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Madigan wants to revisit court gun ruling Page 12 Inside This Issue Hand injury ..................... Pg. 3 CC Celebrity deaths ............. Pg. 6 COUNTY J OURNAL New newspaper .............. Pg. 8 JJ Serving Randolph, Perry And Jackson Counties Since 1980 Red Bud tap fees ............ Pg. 11 School board filings..... Pg. 11 1895 Sparta fire ............ Pg. 19 © Copyright 2013, County Journal www.countyjournalnews.com Volume 34 Number 2 24 Pages Your Local News Leader Thursday, January 10, 2013 60¢ Chester water gets back to normal taste By Greg Myers Warmer than usual temperatures and the low water level on the Mis- sissippi River have resulted in a foul odor and dirt-like taste com- Low river ing from the Chester treated water supply. However, those condi- tions have improved, and the wa- level helped ter should be back to normal, said Mitch Eggemeyer, water superin- This is a photo of a shopping center in Wisconsin that is similar to what the new Pinckneyville shopping tendent. allow algae center will look like once completed. “Because of the river being so low and the unusually warm weather to thrive we had for several weeks, we were Pinckneyville business development getting algae blooms in the river, which was causing the taste and odor issues,” said Eggemeyer. soda and bagged ice anyway, so “This is something I have never we didn’t have a huge problem. on track to start construction soon seen since my time here. But with The Chester residents were the cooler weather, I have noticed aware of the problem, but the re- By Jeff Blair were completed several years ago. ary. that the water is back to normal.” action from our out-of-town cus- Doug and Carol Kellerman, own- Another part, the demolition of “Weather permitting, we hope to Eggemeyer added that while the tomers was something else.” ers of Kellerman’s Feed Store in the former Dunn Brothers car be open for business in the new water did have an odor and foul “We have been selling a lot of Pinckneyville, and Jim and Carol dealership and later Hubler Tire building about May 1,” Kellerman taste, it was always safe to drink. extra water,” said Bob Welker, Brand, owners of JC’s Air Condi- Service building, was completed said. “The only way to treat the algae Rozier’s Country Mart manager. tioning, approached the Pinck- a few years back, as well. All that The new facility will allow both blooms is with a carbon system, “We’ve probably been selling neyville City Council in 2006 remained to get the project mov- businesses to expand. Kellerman which we do not have,” said Egg- more than three times the about plans for a new shopping ing forward was to dig up the old said he is currently working with emeyer. “If this was a yearly event, amount of water than we usu- center in town. Six years later, concrete foundations and pre- other potential businesses on lo- maybe the city would consider us- ally do this time of year.” work has begun to make those pare the site for the new shopping cating in the new shopping cen- ing that system.” In other river news, the Army plans a reality. center. ter. He said more information The water issues caused many Corps of Engineers has reported The official name of the new fa- Plans call for a facility that will would be released once details in customers to turn to bottled water, making significant progress in cility is Pinckneyville Shopping house both Kellerman’s Feed Store the agreement are finalized. including area restaurants. removing rock pinnacles near Center LLC. and JC’ Air Conditioning, with ad- Mayor Augie Kellerman and “Once we noticed our water had Thebes. Two of the initial parts of the ditional space available for future former Mayor Joe Holder have that bad taste to it, we switched to It has been reported that while project, the upgrading and resur- expansion. both said the new shopping cen- bottled water,” said Jodie Malone, shipping is still restricted to facing of Brown Street and up- The prefabricated building is set ter will be a big plus for Pinck- owner of the Ol’ Farmhouse. “I eight hours a day, the Corps has grading of utilities in that area, to arrive the first week of Febru- neyville’s business community. know the water really affected our cleared enough rock to allow tea and coffee, but we use canned barges to travel the river. Electricity going on Marissa ballot By Mike Trotter towns that have joined the pro- In a move that many area towns gram are seeing savings of 15 to have already taken, the village Voters will get 20 percent on electricity bills. of Marissa plans to put the possi- In other news, discussion took bility of using an alternate elec- their say at place on the possible purchase tricity supplier in the hands of of a steam cleaner, but no action voters. was taken. The cleaner, at a At its meeting January 7, the April 9 election quoted price of $4,280, could be village council approved a reso- used by the village on various lution that will place the ques- the right to negotiate with the equipment and vehicles. tion of whether the village should five alternate energy consultants While most council members have the authority to arrange that have already contacted the seemed in favor of the purchase, for the supply of electricity for village. a question over the advantages its residential and small busi- However, the company that of an electric versus gasoline- ness customers on the April mu- seems to be the current front- powered cleaner and a few other nicipal election ballot. runner is Select Energy. Their issues were brought up. The Even if the voters pass the representatives plan to attend matter will be discussed further measure, residents would be able the next village council meeting at the next meeting. to opt out of the program. The and would eventually hold pub- A motion was approved to pur- item to be voted on does not bind lic meetings to answer any ques- chase a new shed at a cost not to the village to one particular com- tions from Marissa residents. It pany but would give the village has been reported that some area Continued on Page 5___________ Indoor softball tournament Ceremony will help Special Olympics set for Will be held at SI Center in Du Quoin By Jeff Blair including Randolph, Perry and Guard The SI Center at the Du Quoin Jackson counties. State Fairgrounds, noted for its “We work to provide year-round soldiers monster truck shows, demolition sports activities for those with derbies and rodeos will be trans- special needs,” Asbury said. Approximately 150 Illinois formed into two indoor softball He became emotional as he de- Army National Guard soldiers fields January 18-20. scribed how his daughter, a 15- with the 661st Engineer Com- Bill Asbury, representing Area year-old with Down syndrome, pany and seven soldiers with 15 Special Olympics, gave Perry has benefited greatly from partici- the 662nd Engineer Fire Fight- County commissioners a presen- pating in Special Olympics. ing Detachment will be recog- tation at last Thursday’s county “These kids don’t have the same nized January 12 by the Na- board meeting on the upcoming opportunities that other kids do,” tional Guard Bureau Freedom girls fast-pitch softball tourna- he said. “My daughter loves soft- Salute Campaign for their sac- ment designed to raise money for ball, and Special Olympics is the William Asher of Sparta stands behind the refurbished 1966 Daffon rifice and service in support of Special Olympics. only way she is able to enjoy the Feed Mobile he used to grind corn in to feed at area farms from Operation Enduring Freedom. Asbury said with sponsors, paid game she loves so much.” 1966 until he retired in 2006. The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. admission during the tourna- Asbury explained that he came at the Sparta armory. ment, team entry fees and other up with the idea for an indoor The campaign is one of the donations, the tournament raised fast-pitch softball tournament and largest Army National Guard $55,000 last year. went to work setting it up. He said Daffron’s Feed Mobile recognition endeavors in his- “We typically raise $10,000 the the tournament, now in its fourth tory. It is designed to publicly first night,” he said. “We are hop- year, has grown tremendously. acknowledge the soldiers and ing to raise $65,000 this year.” Asbury said teams from all over is now a museum piece those who supported them Asbury noted that all of the the Midwest look forward to the while deployed. money raised helps support Spe- tournament each year. There are By Jeff Blair tion, so he transferred the The 661st was mobilized in cial Olympics. a number of players from the Most dairy farmers and livestock grinding apparatus to a truck September 2011 and returned He invited the three commission- local area including Red Bud, owners typically head to their lo- he already owned. The grinding home September 26, 2012. ers to a special opening ceremony Steeleville and Pinckneyville. cal feed store to purchase feed for machine still runs on the origi- The 662nd was mobilized in January 17. The tournament is open to the their animals. Until just six years nal diesel engine that was put February 2012 and returned County board Chairman Bobby public. Admission is $6 per day ago, area livestock owners could on it in 1966.

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