The Hoagy House

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ill. - A relatively-famous restaurant in downtown Lawrenceville, Illinois, is prepping to reopen after an electrical fire last night.

The fire at the Hoagy House, located at 1301 Jefferson Street in Lawrenceville a couple of blocks off the square, was electrical in nature, and the smoke damage was said to be heavy, but not anything they can't bounce back from.

Apparently the interior isn't exactly usable right now, however, so they're planning on having a food trailer on the premises to keep the business going while they work to get the place cleaned up and back in working order.

PARIS, Ill. (ECWd) – According to a customer of B & J’s restaurant (aka “The Track Shack” as it is also known due to its proximity to the railroad tracks), he complained to the Edgar County Health Department about seeing cockroaches while eating in B &J’s Restaurant. The Health Department performed an inspection and noted the refrigerator was not keeping food cold enough and chose not to continue with their inspection at that point.

The restaurant closed until that problem was fixed.

He complained a second time to the Health Department about cockroaches after observing them in a subsequent visit to drink some coffee, and the health department arrived to perform another inspection.

During this inspection, the owner decided to take the food away from the customer’s (Rob Bogue) 3-year-old grand daughter, who had not finished eating yet, and ordered Rob to leave the premises. Other customers were in there, and they were allowed to stay, so we can assume he knew who filed the second complaint.

But, it did not stop there…

The owner decided to place a letter in the local newspaper after the first inspection that basically stated the Health Department did not know anything about operating a restaurant, they just showed up with a thermometer and book– which, incidentally, is a major part of operating a food establishment (keeping food at the proper temperature).

The Health Department did the job it was supposed to do, in our opinion.

Food not kept at the proper temperature can be a health hazard.

He also placed a poorly written and misspelled letter by the door telling everyone that “Attendtion” . . .  “No service to ‘Robet’ Bogue” in B & J’s.

The bottom line of this story is that if you complain about food safety and cockroaches in B & J’s Restaurant in Paris, Illinois, be prepared to have your name on the wall telling every customer that you are not allowed to be served there again – without any explanation as to why you are not allowed in there again.

Other customers deserve to know why Rob was banned so that they don’t dare complain to the Edgar County Health Department about cockroaches...

Read the rest at this link

Smith being loaded onto an ambulance Monday, August 1

POPE CO., Ill. - The former treasurer of the village of Eddyville, Kim Smith, was hospitalized yesterday in Harrisburg after what's being reported as an overdose of medication.

Smith, 56, was taken by ambulance from her home in Eddyville at about 1:30 p.m. yesterday (Monday, August 1) and transported to Harrisburg Medical Center, where her condition was unknown as of this morning.

Kim Y. Smith

Smith has been set for an arraignment on her Theft and Forgery case in Pope County on August 10; it's alleged that she pocketed money from the village of Eddyville from 2013 until her termination early this year, this by signing Mayor Darrell Aly's name to checks made out to her.

A fire that inexplicably popped up at village hall has never been explained, nor termed arson; it happened right before she resigned.

She was the front page story in this article a few of papers back, and page 3 story in this article a couple of papers back.

She's report to not be handling the pressure well, since no other media has really been covering the case in-depth.

It's unclear whether the alleged overdose was accidental or intentional. When we learn more, we'll post. Keep watching.

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The scene yesterday

FLORA, Ill. - The Flora police report, released today by Chief John Nicholson, is a short one!

Sunday, July 23 at 9:29 pm, Flora Police arrested Michael Wasion, 49, of Flora for Aggravated Assault, following an incident in the 600 block of South Locust Street. Wasion was transported to Flora Police Department for booking procedures prior to being transferred to Clay County Jail.

Tuesday, July 26 at 8:48 pm, Flora Police arrested Sara Perkins, 24, of Flora for Driving While License Suspended, following a traffic stop in the 100 block of West South Street. Perkins was taken to Flora Police Department where she was fingerprinted and photographed before being released with a Notice to Appear.

Friday, July 29 at 1:05am, Flora Police arrested Joshua Landreth, 23, of Flora on an outstanding warrant out of Richland County for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Retail Theft. Landreth was taken to Flora Police Department and then released to the custody of Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

MARION, Ill. - Marion police pulled in a few arrests over this past weekend, July 30 through August 1, 2016.

DeWayne Orendoff, 41 of Marion has been arrested for Illegal Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, Criminal Trespass to Vehicle and Possession of a Stolen Firearm in the 2200 block of Nichole Ln on August 1, 2016.

Felisha Bishop, 28 of Marion has been issued a citation for Retail Theft at Kroger on July 30, 2016.

Quinton Alexander, 27 of Marion has been arrested for Improper Lane Usage,  Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Retail Theft at Small’s Grocery and Leaving the Scene of an Accident on July 29, 2016 in the area of E Main St and N Fair St.

Cody Brown, 27 of Goreville has been arrested for Illegal Transportation of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Improper Lane Usage and No Valid Driver’s License in the area of DeYoung St and Court St on July 30, 2016.

Gene Tindall, 41 of Herrin has been arrested at Gray Plaza Motel located in the 1500 block of W DeYoung St for Aggravated Domestic Battery on July 29, 2016.

Ronald Cox, 35 of Marion has been arrested on charges of Domestic Battery in the 2400 block of Williamson County Parkway on July 30, 2016.

Timothy Adami, 23 of Goreville has been arrested for Driving While License Suspended and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia following a traffic stop in the 1400 block of W DeYoung St on July 30, 2016.

The scene in the Virginia Avenue area of Marion around 1 p.m.

MARION, Ill. - A heavily-armed police presence on Virginia Street in Marion prompted concerns that the Carbondale police shooter might be getting ready to be rounded up...but that wasn't the case.

Our sources had been advised that the contingent was going off to locate the two black men suspected in the shooting of a Carbondale police officer Sunday night, but that turned out to not be so. Instead, they toted out two individuals in handcuffs at the location, Tina Reichert and Lonnie Brymer, who are griping mightily on their social networking sites that they weren't arrested. No one at the scene said they WERE. So unless the two taken out gave false names to the police, this is all we have to go on at this time.

The contingent was comprised of Illinois State Police vehicles, Marion police, an armored tank and about ten unmarked vehicles; they left Virginia Street in Marion just before 1 p.m.

We'll bring some material on these two in a bit; be watching.

The Hoagy House

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ill. - Authorities have confirmed that the fire that caused significant damage to the interior of the Hoagy House was an arson, and it might've been set to cover a break-in.

The fire, which occurred overnight Sunday/into Monday morning (July 31/August 1), prompted a brief shut-down of the popular restaurant, as we reported yesterday.

The investigation is centered not only on an arson, but burglary.

Crime Scene Investigators were on the scene today finishing up their work, said Lawrenceville Police Chief Jim White, who could offer no comment about the situation other than there was another site of a break-in over the same time frame: The Hallmark store a half-block away, Essentials, owned by Pam Nolen.

More as we get it; keep checking back.

From Illinois News Network

A recent measure signed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to make small amounts of cannabis possession a civil offense rather than a criminal one says it could save the state’s prisons millions, according to one state representative.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) pushed for a measure last year decriminalizing possession of 15 grams, which the governor amended to 10 grams with a veto.

This year, lawmakers took the governor’s changes and passed it through both chambers of the General Assembly. The governor signed the law Friday. Cassidy says the law could save the state’s prison system an estimated $10 million a year.

“And that’s only at the state level. That’s not where most of the people are actually being held. Most of the time and impact is at our county jails either pre-trial or with misdemeanor time ..."

To read the rest, click this link

Paris Dawn Comegys

EDWARDS CO., Ill. - While details are few, Edwards County Sheriff's officials have announced late this afternoon that a teen missing for several days from her home there has been located and is safe.

Paris Dawn Comegys, pictured here, went missing and was the subject of an alert on July 25, which you can read about at this post.

The public got into sharing the word through social networking and it was announced today that Paris was found.

Edwards County officials are thanking the public for their diligent work in getting the word out about the missing girl.

WILLIAMSON CO., Ill. - The Williamson County Merit Commission is now taking applications for the positions of Deputy, Correctional Officer, and Civilian Telecommunicator.

Applications may be picked up at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, 404 N. Van Buren, Marion, Ill., Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM.

Applications must be returned no later than September 2, 2016.

The Merit Test will be given on September 17, 2016.

Contact Jennifer Allen at 618-997-6541 ext. 1301 with any questions.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is an equal opportunity employer.

CLAY CO., Ill. - Clay County Sheriff Andy Myers has released the following activity report for his department covering the dates of July 29 through August 2:

July 29, Katrina Maxwell, 22, Vandalia, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.  Bond set at $3,000.00 (10 percent), plus $75.00 warrant fee. She posted bond and was released.

July 29, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified of a motor vehicle accident at 6:08 p.m. at the 200 Block of West North Avenue in Flora. Apparently Mackenzie Wallace, 20, Flora, operating a 2001 Chevrolet was traveling west on West North Avenue, stopped to make a left turn into a parking lot and was struck by another westbound vehicle operated by Bryce Henry, 26, Flora. No injuries reported.

July 29, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested Danny J. Ireland, 37, Flora, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Resisting a Peace Officer. Bond set at $1,500.00 (10 percent), he posted bond and was released.

July 30, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified of a motor vehicle accident at 11:55 a.m.  south of the intersection of U.S. Rt 45 and Loon Lane. Apparently Brent D. Loy, 39, Louisville, operating a 2005 Jeep was
travelling south on U.S. Rt 45, when the front wheel assembly broke from his vehicle, he lost control of his vehicle and entered the ditch. No injuries reported.

July 31, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified of a motor vehicle accident at 7:40 a.m. at the intersection of Bobwhite Road and Jaeger Lane. Apparently James K. Schwabe, 54, Flora, operating a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 was travelling south on Bobwhite Road, lost control of the vehicle, struck the embankment and overturned.  Schwabe was cited for Driving While Driver's License Suspended and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident. He was transported to Deaconess Hospital for his injuries.

Aug. 1, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested Joshua Payne, 29, Clay City on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Aggravated Assault (2 counts) and Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer. Bond set at $25,000.00 (10%).  He posted bond and was released.

Aug. 2, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy cited Thomas L. Pemberton, 67, Flora, for Clay County Ordinance Disturbance of the Peace. He was given a Notice to Appear and released.

MARION, Ill. - A case of the dumbs may have hit certain segments of the city of Marion, which might account for the lack of concern regarding a fire that went unreported early this morning until some young folks saw it and called it in....this after others passed by, wanting, apparently, only to take pics of it.

Little and Rogers

Tyler Little and his girlfriend Allie Rogers were coming home from Walmart at 2:17 a.m. this morning when they saw smoke and flames coming from the kitchen area at a residence on the corner of East Boulevard and Washington Street in Marion.

They immediately stopped and called the fire department. They knew an elderly gentleman lived there, and although they told the fire department they didn't see anyone at the home, an ambulance was dispatched in case of an entrapment.

The fire was put out and the resident was nowhere to be found. Sometime later, however, the man returned to find considerable damage to his home, this after having gone out for breakfast. The young couple stayed on the scene until they were sure the man was okay.

Tyler stated it was unbelievable the cars that were going by and not bothering to stop or call. One guy, he said, was "swerving all over the road trying to take photos."

Allie said the man had been very nice and helped her when she had car trouble near his home and so she didn't want to see any harm come to him.

Their friend Andrew Peyton Cooper wanted to be in the news and posed for the following photo.

Mr. Cooper

Kedly Newlin, Crawford County mug

LAWRENCE CO., Ill. - Kedly G. Newlin, 57, of Lawrenceville, Kelly W. Cessna, 46, of Bridgeport, and Lorenzo Molina, 50, of Phoenix, Ariz., were indicted on July 19, 2016, on methamphetamine related charges in a four count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.

Kelly Cessna, Richland County mug

Count 2 charges that on February 17, 2016, in Crawford County, Newlin knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Count 4 charges that on June 9, 2016, in Lawrence County, Cessna knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The total amount of methamphetamine involved was fifty (50) grams or more of crystal methamphetamine (Ice), or five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

From Christian Reichert's Facebook page; that's supposedly his mom, Tina, who supposedly is one of two taken out of a house in handcuffs Tuesday

WILLIAMSON CO., Ill. - The son of one of the two people at the center of a massive police situation yesterday in Marion has been arrested on preliminary charges of major pot-moving.

And due to the family influence, his mother, who was reportedly taken out of a house on Virginia Street in handcuffs yesterday, has been successful in diverting attention away from the utter excess and overkill on the part of law enforcement that may have been how he was brought in.

There's still no valid explanation for the presence of the tank-like armored vehicle, the SWAT get-ups, multiple unmarked cars, and at least three law enforcement agencies at the location on Virginia yesterday (although after this post, ISP will probably go out of their way to scramble and get something to mainstream media that "explains it all")...nor the CSI people getting into cars at the scene and literally sniffing at clothing found therein.

Although pot might be a viable explanation for the sniffing, it just doesn't warrant all the law enforcement on-hand, and the overwhelming show of force.

However, the snit that friends of his mother's flew into post-publication most assuredly took attention off all the firepower, and instead of talking about the overkill, most of Marion's now talking about how poor Tina was WRAWNGD!! (That's hickinese for 'wronged')...even though she wasn't.

So here's what happened next.

Reichert was picked up in the wee hours of this morning (Wednesday, August 3), and in evidence is 5,000 GRAMS of weed. If you do the math, that's well over 11 pounds. The Southern Illinois Enforcement Group (SIEG) is supposed to have been taking the credit for the bust, and it's being reported that there may be other tendrils reaching out from this one, including a connection to Arizona, where it's hard to grow pot (but not hard to concoct other product to trade for it).

Wherever it goes, the confirmed official wording on the arresting charge is Possession of Cannabis more than 5,000 grams...which in the user vernacular is known as delivery amounts, not user amounts for sure.

We've also had it confirmed that neither Tina Reichert nor her buddy, Lonnie Brymer, were taken to the Williamson County Sheriff's Department nor, as we pointed out yesterday, were they arrested. They were, however, secured and transported to another location for questioning, then released. Tina has been all over her Facebook page doing damage control (apparently hoping to spin something away from her kid...? who knows; but only God knows how successful she was at diverting it away from the stormtroopers and their tactics), at one point calling the whole thing a "misunderstanding," this to the dismay of the vicious defenders who were screeching "EEYUT DEEDUNT HAYPPUN THAYUT WAYYYYYY" largely all day and night yesterday.

It may NOT have happened "that way," but it happened. And this has ticked off the bourgeoisie in Marion, as the Reicherts are supposed to be these big untouchable hotshots, Jim Reichert being owner of a strip mall or strip malls in town (probably raking in those improperly-used TIF District funds a la Doug Bradley), and the whole thing has been a massive embarrassment for them as well as for those who vociferously supported them, albeit in vain:

Now the question remains: Did mom give up son during that short "interview" with authorities? Maybe. We may never know the full details from lamestream media, as they wouldn't dare cover it as to not lose advertisers in the form of Reicherts anyway...so our correspondent will be there, at court, when lil Chris makes his first appearance. You be here...and we'll tell you everything we know.

RICHLAND CO., Ill. - The Fifth Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon has issued its ruling on a case that's set a record as being one of the longest to be in front of the appeals court justices.

Unfortunately, the matter was overturned on appeal.

The case is the civil Stalking/No-Contact Order former ISP investigator Kelly Henby took out against a former subordinate, now-former special agent Rick White, who's under a charge of Perjury in Richland County. The judge in the case told Henby in March of 2013 that he didn't have enough in the file to constitute two instances of stalking by White (who makes a habit of stalking people he doesn't like), and Henby took it to the appeals court.

There it sat for a number of years, as you can see.

But in a recent decision, announced today to counsel, the appeals court has decided against Henby in the matter.

In their multiple-page argument, they did indicate that it wasn't a frivolous appeal, and not done just to harass White. Instead, they indicated that it was a good appeal...mainly because of the questionable conduct in which White obviously engaged that brought the whole thing to a court case to begin with. The decision that it was a "good appeal" means that White, who is now out of a job and having to scrounge around the same school district in which his wife is employed, in order to get teacher's aide jobs, can't file any kind of action against Henby for his efforts to expose White - and indeed, ISP - for what he, and they, are at times: Petty, vindictive, and in White's case, twisted.

White has an upcoming court hearing for Judge Mark Shaner to hear all pending motions on the felony charge, this on August 24. He's set for a jury trial September 20. We'll see if it goes.

Marion Mayor Bob Butler

MARION, Ill. - At around 4:15 this afternoon, just blocks from Marion City Hall where Mayor Butler likely sat stewing over Disclosure's latest reporting on environmental pollution on The Hill, a loud ruckus broke out amongst the youths gathered on the playground of Washington School on East Main Street.

Neighbors report that several of the rowdy youths displayed aggression toward the police officers, who quickly took two of them to the ground, and placed at least 4 of them in handcuffs and in squad cars. A few of the youths being questioned were clearly cooperating and were not arrested.

The mayor continues to operate under the illusion that all is peachy keen in the Hub of the Universe, aka the Hub of Corruption. Hats off to the quick response by the Marion Police Department today. Perhaps lives were saved. The neighborhood is quiet now...for the moment.

The front of Stirrup Monday morning

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ill. - An arrest was made last night in the break-ins and arson of locations in this Lawrence County town.

Lawrenceville police chief Jim White advised Disclosure this morning that last night (Wednesday, August 3), his department arrested Nathaniel P. Greene, 31, of Lawrenceville, on preliminary charges of one count of Arson and two counts of Burglary, in conjunction with the fire at the Hoagy House and the break-in of Stirrup on the square (at the Hallmark store, Essentials).

The arrest took place at about 9 p.m.

White didn't indicate how their attention came to be on Greene, who is a meth felon in Lawrence and whose record of drug-related arrests dates back 12 years.

It remains unclear whether the Hoagy House arson was done to cover a burglary there.

More if we get it.

Benjamin Comer

MASSAC CO., Ill. - A man for whom authorities searched overnight in Massac County, considered armed and dangerous, was taken into custody this morning in an uneventful incident.

The man, identified by authorities as Benjamin Comer, was being sought yesterday after a report of a "man with a shotgun" prompted law enforcement to tell people across Massac and neighboring Pope to "stay indoors."

However, at 11:10 this morning, Comer was the subject of a "safe and uneventful" capture by Illinois State Police. Our Massac sources tell us that emergency medical services were dispatched for safety reasons. He was found walking, observed by a homeowner and identified by the clothing he'd been wearing. He did not resist being taken into custody.

Comer had no weapon on him at all.

When we learn more, we'll post; keep a tab up and mark your feeds, as we're covering more Pope-related material.

CAMDEN, Ohio/Richland Co., Ill. - An Olney child was killed Saturday in a motorcycle accident in which he was a passenger.

Joey Muhs, 10, was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle operated by his father, Daniel Muhs, both of them of Olney, when at about 2:0 p.m. July 31, the accident occurred.

Preble County, Ohio, sheriff's county authorities report that the motorcycle was westbound on State Route 725 one mile east of Camden, when he lost control of the bike and crossed the center line, striking an SUV traveling eastbound. The SUV, witnesses said, swerved in an effort to avoid the collision, but was unsuccessful in the attempt; the SUV driver was not injured in the collision. The highway was closed for two hours following the collision.

The collision with the SUV ejected both the Muhs; little Joey was riding in a sidecar on the bike.

The father was airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton; the little boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Local funeral arrangements in Olney are being made.

SALINE CO., Ill. - Another young Illinois Youth Center inmate has been sentenced to adult prison after acting up at the facility in Harrisburg.

On August 4, 2016, David Hayes, age 19, of Collinsville, Illinois, entered a plea of guilty in Saline County, Illinois Circuit Court to a Class 2 felony charge of Aggravated Battery.

Judge Walden E. Morris sentenced Hayes to 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with two years of mandatory supervised release.

On September 25, 2015, the Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office filed charges against Hayes. Those charges arose out of an incident in which it was alleged that Hayes spit in the face of Daniel Davis while Davis was working as a guard inside IYC‐Harrisburg.

The investigation of Hayes’ case was led by Officer Brent Davis of the Harrisburg Police Department. Because Hayes was 18 years old when he committed the  offense, he was prosecuted in adult court by Assistant State’s Attorney Jayson Clark.