Volume 41 Number 47 Thursday, November 19, 2020 24 Pages | 75¢ KTS Predator Hunters are facing a lawsuit By Travis Lott KTS Predator Hunters, the popular social media group that sets up and Over exposes alleged would-be sexual predators, has been sued by a Randolph County video man who was outed by the group on Facebook. posted The plaintiff in the case, Adrian Collins of the Red Bud area, is being repre- on sented by attorney Megan Gilbreth of Belleville. Gilbreth fi led the lawsuit Facebook on Collins’ behalf, claiming that KTS Predator Hunt- girl, but as it turned out, ers ruined his name and the messages were being caused him to lose his job sent to the KTS team. as a security guard at Red Swanson said the mes- Bud Regional Hospital and sages referred to Collins that he has not been able and the girl meeting to Crossing repairs to fi nd another job in the cuddle and make out. The Canadian National railroad crossing on Pine Street (Route 150-4) in downtown community. The lawsuit disputes Percy received some major attention this week. Motorists have been navigating The lawsuit seeks a total whether or not Collins the rough crossing for years by changing lanes or veering off the side of the road. of $100,000 in compensa- believed the girl he was Just last year, long bolts worked loose and were sticking up in the traffi c lane, tory and punitive damages. talking to was underage, and a railroad tie popped from the crossing and wound up near the entrance to In a live Facebook video stating that Collins did not the Percy branch of First National Bank of Steeleville. According to an Illinois posted this past summer, inquire about her age at Commerce Commission statement earlier this year, the crossing is to get a concrete Collins was videoed by the time of the message tub, which is supposed to hold up better than the past failed repair attempts. The members of KTS, led by exchanges. work is set to be completed no later than November 20. Kyle Swanson, who accused However, Swanson, in a Collins of attempting to private message with a re- meet up with a 14-year-old porter, said this is not true. girl. “Collins knew the age of the Offi cials say families should Swanson said in the video girl. She stated she was 14, that Collins had been send- and he even acknowledged ing messages to someone rethink holiday gathering plans who he thought was the Continued on Page 5 ____ By Dan Zobel continues to work seven With COVID-19 cases ris- days a week. Through the ing and Thanksgiving just help of a contact tracing Disc golf coming to around the corner, Ran- Limit dinners grant, the department dolph County Health De- has already added seven partment Administrator additional employees, in- Chester’s Cole Park Angela Oathout stated dur- to immediate cluding case investigators, By Dan Zobel example of the youth in ing the November 13 county nurses and contact trac- There will be a new activ- our community getting board meeting that she is ers. Oathout said the Illi- ity available at Cole Memo- involved,” said Alderman urging people to rethink household nois Department of Public rial Park in Chester. J.D. Maes. “(James) worked their holiday plans. Health would like counties The Chester city council hard and was excited to “If you have eight or 10 to bring on even more con- approved during its Novem- present this in person. This people in your circle, I members tact tracers. ber 16 meeting, which was is a good example of what guarantee someone is posi- “We’re tired and ready for held via Zoom, to move for- we would love to see from tive (with COVID),” Oathout a vaccine,” Oathout said. ward with a nine-hole disc all our city youth.” said. However, with more indi- Oathout said Governor golf course at Cole. The project carries a total Oathout added that, as viduals being hospitalized J.B. Pritzker has been talk- The game of disc golf can cost of $8,400. Maes, who is much as possible, gather- throughout the state, larger ing about increasing miti- be compared to normal the city’s representative for ings should be limited to urban hospitals are fi lling gations. golf. Players throw a fl y- the Park and Recreation household members. up. Those talks became true ing disc or frisbee from a Committee, explained that There were 193 active The county’s three hospi- Tuesday, when Pritzker tee area at each hole to a the committee has $12,500 COVID-19 cases in the coun- tals are each 25-bed facili- announced that the entire target, which is normally in grant money that could ty as of the morning of the ties, and if trends continue, state will move to Tier 3 an elevated metal basket. be used toward that. He meeting. they might have to establish mitigations beginning No- The goal is to get the disc added that if the city has “This is the highest num- COVID wings. vember 20. More informa- to land in the basket in the to pay for anything, the ber of active cases we’ve If bed availability becomes tion on that can be found least number of throws. project is already in the had since the virus started a problem in the county, the in a separate article in this The player with the lowest city budget. in March,” Oathout said. situation could arise where week’s paper. score at the end of the game “This is a situation where As cases rise, school dis- the creation of a COVID unit In terms of a vaccine, wins. we may be on the hook for tricts and hospitals are is necessary, according to Pfi zer, an American phar- The park has been a cent- literally nothing on the city having to make tough de- Oathout. maceutical company, looks er of focus for the city over level,” Maes said. “There cisions. Oathout reminded resi- like it will be the fi rst to the past couple of years, should be no cost to the city Some districts have al- dents to follow basic guide- have an approved vaccine, with the goal to fi nd ways with the reimbursement we ready shifted back to full lines and recommendations according to Oathout. to increase its viability. can get from grants.” remote learning, including of wearing masks, social Oathout cautioned that The idea for the disc golf Alderman received a Sparta and Chester, which distancing and washing this is still at least fi ve to course came from Chester detailed proposal for the are both remote through at hands. six weeks away, and there High School senior Jarrett disc golf course, including least November 27. “Please follow our recom- are some warnings, includ- James. He recently pre- plans for maintenance, Oathout reported that mendations,” Oathout said. ing that the vaccine must sented his plan to the Park support, fi nancial aspects the Sparta, Red Bud and “The virus is still prevalent be stored at a temperature and Recreation Committee. Chester hospitals have held in the community.” “I think this is a great Continued on Page 5 ____ strong to this point. The health department Continued on Page 5 _____ Massive project Work is well under way on one of the largest solar farms in the state just north of Coulterville in rural Perry County. Ranger Power of New York is building the 99 megawatt farm just off Nashville Road at Violet Road. The sole purchaser of the power that will be produced is Wabash Valley Power of Indiana. When completeed, the farm will generate enough electricity to power approximately 15,000 homes. Wabash Valley provides power to about 311,000 homes in Illinois. 3+ Years Experience Earn Top ATTEND OUR ON-SITE JOB FAIR $ $ based on Benefits! 12.75- 14.50 experience NOW DIRECT HIRING ALL SHIFTS Apply at work4tg.com Willis Publishing Inc. © Copyright 2020 MONEY $AVING COUPONS INSIDE! PAGE 2 COUNTY JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 19, 2020 POLICE Virus outbreak at the jail Vehicle inside By Travis Lott outbreak like this. tion, and that entire occurred at the court- Coronavirus has hit Additionally, anyone cell block was tested house building, more pole barn burns this week at yet an- who enters the build- for the virus. All but restrictions are being A semi caused a fi re was badly damaged, to other vulnerable insti- ing is required to wear one of those eight in- placed on those who in a pole barn in rural the point that he could tution, the Randolph a mask, and anyone mates came back posi- wish to enter the build- Pinckneyville early not tell where exactly County Jail. who enters the cell tive. ing. Tuesday morning. the fi re started, but it’s By Tuesday morning, blocks must also wear Wolff said no staff For instance, people According to Pinck- believed to have started it was reported that gloves. members have tested paying taxes should neyville Fire Chief somewhere around the about 16 out of about Still, with the high positive since the two leave their payments Jim Gielow, a passerby dashboard. 50 inmates in the jail turnover rate of in- back in June. with the deputies mon- reported the pole barn He said Engelhardt have tested positive for mates and the inability Wolff said Tuesday itoring the front door, fi re at 12:41 a.m. at had taken the truck COVID-19.