducting road side safety checks and participating in additional traffic enforcement details to identify the Fatal Four moving violations. Officers will also be available to provide assistance to motorists experiencing mechanical issues on their way to and from their
holiday celebrations.

"Our goal is to save lives during this holiday travel period, and that is why ISP District 19 troopers will be out  Aggressively enforcing the Fatal Four traffic violations most associated with fatal traffic crashes," said District 19 Commander Kelly Hodge. "In addition, District 19 troopers will be participating in the Click It or Ticket Campaign through November 29th, where specific enforcement details will be conducted to identify those drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt," added Commander Hodge.

Along with avoiding the Fatal Four, the ISP would also like to remind motorist to "move over."  The "move over" law requires motorists approaching an emergency vehicle stopped along the roadway to reduce their speed, change lanes if possible, and proceed with due caution.

The safety of everyone on Illinois roadways is important.  Please remember:  Don't Drink and Drive, Always Buckle Up, Limit Distractions, Slow Down, and "Move Over"!  The Illinois State Police would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend.

Dan Moutria, after the explosion of a hot water tank in May of 2014 that he is blaming Knapp Oil for.

SALINE CO. – A twist to the case of a metro-east man who moved to Harrisburg, and subsequently tried to sue a local propane provider after an explosion, has occurred in Saline County Circuit Court.

The convoluted situation involving Dan Moutria, formerly of Granite City but who moved to Harrisburg after volunteering with a church group post Leap Day Tornado in 2012, has by turns gotten more convoluted as well as, in some respects, straightened out.

The latter situation comes in the form of a woman from the western side of the state who has a Madison County judgment of $43,000 against Moutria, with whom she formerly had a relationship.

The former, however, puts the onus on Moutria, who, if he becomes the recipient of funds in compensation or punitive damages, as he’s seeking against Knapp Oil of Xenia, will be prohibited from collecting those funds until the judgment is settled against him.

The situation came to light in early 2014 after Moutria made Harrisburg his home, following getting hooked up with the freshly-divorced former Mrs. Tom Franks (Franks being a well-known banker in Williamson and Saline counties).

Moutria makes it a practice to “volunteer” with church groups doing the kind of work that was being carried out by many of them in the days after the February 29, 2012 tornado that ripped up the southwest side of Harrisburg.

During his work – which he conducted while still living in the southwestern portion of Illinois – he met and began a relationship with Nanette Franks.

At some point in time after her divorce was making its way through the court in Williamson County (it was filed in 2012, but wasn’t finalized until August of 2014), Franks reportedly assisted Moutria in finding a place to live in Harrisburg. In May of 2014, Moutria was at Franks’ home in rural Saline County attempting to help her get propane at her home for her hot water heater, and Knapp Oil delivered the propane after the on site tank was purportedly out and the pilot light, of course, had gone out in the house.

When Moutria went to light the pilot on the heater, he claims, the whole thing blew up on him, leaving him with significant burns and precluding him from doing anything resembling “work” (supposedly including volunteer work), which of course precluded him from making good on the massive debt he’d agreed to pay to one Sherrie Finke, who had a judgment against him in 2013 originating out of Madison County.

The judgment came about after Finke, having had a relationship with Moutria, got out when it became apparent that all he was doing was using her for money…well over $60,000 in a short amount of time, according to Madison County court documents Disclosure obtained in early 2014.

They agreed to a repayment amount of $43,000, and a judgment was entered. Moutria, however, not known for a stellar record of long-term employment, never repaid.

Instead, he moved to Harrisburg after working with the church group Franks was in post-tornado, struck up the relationship, and found someone new to ostensibly carry out his ways with.

While Franks herself didn’t have gainful employment, the early-60s woman was receiving a decent maintenance from the wealthy ex, and apparently that was enough for Moutria…until the May 2014 explosion.

About a year later, Moutria, being represented by Michael Doerge of Jelliffe, Ferrell, Doerge and Phelps of Harrisburg, filed against Knapp Oil, claiming that they were negligent in the way they provided propane to Nanette Franks’ residence as well as negligent in following through with lighting the pilot light, etc.

The actual truth is probably somewhere in the middle: Moutria was probably trying to imitate some semblance of machismo in lighting the pilot, possibly even telling Knapp not to bother. Then when the explosion occurred, someone within his realm likely suggested the lawsuit as a way to ease his financial woes, since it seemed at that time that Nanette wasn’t really assisting (given that there had been no payments made toward the Finke debt, and that another collection agency had filed suit in Saline County in April of 2014, seeking money from Moutria on one of many judgments out of Madison County from the previous years).

The Knapp suit was filed July 6, 2015. Knapp responded on August 10, claiming they had done their due diligence as they usually do in the course of their business with their many customers, none of whom had blown up a hot water heater, then blamed Knapp for it. Moutria fired back on August 24, attacking their answers and stating they were still in the wrong.

Judge Todd Lambert heard the filings on September 3 and denied Moutria’s petition to strike Knapp’s answers, noting that the answers were sufficient to proceed with the case with some apparent modifications.

Then on October 1, an entry of appearance was filed by attorneys retained by Finke.

The attorney, John H. Leskera of Collinsville, entered a Petition to Intervene and File Judgment Lien, citing the 2013 Madison County lawsuit arising out of the contract Moutria had made with Finke for repayment.

In the suit, Finke had filed a Citation to Discover Asset, and this citation revealed the Saline County case against Knapp.

Leskera then noted that on Sept. 16, 2015, the Madison County Circuit Court entered an order forbidding Moutria from disbursing any of the assets of the case that might come about without notifying Finke and her counsel.

Thus, Leskera said, the Madison County court also granted leave for Finke to intervene for purposes of ‘perfecting her judgment lien against any proceeds Moutria recovers in this lawsuit.’

This was what Finke was asking now of the Saline County court: the right to intervene in the Moutria v. Knapp case, should it bear fruit.

A handwritten order from Madison County was submitted with the petition, showing that the judge was allowing Finke to pursue the case in Saline, as she was owed the $43,000 by Moutria.

Other paperwork on file, including Order Forbidding Distribution of Personal Injury Proceeds, points out that Moutria is forbidden from distributing or accepting distribution from any proceeds arising out of the Knapp Oil suit “without appeal from the Court of payment in full of the debt owed to Sherri Finke.”

Lambert, as of press time, hadn’t addressed the petition to intervene.

He likely will within a reasonable amount of time, however, as a collector of debt basically has dibs on any excess a debtor might come into, be it income, gifts, tax return, or proceeds from a litigation.

This puts Knapp in an interesting position, however.

If the matter is litigated (and not thrown out on the face of it, which is still possible) and a judgment to Moutria is awarded, they won’t be issuing it to Moutria; they’ll be sending it to Finke.

This makes it difficult to know who to root for, for those who do that kind of thing and watch the court report like it’s a big-league playoff.

And under the circumstances, it might, at the very least, be high stakes for Moutria, whose bad habits may finally have caught up with him.

Charles Ryan, SCDC mugshot

SALINE CO., Ill. - A stipulated bench trial for a man accused of murdering his stepfather in 2011 was swiftly carried out this week in Saline County, but the determination of "not guilty by reason of insanity" by Judge Walden Morris doesn't mean that Charles Ryan is going to be released from the Saline County Detention Center.

Ryan stabbed his stepfather, Carl Crouch, 59, on December 23, 2011 at Crouch's residence on Barnett Street in Harrisburg. He was charged with first degree murder and held on a million dollar bail at SCDC after his arrest over in Jackson County.

Represented by Morgan Scroggins, Ryan went to a stipulated bench trial this week (November 17). Regular readers will recall that White County murderer Danny Coston had a stipulated bench trial in August of 2013. During this trial for Ryan, no testimony was elicited except for statements by the two psychiatrists who examined him, Michael E. Althoff for the defense and Terry Killian for the state. Both doctors concluded that Ryan was insane at the time of the crime...and for this to be conclusive by both retained doctors pretty much sealed the deal for Morris.

Yesterday (Friday, Nov. 20), Morris determined that Ryan was not guilty by reason of insanity. And despite published reports about the matter which have lead people to believe that somehow, Ryan is going to be released because his trial is over and he's "not guilty," that's not the case at all. Ryan is going to be remanded to the custody of the Department of Human Services, because he remains mentally unable to function in society and for all intents and purposes is a danger; Morris in fact told the courtroom that the state proved its case of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, so it's accurate to say that Ryan murdered his stepfather...but the "not guilty" verdict is one that fit the criteria as established by the laws of Illinois, and that's what Morris went with. How long Ryan will stay in DHS custody remains unknown; it could be for a very long time.

Rick White

Other media, primarily Wayne County's radio station, are producing misleading reports because A - they weren't there and B - they're relying on Illinois State Police investigator Rick White to spoon-feed them material so they can get the scoop on everyone else in the area. While former ISP investigator Bryan Harms was the lead agent in the Ryan murder case, White stepped in because Harms retired in the interim. White has a track record of screwing things up, sometimes irretrievably, and provides a terrible playing field for most prosecutors in southern Illinois to work with. However, his greatest drawback at this time is that he leaks info to the radio station and to his drinking buddy, on-air personality Len Wells, and when he so leaks, it's not quite accurate. Further to that, White has caused others in ISP to get into trouble for providing information to other news sources...yet he himself rarely causes the flutter of an eyelid when he does the same thing.

We'll have coverage of White's most recent call to the carpet over just that - leaking info to Wells - as well as full coverage of what REALLY went on in the Ryan stipulated bench trial, this in the upcoming print version of Disclosure, the December Special Edition, on stands Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25...be watching for delivery announcements, as well as e-Edition postings on Monday night. If you're not an online member...why not sign up now? Click this link to get started, so you'll be first to get to read everything in the print version, and have e-Edition Xtras delivered right here to your computer.

SALINE CO., Ill. - A young passenger in the vehicle of a New Burnside woman is dead following a traffic crash near Eldorado last night (Saturday, November 21).

The crash occurred on U.S. Route 45, just south of Alexander Road at approximately 10:47 p.m.

At that time, Sarah K. Schell, age 35, of New Burnside, Illinois, was driving a black 2015 Kia Soul southbound at that location when she left the west side of the roadway. Once the vehicle left the roadway, it struck a concrete culvert and overturned onto its passenger side.

William D. Schell, 41, also of New Burnside, was the front seat passenger, and was not wearing a seatbelt; he was partially ejected from the vehicle.

A juvenile male, age 5, and a juvenile female, age 3, both also of New Burnside, were in the vehicle.

Sarah and the juvenile female passenger were transported from the crash scene by ambulance to an area hospital. William was transported by Air Evac to a hospital in Evansville, Indiana. The
juvenile male passenger was pronounced deceased at the traffic crash scene by the Saline County Coroner's Office. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Both lanes of traffic were closed for approximately 3 1/2 hours while the traffic crash was investigated.

An ISP Crash Reconstruction Officer (C.R.O.) has been assigned to the crash investigation. In addition, ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the Saline County Sheriff's Department,
Saline County EMS, Med Force Ambulance Service, Saline County Coroner's Office, Eldorado Police Department, Eldorado Fire Department, Air Evac, Life Flight, and Jones Towing.

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