The Nashville City Council met last night and they honored city employee Tony Smith, who was retiring after 32 years with the city. There was a presentation by John Pauluaski of JP Accoustical Consulting on performing sound – noise tests at the Sisco Plant, as residents near the plant have been complaining for months about the level of noise coming from some fans that are on at different parts of the day and night. He says he would test the plant and neighborhood for the noise levels and if they did not meet Illinois safety standards, he would make suggestions on what could be done to fix the problem. Once the changes were made, he would made additional readings. The cost of the testing would not exceed $4,200 and the city would not have to incur any expenses should the testing show the noise levels exceed the Illinois EPA safety standards. Mayor Raymond Kohlweier explained that the fans turn on automatically if the other machinery dictates the need and it isn’t a manual switch. Also, the city was recognized for over 20 years of compliance with meeting the State’s water standards.
The Nashville City Council met last night and they set Halloween for Thursday, October 31st in the city with the same provisions as last year. It will be from 5 to 8:30 PM for those 12 and under. Also, the Lions asked for permission to close the streets around the Nashville Community Center on Sunday, October 27th from 2:30 to 3:45 for their Halloween event. Permission was granted. The Washington County Right to Life organization asked for permission to have their annual Life Chain event on Sunday at the intersection of Route 15 and Highway 127, but not on the streets. This was approved. Terry Kozuszek reported that 323 residents brought recycling items totaling 10.64 tons in September. The council approved a payment for a retainer fee of $11,975 for work that was done for a manhole rehab project at the cemetery. Also, permission was granted to advertise for an opening for a sewer plant chief operator as Brandon Shumaker is leaving to take a position with the city Gas Department, which was also approved. The terms are that Shumaker will be paid $20.30 per hour with a 50 cent raise after his probation period is over. Mayor Raymond Kohlweier proposed the city make a donation to the Kaskaskia College Nashville Extension project to build a new facility north of town. This would be in the form of 1 month’s sales tax revenue. The 12 months prior to the donation would be averaged and that amount would be donated to KC. The Council approved this commitment to the college.
Very early this morning there was a fatal car accident on Illinois Route 15 just east of Ashley. According to the preliminary report from Illinois State Police out of District 13, 28-year old Travis D Braddy of Walnut Hill, Illinois was allegedly driving a car while possibly under the influence. He was driving east on Route 15 near Howard School Road. For an unknown reason, Braddy drifted off of the right side of the roadway, overcorrected and crossed the west bound lane. The car skid into the ditch and began to roll. Braddy was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Washington County Coroner Mark Styninger. A passenger, 25-year old Luke A. Wegmann of Woodlawn, was taken to Crossroads Community Hospital, but then flown to an Evansville, Indiana hospital. Wegmann is in serious but stable condition and his seatbelt usage is under investigation. There are no charges at this time as the Investigation continues.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department reported an incident from September 24, involving a bicyclist and a semi. Deputies responded to a report of a hit and run traffic crash on U.S. Highway 51 south of Florida Road at approximately 5:15 AM. The crash involved a semi-truck and 56-year old Jeffery Ballantyne of Ashley, who was riding a bicycle. The semi-truck sideswiped the bicyclist throwing him into the ditch causing injury which resulted in transport to the hospital. The semi-truck left the scene and no identifying information was obtained.
A 68-year-old Woodlawn man was taken into custody Tuesday after an investigation into alleged sexual assault allegations. Charles E. Sanders, a deacon at Woodlawn Christian Church and retired carpenter was charged with 3 counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and bond was set at $250,000. He was bailed out with $25,000. According to the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office, there was an instance between 2002 and 2003, where Sanders committed acts of sexual penetration on a girl under the age of 13 and that between 2010 and 2012, he committed similar acts two other times on another girl under the age of 13. The Illinois State Police and the Department of Children and Family Services conducted the investigation.
There was a shoplifting incident on Tuesday at Dollar General in Mount Vernon and now a Tamaroa female is in the Jefferson County Jail on $5,000 bond. According to the Mount Vernon Police report, they responded to a call that 22-year old Alecia R. Soto allegedly tried to take some items without paying for them and has been charged with Retail Theft Less Than $300.
The City of Nashville will be doing its semi-annual flushing of the fire hydrants in town beginning on Monday. This will continue through Friday, October 18th. It will begin on the north side of Nashville and go south. Some residents may experience discolored or cloudy water or low pressure, but the water is safe to drink.
There is a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon today at Uniquely Yours, owned by Alyssa Schomaker, at 269 West Saint Louis Street, across from the Nashville Firehouse. The store also features Erin’s Sweet Bow-Tique, owned by Erin Gale, and has hair bows, headbands, tutus, jewelry, home décor, re-loved furniture and hand-made items. The public is invited to attend.
On Tuesday, members of the Mount Vernon Police Department – Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office began an effort of locating and arresting several persons wanted on drug related warrants throughout the city and county. The warrants were issued by the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s office and were signed by the Honorable Judge Jo Beth Weber, after approximately three months of on-going investigations by the MVPD/JCSO Narcotics Division. A total of 22 persons were being sought on drug related charges which were all for the charge of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Manufacturing Material. All bonds were all set at $10,000. This makes a total of five drug related warrant sweeps conducted by the Mount Vernon – Jefferson county Narcotics Division during the year 2013. A total of approximately 111 people have been charged with drug related crimes in the city and county area during this time. Additional arrest warrants will be issued and served in the near future.
A 21-year old Centralia man was sentenced yesterday in Marion County Court to 15 years in prison, after he pleaded guilty to striking his 6 week old child in the head and causing the infant permanent brain injuries. Blake A. Cook was arrested in July at the Home Motel in Centralia and charged with Aggravated Battery to a Child Under the Age of 13, Resulting in Permanent Disability. Cook’s case was scheduled to go before a jury on Monday, but he pleaded guilty to the charge against him during a pre-trial hearing yesterday. His infant son is in foster care and still suffering the effects of his injuries. The child’s mother, Margaret Overstreet, is charged with the same crime. She is scheduled for a November 18th jury trial and remains in the Marion County Jail with bond set at $500,000.
The relationships developed with foreign buyers during the Illinois Grain Tour are expected to pay dividends for the state’s agribusiness. Illinois Department of Agriculture officials say foreign buyers who took part in the trade mission are projecting $173 million in purchases in the coming year. They say that is more than triple what last year’s tour produced. Agriculture director Bob Flider says the challenge is to build upon the relationships started and turn initial purchases into repeat business. The tour brought 42 grain buyers to Illinois from China, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Thailand and Vietnam. Stops included farms, transportation facilities and equipment manufacturers as well as the Chicago Board of Trade and the Mercantile Exchange The Grain Tour is one of the department’s strategies to find markets for Illinois products.
The Nashville Hornettes volleyball team beat Anna-Jonesboro in two sets last night, 25 to 14 and 26 to 24.
The Nashville Hornets football team takes on highly ranked Carterville tonight with the broadcast at 7 PM on V104.7 and on the internet at www.v1047.com.
The Saint Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9 to 1 yesterday to take the early 1 to nothing lead in the best of 5 series.