News 1/22/10
An 18 year old from Red Bud was killed in a one vehicle accident on Tuesday, January 19 in Randolph County. According to the Illinois State Police, Caitlyn Niermann was ejected from a vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. A vehicle driven by 16 year old Vera Rees of Sparta was traveling westbound on Route 13 and went to pass a semi tractor trailer truck, but left the road, struck a ditch and overturned. One passenger, 23 year old Ronald Rees of Coulterville, sustained major injuries as he was also ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to Sparta Hospital and was then transferred to Saint Louis University Hospital. A third passenger, 15 year old Alysa Anderson of Sparta, received minor injuries and was taken to Sparta Hospital. She was wearing a seatbelt, as was the driver. A fourth passenger, Wesley Durrett, 21 of Coulterville had minor injuries and was also taken to Sparta Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt. The I.S.P. reports the accident is under investigation and charges are pending.
Mount Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley will have a State of the City Luncheon next Friday, January 29, 2010 beginning at Noon at the Holiday Inn. The Mayor will talk about what has been going on the past year in Mount Vernon and where it is headed in the coming year. The event is sponsored by the Jefferson County Development Corporation and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. It will cost $15 and reservations are required by Wednesday, January 27 . Call the JCCC at 242-5725 or the JCDC at 244-3554 for more information.
A small printing and design business in Coulterville was destroyed by a fire yesterday. No one was in Phoenix Graphix when the fire broke out and fire fighters from Coulterville and Tilden responded to the blaze. The owners say the building and all contents were lost, but they plan to rebuild. The cause may be electrical in origin.
The Mount Vernon Church of Christ has announced their Honor Roll for the second quarter. Elementary School students include Nathan Launay, Creighton McIlrath, Skyler Wert, Jillian Launay, Benjamin Bradley, Camille Edwards, Seth Launay, Brayden Reynolds and Hayley Morgan.
Middle School students include Mercedes Heacock, River Winkler, Melina Launay and Jakarday Montgomery.
High School students include Stephanie Hicks, Randi McClain, Macey Riech, Chris Phelps and Hannah Reynolds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has recognized MidCountry Bank for utilizing federally-guaranteed mortgages that increased, and made more affordable, home ownership in rural Illinois. Each year the USDA honors lenders that excel in using the federal agency’s guaranteed loan program in rural areas.
MidCountry Bank provided Illinois homebuyers with more than $1 million in Rural Development-backed loans in 2009. With the Rural Development guarantee, MidCountry Bank offers 100 percent loans with no required down payment, no private monthly mortgage insurance (PMI), no maximum purchase prices, competitive fixed interest rates, and 30-year terms. The program also includes flexible credit guidelines and generous income limits.
Congressman John Shimkus is continuing his tradition of collecting valentines for distribution to veterans and those currently serving in the military, a program he calls “Valentines for Heroes.” These will be distributed to veterans and active-duty military men and women, both locally and abroad. Valentines should not be addressed to a specific person, nor should you put any identifying information about yourself, such as phone number or address, on the valentine. The valentines should not be placed in individual envelopes, as they will all be opened to screen for appropriateness. They are being accepted through the first week of February and may be dropped off or mailed to Congressman John Shimkus at any of his offices. For addresses visit his website at www.house.gov/shimkus and go to the contact me section.
Congressman John Shimkus has announced his nominations to the four military service academies the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and the United States Merchant Marine Academy in New York. The Congressman first nominates a candidate and then the academies themselves make the final determination whether a nominee receives an appointment to attend one of the academies. Some nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy include Aaron Ray Bolton of Salem and Katherine Faye Deaton of Xenia, who was also nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Noah Gregory King of Harrisburg was nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Current high school juniors, college students, or current members of the military who are residents of the 19th District and wish to seek an appointment next year should request a nomination packet by writing Congressman John Shimkus, 240 Regency Centre, Collinsville, IL 62234.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has awarded grants totaling more than $4 million to help 118 city and county emergency management agencies throughout the state support local disaster preparedness and response efforts. The grants, which are awarded annually, can be used for day-to-day operations of local emergency management programs.
Federal funding totaling more than $6.7 million also enables IEMA to provide dozens of training courses, emergency response exercise support and emergency planning assistance to emergency management agencies statewide.
County and municipal emergency management agencies receiving the grants include Jefferson County receiving $15,645, and Mount Vernon receiving $19,455. Washington County will receive $18,980, Clinton County will receive $12,284 and Centralia will receive $3,787.
Congressman John Shimkus is pleased to announce that Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program contingency funds have been released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Last week, Shimkus co-signed a letter to the President asking that these contingency funds be released as the bad economy has made the need for assistance higher than usual. On January 20, HHS released to the states a total of $490 million out of the $590 million contingency fund with Illinois receiving $26,836,606 of it.
LIHEAP helps eligible families pay for home heating, cooling, and other energy costs, as well as for weatherization of eligible families’ homes.
Source: WMIX "Today's Hot Country"