MT. CARMEL, Ill. - Mt. Carmel authorities this morning announced an arrest made yesterday in the two recent armed robberies in town.

City detective, Sgt. Ryan Turner, said John Ryan Tennis, 36, of rural Mt. Carmel, was arrested in connection with the October 11 robbery of Family Video, and the Oct. 22 robbery of Jumpin Jimmy's convenience store/gas station in town.

According to Turner, Tennis gave a recorded confession.

There's been no information issued as to how authorities came to turn their attention to Tennis.

Tennis is being held at the Wabash County Jail pending a court hearing today.

Eric Lamb

JASPER/CLAY COs., Ill. - A county deputy who made the front page two issues ago has been arrested by Flora police on warrants issued by his home county of Jasper.

Eric Lamb, 38, of Ste. Marie and whose appearance in a front-page article in the September-October 2016 edition was his third front-pager in less than two years, was finally charged on October 20 in the beating of a man from Harrisburg, Everett Herring, which occurred on Labor Day at a big picnic the village of Ste. Marie holds each year on that holiday.

Flora Police Chief John Nicholson said the "arrest" wasn't so much that, as it was that Lamb turned himself in on two warrants issued out of Jasper, both for Aggravated Battery.

Nicholson said that last Thursday, October 20, Lamb, who is on leave from the Jasper County Sheriff's Office where he's been a deputy for a number of years, walked into the Flora PD and said he needed to speak with an officer.

When the officer went to the lobby, Lamb told him "I think I have a couple of warrants for my arrest so I'm here to turn myself in."

The officer ran his name and date of birth and received a valid warrant hit, and so Lamb was taken into custody for the warrant. Lamb completed booking and then posted $1,000 cash bond. Nicholson said Lamb made no statements, and that the procedure was fairly routine. But there was no indication of why Lamb opted to turn himself in at Flora, as opposed to doing so at Newton, unless he'd just learned of the warrants and that's where he happened to be when he learned of them, and wanted it over with.

The investigation into the incident has been ongoing since it happened, in early September, and comes on the eve of prosecutor Chad Miller seeking reelection, which you can read about in the e-Edition, on stands right now. You can read about the incident involving Lamb also at the e-Edition at the above links or this one, if you have an online membership. If you don't, GET ONE. This is the kind of stuff you get to read about in print or at the e-Edition; don't miss another word!

EDWARDS CO., Ill. - A wreck out on Route 130 in Edwards County earlier this morning sent a Noble man to the hospital.

Illinois State Police District 19 said the wreck occurred at 7:05 a.m. this morning, Monday, October 24.

According to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, the driver of a red 2008 GMC truck, Robert Gray, 38, of Olney, was northbound on Route 130, approximately a half-mile south of Edwards CR1750N, when he lost control and went into the southbound lane.

The driver of a white 2006 International truck tractor pulling a tanker trailer, David Leon Gibson, 47, of Noble was southbound on Route 130 when he observed the GMC in his lane and steered to the right to avoid a collision.

The truck tractor was struck by the GMC before it went down an embankment and overturned.                  

Gibson was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelt at the time of the traffic crash. Gibson was transported to a local area hospital for treatment of his injuries.

ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the Edwards County Sheriff’s Department, Edwards County Rural Fire, Edwards County Ambulance Service and Illinois Department of Transportation.

FLORA, Ill. - After all the excitement yesterday about the fact that former Jasper County deputy Eric Lamb turned himself in on his warrants last week, some might the rest of the Flora police report to be dull...but that's not the case at all.

In fact, there's a guy hemmed up in this report (which spans October 19th through the 22nd) who's been in the pages a couple of times before, in one particular incident, in association with a deceased woman.

Rodney Washington

But first, there's repeatrepeatrepeat offender, Rodney Washington, 33, of Flora, who was arrested by Flora police on Wednesday, October 19 at 8:49 pm,  on two charges of Violation of Bond Conditions, following incidents in the 200 block of Given Street and the 700 block of East 3rd Street. Washington was taken to Flora Police Department for booking procedures before being transferred to the custody of Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Then on Thursday, October 20 at 1:46 pm, Flora Police arrested Eric Lamb, 38, of Saint Marie on a Jasper County Warrant for two counts of Aggravated Battery. Lamb underwent booking procedures at Flora Police Department, he was able to post bond and was released with a court date.

Darrell Newman

Friday, October 21 at 10:05 pm, Flora Police arrested Darrel Newman, 27, of Flora on a Clay County Warrant as well as, a Richland County Warrant. Newman was able to post bond and was released with a court date. Regular readers will recall that Newman was involved with the horror that happened to Amber Mahon early last year; you can read about that at this link, this link, and this link.

Saturday, October 22 at 8:55 pm, Flora Police investigated a one-vehicle accident in the parking lot of Clay County Hospital, involving a 2002 Ford operated by Carla Ballew, 25, of Flora. No injuries were reported.

Saturday, October 22 at 9:38 pm, Andrew Durbin, 19, of Flora was arrested for Retail Theft, Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor and Resisting a Peace Officer, following an incident in the 200 block of West North Avenue. Durbin was transported to Flora Police Department, where he underwent booking procedures, before being transferred to Clay County Jail.

DISTRICT 19 - Illinois State Police had their hands full yesterday afternoon/evening working traffic crashes in District 19.

The first was in Edwards County shortly before 6 p.m.

ISP said Clifford D. McKinney, 20, of Albion, was southbound driving a red 2001 Dodge Ram truck on Edwards County Road 400 East, one and a half miles north of County Road 1275 North. With him were two passengers, Fernando Q. Ramirez, 46, and Alma T. Loera, 53, both of Albion.

At that point, McKinney failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, causing the Dodge to lose traction on the gravel. McKinney overcorrected, causing the Dodge to travel into the east ditch.

Ramirez and Loera were both transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries; McKinney was cited for Driving Too Fast for Conditions.

ISP was assisted at the crash scene by the Edwards County Sheriff's Department and the Edwards County Ambulance Service.

Over in Wayne County, a crash occurred on Illinois Route 45 near Cisne at 8:11 p.m. last night (Monday, October 24).

ISP said Steven Chingis, 47, of Glenview, Ill., was driving a white 2007 Volvo truck tractor hauling a 2010 utility box semitrailer northbound on 45 when it failed to negotiate the curve at Wayne County Highway 16 (the 161 Extension, also known as the Cisne Curve). The vehicles ran off the roadway to the right and overturned. The utility semitrailer split open and spilled its contents.

Chingis was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries; he was cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.

ISP was assisted at this crash scene by North Wayne Ambulance, Bedford Fire Protection and Rick's Towing of Fairfield, which was on the scene for cleanup for several hours.

Shelley Paris

WHITE CO., Ill. - A Mt. Vernon, Indiana, woman has turned herself in at the White County Sheriff's Office in Carmi on a warrant for her arrest on a charge of a massive theft from her former employer.

According to White County Sheriff's officials, Shelley Paris, 45, went to the sheriff's office to turn herself in yesterday (Monday, October 24), at 4:40 p.m.

She was booked and posted $5,000 cash bond; the warrant was for theft from Royal Cantrel Drilling in Crossville, where Paris had worked as a bookkeeper.

The theft was for in excess of $10,000 but less than $100,000.

The investigation was conducted by the White County Sheriff's Office.

Our Election edition 2016 is all delivered, subs mailed, and e-Edition is running hot right now and that's all because of what's in this issue, the only one you're getting in October, because what else is coming up but ELECTION 2016.

This is where you find the rundown of all the candidates running for contested offices this year (except the national race...we're just not doing it this year, unlike the lib paper already has), and this year, we're doing things a little differently because despite all admonitions to the contrary, there just isn't a lot of contesting of races on the local level...so we developed a guide at the outset of each article telling you what's contested, and what's not; it looks like this:

With the exception of the Front Page/Back Page breakdown, this month's print headlines are presented mostly as they appear in the print version, front to back, so we're not presenting them in sections; they are presented by dateline (where the material in the article takes place), headline link, then a brief synopsis in our own snarky Disclosure style...so here they are, THIS MONTH'S PRINT HEADLINES.

FRONT PAGE

SALINE CO. - Conspiracy to control state politics uncovered in Southern Illinois: This is it, folks....what we've worked on for more than a year, picking out the dots and connecting them...and it's a scary scenario. When people with an endless supply of money (no matter whether how they got it was by hard work or by hardly working...) are selecting your political candidates years in advance and grooming them to become what THEY want them to be....we're all in trouble. We've seen it on the world stage and how it affects us here in America. Now read about it on the downstate stage and do the right thing - vote CAREFULLY...because you have to live with your choices.

ILLINOIS - Should state Constitution be altered?: We know that a lot of people are confused by the ballot initiative front and center in every county in the state of Illinois. We break this down and provide the pros and cons of changing our state Constitution, which hasn't been altered in decades...but is this the thing - fighting off money-grubbing politicians - that's worth doing it over? And where does it stop if so?

Duane Verity

WILLIAMSON CO. - Alleged sex assault muddies county race: We gave you the outset of the mess a Williamson County state's attorney candidate is in a few weeks ago. Now read what else we learned...and see what the incumbent has to say about retaining his office and more.

HAMILTON CO. - Hamilton: Battle lines bring Bradley/Severin race, more: Poor Hamilton County...the political district lines go right through it, so they have to print up ballots for two separate districts of state representation, ergo they were the ideal county to illustrate the flaws in a particular state rep candidate. See who it is, and what the public is saying about him, in this article.

BACK PAGE

RETIRED JUDGE, STATE'S ATTORNEY MIKE HENSHAW

SALINE CO. - Have stunts pulled in prosecutor's race implicated county clerk?: The most bitter race in recent memory in Saline County has one candidate taking the high road and one candidate kinda losing her....stuff...and dragging a ridiculous number of people along with her as she does. Read about the deception and disingenuousness of one candidate...and how her team has possibly pulled other county officeholders into their wrongdoing.

Something Kasiar probably should've practiced....

Billy Milner

MARION CO. - Public raises questions over prosecutor candidate: This article, quite frankly, is one of the most unbelievable we've ever produced when it comes to election material, but we can guarantee....every single word is taken from police reports or court documents, and you just can't make this stuff up (and who would WANT to??)

PSA - First price increase in four and a half years coming in November: That's right, we took a little divergence to take advantage of the most eyes-on issue (as the election editions always are) to announce that we're going to have to keep up with inflation...so if you're not a print subscriber, better git onnit, because come November 1, it's going to cost you a little more. Link is right here.

INSIDE PAGES

RICHLAND CO. - In a village run by an illegal, they want to be able to sell open container alkyhaul: Yes, we spelled it like that for a reason - because that's how they say it in Claremont. Scot national John Johce, who can't hold a liquor license and is illegally holding the office as mayor, is probably hoping that all 13 of his voters within village limits passes this ballot referendum. We're just hoping Richland County has a better voter turnout than mid-teens-percent, considering the lack of contested offices there (and the fact that we haven't been members of the electorate there for a number of years...)

LAWRENCE CO. - Public safety tax approval sought in Lawrence: They're still living like Texaco's in town. And so they're still putting up new school buildings and all kinds of stuff...and the tax base that's able to pay for it is dwindling and dwindling as more and more property owners are abandoning ship and more and more of those left behind are falling into poverty and, sadly, crime. So they're by God gonna as that 25 percent or so who vote to impose a sales tax in Lawrence...because they 'need more money for schools.' Gads.

JASPER CO. - Jasper: State's attorney and circuit clerk race highlight ballot: We're wondering if Chad Miller charged Eric Lamb so he could win the election. I have to say: For all the people in Jasper that Lamb has caused problems for over the years (ever since we've been in publication), if every single one of them got out and voted, Miller would win the state's attorney's race in a landslide.

Joel Powless

CLAY CO. - Clay County: Prosecutor's race and big ballot question will be a draw: State's Attorney Melanie Pearce has competition for retaining her seat...and while this is mild by comparison to the race in 2008 there, it's still interesting.

EDGAR CO. - Edgar County sees grim four years ahead with no state's attorney race: Because, I think, no one WANTS to be state's attorney in one of the most corrupt east-central counties we've ever covered.

CLARK CO. - The contest in Clark? Circuit clerk, after the last one failed utterly: Greed has a tendency to ruin everyone around. It happened to 2012's pick for circuit clerk; now, Clark gets to replace her on a permanent basis.

CRAWFORD CO. - Crawford: Folks take county board races to heart; coroner challenged: Crawford County has done what every other county in the state should have done - They were able to get candidates for very nearly every office on the ballot, which should assure good voter turnout.

Cassandra Goldman

WABASH CO. - Contested offices in Wabash sure to increase turnout: This one is going to be interesting on the night of November 8 when the ballots are counted...there's a county board seat up that is seeing a matchup of current and former. Many people are just glad Cassandra Goldman isn't challenged, as she's really been doing a good job lately.

EDWARDS CO. - Edwards' judicial outcome will impact surrounding counties in Second Circuit: There's a judicial race in Edwards County that's limited the selection to the voters there, but the impact is throughout the Second Circuit. See if there's something YOU can do, at the link.

WHITE CO. - White: County board seats to be filled: Not a lot of activity in White County on the ballot, but what there is could mean some changes to the running of the county.

GALLATIN CO. - What's going on in Gallatin County that there are no contested offices? I think that question speaks volumes...and perhaps the absence of the former sheriff - Raymond Martin - is in part the answer.

POPE CO. - Incumbent sees challenge for county board seat: And folks....that's about the only race that's going on in Pope. However, they are likely very satisfied with their officeholders, as we rarely see complaints about them...so more power to em.

What...? me, prosecute??? Surely you jest.

HARDIN CO. - The day Tarable Wallace has been dreading for three and a half years has arrived: Alll we can say about the state's attorney's race in Hardin County is...what everybody else is saying: Bye bye Tara, hello Dan hiel Cockrum; hope you can litigate your way out of a wet paper bag, because she can't.

SALINE CO. - Saline has OTHER races on the ballot, too: The county board is always the hot race, and this election season is no exception. It's a full slate, and only about half are going to be chosen. But, as we've cautioned throughout...choose CAREFULLY.

OP-ED

Minkus Ink (Bubba): Lives matter: People should deal with that
Guest column (Teri Davis Newman): Americans have awakened and are mad as hornets
Voice of the People: Letter deals with the Bradley situation in Marion

TIMOTHY M. SCHIEVE

WABACH CO.— The Wabash County Illinois Sheriff’s Department has announced that they have taken into custody a Princeton, Ind., man accused of Molestation and Incest.

According to authorities, the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to 5049 Highway 15 Mt. Carmel, at 4:35 p.m. acting on a tip of a wanted individual.

Once on scene the Sheriff's Office confirmed Timothy M. Schieve, 46, of Princeton, Ind., was inside the residence.

Schieve was found hiding under a couch and ordered out and taken into custody without incident.

Schieve had an outstanding warrant out of Gibson County, Ind., charging Child felony Molestation and felny Incest.

The warrant carried a bond of $75,000.

Schieve was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he later signed extradition and was transported back to Gibson County.

Danielle Eyer

WHITE CO., Ill. - A White County meth felon has been arrested again, on charges for that very thing according to authorities.

Danielle Eyer, 37, of Crossville, was the subject of a traffic stop in Carmi at the intersection of Stewart and First streets on Monday (October 24) at 9:23 p.m.

Initially, it appeared all that was going to happen was a citation for Driving on a Suspended License. However, a search yielded suspected meth and unidentified drug paraphernalia.

She was taken in to the city/county jail, where she's still being held, awaiting a November 9 hearing on the formal charge of Possession of Meth less than 5 grams.

Eyer was last on the scene in 2006 when she was charged with and convicted of the same thing. She successfully completed probation in 2009. That will likely play into how this current case goes; be watching for an update in the print version, with the next one on stands November 16,

WABASH CO., Ill. — A familiar face has been busted AGAIN in Wabash County - one of his regular haunts - but not for anything that would send him back to prison.

A traffic stop Friday, October 21, by Mt. Carmel police found Douglas W. Boland, 32, of Nokomis, and well-known Lawrence County doper Cameron L. Jones, 32, of Bridgeport.

Police stopped a 2005 Audi after the arresting officer knew Jones was driving the vehicle on a suspended driver's license.

Exactly what Jones was doing driving an Audi is not difficult to figure out.

During the traffic stop Wabash County K-9 Roy and handler J. Sullivan arrived on scene. Not surprisingly K-9 Roy alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Police located over 23 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine on the person of Boland.

Both subjects were arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail.

Boland was charged with delivery or possession with intent to deliver between 15 to 100 grams of methamphetamine (a Class X Felony); Jones was arrested and cited for driving while license suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Jones was also arrested on a Wabash County and Lawrence County warrants, which will be covered in full in the upcoming print edition, on stands November 16, and which you can subscribe to by clicking this link.

Apparently Jones successfully deployed the old ‘let the other guy hold the drugs’ routine.

Jones was released after posting bond; Boland is currently being held in the Wabash County Jail pending the posting of $4000.00 cash.

MISTY WILKINS

MT. CARMEL, Ill.,— A well-known Richland County drug dealer has been taken into custody during a traffic stop in which she was the passenger.

On Monday, Oct. 24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Ryan L. Larrison, 39, of Rockport, Ind., and Misty D. Wilkins, 32, of Olney, after the vehicle being by Larrison was stopped for a traffic violation.

During the traffic stop it was discovered that Larrison was operating a motor vehicle on a revoked driver's license.

Larrison was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was cited for driving while revoked, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and expired registration.

Wilkins was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was held on a Richland County warrant charging her with unlawful delivery of methamphetamine.

Wilkins was sentenced earlier this year after she was convicted of Resisting a Peace Officer; she got seven days in the county jail and was ordered to pay $212 in fines and fees, of which she has paid nothing.

Larrison was released after posting bond.

MARION CO., Ill. - Illinois State Police say a woman from Iuka was the victim of a single-vehicle crash last night (Tuesday, October 26) in another car-v-pedestrian incident.

The accident happened at U.S. 50  near Kasznel Road, three miles east of Iuka in Marion County at approximately 7:23 p.m.

ISP said the preliminary investigation indicates Marla C. Meyer, 59, of Iuka, was operating a tan 2008 GMC Acadia as it traveled east on U.S. Route 50 approximately three miles east of Iuka.

As the GMC passed by Kasznel Road, it struck a juvenile who had previously entered the roadway.

The juvenile sustained serious injuries from the crash and was later pronounced deceased at Salem Hospital.

Meyer was also transported and treated at the Clay County Hospital.

The crash is being investigated by the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Dakota Wheeler

MT. CARMEL, Ill.- A man on probation for an Identity Theft felon has been stabbed in an unexplained altercation, one of many in Wabash County this week.

On Sunday, Oct. 23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 23-year-old Dakota S. Wheeler, of Evansville, Ind., after he was accused of stabbing a James B. Agnew of Mt. Carmel.

Witnesses stated that both subjects were at a residence in the 400 block of Ash Street when Wheeler stabbed Agnew.

Agnew sought treatment at Wabash General Hospital and was later transferred to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.

Agnew's injuries are not life threatening.

What exactly predicated the stabbing is not clear.

Wheeler is being held in the Wabash County Jail on one count of Aggravated Battery, pending the posting of bond.

Wheeler is a convicted felon from June 2012 when he was found guilty of Aggravated Battery and sentenced to conditional discharge for 24 months and ordered to pay $885 in fines and fees.

The victim, James Agnew, is currently serving a sentence of conditional discharge for 24 months and has only paid $100 on $1,337 in fines and fees after being convicted of felony ID Theft in May 2016.

MT. CARMEL, Ill.— Mt. Carmel police officers contended with everything from stolen dog treats and a driver who nearly struck a squad car this past week October 18-24.

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Thomas E. Fugate, 27, of Mt. Carmel, after police were called to the 400 block of Cedar Street reference a domestic.

During the investigation they located Fugate who was having a verbal argument with his girlfriend.

A records check indicated Fugate was wanted out of La Salle County on a failure to appear domestic battery charge.

Fugate was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending transfer to La Salle County.

Also on Thursday, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 55-year-old Bradley R. Hawf, of Mt. Carmel, after police stopped him for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Walnut Street.

During the traffic stop it was determined that Hawf was operating a motor vehicle with a revoked registration.

Hawf was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was cited for the infraction.  Hawf was released after posting $150.00 bond.

Another taken into custody by Mt. Carmel Police was 41-year-old Christina M. Smith, of Palestine, after she was stopped on Route 1 and 1550 Blvd.

During the traffic stop it was discovered that Smith was operating a vehicle on a suspended driver’s license.

Smith was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was cited for driving while license is suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 57-year-old Patricia A. Ewing, of Mt. Carmel, after she was accused of stealing dog treats from Family Dollar.

Ewing was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was charged for retail theft.

Ewing was held pending the posting of bond.

Also on Wednesday, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 18-year-old Tanner K. Sisson, of Mt. Carmel, after he was observed outside his residence in the 200 block of Mulberry Street.

The arresting officer knew Sisson was wanted on a Wabash County warrant.

Sisson was transported to the Wabash County Jail and held pending the posting of $300.00 cash bond.

And then on Thursday, Oct. 20, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 33-year-old Derek L. Batterton, of Mt. Carmel, after he was stopped in the area of 9th and Chestnut Street.

Batterton was arrested on a Wabash County warrant charging him with possession of a firearm by a felon.

This stems from an arrest earlier in the week where Batterton was found to be in possession of suspected synthetic cannabis and ammunition.

Batterton was transported to the Wabash County Jail where he is being held on a $2,000 cash bond.

Batterton was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Sunday, Oct. 23, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 30-year-old Dara D. Dill, of Mt. Carmel, after the vehicle she was riding in was stopped for a traffic violation.

During the traffic stop K-9 Roy and his handler Deputy J. Sullivan of the Wabash County Sheriff's Office arrived on scene.

K-9 Roy alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

During the traffic stop it was discovered that Dill was in possession of drug paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine.

Dill was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending the posting of bond.

Also on Sunday, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 51-year-old Alvin Addison, of Mt. Carmel, after he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, cannabis, and drug paraphernalia.

Police were requested to do a welfare check on Addison and when they found him at the intersection of Mulberry Street and McDowell he was found in possession of the suspected narcotics.

Addison was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and he was cited for possession of cannabis.

Addison was held pending the posting of bond.

On Monday, Oct. 24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested 65-year-old Donald K. Reynolds of Mt. Carmel, after he almost struck a Mt. Carmel Police car.

Reynolds was stopped in his 2010 Impala and during the traffic stop it was discovered that Reynolds was driving on a revoked driver's license.

Reynolds was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with driving while license is revoked and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Reynolds is currently being held in the Wabash County Jail pending the posting of bond.

RICHLAND CO., Ill. - Richland County Clerk Alice Mullinax wants the public to know that there will be a special county board meeting coming up this week.

Here's her agenda posting.

Please consider this your notice of a special Richland County Board meeting. This will be held Monday, October 31, at 6:00 pm, in the jail meeting room. The meeting is being called to discuss items listed on the agenda below:

RICHLAND COUNTY BOARD

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

OCTOBER 31, 2016    6 PM

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

Proclamation

Prayer/Moment of Silence

Roll Call

2. Contracts/Personnel

  Executive Session

3. Adjournment

Alma Tapia, aka Alma Garcia Tapia, aka Alma Tapia Lorea, aka who knows how many other names...now known as federally-accused meth-slinger

EDWARDS CO.— An Edwards County woman has been taken into custody by local and federal authorities after massive amounts of drugs were found on her person following a traffic incident.

According to official reports file by the policing agencies, on Thursday afternoon, October 27, Alma Garcia Tapia, 53, of 224 East Bon Pas St., Bone Gap, was taken into custody by lawmen from the Edwards County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the Albion Police Department and the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force.

Local lawmen had traveled to 319 East 7^th St., Albion, in order to execute an arrest warrant on a separate, unnamed individual who sometimes stayed at that residence.

The individual they were looking for was not at the residence, but Tapia was.

Once spotted she was nabbed by federal authorities.

Subsequent to her arrest, the cadre of lawmen traveled to Tapia’s Bone Gap home and searched the residence, with no results.

“I want to praise every agency involved in this case,” said Edwards County Sheriff Darby Boewe. “This was a long investigation involving our sheriff’s department, the DEA and the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force.”

Tapia is currently being held in federal custody on one count of Criminal Drug Conspiracy.

MARION CO., Ill. - A two-vehicle collision last night on U.S. 50 in Marion County injured two people, one from Flora, one from Vincennes.

Illinois State Police said the crash occurred on 50 at Iuka Road at 8:38 p.m. Friday, October 28.

A white 2014 Ford F-150 being driven by Marcus P. Booth, 74, of Flora, was stopped at the stop sign northbound on Iuka Road at the intersection of 50. A black 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, being driven by Beth Marie Warren, 31, of Vincennes, Indiana, was eastbound on U.S. 50. Booth pulled out in front of Warren's vehicle, causing her vehicle to strike his.

Booth was taken to Clay County Hospital by Marion County EMS; Warren was taken to Salem Hospital by marion County EMS.

A Failure to Yield Stop Intersection citation was issued, but the recipient wasn't indicated by ISP.

Perkins

WHITE CO., Ill. - White County Sheriff’s officials handled a complaint of an individual being harassed yesterday (Sunday, October 30), which resulted in the complainant’s arrest.

At approximately 3:38 p.m., sheriff’s officials said, the department received a call from Carmi resident Gary Perkins, 42, regarding a complaint that Donovan Overturf has been harassing him (Perkins, WCSO said, is a live-in boyfriend to Overturf’s mother).

At approximately 4:42 p.m., deputies Randy Graves and Scott Cantrell arrived on scene to speak with Perkins. He advised of his concerns with Overturf; he was told he needed to get a no-contact order against the other man.

However, after speaking with Perkins in reference to the complaint, Graves advised Perkins that there was a warrant for him out of Williamson County, for Aggravated Fleeing Police over 21 mph, with a cash bond of $5,000.

Perkins was arrested without incident and transported to the White County Jail.

WHITE CO., Ill. - The burglars and illegal entry crims were busy this weekend in White County as evidenced by the sheriff’s department reports.

One of the most onerous was a burglary/thief who broke into an elderly woman’s home.

The lady, 99-year-old Maxine Howell, notified White County authorities on Saturday (October 29) of a break-in at her home; Deputy Randy Graves responded to this at about 10 a.m. Saturday.

Howell, who lives alone, advised Graves that she’s very hard of hearing as well.

She said that she noticed that morning that someone had kicked in the rear door to her residence, but the suspect hadn’t rummaged through the house as a burglar would; Graves noted that there were only a few items taken: A tan-colored fireproof safe, and two gold rings, one with pearls and diamond chips.

Just a couple of days before this incident, Graves reports, he had responded to the Mike Eyman (NAME CORRECTED) residence on the 1200 block of West Sycamore in Carmi, where behind the residence is an older Park model trailer used for storage.

Eyman, 27, advised that at 4:27 in the morning of Thursday, Oct. 28, his dogs were barking and woke him up. At that time, he observed a vehicle parked in the rear of the residence with the lights on. Before Eyman could see who it was, they drove off. Graves checked and saw tire tracks in the grass where the dew was, this at about 8 a.m. when he responded to the scene.

Graves also observed that a fence around the trailer had been knocked over and entry was made to the front door of the trailer. Inside, the suspect had rummaged through miscellaneous boxes. Bags were reported to be missing from a boat and a tent, with the boat bag being gray and white in color, the tent bag gray and red. The boat and tent were both there; the bags were suspected to have been used to carry stolen property. Eyman advised he’d had multiple baseball cards taken from the trailer as well; the cards were all pre-Mark McGuire era.

Reports were taken; anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact the White County Sheriff’s Department.

Neavell

WHITE CO., Ill. - There's been all kinds of activity in White County this past weekend and today (Monday, October 31), and information keeps coming in about more activity, like this material from State's Attorney Denton Aud.

Aud advised that Justin W.

, 29, of Evansville, Ind., entered a plea in his case today, in which he took a conviction on Possession of Stolen or Converted Vehicle, a Class 2 Felony.

In exchange for the plea, Neavell accepted a sentence of 5 years IDOC, to be followed by 2 years MSR (mandatory supervised release, also known as parole), and costs of the action.

Neaveill was represented by Public Defender Brian Shinkle. Carmi Police Department was the investigating agency.