ILLINOIS - Every time we get a progressive law passed in this state, the Illinois State Police think they have to weigh in on it. Like a threat or something.

Now they're issuing a statement on the decriminalization of small amounts of pot, which was signed into law by Governor Rauner today....like ISP is the end-all and be-all of law enforcement in the state of Illinois.

Here's the statement:

Today Governor Rauner signed Senate Bill 2228 into law, which amends the penalties for possession of smaller amounts of cannabis. 

“The safety of Illinois citizens, and the motoring public, will always remain the utmost priority of the Illinois State Police (ISP). ISP officers will continue to enforce the law, while being mindful of the penalty changes for smaller amounts of cannabis,” said ISP Director Leo P. Schmitz. “The public is reminded that cannabis possession without a medical marijuana card is still illegal; the penalty and fines have changed. In addition, drivers under the influence of cannabis will still be arrested and prosecuted.”

The new law changes the penalty for the possession of 10.0 grams or less of cannabis to a civil law violation, carrying a minimum fine of $100, and a maximum fine of $200.

Persons found in possession of not more than 10.0 grams of cannabis can be issued a citation and be required to appear in court for the violation. ISP officers will no longer be required to fingerprint, photograph, and either collect bond or transport defendants to jail.   

Confiscated cannabis and drug paraphernalia will be seized and placed into evidence. Following the  adjudication of the citation in court, seized cannabis and paraphernalia will be destroyed, and the charge against the defendant will be expunged on or before the following July 1 or January 1.  

Local ordinances regarding fines for the possession of cannabis and related drug paraphernalia are not impacted.  

All of the changes made by SB2228 can be found at this link.

So it's still illegal; it's just not that illegal. It's like a speeding ticket now. And of course, jurisdictional codification still applies (possession of user amounts in the city of Harrisburg, as an example, is a Ordinance Violation, not a criminal misdemeanor, and the prosecutor's office isn't even supposed to deal with that; the city attorney is supposed to prosecute it.) So, like Concealed Carry, we have a "patchwork" of laws that apply or don't apply.

ISP has yet to acknowledge that the highest law enforcement official in any individual county is the county sheriff. If they don't want ISP in their county, ISP has to stay out. So why this statement by ISP, now, when there's such a patchwork going on and the county sheriff has the final say-so (as well as the county prosecutor, as we found out during the concealed carry debate in 2013), is curious.

They should just decriminalize it and be done with it, don't you think? Empty out the prisons of non-violent offenders and make room for people who hurt children, as an example. What's your view on it? We want to know.

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LAWRENCE CO., Ill. - The fire last night (Thursday, July 28) at Lawrence Correctional was a big deal in the two-county area (Lawrence and Richland), but it didn't last long, no injuries resulted, and damage was limited.

The fire was limited to the laundry room on the east side of the facility, which was sited in rural Sumner 15 years ago and has never had a fire call this big in response.

Christy Fire Protection District (in Sumner) and Bridgeport Fire Department were the first departments to respond to the 9:19 p.m. fire alarm. At 9:26, Olney Fire Department was called out and arrived at 9:38.

Authorities identified the location of the fire as listed above.

One of Olney's crews searched the second level of the prison for fire extension, but by that time no further assistance with the fire was required; in fact. Olney didn't even roll out hoses, just provided mutual aid/manpower, in particular, with clearing the area.

Large fans, we were told, were utilized to rid the area of smoke. The scene was determined "cleaned up" as early as 11 p.m., thanks to the efficient work of the firefighting crews.

We've not been told how far away from the inmates the fire actually was. Look for that next week after IDOC gets back with us on our inquiries.

Drew Peterson

RANDOLPH CO., Ill. - Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued a statement today following Randolph County Judge Richard Brown’s sentencing of Drew Peterson to 40 years in prison for a plot to kill Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.

Peterson, 62, was found guilty in May by a Randolph County jury of solicitation of murder for hire and solicitation of murder.

“Today’s sentencing is a just and fair result for a serious crime that must be punished,” Madigan said. “This case proved once again that this defendant should remain in prison.”

Assistant Attorneys General Bill Elward and Steve Nate tried the case with Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker.

JASPER CO., Ill. - A woman from Bloomington has been cited not only with DUI, but possession of cannabis, following a single-vehicle crash south of Newton yesterday.

Illinois State Police said the rollover crash occurred yesterday morning (Friday, July 29), at 11:50 a.m.

At that time, Nicole R. Rixstine, 21, of Bloomington, was southbound on Illinois Route 130 five miles south of Newton in a silver 2010 Chevrolet Cobolt when she left the west side of the roadway.

The Chevy struck the ditch at that point, rolling over.

Rixstine was transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham. She was subsequently cited by ISP for DUI-Drugs, Improper Lane Usage and Possession of Cannabis.

CUMBERLAND CO., Ill. - Two individuals were sent to the hospital in Effingham after the vehicle they were in struck a deer, causing airbags to deploy...but the airbags were what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The accident occurred last night (Friday, July 29) at 6:34 p.m. on Interstate 70 in Cumberland County.

Illinois State Police in District 12 said the vehicle, a tan 2016 Subaru (no further details as to what type of Subaru) was westbound on I-70 five miles east of Greenup when the vehicle's front end struck a deer crossing the roadway.

This caused the airbags to deploy.

It was at the point of deployment that Andreas G. Buchfellner, 53, of Brunswick, Ohio, lost control of the vehicle, going off the roadway to the left then coming to rest in the median.

With Buchfellner was a passenger, Christina E. Buchfellner, 49, also of Brunswick, Ohio.

While it's unclear whether Ms. Buchfellner was in the front of the vehicle and thus also was smacked with the airbags, whatever the case, both Buchfellners were transported to St. Anthony's Hospital by Greenup Ambulance.

No citations were issued in the incident.

JACKSON CO., Ill. - The situation that's making the rounds on news outlets about the beleaguered Peoples National Bank and a Jackson County court's decision yesterday is much, much more detailed than what folks are providing info on today.

We're going to cover the matter in full in the upcoming August-September issue of Disclosure, on stands August 17 and then, only for two weeks. In order to accommodate this article and another involving the inner workers of PNB (as it relates to Grand Rivers Community Bank), this will likely be a 32-page paper...but at no additional cost. So you'll have to mark your calendars and make SURE you get this one...it's amazing (and don't miss out on the current one, which hit the stands Tuesday and which is already almost selling out in some locations...this one is beyond awesome, and if you're not inclined to get out in the heat and humidity and get one, you can view it with an online membership to the e-Edition at the link).

But for now, we'll tell you some of the backstory, which the other news outlets aren't even bothering with.

This case revolves around a 2002 Letter of Credit (LC) as issued by PNB to two businessmen, Robert Newman and Terry Newman, who in 1998 opened a Taco John's franchise in Anna. The LC was for $150,000. When they sold the business (at which time it became Amigo's), PNB owed the Newmans $81,000. In short, PNB didn't have it per the terms of the LC. They welched. There was a little bit of signature fraud and forgery involved, too. Things that generally get people hemmed up on federal charges.

So the Newmans took PNB to court in 2002, in a Law case asking for their money and damages. This, as most "L" cases do, dragged through the court system down in Jackson for years.

A decision was made in the case in early 2015 that PNB didn't like. We've not researched the specific decision, but often in these long, very convoluted cases, with boxes and boxes of paper evidence, partial decisions can be made and they don't settle well with one of the parties. In this case, PNB took this decision to the appeals court in Mt. Vernon. That court remanded it back to Jackson County, upholding the decision made, and the case was set for a bench trial in February of this year, which apparently was held with an outcome that was amenable to the Newmans refiling their case.

They did that, on the day of the bench decision, February 2, 2016.

With only a few gyrations to be had, the matter, in front of Solverson, was set for review in April on a motion for summary judgment in favor of the Newmans and other third-party plaintiffs, Neil R. Thompson and Dan Stevens. Yesterday, Solverson found for all four of the plaintiffs and against PNB.

Solverson found that that LC was converted by PNB illegally, using it for themselves as assets, and didn't advise the Newmans when they had done it. Then, apparently, they engaged in attempting to cover up what they'd done, which is where the forged signatures (interestingly, of the Newman wives) came in.

Solverson awarded in excess of $6.5 million in compensatory damages (what the Newmans actually lost and what they could have gained had they had the letter of credit amount at their access during this entire time, including losses) and punitive damages of $9.8 million (what the judge felt like PNB could pay out as punishment, hence 'punitive.')

So like we said...we'll have the whole, stunning, horrible thing in the upcoming print edition, complete with exhibits and decision....and maybe an interview or two of OTHER people who have been done this way by PNB, all documented. Be watching.

WILLIAMSON CO., Ill. - No injuries were reported in what looked at first appeared to be a serious accident last night in Williamson County.

Happening a little after 8 last night (Friday, July 29) on Route 13 just east of Crab Orchard Road, a truck hauling a camper ended with the camper flipping into the ditch.

It appeared the pickup was traveling eastbound on 13 when the accident occurred.

Illinois State Police and Williamson County Sheriff's office were on the scene when our correspondent picked up the photos. More as we get it.

Darrell Moulton

FAYETTE CO., Ill. - An alert has gone out for a 9-year-old child who was allegedly taken from a location in Vandalia.

Authorities have advised that Gahrett W.K. Moulton, 9, was last seen in Vandalia having been taken from the area by Darrell K. Moulton, 34.

They were known to be traveling in a maroon 2002 Buick Rendezvous SUV. No direction of travel was issued.

The child is a white male with brown hair and blue eyes standing 4 feet tall and weighing 60 pounds; he was last seen wearing a dark-colored Harley Davidson shirt, and blue and white plaid shorts.

Darrell Moulton is a white male with brown hair and blue eyes, 5 feet-9 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds. He has tattoos on his left hand, left arm, upper left arm, left leg and right leg.

If you have information, contact the Vandalia Police Department at 618-283-0556.

Gahrett WK Moulton

FAYETTE CO., Ill. - Vandalia police have confirmed to Disclosure that a child who was the subject of an alert earlier has been located.

While few details are available, police have confirmed to us that Gahrett Moulton, 9, is safe and Darrell K. Moulton, 34, is in custody.

When we learn more, we'll bring it. GOOD JOB, everyone, getting the word out about Gahrett's alleged abduction!!

MARION CO., Ill. - The body of a man reported missing from Salem Monday was located late Friday afternoon, July 29, and authorities are stating the matter is a suicide.

Tyler Phillips, 36, was found deceased in a "rural area of Marion County," authorities said, although they declined to indicate where in the county the rural area was. (Salem is located pretty much in the center of Marion County, and there's a LOT of "rural area.") Phillips was pronounced dead on the scene by a deputy coroner, Carl Dunn.

Phillips' family reported him missing Monday, July 25.

His death is currently being investigated as an apparent suicide.

MARION, Ill. - Here's your Marion police blotter for the time period covering July 25 through the 28th, and it was a BUSY one.

Jessica Coryell, 28 of Dongola has been arrested for Possession of Methamphetamines, Possession of Cannabis and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia on July 28, 2016 in the area of Bentley St and White St.

CARBONDALE, Ill. - A Carbondale police officer responding to a call late last night was shot and is in a St. Louis hospital today.

Press release information from Carbondale Police states that officers were on patrol in the 700 block of North Robert A. Stalls Street after 11:30 p.m. last night (Sunday, July 31), when they heard gunshots fired.

While driving toward the source of the gunfire, the officers saw a tan four-door vehicle driving away from the area at a high rate of speed. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and a pursuit was initiated.

During the pursuit, a suspect fired several gunshots at the pursuing officers from the fleeing vehicle. The release doesn't indicate whether it was from the driver's side or one of the passenger sides. No officers returned fire. One of the officers, age 26, was struck by the gunfire from the fleeing vehicle; this is what ended the pursuit, the release said. The release doesn't say which officer - as in which location in the vehicle - was struck.

Regardless, the officer was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale where he was initially treated for a gunshot wound; however, he was transported to a hospital in St. Louis for additional treatment, since his injury was so serious. At the time of the transport, his condition was listed as serious and there's been no further information on whether his condition has improved or deteriorated. It's our understanding that the wound was to the face.

His name has not been released.

Authorities are asking for the assistance of the public in locating the suspect/suspect vehicle. Anyone with information can call the Carbondale PD at 618-457-3200, SIU CrimeStoppers anonymous tipline at 618-549-2677, or Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tipline at 618-687-2677. Illinois State Police is handling the situation with the assistance of the Carbondale police, Jackson County State's Attorney's Office, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and SIU Department of Public Safety.

More as we get it; mark your RSS feeds, keep a tab up, and check back frequently.

LAWRENCE CO., Ill. - Lawrence County has had its share of weird lately, what with this situation with the high-speed chase and the prison fire, both last week, and the shooting out at Lake Lawrence Sunday.

Saturday, however, was no exception.

Very late Saturday night, a water rescue was called in in the vicinity of the city of St. Francisville. Apparently, someone had gone out into the water on the Wabash at St. F and somehow got stuck on a logjam either at or near the Cannonball Bridge, the big "tourist attraction" that's rather scary to cross.

This supposedly occurred in the very late evening hours (like 11:30 p.m. or so) of Saturday, July 30.

We're trying to learn whether dude was a-swimmin, was tubing, or was boating/kayaking somehow.

What we're NOT trying to figure out is what he was doing out on the water at 11-something at night; how on earth he was able to call for help (although errbody has an iPhone these days) and/or his level of intoxication or lack thereof, because...well...Lawrence County.

More if we get it.

WHITE CO., Ill. - Bees are big business these days, what with all the glyphosate killing them off in our over-fertilized fields...and apparently, someone in White County has discovered this.

Not the glyphosate; they're all likely still in denial about that. No, we're talking about bees here. Specifically, beehives. And the theft thereof.

Yesterday (Sunday, July 31) at about 9 a.m. in the morning, White County Deputy Randy Graves went to speak with a Norris City resident, Robert J. Talley, in reference to just such a theft from locations in the Epworth area of White County.

Talley, who is a major producer of pumpkins in White County, reported to Graves that his bees are used to pollinate the pumpkin plant and he has leased several beehives from Daniel Collins of Alton, Missouri. Collins was on the premises to retrieve his beehives on Saturday.

But at one of the farms, located at 1400 North and 1625 East, Talley advised that two beehives had been taken. There were multiple beehives at that location, Graves said.

At another farm, located at 700 North and 1400 East, there were four beehives taken, again, among the multiple hives present.

The beehives are described as tan in color, the body being a taller box approximately three feet tall.

Talley advised that the beehives would have been taken in the past week; they are valued at approximately $500 apiece, meaning the total taken would be about $3,000.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the White County Sheriff's Department at

CARTERVILLE, Ill. - Our Williamson County correspondent is on-scene at a location in Carterville that is overflowing with police from every agency in the area.

The location is the Steel Horse Saloon, a sports bar in the Carterville area.

An official on the scene has advised our correspondent that there is a search underway, but hasn't advised as to what it's for. The official said specifically, "Carbondale police will be handling statements."

However, an individual on the scene has stated that there is a car that was driven into the woods early this morning, crashed into a tree, and set afire, this at about 3 a.m.

This citizen has advised that the car is a sedan, and before the fire, was likely tan-colored or light brown.

Below are photos our correspondent is sending in right now. Scroll down to view.

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More as we get it. Stay on the site with a tab open or mark your RSS feeds.

CARTERVILLE, Ill. - A car being found abandoned in the woods behind a Carterville sports bar may have been the one used in the shooting of a Carbondale police officer late last night.

The car was found crashed into a tree, in a ditch, and set afire, in the woods behind the Steel Horse Saloon.

It's currently being loaded on a rollback (1:15 p.m. Monday, August 1).

More if we get it. Scroll down for pics.

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CARBONDALE, Ill. - Carbondale Chief of Police Jeff Grubbs held a press conference this afternoon regarding last night's shooting of one of his officers. Here's the statement read during the 3 p.m. conference:

On July 31, 2016 at 11:38 p.m., officers of the Carbondale Police Department were on patrol in the 700 block of North Robert A. Stalls Street when they responded to gunshots being fired in the area.

While driving toward the source of the gunshots, the officers saw a tan, four-door vehicle driving away from the area at a high rate of speed. When the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a vehicle pursuit was initiated, which ultimately traveled north on North Marion Street and then east into the 2400 block of Dillinger Road.

During the pursuit, at least one suspect fired several gunshots at the pursuing officers from the fleeing vehicle, striking the police car and one of our police officers which ended the pursuit for the safety of the officers and the public. During the pursuit, Carbondale Police officers did not return fire.

After being initially taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, the injured officer has since been transported to a St. Louis area hospital for additional treatment and is reported to be in serious but stable condition. At this time, the name of the 26-year-old officer who has been with the department since 2013 is being withheld out of respect for him and for his family.

The suspect vehicle involved in the pursuit, a tan Pontiac Grand Prix, was later located abandoned and destroyed by fire on Dewmaine Road in Williamson County.

At this time, the suspects can only be described as at least two black males. All involved law enforcement personnel are working diligently to provide more specific descriptive information as to the identity of all involved suspects. The suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.

The investigation into this incident is being led by the Illinois State Police, which is standard Carbondale Police Department procedure in incidents interning an Officer-Involved Shooting. The Carbondale Police Department is assisting the Illinois State Police, as are numerous local, state and federal agencies. The investigation into this incident is continuing and the Carbondale Police Department and the entire law enforcement community in our region are asking for the public's help by providing any information they may have regarding this incident.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200. You may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 618-549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at 618-687-COPS (2677). Anonymous tips may also made by selecting the "Crime Stopper" tab located on the main page of their website. Please help yourself, along with your county, its communities and the university campus by using these numbers if you witness, or have any information pertaining to a crime. Cash rewards for information which leads to an arrest area also made anonymously. Remember, crime doesn't pay, but Crime Stoppers does!

WHITE CO., Ill. - Thieves apparently targeted a vehicle in the little village of Crossville over the weekend, according to a sheriff's department report.

White County deputy George Spencer advised that Saturday (July 30) at about 1:31 a.m., he responded to a location on the 300 block of First Street in that village in reference to a report of someone having entered a vehicle there without permission.

He met with the owner of the vehicle in question, Summer J. Cox, 19. She said someone had attempted to enter her vehicle while it was parked outside her place, indicating she was asleep when she heard the alarm go off in the car, a maroon 2006 Ford Fusion. Cox said that when she looked outside, she observed the passenger side door of the vehicle open, but didn't see anyone near the vehicle at the time. She also stated she didn't observe any damage to her vehicle, and stated nothing had been removed from the interior. She did note that her passenger side front door is broken and will not lock when the other doors are locked, but stated that the vehicle's alarm will still sound if this door is opened while the other doors are locked.

She also told Spencer that two weeks ago, someone did remove $800 cash from her vehicle; she had already reported this to the sheriff's department.

Spencer said he viewed the vehicle but didn't locate anything of evidentiary value at the time.

WHITE CO., Ill. - A rural Carmi man is perplexed as to who would be messing with the windows of his house.

Ross D. Wilson, 22, of County Road 1700 North, Carmi, told a sheriff's deputy this past Friday (July 29) that for three weeks now, damage has been done to his home, Two weeks ago, three window screens on his residence were cut while he was away from the place in the evening.

Then last week, two more window screens were cut at some point between 1 and 4 p.m.

And as of Friday, between approximately 12:45 and 1:30 p.m., someone broke a kitchen window located on the north side of the home. Wilson stated the subject broke only outer pane of glass; the inner pane wasn't damaged.

Wilson stated he doesn't know who may be causing the damage or why, but he wanted to file a report on it, and he did so Friday at about 6:35 p.m.

CARBONDALE, Ill. - A GoFundMe page has been set up for the young officer shot in the line of duty late last night in Carbondale.

The page can be found at this link.

We've discovered the name of the officer, but are holding it pending an okay by the family to list it. We've also learned that while the officer has survived surgery, having been shot in the face, he's still in serious condition...but they don't believe there has been any damage to his brain, a very fortunate and significant development.

The 26-year-old was shot last night pursuing a car following reports of gunfire in a Carbondale neighborhood; the car was found wrecked and burned earlier today.

Feel free to donate if you wish; just click the above link.