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=23334Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:38:30 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23334Former Marion County Sheriff Brad Wolenhaupt will spend the remainder of his 180 day sentence behind bars for official misconduct. Judge James Eder denied a motion to have the sentenced converted to home confinement in court Thursday. Defense Attorney Richard Cary called Michelle Barwell, a physician's assistant and former employee of the jail under Wolenhaupt, to testify against keeping the former Sheriff in the jail because of his medical conditions. Wolenhaupt had a heart attack during his first day in jail.States Attorney Matt Wilzbach called the current Jail Administrator Zach Roeckeman to testify the facility could accommodate Wolenhaupt's medical needs. Wilzbach questioned why the former Sheriff's cardiologist or family physician was not called in to offer an opinion. The Judge found no reason to further stay thejail sentence or convert it to home confinement. Wolenhaupt was ordered to report tothe Marion County Jailon September 7th. The former Sheriff has already repaid the nearly 16-thousand dollars restitution as ordered by the court as part of his sentence for diverting county funds for his own use.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23335Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:38:28 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23335Patoka's Fall Festival returns to Patoka Park this weekend, for three days packed with a parade, music and a demolition derby. Festivities start on Friday with Bingo to benefit Relay for Life from 7 to 10 p.m. There will also be a Karate Demonstration by David Belcher and his class at 7:30, followed by a free showing of the original "Karate Kid" in the park at dusk. Saturday starts with a parade at 11 a.m. One of the festival coordinators, Annette McNicol, says a familiar face will be this year's Grand Marshall. "Grand Marshall this year is Bob Thalman and he is a mainstay in our community," she says. "He has been driving school buses for the last 57 years and there aren't many people in the town of Patoka that don't know Bob." McNicol also says Thalman will be on board a special "surprise" float this year. Following the parade, food vendors and kids activities open at noon and local music talent performs from 3-5 p.m. The demolition derby in memory of Nicholas Feather and Greg Hassebrock starts at six p.m. with registration earlier in the day at 1 p.m. Arena admission is ten dollars for adults, five dollars for children 6-12 years-old and children under five are free. Pit passes are 30 dollars. After the action on Saturday, the festival comes to a close on Sunday morning with a community inter-denominational church service at the park around the lawn pavilion at 10:30. At the same time, brunch will be held at the Patoka American Legion by Patoka High School Baseball and Basketball Teams. For a complete schedule of events, download the printable PDF document. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23333Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:20:39 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23333The Illinois Department of Public Health is marking September as Prostate and Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. IDPH Director and prostate cancer survivor Dr. Damon Arnold is encouraging Illinoisans to learn the symptoms of the two diseases, how cancer is detected and what they can do to potentially lengthen their lives. Arnold says prostate cancer risk increases with age, is related to genetics and is more common in African Americans. Symptoms of possible prostate cancer include impotence, pain in the bones, weakness or numbness in the lower body and bowel issues. For ovarian cancer, Arnold says most ovarian cancers happen after menopause and can be family-related. He adds birth control pill use, having children or a hysterectomy may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or frequent bathroom use. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer found in men, while ovarian cancer is the ninth most common in women. Arnold urges citizens to speak with their health-care professional regarding screenings and risk.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23332Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:58:59 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23332CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - A member of Southern Illinois University's governing board has stepped down after taking over as the region's new U.S. attorney. The Southern Illinoisan of Carbondale reports that Stephen Wigginton resigned his seat last week, a day before being sworn in as southern Illinois' top federal prosecutor. A spokesman for the university system, David Gross, says the Justice Department and the university's legal counsel agreed that Wigginton could not hold both posts. Wiggington had been on the board since 2005. Gov. Pat Quinn will name Wigginton's replacement.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23331Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:52:23 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23331If you have an itch to teach or help others, Kaskaskia College is looking for volunteer tutors in their Reading Link program. Volunteer tutors assist adult learners who are over 16 years of age in reading, writing, basic math and English skills. Tutors are also trained free of charge. Anyone with a genuine concern for others, an ability to learn and an ability to read can take part in the challenging and rewarding experience. Volunteers tutor for a minmum of two hours per week in a public place. Free Volunteer Tutor training will be held on Tuesday, September 28th at Kaskaskia College's Centralia Campus, Thursday, September 30th at the KC Workforce Education Center in Centralia and Wednesday, October 6th at the Salem Education Center. Classes will also be held at other KC Education Centers . Volunteers can choose to attend between 2-4 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. To register for the next training session or for more information, you can call "The Reading Link" at Kaskaskia College - 545-3119. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23330Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:53:16 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23330CARLYLE, Ill. (AP) - A southwestern Illinois judge has denied a man's request to take back his plea in the beating death of his girlfriend's 3-year-old son. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that Clinton County Judge Dennis Middendorff on Wednesday refused to let Scott Endicott withdraw his Alford pleas. Endicott insists he was coerced into entering those pleas in July, three days into his first-degree murder trial. Under such pleas, a defendant doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction. Twenty-four-year-old Endicott was accused of causing the injuries that killed Joseph Schoolfield in January 2009. The boy's mother, Valerie Schoolfield, is slated to stand trial next month. Middendorff also denied Endicott's request for a new lawyer. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23329Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:42:19 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23329Fall is on the way and Centralia City Officials say they've taken steps to avoid a leaf collection headache this year. City Manager Grant Kleinhenz says the city had a debreifing with collection company Veolia following the chaotic pick-up last year when crews were overwhelmed by the sheer amount of leaves and lack of equipment. Kleinhenz says Veolia will be doing things differently this year. "Last year they started with two vacuums and eventually purchased a third," he says. "This year, they will start with three vacuums from day one and have a fourth vaccuum as a back-up that will be used when things get heavy." Kleinhenz says the company will also be using larger hoses on the vacuums to pick up more leaves and reduce clogging. Leaf collection in Centralia will start on Monday, October 11th and run until Friday, December 3rd, from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. following the same routes as last year. For maximum speed and efficiency, Kleinhenz reminds residents to pile leaves as close to the curb as possible and keep piles away from obstacles like mailboxes or vehicles. Leaves blocked by obstacles will not be picked up. Residents are also asked not to mix trash or other yard waste with the leaves. For more information on leaf collection or to view the collection map, visit cityofcentralia.org. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23328Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:54:16 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23328CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he believes - even after lengthy delays and radical changes - the FutureGen clean-coal project will be built in Illinois. During a stop at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign on Wednesday, Durbin said he understands that many people in east-central Illinois are unhappy about recent changes. The Department of Energy last month said it now won't build a futuristic power plant in Mattoon. That had been the plan since 2007. The new plan calls for trying out different technology at an existing plant in Meredosia. Those changes caught many by surprise. Durbin says he knew only six days in advance and couldn't say anything because the Energy Department was still working out the details. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23327Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:53:22 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23327CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she's taking steps to make sure nursing homes aren't tipped off to surprise raids aimed at increasing safety in the facilities. Madigan tells The Associated Press her office is clamping down on leaks and "if they do happen" her team is "going to show up at your nursing home again." She says her office is investigating whether someone tipped off a Chicago nursing home to an impending visit. The Chicago Tribune first reported the investigation Thursday. Madigan says a Grasmere Place administrator met officials in the lobby of the home, looked at her watch and said: "What took you so long? I heard you were going to be here a lot earlier." The facility's administrator hasn't returned a phone message seeking comment Thursday. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23326Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:21:44 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23326SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois wildlife officials say controlled pheasant hunting opportunities will be available at 19 sites during the 2010-2011 season. The sites include some where special vehicles are provided for hunters with disabilities. Other sites offer special opportunities for hunters ages 10 to 15. The online permit reservation system for sites run by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources opens at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 27 and runs through midnight Oct. 3. The department says it takes fewer than five minutes to fill out an online application. Sites run by a public-private partnership also take permit reservations online. A link is available at the Department of Natural Resources website. The daily permit fee remains $25 for residents. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23325Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:19:28 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23325SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Students in 188 Illinois schools will get fresh fruits and vegetables to eat this school year. The Illinois State Board of Education said Wednesday the schools will participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The federally funded program would provide fresh produce throughout the school day. The Illinois schools will share about $3.3 million or about $50 per student. State officials say the goal is to expose students to healthy eating habits. Illinois state education superintendent Christopher Koch says incorporating fruits and vegetables daily "makes it more likely that students will develop good eating habits." http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23324Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:18:21 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23324PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. (AP) - One of three teenagers accused in the death of a runaway girl in southern Illinois has pleaded not guilty, and a second defense attorney has been assigned to his case. KFVS-TV reports that 18-year-old Carl Dane entered the pleas Wednesday in Perry County to first-degree murder and other charges. Dane is charged along with 17-year-old James Glazier and 15-year-old Robbie Mueller in the July killing of 15-year-old Sidnee Stephens of Pinckneyville. Stephens had been missing from her home for nearly a week before her body was found in a creek near Pinckneyville. Authorities say she had been shot and strangled. A pretrial hearing was set for Jan. 7 for Dane.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23323Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:16:22 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23323BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Supreme Court has appointeda Republican to succeed the Democrat who gave up his southwestern Illinois judge's seat to enter private law practice. Forty-eight-year-old Belleville attorney Stephen McGlynn will take the several-county 20th Judicial Circuit seat vacated in July by Michael O'Malley, who retired after 25 years on the bench. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that McGlynn's appointment takes effect Sept. 17 and ends in December 2012. McGlynn had served an appointment on the Fifth District Appellate Court in Mount Vernon and is the former chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Central Committee. He was among 19 applicants for O'Malley's former seat.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23322Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:15:15 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23322CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he's accepted the resignation of the Corrections Department head blamed for a secret early prison release program. In a statement Thursday, Quinn says Michael Randle's resignation is effective Sept. 17. Quinn says he'll name a replacement shortly. And he says he appreciates Randle's "dedicated service" to the state. A report last month said the Department of Corrections failed to consider possible dangers to the public when it tried to save money by granting early release to prisoners, some of whom were violent. Quinn has heaped most of the blame on Randle, and Randle has said Quinn ordered that violent offenders not be part of the program. The Chicago Tribune first reported Randle's pending departure in Thursday's paper. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23321Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:49:00 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23321 Mt. Vernon's Cedarhurst Center for the Arts will be hosting their 34th annual craft fair the weekend of September 11th and 12th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The fair will include over 125 artist booths, showcasing the work of some of the nation's best. Glass, jewlery, metal, wood, paintings and more will all be part of this year's artistic offerings. Artists will also be competing for more than eight-thousand dollars in awards. Director of Communication at the Cedarhurst Center, Sarah Sledge, says there will also be plenty of entertainment at the craft fair this year. "Friday night at the craft fair preview, we have Lee Logan and the Legendary Drifters," she says. "They will also be back Sunday afternoon!" The preview night music runs from 7:30 until 9:30 p.m. Other artists include a Cher and Elvis tribute. Sledge says a full assortment of concessions will be available at the fair as well as activities for children. Admission for the event is five dollars for adults and children under 10 are free. There is no additional charge for the entertainment. A shuttle bus will be running from Times Square Mall to the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts. For a complete schedule of entertainment and other information, you can visit www.cedarhurst.org or call 242-1236.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23320Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:38:49 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=2332036 year-old Regina Burks of Elm Street in Mt. Vernon was charged in Marion County Court Wednesday with possession of a controlled substance. Authorities allege she had unauthorized control over some prescription hydrocodone medication. Bond was set at 10-thousand dollars. 44 year-old John Voss of North Springer in Carbondale was sentenced to two years supervision, ordered to pay a one-thousand dollar fine and court costs and undergo alcohol treatment. He pleaded guilty to reckless conduct. A DUI charge was also dropped. 31 year-old Timothy Hill of West Rexford in Centralia pleaded guilty to reckless conduct as well. He was sentenced to one year of superivison, fined one-thousand dollars and had a DUI-related charge dropped. 23 year-old Lucas Mc Mahan of Leafland in Centralia was sentenced to two years of supervision after pleading guilty to a charge of DUI. He was also fined 11-hundred dollars and ordered to pay court costs and complete 100 hours of public service work. Another DUI charge was dropped.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23319Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:17:06 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23319CHICAGO (AP) - Health insurance coverage has started for the first enrollees in a new Illinois program for uninsured people with medical problems. Enrollment opened Aug. 20 for the federally funded program, an early benefit of the nation's new health care law. More than 1,600 people have submitted applications in Illinois. The state's Department of Insurance Director Michael McRaith says 41 people so far have met requirements and were covered starting Wednesday. He expect more to be enrolled as they turn in required documents and payments. Enrollees will pay monthly premiums ranging from about $110 to $650. Legal residents who've been uninsured for at least six months are eligible. Applicants must show they're uninsured because of a pre-existing medical condition. Apply online. http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23318Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:52:01 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23318 As part of an effort to build good will between balloonists and the general public in Centralia, Balloon Fest 2010 awarded 100 dollars to five lucky landowners whose property was used by balloonists during the event this year. John Dillinger of Centralia, Jeff Pigg of Shattuc, Wiley Snyder of Sandoval, Joe Livesay of Centralia and Barb Rohner of Junction City were selected in a drawing earlier this week, sponsored by the Corner Pharmacy. Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce Officials say landowner participation is essential to the success of Balloon Fest and the Chamber is grateful to all area residents that allow balloons to land on their property.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23317Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:42:59 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23317Labor Day weekend is synonymous with family - and unfortunately - fatalities on the road. Illinois State Police Trooper Marla Tolliver says it's a time when many people are driving across the U.S. "Labor Day is the fourth-leading holiday as far as fatalities... Nationwide 488 people lose their lives each year on average," she says. "It's a three-day weekend, so a lot more people are out there traveling." Tolliver says State Police in District 12 will be conducting Roadside Safety Checks through the weekend, looking for unsafe drivers. "We're out there with the 'You Drink, You Drive, You Lose" campaign and looking for drunk drivers, individuals who break other traffice laws and distracted drivers," she says. "We're big on that right now." Illinois State Police say fatalities are down about 35 people on the road this year compared to last, and they'd like to keep it that way. According to the Illinois Secretary of State's Office, 40 percent of deaths in Labor Day weekend crashes were alcohol-related in 2009. Tolliver says if you are going to "celebrate," designate a sober driver. She also reminds drivers to buckle up, put your phone down, allow for extra time to get to your destination and keep your eyes on the road.http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23316Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:53:15 CDThttp://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=23316CHICAGO (AP) - Imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan is seeking to have elements of his conviction thrown out based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year. In a federal court filing in Chicago, Ryan attorneys cited the ruling that put limits on so-called honest services provisions. Such laws bar public officials from denying taxpayers honest services. The Republican's serving a six-and-a-half year prison sentence. Not all the charges a jury convicted him on in 2006 are tied to the disputed provision. During ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's recent corruption trial, defense attorneys also cited the honest-services ruling in a motion for a mistrial. The presiding judge rejected it. Blagojevich's trial ended in a hung jury on most counts and he's expected to be retried.