http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=newsLocal news from the south-central Illinois areahttp://www.wjbdradio.com/images/wjbd_logo_small.pnghttp://www.wjbdradio.comWJBD Online13573http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20682Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:25:04 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20682 Work is now underway on a 459-thousand dollar total renovation of the former Bryan Bennett Library building on West Main Street in Salem. The project is being undertaken by Rebecca Carpenter and Doug Monical. Carpenter says the building will have a 1930 style decor when completed. "We're building new walls, insulating the walls, fixing the roof, and putting in a skylight in the atrium area," she says. "Chris Daniels Law Firm and the Raymond James Office will be moving in hopefully by June 1st." Carpenter reports a new heating and air conditioning system, new landscaping, and a repaved parking lot are also part of the project. The Raymond James office will occupy the first floor, while the Daniels Law Office and several other tenants will be housed on the second floor. Daniels says he will also maintain his law office in Centralia. Kip Meador of Salem is the general contractor on the project. Carpenter and Monical purchased the building for one-dollar, provided they complete at least a quarter million dollars in renovation work. The council met yesterday (Monday) morning in special session to make Marion County Savings Bank the first lien holder so financing for the project could be completed. The city will maintain a second position on the building until a quarter million dollars is spent. They will then bow out of the project. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20683Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:24:58 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20683The Centralia City Council Monday night voted to affirm the city's funding commitment to the dredging project at Raccoon Lake. Councilmembers cleared a resolution committing 1.4 million dollars to the project, to be matched by 7 million dollars in Federal money. The funds will be spent during fiscal year 2011, which runs from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. Projected projects for this year include construction of the required settling basins, in lake sediment trap and berm and allow for minimal dredge work. The total 8.4 million dollars in anticipated expenditures is only part or the proposed 20 million dollar project. City Manager Grant Kleinhenz says additional matching funds will be sought in coming years and the funds committed in fiscal year 2011 will count towards the city's share on subsequent agreements. The Raccoon Lake dredging project is designed to create new commercial and residential investment opportunities as well as improve the water storage and capacity within one of the City's water source reservoirs. The council also passed a resolution declaring two parcels of property at Raccoon Lake as "surplus property." Kleinhenz says the surplus parcels are not feasible for any large construction projects and says one parcel may be used in the future to build a water pump station, while the other may be used for lake access and a boat dock. Meanwhile, councilmembers approved a 61-thousand dollar bid from HD Supply for pipe, fittings, fire hydrants and other items for utility maintenance in 2010. A near six-thousand dollar bid to SMP Screen Print was also approved for recreation department t-shirts. The council may also reschedule April's "burn weekend" since it would fall on the Easter Holiday. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20684Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:24:52 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20684Centralia City Manager Grant Kleinhenz is concerned about the implications of the state budget proposed for 2011 by Governor Pat Quinn. He says things don't look good for city governments statewide. "Quinn is reccommending a 300 million dollar cut to state municipalities," he says. "Typically states receive 10 percent of the state income tax, but that is proposed to be slashed to seven percent." Kleinhenz says that spells bad news for Centralia. "That's about a 96-thousand dollars loss from the City's general fund." The City Manager says Centralia already had to cut 1.5 million from this year's budget and will likely have to institute hiring freezes if the cuts are approved. Kleinhenz encouraged the council to oppose the plan, following the footsteps of Chicago. City officials will likely return next month with a document in opposition to the planned budget.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20689Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:45:14 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20689The Salem Area Foundation and Greater Chamber of Commerce have announced the winners of several annual awards to those who have worked towards the betterment of the community. WJBD would like to highlight the efforts and achievements of those individuals throughout the week prior to the awards ceremony on Friday, March 12th at the Salem Community Activities Center. The winner of the 2010 Public Servant of the Year award is Salem Fire Chief and Police Dispatcher Roger Mann. Mann has been involved with fire department activities since high school and got his start at the Kell Fire Department. He says he's honored to receive the award, but public service isn't about the recognition. "You're not doing it to get the honor," he says. "You're doing it to help people." Mann says he's thankful for the support of family and friends since he never knows when he will be called to a fire or accident. "We've been to motor vehicle accidents, structure fires and HAZ-MAT incidents," he says. "It's never ending to what you might get called to help with." Mann admits as Fire Chief, the role isn't very "hands on," but says making sure everyone does their job safely and properly takes a lot of effort. Despite the challenge he still says he enjoys waking up and going to work in the morning. The winner of the 2010 Businessman of the Year award is Larry Rogers, owner of the Rogers-Atkins Funeral Home. Rogers says attitude makes a big difference in business. "I think service and trust is important... families have to trust us," he says. "It's the simple notion of treating people how you'd like to be treated if it was reversed." Rogers became full owner of the business in 1974 after his service in Vietnam. He says the funeral home remains focused on families during their time of need and continues to work on improving the facilities. Rogers says he tries to give back to the area community like so many in Salem, and appreciates the award. WJBD will continue to highlight various winners of the Salem Area Foundation and Greater Chamber of Commerce annual awards throughout the week. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20688Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:48:42 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20688Bond has been set at 15-thousand dollars for a 45-year-old Centralia woman charged in Marion County Court Monday with felony aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer following a brief chase in Centralia Sunday morning. Lawanda Barnes of North Elm was also arrested for driving under the influence and several traffic citations. A person identified as Barnes girlfriend, 58-year-old Erskine Harris of North Lincoln in Centralia, had bond set at one-thousand dollars after being charged with obstructing a peace officer. Harris is charged with positioning himself in the middle of the roadway while riding a bicycle in an attempt to prevent a traffic stop on Barnes vehicle. Both had the public defender appointed to represent them.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20687Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:47:16 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20687A 20-year-old Centralia woman is being held in the Marion County Jail Tuesday on outstanding Marion and Clinton County warrants. Amber Berry of South Maple was arrested by Centralia Police on a Marion County warrant for driving under the influence and a Clinton County warrant for failure to appear on a retail theft charge. Bond on the warrants totals 11-thousand 500-dollars.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20686Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:46:39 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20686Two occupants of a car that ran off the West Boone Street Road just west of Hoots Chapel Road northwest of Salem received minor injuries. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say 16-year-old Brady Bell of North Broadway in Salem was westbound on the gravel section of roadway when he lost control, struck a ditch and overturned. Both Bell and a passenger, 12-year-old Mykell Wilson of Purcell Road in Salem, complained of minor injuries but did not receive hospital treatment. The wreck occurred just after six last (Monday) night. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20685Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:45:47 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20685A 22-year-old Salem man has been transferred to St. Louis University Hospital for treatment of head injuries following a single vehicle wreck on the Red Stripe Road at Odin Road early Monday morning. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say Tyler Cantrell of Magnolia Drive was a passenger in a pickup that crashed into a deep roadside ditch. The driver, 24-year-old Nicholas Weikert of South Broadway in Salem, was ticketed for alleged driving under the influence. Weikert was not injured. Sheriff's Deputies say Cantrell apparently hit his head on the dashboard of the truck upon impact. He was initially taken to Salem Township Hospital and then transferred to St. Louis. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20681Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:29:48 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20681(Peoria, IL) -- The state's Citizens Utility Board is speaking out against a 130-million-dollar rate hike request from downstate Illinois' largest utility. Jim Chilsen of CUB says the Ameren Corporation doubled its profit over last year and should not be asking for more. Last month, a judge recommended the rate increase request should be cut to 56-million dollars. A final ruling on the request will be made by the Illinois Commerce Commission in May. CUB teamed up with AARP and State Representative Jehan Gordon in a press conference yesterday in Peoria, urging residents to fight against the request. State Representative Bob Flider held a similarly themed press conference near Decatur.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20680Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:28:12 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20680The Illinois Liquor Control Commission says four Centralia business failed compliance checks by selling alcohol to minors last month. On February 4th, Bears Liquor, Blue Goose Liquor, Centralia Food & Gas, and the Casey General Store on East Noleman all sold alcohol to underage ILCC participants. Illinois State Police and ILCC Special Agents checked 22 licenses in Marion County.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20679Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:27:20 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20679State Representative John Caveletto says the House Bipartisan Job Creation Task Force continues to look for new ways to create jobs in Illinois. Cavaletto says Illinois is not a business friendly environment and there are several reasons why. "The Task Force started with the Governor's office," he says. "Those people came in to testify on problems they were seeing... the two things that came out of those meetings were workman's compensation and liability." Caveletto says one business in Illinois has been hit particularly hard. The legislator says the trucking industry has been hit particularly hard, losing some 120-thousand jobs over the past few years. Cavaletto says drivers will go out of state to register their trucks because it's cheaper and companies will hire drivers from out of state because workman's compensation and liability is cheaper. Cavaletto says slow permit applications from the Illinois EPA are also causing problems. "What company is going to come here when they're waiting on a permit for two years?" he asks. "You don't know what the economy will be like then and in Indiana you can get that permit in six months." Cavaletto says the Job Creation Task Force will continue their work and look for ways to boost job growth. Illinois loses an estimated 650 jobs a day to surrounding states and has logged 24 straight months of job losses, which equates to nearly three billion dollars in lost revenue. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20678Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:19:01 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20678State Senator John O. Jones is voicing his concern over budget prioritizations by the state of Illinois. Jones says hundreds of non essential jobs are being filled at agencies like the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation. The Senator says the positions that need to be filled are for starting work on the long-delayed capital program, prison guards or even caseworkers. The comments came during a conference call and after a state agency assistant director received a 35-thousand dollar pay raise. Jones says 13-thousand teachers in the state might soon be out of a job because of Illinois' failure to prioritize issues to solve major problems. The state is looking at a 13 billion dollar budget deficit and initial figures from the Governor's office indicate a 15 percent drop in school funding across the board, causing several districts to dismiss teacher aides as well as tenured and non-tenured staff. Lagging state aid payments are also wreaking havoc on education as district heads scramble to make budget decisions prior March board meetings, which are the deadlines to for layoff decisions concerning certified staff. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20677Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:37:08 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20677CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - The University of Illinois will start selling beer and wine at some concerts at the on-campus Assembly Hall starting this month. Assembly Hall Director Kevin Ullestad said Monday alcohol will be sold as part of a pilot program at shows aimed at adults. The first event will be Cirque du Soleil's "Alegria," at the arena March 17-21. Ullestad says the Assembly Hall needs to sell alcohol to compete with venues in Bloomington and Peoria. He said beer and wine will not be sold at events that draw large numbers of students. That includes Fighting Illini basketball games. Officials say Assembly Hall staff will report to university administrators at the end of the spring. Then a decision will be made on whether to keep selling alcohol.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20676Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:34:37 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20676SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - More information about Gov. Pat Quinn's budget proposal is coming soon. The Democratic governor's staff is expected to provide details on the plan Tuesday night in advance of Quinn's official budget speech Wednesday. The administration has already talked about some of the spending cuts and borrowing that Quinn believes will be needed to balance the budget. But it hasn't been so open about the tax increase that Quinn wants. Last year, Quinn proposed raising the basic tax level by 50 percent. That failed in the Legislature and lawmakers show little interest in discussing the idea again during an election year. But the state's budget deficit continues to climb. Experts predict it will top $13 billion in the coming fiscal year.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20675Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:32:21 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20675CHICAGO (AP) - There are resources available to help Illinois senior citizens avoid getting ripped off during these tough economic times. They can get help from the Illinois attorney general's office. Lisa Madigan's office has a guide seniors can use if they're facing credit problems and it can help them avoid scams like fraudulent mortgage rescue schemes. The state agency also has launched a training program to help seniors recognize and avoid scams. Madigan's office says seniors trained through the program can then help others in their community avoid getting ripped off. Highlighting the resources available for seniors is part of National Consumer Protection Week.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20674Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:29:57 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20674SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois officials are urging consumers to stop leaky faucets during "Fix a Leak Week" next week. The Illinois Commerce Commission says minor water leaks waste more than one trillion gallons in U.S. homes annually. Commissioner Erin O'Connell-Diaz says each home can contributed 10,000 gallons of wasted water a year -- enough to fill a backyard swimming pool. The initiative is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It aims to save consumers money and save water for future generations. The ICC and the EPA's "WaterSense" program offer tips on finding household leaks, including checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing worn out toilet flappers.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20673Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:59:09 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20673Problems with a bridge south of Iuka have caused the Marion County Highway Department to close the structure to traffic until further notice. County Highway Engineer Jerry Cunningham says piling in the base of the River Road bridge over Skillet Fork has degraded and is no longer safe. County crews found the problems during their annual inspections. Cunningham says the Illinois Department of Transportation has been notified of the findings and will be sending a team to examine the problem. "The DOT has been notified and will come down, look at it and make recommendations on what appropriate repairs we can make," he says. Cunningham says the base degradation is "not a normal occurence" and the cause is currently under investigation. He says I-DOT typically responds quickly to this type of call, but still expects the bridge to be closed for the near future until repairs can be made and the bridge can be declared "safe."http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20664Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:59:04 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20664 Some 22-hundred people filed through the doors of the Salem Community Activity Center this weekend for the 28th annual Salem Home, Community and Ag expo, sponsored by the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce. Over 60 vendors were on hand for the event, showcasing everything from golf carts to fruit cobblers. Several vendors noted an increased interest this year as attendance increased an estimated 20 percent from 2009. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Art Carnahan says the jump in interest could reflect positive trends in the economy as people are finally looking at home improvement projects that they were forced to pospone. "I was talking with the person who does the tree cutting," he says. "He said there was a number of folks who had been holding back but now wanted to do something." The expo also saw a jump in those getting the low-cost blood testing through the Salem Township Hospital. A record 730 patients took advantage of the service offered on Saturday at the Expo. Looking towards 2011, Carnahan says he received a lot of feedback from visitors and hopes for continued success in the future. A major part of the Expo was drawings and prizes. Leon Duis was the winner of the 50/50 raffle prize of 250 dollars. A complete list of winners is available online at WJBDradio.comhttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20668Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:58:57 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20668 Marion County State's Attorney Matt Wilzbach says the Sheriff has authority to spend money out of the department's drug fund without approval of the county board. County Board Member Tom Garrett raised the issue at the law enforcement committee meeting last week when questioning Sheriff Jerry Devore about the purchase of a new canine unit without first coming to the county board. Wilzbach says while he hasn't been asked to address the issue by the county board following the meeting, it is an issue he has studied since taking office and during the investigation into charges brought against retired Sheriff Brad Wolenhaupt. He notes the law does specifically limit how the sheriff can use the money. "The sheriff's department makes the decision how to utilize those funds for the purpose of drug enforcement or education," he says. "As I understand it, the sheriff would be legitimate for using the funds in the purchase of a drug dog - that is one of the statutory purposed for using the funds." DeVore says the new dog handler, Deputy Jason Smith, will undergo six weeks of training in Evansville, Indiana beginning later this month before the canine is put on duty. The question about spending authority for the drug fund arose after expenditures for the fund began showing up on the county board's financial reports. The county's auditor made that request to allow for oversight of the fund following the charges brought against Wolenhaupt partially as a result of the fund being used for personal expenses.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20667Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:58:53 CSThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=20667 The Illinois Department of Public Health has signed off on the occupancy permit for the new addition to Salem Township Hospital to open. Hospital President Stephanie Hilton-Siebert says as a result, the new front doors of the hospital will swing open next Monday morning. "The first level of the addition will be open which includes the business office, medical records, bistro and gift shop," she says. "Then we're looking at our clinical areas moving in the two weeks after that." Hilton-Siebert says the open houses for the new addition as well as the rest of the hospital have been confirmed for April ninth and tenth. On Friday morning, April ninth, senior citizens will be given tours. Hospital staff and family will receive tours that afternoon. On Saturday, April tenth, tours will be available for everyone from nine to three. Hilton-Siebert says while in Springfield last week she was able to sit down with officials of the Department of Public Health and answer their remaining questions and brought home the signed occupancy permit with her. She reports the small number of items the inspectors wanted changed prior to opening have all been completed. Work on the seven-million dollar addition to the hospital began with a ground breaking in December 2007. Construction changes delayed the opening originally scheduled for last summer. The front addition is the first of three phases of improvements to Salem Township Hospital.