Randolph quadrennial reassessments Pages 29-47 Glitter in the Night Page 7 Eagle Fest Serving The Area With Local News Since 1980 Page 15 S’ville girls to title game Page 16 © Copyright 2015, County Journal www.countyjournalnews.com Volume 36 Number 7 48 Pages Your Local News Leader Thursday, February 12, 2015 60¢ Peterson faces new charges in Randolph By Travis Lott According to Tom Shaer, di- Most Americans thought rector of communications for they had heard the last from the Illinois Department of the infamous wife-killer Drew Corrections, Peterson was Peterson. taken by secure transport However, he is now accused with multiple correctional of- of attempting to hire a hit man ficers and a lieutenant from to kill Will County State’s At- Menard to the Randolph torney James Glasgow, the County Courthouse Monday prosecutor who put him away. morning. After the hearing, This time, the charges have he was immediately returned been filed in Randolph County to his cell, and a news release because of Peterson’s prison about the case was distrib- home. uted. Attorney General Lisa In the document filed that Madigan and Randolph day, the court claims that County State’s Attorney Jer- Peterson allegedly attempted emy Walker filed a two-count to hire a hit man between Sep- Signs indicate that Baldwin Lake is closed charge against Peterson Feb- tember 2013 and December ruary 9 for one count of solici- 2014, during his time at tation of murder and another Menard. for murder for hire. Both charges are Class X Toilet waste is accidentally According to the charges, felonies. The solicitation of Peterson contacted an un- murder carries a mandatory named individual in an at- sentence of 15 to 30 years, dumped into Baldwin Lake tempt to have that person find and the murder-for-hire someone else to commit the charge carries a mandatory murder. sentence of 20 to 40. By Travis Lott The popular lake is currently Madigan’s office declined to On both charges, Peterson is Ecologists and state conser- closed to the public and will comment on whether or not eligible for a 60-year sentence vation officials are investigat- Likely not be reopened until clearance there were any actual attempts due to his prior conviction of ing the impact of an acciden- has been given from the Illi- on Glasgow’s life. a felony. tal waste water dump into nois Department of Natural Peterson, 61, has been an in- How Peterson could have Baldwin Lake. occurred over Resources following its inves- mate at Menard Correctional managed to communicate The dump occurred when a tigation. Center since February 2013, with the alleged hit man, and valve was left open at the a six-day According to IDNR, no fish his third prison since receiv- how the Randolph County of- Baldwin Energy Complex, have been killed and they are ing his sentence in 2012. ficials found out about it, are allowing an estimated period simply awaiting results of the both still unanswered ques- 100,000 gallons of untreated investigation. tions. human waste to flow into the IDNR spokesman Chris “Certainly we know. Cer- lake. nal the valve has been closed Young said the department tainly we have evidence,” John Cooley, managing di- and locked, but further test- closed the lake after receiving Walker told the County Jour- rector for the plant, said he ing of the lake’s water is nec- a call from Dynegy, the com- nal. “I don’t want to comment does not expect the contents essary to ensure the safety pany that owns the power about the specifics.” of the dump to be anything of the environment. plant. The case is being jointly more than runoff from the “We did confirm that we “They contacted us right prosecuted by the offices of plant’s restrooms and show- had a malfunctioning air away,” Young said. Walker and Madigan. ers. release valve,” Cooley said. The lake is leased to IDNR to “This is most likely going to He went on to say the valve “New parts are on order. manage for conservation pur- take on a life of its own,” was between the pump sta- Until then, the valve will re- poses and is generally open to Walker said. “Having the at- tion and the waste water main locked. the public for fishing, boating torney general’s assistance is treatment lagoon, which is “We’re pretty relieved that and camping. really helpful.” the reason the water was un- it was an equipment mal- However, the lake serves as One thing that remains a treated. function and not a human a source of cooling water for distinct possibility is an in- “The dump was not all at error.” the power plant’s generators. flux of national attention to once,” Cooley said. “We be- He said the company is The lake is a closed channel, this little corner of Illinois. lieve the event occurred over working with a lab testing meaning that no water flows a six-day period.” facility to assess the sever- from it to any other body of Drew Peterson Continued on Page 5____ Cooley told the County Jour- ity of the contamination. water. Chester man killed Alex Flores surrenders, in Route 3 accident posts bond and is released A one-vehicle accident in Jackson County has left a Alex Flores, 34, of Ava re- ordering, but not paying for, sued by the cities of Chester man dead and an- sponded quickly to a catering services in June Belleville and Sparta for other Chester man injured. Randolph County warrant from the Butcher’s Block in money they spent on his According to the Jackson that was issued for his arrest. Sparta. The Butcher’s Block summer concerts. Sparta County Sheriff’s Department, He is charged with three catered meals during prepa- wants him to pay back about the accident occurred February counts of theft of labor or ser- ration of the concert featur- $40,000 of a $50,000 loan he 9 off Route 3 near its intersec- vices. ing 1970s rock stars at the was given to put on concerts tion with White Lane. On February 4, Flores sur- shooting complex. in connection with the 175th Police said a southbound rendered at the Randolph The Butcher’s Block bill for anniversary of the city. pickup truck ran off Route County Sheriff’s Department. the three dates came to Belleville wants about 3 and stuck a concrete cul- His picture was taken, he $10,457. $100,000 back that it paid vert. The truck then rolled, posted $1,000 cash bond and The charge was active only for a concert. ejecting its two occupants. was released. His bond had in Illinois, because the Flores also has outstanding Donald Randolph, 50, and originally been set at $1,500 charge is only a misde- “investments” or loans made Robert Parker, 52, were cash but was reduced. meanor. to him by some local indi- taken to the Murphysboro Flores, operator of Gorilla Flores faces other civil ac- viduals for previous shows hospital, where Randolph Donald Parker Grid Media, is charged with tion. He is being, or will be, held at the shooting complex. was pronounced dead. Parker had serious injuries gated by an accident recon- and was transported to St. struction officer from Jackson Louis for further treatment. County. Anyone with further Wednesday he was listed in information is asked to contact fair condition. the sheriff’s office at 684-2177. Chester has contests in two wards Police would not say who The Ava Fire Department’s By Dan Zobel road projects to continue to be children. The mayor has put was driving. first responders were also at Citizens of Chester will have stressed. together a group to investigate The crash is being investi- the scene. two city council races to vote She said the work on East things and do some research.” on when the April election Buena Vista has been in the Chester has also been bom- takes place. works for quite some time and barded with a number of der- Sparta businesses expanding Ward 1 will see incumbent will come into fruition in the elict and rundown homes and Nancy Crossland challenged next two years. properties. Some business-related is- a building permit for Buch- by former council member “I would like to see some- “I feel like the city is not in the sues were acted on at the heit. The company will put an Steve Wallace. Incumbent Russ thing done at the 3-way stop real estate business,” Crossland Sparta City Council meeting addition on the southwest cor- Rader will be challenged in in terms of the trucking situ- said, “but I feel like we have an Monday night. ner of the building. The 2,200- Ward 3 by Bruce Williamson. ation,” Crossland said. “I obligation to keep the commu- The council finalized a pre- square-foot addition will house Donnie Clark (Ward 2) and think IDOT will be turning nity clean and safe.” vious redevelopment agree- a layaway area, restrooms and Ray Allison (Ward 4) will both loose some funds soon to help She said, down the road, the ment with Cedarhurst senior office space. It is phase one of run unopposed. with some traffic problems in city will have to look at differ- living center for sidewalk a two-phase program. Later, Ward 1 the city.” ent avenues before tearing some work. Buchheit will add onto the Crossland, 49, has been a life- Crossland recognizes how of the properties down, but at The city will put $20,000 north side of the building.