Here are your print headlines for the new print edition, on stands NOW! If you like to hold the paper in your hands to read it, be sure and pick up one for just $3 a copy at the vendor nearest you; or, if you prefer to read from the comfort of your own computer or other electronic device, simply sign up for our e-Edition by getting and online membership here!

Each print headline is preceded by a dateline (where the information appearing in the article occurred) and followed by a brief synopsis and links to other articles here at the site if appropriate. Each headline is linked to the e-Edition article for your convenience! We present them in sections, starting with the front page, then back page (a second front page for us), then Egypt, Heartland and Central, (the regions we cover), then finally our OpEd section. Enjoy.

FRONT PAGE

Tom Franks

WILLIAMSON CO.—Banker sued in civil case: We know that most folks in Saline County know exactly who Tom Franks is. What they may not know about him, however, is the information coming to you in this article from Williamson County. And to think: If Eric Gregg hadn’t pitched such a fit at us investigating his statutory violation by holding two incompatible offices at the same time, we may never have come across this story….nor its connection to the infamous Brittster. You’ve gotta read it.

WHITE CO.—Shooting death said to be suicide—Family not convinced, still searching for answers: While it’s true that suicide is difficult on family and friends, and they often see things in suicides that aren’t there, it’s kind of hard to imagine that a man would shoot himself in the chest…and ALSO in the leg. Here’s the backstory on the info we brought you on July 13; and material is still coming in on this story.

CLAY CO.—Baby Lily home with dad after court order: Without a doubt one of the most heart-touching stories we’ve brought you in a long time; this hopefully is the final installation of a fine father, Zephrum Jones, whose baby Lily was effectively abducted from him after her mother died following an ATV crash. Despite the tragedy of Andrea Weiler’s death, we are thrilled to report that this one has a happy ending, and you can read all about it here.

HARDIN CO.—Fire chief key to ISP, FBI probe?: There was a key component to the series of stories we’ve been producing about Tara Wallace going after JT Fricker’s dad, that being who made the complaint. We’d known it pretty much all along; and this article tells you why. Btw…those of you who want to blame this article on Tim Dillard’s death, look again. He was ASSISTING us with this article. SOMEONE ELSE was detracting from that. If you want to blame someone, look there.

LAWRENCE CO.—Is DCFS tipping off family members?: Ask anyone housed at the Lawrence County jail whether they know Melisa Laslie, they they’ll likely tell you they do. This article explains why, and dives deep into the waters of DCFS again, as we may have found the answer to the question about how certain people NEVER lose their kids to the agency, no matter how many times they’re reported, or under what conditions they live.

BACK PAGE

BRIDGEPORT—Despite pending federal sentencing, ex mayor still makes presence known: Coverage of two July meetings of the Bridgeport city council, wherein former mayor Mad Max Schauf’s presence is being made known…because he’s just about destroyed that city. This article, and the attendant one, explains how.

WABASH CO.—‘Accidental’ drowning investigated: There seem to be a lot of “accidents” going on in the area these days….this one is strange, and everyone knows it. Our new correspondent in Wabash County lays it out for you.

SPRINGFIELD—AG investigates ISP: Illinois State Police are refusing Ang the documents that show what Eric Gregg reported to ISP about her “extorting” him; we got the AG involved in mid-July, and this is the article about that.

HARDIN CO.—RIVER SEARCH: The tri-state was riveted to the search for little Carter Nall when it occurred in mid-July; we ran this photo and a cutline for those who didn’t get to catch it online (because yes, there are still people who don’t get their news from computers.)

PAGE 2

ELDORADO—Dog attack in ‘rado leaves two injured, family pet dead; dog held for rabies determination: Shawnna Mitchell’s beloved family pet was killed in a dog attack. This is the full story, since only a brief recap appeared online.

PAGE 3

FORMER mayor Eric Gregg

HARRISBURG—Mayor resigns after receiving pressure from numerous fronts, including law: Eric Gregg thinks he can just leave office and become a “community volunteer” with no stinky trail dragging behind him. He’s wrong; the trail is very stinky, and we’re following it it until its bitter conclusion, even (and especially) if it leads to an indictment or two.

EGYPT

Trevor Martin

WILLIAMSON CO.—Young man’s death remains unsolved; no charges filed: More coverage of what happened to Trevor Martin in Creal Springs in late June; you’ll want to read this one, as NO other media is finding out—or publishing—what we are about it.

ELDORADO—Woman’s death leads to discovery of missing Fentanyl patches: And this is another full version of a story we were following online during production week; the reference to the patches is a new aspect of it, heretofore unpublished.

GALLATIN CO.—Gallatin prosecutor still struggling with his job: Wouldn’t you know it….Tyler Patton’s name pops up in THIS issue, too…as does Allen Roe’s, because if Roe would do his job with this punk, there might be fewer problems surrounding him.

WHITE CO.—White man sentenced to five years for burglary: The young man who broke in to the Crossroads Church outside Norris City is sentenced.

SALINE CO.—Mom admits drinking with minor son prior to crash: This is one of those stories that will make you shake your head and say, “Whaaaaa…..???”

WHITE CO.—Drug charges and copkicking get perp jail time: Yes, we’ve coined a new word: “copkicking.” Apparently it;s the in thing for this chick…especially given that it’s hard to tell from her mug shot that she’s a chick….

SALINE CO.—Meth precursor purchases keep cops busy busting: A little alliteration there to show what Saline cops are dealing with over the ongoing meth issue in their county

WHITE CO.—Pair of sex abuse cases filed: WhiteCo crims in the sex offender realm.

HAMILTON CO.—Same woman charged with stealing hydrocodone again: This gal is apparently addicted. Wish the drug companies would stop making hydrocodone like they stopped making other, more effective painkillers…

SALINE/GALLATIN COs.—Rampaging Muddy teen busted in stolen car: Yet another head-scratcher…and a good read.

SALINE—MINER KILLED AT WILDCAT: Sad news about James Clarida, this with the official word from Peabody, who operated the mine.

HARDIN CO.—Cannabis grow operation leads Hardin Co. charges: One of these days, cannabis is gonna be legal…then you won’t be reading stories like this one; instead, you’ll be reading who shot and killed who over a land battle for the good Hardin County soil to grow it on.

SALINE CO.—Violence, forgery and drugs tops in ‘rado police activity: No, not a story about Freeman STD….those usually play out online. This is just the regular crim variety.

HEARTLAND

EDGAR CO.—Incredible act of hubris displays unstable mentality in latest airport authority appointee: Coverage of unbelievably moronic behavior as displayed by airport authority board trustee Adonna Bennet.

Ayron Miller. Seriously…who spells Aaron “AYRON”? This idiot’s mother, apparently.

PALESTINE—Fugitive in Palestine after being chased down by U.S. Marshals: No big backstory here on the crazy guy who brought U.S. Marshals to the little Crawford County village of Palestine…but plenty of eyewitness accounting of it.

JASPER CO.—No “shooting” in Willow Hill but case of road rage injures one man: The bizarre case of Lindemann vs. Parrent…and maybe a little bit of ‘why.’

JASPER CO.—Man accused of biting officer gets bond reduction: Jasper crim, getting all zombiefied.

EDGAR CO.—All motions denied in Payton case; sentencing being scheduled for August: As anticipated, the motions for acquittal or new trial, as well as regarding sentencing, in the case of Terry Payton have been denied. Now all that’s left to be done is the sentencing, which should be a doozy, as insane Jan Burno will sniffle and snuffle and boohoo her way across the courtroom as the singular “victim impact statement” presented, since no one else liked Kathie Payton. Hey, maybe there’s be an excuse for her to steal more tissue.

CRAWFORD CO.—Robinson man charged with December rape: Crawford County crim wrapup.

CLARK CO.—Ordered tested for communicable diseases after spitting on officer: We get the nastiest stories coming out of Clark County….just sayin.

CENTRAL

CLAY CO.—Sheriff retires; planned replacement will not accept appointment: The person everyone expected to get the nod for replacing Sheriff Jim Sulsburger will not be up for appointment. Read this article about it to learn more.

WABASH CO.—Trio concerned with road conditions in Friendsville jumped the gun; road commissioner David Gill confidently silences naysayers: What was initially presented as a “recall” issue for a road district commissioner became a much bigger story two weeks later; read what our brilliant new correspondent learned at the Wabash County board meetings.

WAYNE CO.—Couple charged with dope delivery near school: Wayne County crim material

WAYNE CO—School board pres charged with forgery: One would think that if a guy has a pretty cushy job pulling down several tens of thousands of dollars a year, he might not be inclined to allegedly thieve from the company for whom he works (which ends up being all of us on the Wayne-White Counties Electric Co-Op. But, here we are.

LAWRENCE CO.—Sex offender charged in assault: This punk can’t seem to stay off the radar.

OLNEY—Mayor’s true colors fly at early July meeting: Citizens who voted overwhelmingly to put Ray Vaughn in office as mayor or Olney are, one by one, becoming deeply sorry that they did. Here’s a story to illustrate why.

LAWRENCE CO.—Bloody nose and broken teeth get career crim back in the headlines: Tommy Shoulders, gigantopunk, at it again.

CLAY CO.—Forgery and theft charged: Clay County crim roundup No. 1.

RICHLAND CO.—3-Hs continue to muddle through what passes for justice in Richland County court system: Hyde, Hires and Harrell make up the 3H’es in Richland County. With those three running the show, we really are all doomed.

Chastidy Byrns

LAWRENCE CO.—Burglary and theft all the rage in Lawrence: Lawrence crim roundup.

RICHLAND CO.—No O’Neill, but no committee reps, either: County board coverage, one which prompts the question: Why is the county supporting all these appointments to various boards if none of the board representatives ever bother to show up for the county meetings, even on the night they’re appointed, so the rest of us at least know what they look like?

RICHLAND CO.—Questions surface over announcement of Olney men’s federal indictment being delayed: Strange little story about two Olney guys getting federally indicted, but the material not showing up on the local radar for WEEKS.

CLAY CO.—Sex abuse, DUI and drugs charged in Clay: Clay crim roundup No. 2.

BRIDGEPORT—Former mayor has forfeiture documents filed against him in federal court case; sentencing delayed til late September while feds make a case: The sidebar story about Max Schauf, his delay in sentencing, and what the feds would now like for him to do.

EDWARDS CO.—Edwards man charged with strangulation: Edwards crim roundup

OP-ED

SURLY & UNCOOPERATIVE: The life and times of a covert investigative journalist
STAFF COLUMN: Why Gregg’s lack of integrity is valuable to Quinn
PROSE & CONS: Sometimes the law ARE ‘children of the corn’
COOL & COMPLIANT: Sylbalaat Theory and Yadadaya Conjecture

Voice of the People: Complaints about Ray Vaughn, a dude at Shawnee Correctional with a “life-threatening” penis condition, and more.