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THE DAILY ENQUIRER~DEMOCRAT FOUND AT ENQUIRERDEMOCRAT.COM Macoupin County’s Dominant Newspaper $100 Macoupin County ~ Carlinville nquirer~Democrat OUR 166TH YEAR NO. 52 E THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 SIXTEEN PAGES, TWO SECTIONS INSIDE Human remains found at Lake Lou Yaeger Not believed to be connected to missing Royal Lakes woman A utility worker clearing brush on Rotary honors CHS, a hillside approximately 100 yards Blackburn seniors from the shoreline of Litchfield’s See page 2A Lake Lou Yaeger on Wednesday, April 25, discovered skeletal re- mains, leading to an investigation that is ongoing. No information has been released about the race, sex or age of the skeletal remains, but it is not believed they are connected to the January disappearance of De- nita Hedden, 37, of Royal Lakes. Illinois State Police Zone 6 rep- resentative Calvin Brown, sur- Manar, Bourne rounded by other law enforcement welcome local teens officials, held a brief press confer- See page 7A ence Thursday, April 26, at Litch- field City Hall. He announced that Litchfield Police Department had requested that the Zone 6 Investi- gations unit assume the investiga- Blackburn hosts two-day cultural event tion. Blackburn College Education Department hosted a two-day cultural event last week at the Rahne Building. Education students from Blackburn built On Wednesday, investigators stations on Thursday, each representing a different country. Here, Blackburn education student Carley Brown, a junior, helps Carlinville Primary from Collinsville and Litchfield re- School students Hunter Brown, Madden Craig and Keegan Reese with a project involving France and the Eiffel Tower. Each station showcased what sponded to the scene with an ISP is important to that country, designed by the Blackburn students. The event was open to students in first through third grade and gave Blackburn crime scene investigator. The area students an opportunity to show off social studies methods with a hands-on experience with students. There were 10 different countries represented was searched and processed until during the cultural event. Photo by Eric Becker. Grand opening held dark and was then secured over- for auto parts store night by Litchfield Police Depart- ment. Further searches began at 9 See page 8A a.m. Thursday to locate any addi- May Day event honors Mother Jones tional items of concern. The search Friends of the Mother Jones Muse- included numerous investigators um and the city of Mt. Olive present- from multiple agencies, emergency ed a May Day celebration Saturday, management personnel and canine April 28, at Union Miners Cemetery, assets. All items recovered have the Mother Jones Museum, and Mt. been sent to the ISP Forensic Labo- Olive City Hall. “Today we honor Mother Jones ratory for further examination and on her birthday anniversary, and two analysis; no time frame has been leaders of the United Mine Workers announced about when the analysis of America,” said Nelson Grman of will be completed. Soccer senior night the Union Miners Cemetery Board, Because there was concern that held referring to the late John Banovic, the remains could be related to the See page 1B former UMWA secretary/treasurer, ongoing investigation into Hed- and featured guest speaker Cecil den’s disappearance, the Major Roberts, current UMWA president. Case Squad and the Macoupin “They followed similar paths in life. County Sheriff’s Department were Both began with humble beginnings, contacted and consulted. born of mining families in very small towns. They became miners, union No additional information was miners, and union officials, always released and officials declined to looking out for their fellow workers answer questions following the as they rose to the top positions of the press conference, to avoid jeopar- Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, speaks to the crowed at Saturday’s May Day dizing the investigation, which is See MAY DAY on 7A gathering at Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive. ongoing. Karate students test for new ranks See page 2B Fun atmosphere the goal at Girard golf course By Kathleen Clark On the west side of Girard is a golf course that has been a part of the community for nearly 100 years. Residents have fond memories not just of the nine-hole course with its lake and scenic vistas, but also of visiting, fishing and enjoying the lazy weekends of a Midwestern summer there. Last year, the Oak Leaf Country Club closed its doors. The future of the place was uncertain until Pat and Kristi McLean of Girard took over ownership this spring. Now the course, Oak Hills Country Club and Winery LLC, is taking on a whole new life. In recent years, the Indoor soccer league course operated as a semi-private venue, open to the public only on certain days. Now, the course has memberships available but is open champions for 2018 to the public every day. See page 8B Kristi McLean says, “This place has been a community staple for a long time. We want to have an open and friendly atmosphere that is family centered, we hope to get the families back out here.” McLean looks forward to getting kids involved at the course. “We have to have Saturday kids out here, we want to give them every opportunity to get outside 5/5 we can. We want it to be a fun, social place to be.” To aid in that 52 76 goal, there is an open junior golf league for fourth through 12th grad- Sunday ers and kids golf free with a paid adult on Mondays. McLean says 5/6 76 members will be able to 51 fish at the course’s lake and there could even be INDEX some bank fishing tour- naments held for youth Editorial 4A Golfers from around the area have found the Oak Hills Country Club and Winery the perfect setting for an early morn- in the future. ing get together with friends. Here, Bill Boyd, Ken Bruley, Kristi McLean, Steve Kruger, Dave Kelley and Dale Proefrock Obituaries 5A Oak Hills will host visit at the clubhouse before hitting the course. not just the junior Church 6A league, but a com- ery and restaurant. “We are still looking for a chef, and have been visiting with wine suppliers,” says McLean. Something Calendar 6A plete lineup including that will be unique to this Midwestern Illinois course is the nearly 500 grape vines that have been planted around the course. a men’s and women’s McLean says they will try their hand at producing a signature label as soon as their grapes are ready but will turn to other Court 7A league as well. So far, wines, many of them local, for the time being. Classified 5B McLean reports inter- The most notable change in the dining portion of the clubhouse will be a new cherry wood bar that extends the length of the est has been fantastic east wall and offers a sunny view of the golf course, pond and wrap-around porch. “We saw this porch and thought it would Sports 1B and the leagues are fill- be the perfect setting for outside entertainment,” says McLean. ing up quickly. A num- The improvements won’t stop there. McLean says they will soon have an additional outdoor venue area that will include an Mac Stats 3B ber of tournaments will event tent and seating among a collection of fire pits. There will be a pro shop and a video gaming room. Trades 4B be held throughout the “It’s been good seeing people out having fun,” says McLean, “Some people have been coming out every day, and a few even The Oak Hills golf course at Girard sports year too. come out twice a day.” She is happy to be able to provide a place for people to get together and get outdoors. ©2017 Macoupin County a nine-hole course that new owners Pat The McLeans are in One frequent golfer is Nathan Jones of Girard. He often meets with John Huxtable of Virden for an early morning trek Enquirer Democrat and Kristi McLean are also incorporating the midst of an exten- around the course. “I’m happy to have the course here,” says Jones, who started golfing at the urging of Huxtable about seven a vineyard into. The McLean’s goal is to sive renovation of the or eight years ago when Jones was in his sixties. He often golfs a round in the morning and another in the afternoon. He says create a fun and social atmosphere at the clubhouse, which will he is thankful for a course close to home. Oak Hills Country club and Winery LLC. soon be home to a win- The Oak Hills Golf course is located 18698 Country Club Road, Girard and the phone for the clubhouse is (217) 627-4103. [email protected] news Take It to Town event Local libraries receive state moved to September grants Take It to Town, organized by be held Saturday, Sept. 22, to give Secretary of State and State Li- the Federated Church, is a project the work sites and volunteers new brarian has awarded Fiscal Year to bring volunteer help (ages 8 and ways to help out. 2018 Illinois Public Library Per older) from the community to lo- On Sept. 22, volunteers will be Capita and Equalization Aid Grants cal agencies to do what the agency directed to various sites to paint, totaling $15.4 million to 630 public needs help accomplishing. Volun- clean, sort, plant, weed, file, shred, libraries serving almost 12 million teers may help with a cleanup proj- etc. The day will begin at 8:30 a.m.