Disclosure News’ Jack & Ang Howser discuss the day’s local Southern Illinois News

Topics covered for Wednesday, April 11, 2012: Amber Dawn Burnett sneaks drugs into Saline Co. Jail, Deputy Dee Burgin strip search scandal & tries to plant dope on Disclosure’s vendor in Edgar Co., Jack update, jury nullification info, Trayvon Martin case turns again, Carbondale, IL rated 95th Most Dangerous City in America, earthquake update, Richland Co. Sheriff (Andy Hires) & Mike Burton, Rick Santorum drops out of the Presidential race, What MSM think you wanna know

Previous Episodes

SALINE CO.—Just a quick update to one of the hot stories from back in 2010: Roger Hutchison has been sentenced in his pot trafficking case.

Roger Hutchison

In another loss for Franklin County attorney Bryan Drew, who was apparently trying to build himself a career such as the one his father the late John Drew had (wherein he was supposedly “THE” go-to criminal defense lawyer), a couple of months ago Hutch came to a plea agreement with the court in order to get out of the heftiness of the MULTIPLE counts of Delivery of Cannabis 30-500 grams (and in one of the dismissed charges, 500-2,000 grams). He entered a plea of guilty to one of the counts, and today accepted a DOC sentence of 5 years…and a loss of all the cash found in his home (which he said had come from the sale of a car, conveniently occurring right before the June 2010 raid on his house…when all the pot was found). The cash was around $15,000…..and today, fines and fees were tacked on to that, bringing the grand total to $19,279 that Saline County comes out ahead. Of course, his bond applied, so $15k has been paid…now he’s going to owe the $4,279, which will be hard to raise from DOC (unless, of course, he has another car to sell.)

This case was one that prompted this terribly misleading article by the left-leaning McClatchy news service, which appeared in the Belleville News Democrat and prompted us to produce an article in our May paper telling the truth about such plea deals. Sure you can say someone “bought” his way out of trouble by spinning such plea deals as being based on how much money a defendant has to pour into the case in fines and fees…but holding the bond money as payment for such fines and fees is done EVERYWHERE. McClatchy was trying to make people think this is an exclusively backwoods southern Illinois thing…but seriously….what corrupt Chicago public official couldn’t have it said about him that he “bought” his way out of a case by having enough money to pay a high-priced attorney to do the behind-the-scenes dickering for him? The BND should know this….that kind of shit goes on all the TIME in St. Clair/Madison counties (Metro-East)…that’s why it’s called the “judicial hell-hole” of downstate Illinois.

Anyway, when ol Rog gets a new DOC mug, we’ll post it.

GALLATIN CO.—The Gallatin County Schools building in Junction was on lockdown this morning as a precaution after a student allegedly made threats of bringing a weapon to school.

We’re still clarifying reports, but official information from the school has it confirmed that one Caleb Jones allegedly made threats of the nature that he would retaliate against some perceived affront against him by bringing a weapon to school. As a result of this alleged threat, when Caleb wasn’t at the school this morning (one report has it that he was there but he left; we’re checking that one out), officials decided to play it safe and lock down the school.

Authorities then made attempts to locate Caleb, who lives in Equality (he’s the nephew of the infamous John B. Jones of Equality).

They reportedly found him in or around Eldorado; wherever he was actually located, we’ve been told that ‘rado authorities had him in custody shortly after the lockdown and he was being transported back to Gallatin.

Our sources aren’t real sure how long the lockdown is in effect, but kudos to GallCo Schools officials for taking this step, as you can’t be too cautious under such a circumstance, since you never really know.

More as we get it; keep checking back, and sorry for the site overload.

RICHLAND CO.—Judge Larry Dunn all but came out and said in the open today that the witnesses in the murder case against Brandon Jenkins need to stay clear of the courtroom when jury selection is going on.

Brandon Jenkins

Instead of saying it himself, he allowed the attorneys for both sides to acquiesce to the wisdom of the sentiment….and while none of the above came right out and said it, the unspoken sentiment was there: there are witnesses in the case whose open hostility will impact jury selection, and the jurors simply don’t need to be exposed to that.

The final pretrial conference was held this afternoon (04.13.12) in Richland County court with Jenkins, the Marine and directional oil well driller from Houston who is charged with killing local thug Michael Scott Earp on November 20, 2011, not having to face any of that open hostility from the repulsive Earp gang. Why none were there is as unknown as why any of them believed they needed to be at ANY of Jenkins’ court appearances at all…but they have been, since they first began back in late November. Sometimes the Earp group (a gang of local petty thugs who have been rumored to be ‘muscle’ for the locals moving dope in Richland—moving it with the knowledge and consent of the local constabulary) showed up largely composed of the flighty females with whom Flavius, Michael Scott, Jonathan Trout and their hangers-on, Casey King and Chris Arteberry have bred freely, and the token male tagging along for no reason other than to babysit while the females cast their hateful glares at Jenkins as he’s walked off the elevator to the jury room in back of the courtroom. But today, there was no crowd or hateful glares; only a couple of observers, neither of whom we recognized. No Earps; no pregnant fillies; no just-birthed offspring. There’s a report (front-page story, actually) in the current edition of the print version that points out that their fires of vengeance may have been suffocated quite a bit ever since Flav Earp was busted for alleged witness intimidation in February. And the gang is going to attempt a poker run tomorrow to “raise funds” to get Scott Earp’s funeral expenses paid. Hm. Wonder if Summers-Kistler is getting ready to file suit against one or more of the deadbeats. We’ll have to see.

The hearing today was interesting, with defense attorney John O’Gara making it clear he’s going to work the case as self-defense, and as such, he’s going to be presenting criminal history and activities of those in and around Scott Earp leading up to that night. That should be some labor-intensive stuff. He met with only limited objection (if any at all) from the state’s counsel, David Rands (duly-elected prosecutor David Hyde said not a word during the entire 35-minute proceeding, all kicked back away from the table.) Jenkins looked like he was holding his own. O’Gara looked downright perky. Ang tried to get Jenkins’ attention from where we were sitting in the elevator lobby, but he didn’t seem to be inclined to look around (probably because of all the Earp fillies in the past shooting him evil glances….which appears to be their only weapon/recourse, such as it is). O’Gara did say ‘hi’ to us though.

You can still support Jenkins, in spirit or monetarily, and we suggest you do. As well, as things move toward the trial, we’re going to try to increase national media coverage on the matter; keep watching for how we’re going to go about doing that.

Anyway, prospective jurors won’t have to contend with anyone in the courtroom who’s going to be called as a witness, at least; court authorities believe they’ll have to go through three jury panels to seat 14; and everything kicks off on Tuesday, April 24. We’ll be there. You be watching right here, and we promise…you WON’T be disappointed.

Andrea Eads

SALINE CO.—The benefit/fundraiser “Hands Across Harrisburg” is underway at the Saline County Fairgrounds in Harrisburg.

We just finished listening to the amazing Andrea Eads. Righteous Rebel was on the north stage awhile ago. We’re out getting video of many of the events, vendors, bands, etc. Ang and the girls are manning a table with her tornado book Death Rides the Sky: The Story of the 1925 Tri-State Tornado, as well as copies of the DAY OF THE TORNADO issue (March-April) in case you missed it, at the vendor building, where Rhonda Belford of Hardin County is currently onstage, and there’s been some rollicking karaoke that anyone can participate in for a small donation, and t-shirts are being sold for $15 with all funds going toward the fundraising effort. There’s also a silent auction in the building, and several vendors, including Ang’s Edibles (where she’s giving samples of chocolate-covered bacon…it’s delicious, actually).

Come on out and support this event. It’s being put on for the tornado victims (or, as in many of the disasters we cover, tornado SURVIVORS) and NO state agency is coming in to sweep up the funds and place them in a “clearinghouse” where they’ll be distributed according to how the agency sees fit (after administrative fees are taken off the top, of course). Instead, a strictly LOCAL board, with tornado survivor Chad Mills and Harrisburg mayor Eric Gregg on it, will be helping the victims figure out how they best need the monetary support. There are people out there still who’ve lost everything, and have received NO help. These are the ones who will benefit…and if you know someone who needs assistance, contact Eric or Chad.

This event is going on until 10 tonight. We’ll be conducting interviews with storm survivors to compile them and put the video on our YouTube channel. Come on out to the event Hands Across Harrisburg and help your friends, neighbors, total strangers…..it’ll be well worth it, and it’s a fun day!

Years ago we read interesting accounts on alternative websites regarding the sinking of the Titanic. Most of it was eye-opening, as we were learning at the time that world-level powers-that-be were constantly having a hand in “disasters” (a la 9/11) that weren’t “accidents” or “natural occurrences” or even “acts of terrorism”—they were deliberate.

Titanic. Old pic.

Intensive research has gone on into what really occurred 100 years ago today when the RMS Titanic sank in the icy waters off Newfoundland on its maiden voyage. Lots of people in the entertainment industry have made a fortune off the story, from the reality aspect of it (finally going down to the sunken wreckage to film it) to the fantasy (two neat films, at least: “A Night to Remember” and “Titanic,” most recently). But none of them, it appears, have it right. Titanic, it seems, is another one of those “great stories” the PTBs want us to believe, with the minimum of evidence to support it…and a whole LOT of evidence to show that it was intentional.

According to the research done at this website, the PTBs had a lot riding on the maiden voyage of the ship, especially when three of the world’s wealthiest men were encouraged to board. As we all know here in the state of Illinois, those in positions of power will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it involves “acceptable losses.” And over the past several years, plenty of people have come to understand that right here in our own country, we’ll be told bullshit when we know something else to be the case.

For those of you who don’t understand the premise behind the global elite, we encourage you to look closely into it. It’ll explain a lot. It’ll explain why your local government (county/municipality) spends  with impunity then looks to the feds to prop em up. It’ll explain why our federal government continues to bow and scrape to the UN as if it has all the answers to everything.

This stuff isn’t conspiracy theory. It’s sound, practical reasoning and explains much. And if we don’t wake up to it—and keep soaking up the crap that the media keeps feeding us like we’re little sponges—we’re not going to make it.

Just food for thought for the day.

The weather we thought might come after us while we were all out at Saturday’s Hands Across Harrisburg event is apparently set to sweep in tonight….at least for some of us in the Disclosure readership area:

A popular image going around Facebook right now

Weather is always a reliably popular topic in southern Illinois, so it need not be said that you all should take precaution in the overnight hours when the worst of this is set to pass over us: between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. However, we’re gonna say it, because we care about you. And because this is what happened yesterday:

Tornadoes from April 14, 2012

Screw those “ready.il.gov” suggestions…use common sense. If you’re in a flood-prone area (and there haven’t been heavy rains associated with/forecast for this system, but you never know), be prepared to either evacuate or defend yourself and your possessions against high water. If you’re in an area that loses power frequently when a storm blows in, make sure you have plenty of ice ready and maybe a store of food already prepared but that doesn’t need much by way of refrigeration or cooking. A supply of bottled water (from the tap is fine if you have something to store it in) and ensuring everyone has had baths/showers is good. Making sure your cell phones/laptop/flashlight batteries are either charged up or are fresh is always a good idea….and if you have an app on your phone that sends you an alert when severe weather threatens, that’s awesome, as one of our crew (Jade) had such a thing on her phone that occurred on February 29, 2012….of course it helps if you PAY ATTENTION to it, like we did not that morning when it went off at 4:30 a.m. So you’d better believe we’ll be all up on it this time.

Just a few tidbits of reminders for you…..hang in there, Disclosure friends and fans….and keep us apprised of what’s going on in your area.

Disclosure News’ Jack & Ang Howser discuss the day’s local Southern Illinois News

Topics covered for Monday, April 16, 2012: studio update & reader feedback, decriminalization of marijuana, Richland safety tax, Hands Across Harrisburg, 1925 Tri-State tornado, Amber Martin Burnett, US housing crisis, Carbondale suspicious death (Molly Young)

Previous Episodes

WAYNE CO.—The landfill that caused so much controversy when it was sited north of Boyleston in western Wayne County 23 years ago has locked its gates and isn’t taking in any more trash…and those who run it, as well as the public officials who are ultimately responsible to the public for answering questions about it, are being hesitant to explain exactly why….other than it was “an economic decision.”

The 258 acre landfill is located in Section 5 of Big Mound Township in Wayne County, which in common directions is just west of the Boyleston crossroads at Highway 15 and the property extends northward to County Road 900N. The facility was placed on property negotiated by one of the Theofanopoulos clan in the area (Sofia’s brother; can’t remember his name right now); this was something that kind of upset Sofie, who voiced her displeasure about the situation to Ang almost right up to Sofie’s death a year ago.

One of our Wayne County correspondents talked to Gary Pearson, one of the emergency contacts on the above sign and was told a little more of what was going on than mainstream media is allowing:

The sign says “Temporarily Closed” but they are not planning on opening the landfill back up anytime in the near future. Most but not all of the employees have kept their jobs (obviously some did not). They will be working to keep the place up and that they will not simply abandon this. The electricity will not be shut off to the Leechate pumps. Most importantly, this was an economic decision and has nothing to do with the EPA or any restrictions.

Part of the conversation involved having a survey done recently; Pearson said they had to have that done every three years for permit reasons. Friday was ostensibly the day the old permit expired and the new one took effect, but Pearson would not comment on that particular topic. Pearson also would not comment on who lost their jobs or who decided not to stay with Republic Services Inc.

Locked up tight Friday, April 13, 2012

Our correspondent advised that while this may not be “top news,” it definitely means no more tipping fees for the county, which will severely impact the budgets of both the city of Fairfield and Wayne County as they both receive money from this landfill.

Pearson did say that they would be working next week to close the pits more permanently and doing other things involved in closing the place down. He reiterated that this was just an economic decision and that it was unfortunate that not everyone kept their jobs.

We had all this info Friday night but were so busy with Hands Across Harrisburg preps that we couldn’t get to it; our apologies for the delay, but at least you now know more than what MSM is telling you..

CAVE-IN-ROCK, Ill.—A hostage situation that unfolded at about 10 pm in the old flower shop in Cave-in-Rock has reportedly ended peacefully at around 11:15pm.

While the finalization of it is somewhat sketchy at this moment, here’s what we learned from earlier: Raymond (“Little Raymond”) Dutton, age approximately 36, was being reported to us by county officials as having holed up at his home (located in the old flower shop building on Route 1) allegedly holding two of his children hostage. Reportedly, the two ranged in age from single digits to teens, but we don’t know their exact  ages. We don’t know why he was holding them, except that he’s kind of a weird guy, with wild mood swings, and with recent problems with his wife (reportedly last week), there might have been something that precipitated it embedded in that.

As of an earlier report, Sheriff Joyce Cullison was on the phone to Dutton. The place was surrounded by deputies. The local ambulance service had staged in the park nearby. There were no reports of injuries or anything untoward, just that every precaution was being taken. Dutton has a history/criminal record of drugs, violent behavior, disorderly conduct, assaulting police officers, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Currently, it’s unknown whether Dutton had a weapon or not, however, local law enforcement had spoken with his family and they said he had no weapons in the house because they had possession of the only one there (a .22 pistol). Some reports are trickling out that there was still a .22 there while the situation was unfolding, but that’s totally unconfirmed right now.

Years ago (as many as 15), Dutton reportedly held a minor girl (13-14) hostage after a relationship he was having with her went sour. He was reportedly all strung out on dope, and was afraid she was going to run out and tell people about their relationship, so he held her in a camper trailer in the backyard of his parents’ property. He took her in his car to a party, removed all the door locks from the inside of the car so she couldn’t get out, and locked her in so he could go drinking. Some of the party, reportedly out taking a whizz after drinking, noticed the car moving and upon closer inspection found the girl inside screaming. They got her out, she told them the story, and they proceeded back to the party and inside the house, where they found Dutton, attacked him, dragged him out in front, and beat him badly. His parents found him the next day hanging out of the camper with one of his eyes dislodged from its socket sitting on his cheek. He reportedly had the eye saved at the hospital, only to go on a decade later giving then-sheriff Tommy Seiner shit while he  was sheriff, including assaulting him.

We are hearing that the situation is under control….so when we learn more in the morning, we’ll report it.

ROCKFORD, Ill.—Author Michael Kleen’s opinion columns will now be featured bi-weekly in the Rock River Times, as well as on his new website, http://makleen.com/

Author & publisher Michael Kleen

Previously, Kleen’s columns (under the heading “Keepin’ it Kleen”) have been a regular feature in the monthly southern Illinois news magazine Disclosure, as well as occasionally in the Rock River Times, and on various blogs and websites. Michael also hosts a weekly radio program called Keepin’ it Kleen at BNNSRadio.com and 1610AM in Belvidere every Monday from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Now, all of these various products (for lack of a better word) will also be accessible via one convenient website, makleen.com, where Michael’s columns and podcast will be posted and available online, via e-mail subscription (free), or Kindle subscription (99 cents a month).

Kleen was a candidate for Winnebago County Board, District 8 in the recent Republican primary. He garnered 43 percent of the vote against a popular incumbent in what was his first race.

Michael Kleen is an author, publisher, and local historian. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and M.A. in History from Eastern Illinois University and M.S. in Education from Western Illinois University. He lives in Rockford, Illinois where he owns and operates Black Oak Media, Inc. His paper, called “The Copperhead Threat in Illinois: Peace Democrats, Loyalty Leagues, and the Charleston Riot of 1864,” will appear in the Spring 2012 issue of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society.

(Way to go Michael! Disclosure congratulates you on your ongoing success!_

UPDATE: As it turned out, sources were incorrect about Sisk attending the school board meeting last night (no one from the public or from the family appeared, either). However, Jones WAS expelled from Gallatin County Schools for FOURTEEN MONTHS at last night’s meeting. While Jones is a senior, this keeps him from coming back and attempting to finish out his final year again at GCS. Our sources are indicating he will try to finish at Eldorado high school….from where he was suspended previously. Sounds like a troubled kid to us; regardless of what lots of people are otherwise saying. In the meantime, here’s the original piece, unaltered.

GALLATIN CO.—Seriously….Frank Sisk, village president of Equality/high-&-mighty rich guy, apparently doesn’t know how school board meetings work, for all the “public meetings” he’s ostensibly conducted himself.

Frank Sisk....sisking at the school board meeting

Of course, Mr. High-&-Mighty doesn’t deal with STUDENTS.

According to our sources, Sisk has decided he’s going to stalk into Gallatin County Schools tonight and give Superintendent Les Oyler what-for as regards the recent actions (last Friday, April 13) taken in dealing with bad kid, Caleb Jones, after Jones allegedly threatened a teacher that day, prompting a lockdown of the school.

Personally, I’m wondering why Sisk is thinking Oyler is at fault here….Jones allegedly acted in a manner opposed to what’s allowed at the school according to policy, Oyler acted in a manner that’s required by policy…and the police arrested Jones and he stands charged with making a threat. Unless Sisk believes he has some kind of stroke with the powers-that-be in this circumstance, there’s not a lot he can do by going to the school board.

But there’s another thing.

If Sisk pops up and starts talking about Jones, the board is going to shut him down. Why? Because they can’t discuss specific actions of specific children at the school in an open meeting. Now, he can go back in closed quarters and have at it in an executive session, but he’s going to get only as far as “Thank you for your input, Mr. Sisk. Have a good night.”

Sisk’s issue, we’re presuming, has to do with his city worker, Tracy Jones, brother of John B. (who is STILL not seeing enough of the inside of a courtroom over his embezzlement charges). Apparently Sisk believes he needs to protect poor Tracy, who is Caleb’s father. Whatever. If more people would just let their rotten kids take their lumps and stop pulling for them/covering for them, maybe we wouldn’t have such overburdened penal institutions.

When we learn what happened tonight, closed session or open, we’ll let you know.

Disclosure News’ Jack & Ang Howser discuss the day’s local Southern Illinois News

Molly Young, from the Angels For Molly Facebook page

Topics covered for Thursday, April 19, 2012: Edgar County, topix & Dee Burgin, PACER.gov, Carbondale death of Molly Young, Angels for Molly, Secret Service’s Columbian prostitutes, Secret Service question Ted Nugent over Obama statement, Rita Crundwell’s $30M and city of Dixon, IL, Harrisburg Animal Control Officer complaints, the Brandon Jenkins trial, the Earps, What Main Stream Media (MSM) Wants You To Know

Previous Episodes

Here’s a few updates on many of the stories that have been breaking or developing since the most recent print version hit the stands last week:

ELDORADO: Linda Young, the alleged intended victim of Roger Young (who was charged at the end of March with Solicitation to Commit Murder for hire) died last Monday, April 16, after being hospitalized for over a week following a suicide attempt. Our sources in the case—those close to the family—have told us that Mrs. Young likely ingested a large amount of pharmaceuticals on the night before, sat in the back of her husband’s extended-cab truck in which she was found (wearing her work uniform from Ferrell Hospital), and before she lost consciousness, inflicted superficial cuts on her arms. No one is certain why she cut her arms, as the pills were enough to shut down most motor functions. She was found early the next afternoon and was taken to Deaconess in Evansville, where she had limited brain function over the weekend (and was, according to sources, having seizures). By the following Sunday, April 8, it was determined to remove her from a ventilator, but she continued to breathe on her own. Still showing no brain function due to severe oxygen deprivation, the family decided to pull remaining life support. She lived for another week. Roger Young, 61, is set for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, April 24. He’ll probably waive it at the advise of his attorney and proceed with the case; it’s uncertain how his wife’s death at her own hand will impact the outcome, if at all.

CAVE-IN-ROCK, Ill.—A strange little situation occurred a couple of days ago in one of Hardin County’s little river towns: apparently, a couple of guys decided that they weren’t going to pay for their meal at Rose’s Cafe and up and left. Police officers Mike Dutton and Wendell Conkle took off after them, reportedly finding them at the Ohio River Ferry (the operator of which had been notified by an astute citizen that the two  were on board and what they’d allegedly done, and the operator was holding off embarking across the river until officers could arrive.) We’re hearing there was a scuffle with the two, and that Dutton may have broken an arm on one of the two guys. Whatever the case, they didn’t get away.

Jamal Oxford's mug shot from Williamson County

WILLIAMSON CO.—Some people never seem to learn that their bad habits are, well…bad. One of these people is Jamal Oxford, who is known across Saline and Williamson counties for writing checks on other peoples’ accounts. Now, he’s been busted in Franklin County, where court documents show that he allegedly attempted to cash a $300 check at a Banterra Bank March 20….just a few weeks after his hearing in Williamson County on his January charge of forgery there. The check was allegedly written on Southern Illinois Storm Shelters of Benton. How he got ahold (allegedly) of such a check remains a mystery. However, Oxford’s sticky fingers precede him, as he allegedly took a large sum of money from a previous employer in Williamson County, and spent time in DOC a few years back for filching from the Saline County Lions Club. The Williamson County charges are still pending; Oxford’s set for a next hearing in Franklin on June 6.

We are working the story in Xenia (Clay County) whereby 14 of 18 firefighters quite this past week over a gripe regarding a single village trustee. We’re still trying to find out what the actual gripe is with the trustee, Daniel Edgington, and how it is that the majority of the fire department felt compelled to quit rather than put up with him….but it must be pretty bad to prompt such action (as what occurred in Elizabethtown last year over old dead Ed Conkle….and we all know how bad it is down there.) We’ve been put on the right track on that  issue, and will likely have something in the print version about it.

Of course this week is the Brandon Jenkins trial, and we have been exceptionally busy prepping for it, as the majority of it bites into our investigation time/courthouse crawls. We’ve lassoed several folks to assist this week, especially considering that both suspects charged in the murder of Bob Westall in Lawrence County, Tyler McQueen and Helen Marie Westall, are scheduled for preliminary hearings Wednesday morning, as well as the fact that Olney’s ParaCon (Paranormal Convention) is going to be held April 28….and Ang has a book appearance on that evening in Griffin at the Alumni Banquet, and her publisher and Disclosure/syndicated columnist, Michael Kleen, will be here that weekend for both events. So it’s going to be crazy…if you need to talk to us, please email first, as we tend to have more time to respond to those than trying to call back from messages on the tipline….and as always, if you call one of our cell phones and your number shows up “private,” we’re not going to answer it; you’ll just have to text first, then we’ll call you back. Hang in there everybody…it’s going to be bumpy, but should be DAMN interesting……

CAVE-IN-ROCK, Ill.—There seems to be something unusual in Cave-in-Rock happening to a handful of the general populace of  late, and tonight was no exception.

We just learned that at about 7:15 this evening, Saturday, April 21, while a Masonic Lodge meeting was going on at the location on Canal Street in Cave, a boy came stumbling through town with a whiskey bottle in his hand. Why Davey Thomas Jr, age approximately 20 (definitely under the legal age to drink in Illinois) decided it was a good idea to go out in public after consuming such a large amount of alcohol is unknown, but that’s what he did.

He stumbled past a group of kids who were hanging out in front of the Lodge while their parents were inside at the meeting, and began harassing them and yelling at them. This prompted two men to come out of the building, one of them Michael Austin, age approximately 25, who is a correctional officer at the boot camp in Golconda.

The men went up to Thomas, told him to be quiet, and advised him to “move on down the road.”

However, Thomas didn’t feel like doing so, and allegedly pulled a knife on Austin.

A village resident, Daniel Mills, saw what was happening and came out of his house, came up to Thomas, and somehow got the knife away from him. At this point, Austin was able to take Thomas to the ground, and law enforcement was called.

But when police (officer Wendell Conkle and another officer whose identity we weren’t able to confirm) arrived, and Thomas got up, he allegedly pulled yet ANOTHER knife on everyone present, declaring he was going to “cut their guts out!!” He was again disarmed, placed in handcuffs, and taken into custody. According to reports, Thomas has only recently been released from DOC on a drug conviction;  however, we’ve not  confirmed that. If we learn this week that his  butt’s back in the slam, however, that’d be the reason for it.

What with the hostage situation the other night and a couple of other incidents, things are just flat WEIRD in Cave. Our sources indicate that there was a guy who reportedly goes by the name of Bozo Vaughn that, a couple of weeks back, allegedly pulled a gun on cops after they responded to a domestic at his home; a week later, a guy by the name of Nathan Barnard was allegedly threatening to shoot himself with a weapon in housing, but he was able to be taken in and went to rehab; and just over the weekend here, there was a reported break-in at a summer house in Boyd’s Addition in Cave, where $10,000 worth of stuff was stolen; CSI was reportedly there today investigating. And of course there was the incident a couple of days ago wherein two guys allegedly attempted to leave Rose’s Cafe without paying for their meal.

If anyone has any opinion on what’s going on in Cave that has all this stirred up, feel free to post it! We’re stumped.

HARRISBURG, Ill.—Police were called to South Land Street in Harrisburg this morning to investigate what sources close to the investigation believe is a suicide.

Sources indicate that 96-year-old Hack Wilson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the heart sometime during the hours of 9 p.m. Saturday, April 21 and 7 a.m. Sunday, April 22.

Preliminary information to Disclosure indicates that a woman hired to check on the elderly Mr. Wilson arrived early the morning of April 22 and couldn’t find him. After searching the house, she began to look outside and is believed to have found Wilson’s body at the corner of the property where he lived.

Although Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators are on scene, those close to the family do not believe any foul play is involved.

“I am certain they will rule this a suicide,” said a source close to the family. “They are just going through the motions of ruling out anything else.”

Sources indicate that Wilson had been ill for several years and had lately become despondent.

“He may have felt he was a burden to those around him and couldn’t take it anymore,” one source said. “He was such a sweet old man. This is gut wrenching.”

As of 10:12 a.m. Wilson’s body had not been moved and authorities were still on scene collecting evidence.

CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

POPE CO.— An 82-year-old unidentified man was rushed by Hardin County Ambulance to nearby Harbison’s Grocery earlier today, Sunday, April 22 and from there flown by helicopter to an area hospital after suffering what authorities are calling “stab wounds.”

While information in the case is scarce, officials say the man was found at about noon today at a residence just inside Pope County across from Ill. Rte. 146 near The Gap Bar.

There have been no indications the stabbing has anything to do with the bar.

Sources close to the investigation tell Disclosure that authorities have been on the lookout for a black passenger car whose occupants are believed to have been involved in or have information about the stabbing.

Hardin County police and EMS personnel are said to have been first on scene; however, the case is being handled by Pope County, presumably with ample help from the Illinois State Police.

Anyone with information concerning the stabbing or the possible whereabouts of a black passenger car they believe may have been at the scene when the elderly  man was stabbed are asked to contact their local authorities.

More details will be posted as they become available.

LAWRENCE CO.—What’s a Q&D, you ask?

It’s what we legal observers in the outside world call “quick & dirties,” little tricks lawyers—both the state, and the defense—use in order to forward (or stall, in some instances) their cases with the minimum of warning, for whatever the reason du jour is.

In the case of Tyler McQueen, 20, who, along with Helen Marie Westall, 47, is charged with  the murder of her uncle, Bob Westall, 78, in late March in Lawrenceville, it’s hard to say who took the steps that occurred yesterday, April 23, or exactly why, but the effect was the same: there will be no preliminary hearing tomorrow for McQueen, thus thwarting our opportunity to get vid or tape of the young man as he’s going into or out of the courthouse….because Wednesday’s originally-planned setting was all taken care of rather abruptly yesterday.

Paperwork showed thatMcQueen obtained Mt. Carmel mega-attorney George Woodcock along with Bill Hudson as his counsel, and on April 17, they filed a motion to continue the April 25 arraignment to May 16.

Lawrence County state’s attorney Lisa Wade objected to this course of action on April 18, and asked that the motion be set for a hearing yesterday, April 23, at 10:30 a.m.

The hearing was thus set, and when everybody was there, there were several motions entered by the defense….and then he abruptly waived preliminary and entered a plea of not guilty, thus effectively having the arraignment anyway.

Therefore, there’s no hearing Wednesday, there’ll be no prelim (wherein we hear facts of the case in what many call a “mini trial” to see if the threshold of evidence can be met to bind someone over for trial)….and we’re all screwed out of knowing any further details, including what the defense might be. Although that looks like it’s going to be a big fight anyway, judging by the volume of paperwork Woodcock has filed already.

Helen Marie Westall, on the other hand, is still set for hearing on April 25 at 11 a.m…..at which time she’ll probably waive prelim too, and we’ll be left hanging for months not knowing which way the cases are going to go.

More in the print version, on stands in North Counties in two weeks.

Nichole and Brandon Jenkins

On location update from Jack at the trial.