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Sparta Lincoln expansion gets some no votes Page 9 New IDOC chief Page 7 Serving The Area With Local News Since 1980 Grand winner Page 10 Chester hotel update Page 14 © Copyright 2015, County Journal www.countyjournalnews.com Volume 36 Number 34 24 Pages Your Local News Leader Thursday, August 20, 2015 75¢ History on the river Two pieces of history sailed past Chester on the Mis- sissippi River Monday night. Full-scale replicas of the Nina and the Pinta—two of Christopher Columbus’ three ships that brought the colonists to Plymouth Rock from Spain—are making their way down the Missis- sippi on their way to Kentucky. The ships last stopped in Grafton, Illinois last week. Shown is the Pinta as it floats past the Chester riverfront. A man is stand- ing on board, toward the back of the ship, showing the relatively small size of the vessel. Wrapping up the Grand American By Dan Zobel One of the big happenings In the midst of threats that during the Grand was the the World Shooting and Rec- For 15 days, 4,400 shooters dedication of the Trapshoot- reational Complex in Sparta ing Hall of Fame on the com- will be closed by the end of plex grounds. September due to a budget “We didn’t have any prob- The shoot benefited from a “The hall of fame has the impasse, the premier trap- lems or anything that was great two weeks of weather, same mindset as us, that we’re shooting event in the country, outside our plans at this allowing the schedule to go on still going to be here,” Gipson the Grand American, went on year’s shoot,” Gipson said. with few hiccups. said. “They are planning ac- with a bang. “Last year, I was extremely “It was perfect,” Gipson said. cordingly and moving in ex- “By the end of the shoot, I pleased. I thought if we could “We had a rain delay for about hibits next month. Early fire- think people weren’t as fear- just copy that, we’d be fine. I 30 minutes or so one day, but arms will be brought (to Sparta) in October.” Tammy Kellerman ful as when they got here,” think we did that.” that was it. We had a lot of said Amateur Trapshooting Gipson estimated that there evening events during the Gipson pointed out that he does Association executive director were 4,400 shooters August Grand and some side events. not think anyone in Springfield Lynn Gipson. “We did our 1-15. He said there were 3,500 “Everybody likes that. The realizes that the hall of fame Fire district best to quiet the fears based shooters during the Grand. more we can do, the better. It building was not constructed on what we heard. We’re still That number included youth gives it an additional dimen- with the state’s money. optimistic and hopeful it will from the AIM who also shot sion.” “I don’t think you can em- bookkeeper work out. We’ve been told during the Grand. Competi- Over the course of the Grand phasize enough that it was when the budget is signed, tors who participated only in and AIM, Gipson said 4.1 mil- built with donated funds,” everything will be back to the AIM numbered 900. lion targets were thrown. Gipson said. “That’s two-mil- charged normal.” “Aim was up 25 percent,” “That is a phenomenal lion bucks raised from the A Pinckneyville woman Attendance was not affected Gipson said. “The Grand was amount of targets,” Gipson shooting community. I’ve faces multiple charges in con- by the possible closure, as the up 3.1 percent, which is good. said. “There are about a quar- seen a lot of press that said it nection with an alleged em- number of shooters for the We’re happy with it. I think ter of a million targets in a was built but don’t see much bezzlement scheme from the Grand, as well as the AIM the shooters and vendors truckload so that’s about 17 that said the state didn’t have Pinckneyville Rural Fire Pro- youth shoot, were up. were also happy with it.” truckloads of targets.” to invest in that.” tection District. Tammy Kellerman, 52, was arrested early this week after a warrant was issued for her New P’ville hospital will open Sept. 28 arrest August 14 in a case be- ing handled by the Illinois at- The new Pinckneyville Com- However, before a patient change of address for ap- torney general’s office. munity Hospital will officially move date could be decided, proval to move the hospital Kellerman is charged with open Monday, September 28. other notifications and final Moving a hospital is and Family Medical Center; one count of theft of govern- The announcement of the arrangements for moving contacting the Health Facili- ment funds over $100,000, opening date of the 17-bed major equipment had to be not like moving an ties Planning Board; and ask- four counts of filing a fraudu- facility, which is located made. average business ing the Department of Trans- lent Illinois income tax re- along Route 154 east of down- “Moving a hospital opera- portation to change the blue turn, computer fraud, two town, was made this week. tion is not like moving an av- hospital road signs. counts of wire fraud and offi- The hospital was issued its erage business that can just such equipment requires in “While everything hinged cial misconduct. All are felo- letter of occupancy by the Il- shut down operations, move order to operate properly. on getting the occupancy let- nies punishable by prison linois Department of Public and restart operations in a Many of these vendors re- ter from the state, there are terms. Health July 30. day or so,” Dauby said. “As a quire four to eight weeks’ no- other factors,” said Dauby. “It According to Pinckneyville “Having received the official health care entity, we strive tification lead times in order is important that we take our Fire Chief Jim Gielow, Keller- approval from the Illinois De- to deliver excellent care 24 to arrange their schedules. time and do it right, as we man was the bookkeeper for partment of Public Health to hours a day, seven days a “Once the equipment is set want this transition to go as the fire district for at least 10 occupy the new hospital was week. up, it then has to be tested to smooth as possible for our pa- years. Her husband Greg, a major step in the official “There is major equipment, ensure it is providing accu- tients.” who was not charged, was the move to the new hospital, as such as in imaging and lab, rate and quality results.” For questions regarding the treasurer. Both resigned their everything keyed off this that will need to be moved by There are other behind-the- move or about Pinckneyville positions before charges were date,” said Randy Dauby, hos- outside vendors due to the scenes requirements, includ- Community Hospital, call filed. pital administrator/CEO. complexity and precision ing notifying Medicare of the Dauby at 357-5901. “This investigation has been going on for a couple of years,” said Gielow. Perry County State’s Attor- ney David Stanton said he is not involved in the prosecu- tion but did meet with attor- ney general, IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue per- sonnel last summer about it. “Based on those discussions, the feds took over the case in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Revenue,” said Stanton. “We don’t have the resources to handle the pros- The new Pinckneyville hospital ecution. It’s all about account- ing, and they can use accoun- tants from the Illinois Depart- Willisville could take steps has an ordinance stating that It will be amended to state ment of Revenue.” next month to address a prob- no one under 21 can enter a that those under 15 must be With the IRS involved, Kel- W’ville lem with youngsters in bars bar unless they are accompa- off the streets by 10 p.m. lerman could also face federal and on the streets late at nied by a parent or guardian, Only three board members charges in the case. will night. but the board wants the law were at this week’s meeting According to the informa- At its meeting Tuesday to have more clout. when the two changes were tion filed, Kellerman is ac- night, the board instructed its Willisville’s curfew shadows discussed, The whole board cused of committing the acts amend attorney to write up ordi- state law that says those un- will vote on the official ordi- January 5, 2009 through nances that would prohibit der age 17 must be off the nance next month. August 6, 2013 and at least minors in bars after 9 p.m., streets between 11 p.m. and 6 There is one problem with once after June 14, 2013, tak- bar law even if they are with an adult. a.m. Sunday through Thurs- the tougher laws. Willisville’s ing at least $100,000. Attorney Aaron Atkins day and midnight to 6 Friday noted that the town already and Saturday. Continued on Page 5______ Continued on Page 5______ Page 2 County Journal August 20, 2015 Local police blotters for the week Kenny P. Stacker, 28, Matthew Sauerhage, David J. Brewer, 73, of sion of a controlled sub- of Sparta was arrested Au- 30, of Sparta was cited Belleville was arrested stance, driving on a sus- gust 9 by Sparta police August 10 by Marissa August 10 by the Ran- pended license, posses- for unlawful possession police for operating an dolph County Sheriff’s sion of drug parapherna- of cannabis.