Welcome to the Popeye Picnic in Chester Pages 15-18 Concealed carry teacher Page 3 Serving The Area With Local News Since 1980 Kaskaskia picnic Page 7 Fall festival Page 8 © Copyright 2013, County Journal www.countyjournalnews.com Volume 34 Number 36 28 Pages Your Local News Leader Thursday, September 5, 2013 60¢ Pursuit subject is now charged Shane Smith is in a St. Louis jail The man who led police on a pursuit then crashed on the west side of Percy August 27 has been charged with crimi- nal offenses. Shane D. Smith, 48, of Union City, Tennessee faces charges of aggravated fleeing or at- tempting to elude a police of- ficer and driving while license Above is the accident scene at Route 4 and Schuline Road. The Buchs were in the white revoked. car. The streetlight the Buch car hit can be seen lying near it. At right are the Buchs. Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker, in his complaint, states that Smith, after being given a vi- Red Bud husband, wife sual or audible signal by a police officer directing him to bring his vehicle to a stop, failed and refused to obey by increasing the speed of his die in two-vehicle crash vehicle to a speed of at least 21 miles an hour over the le- A Red Bud husband and stop at the stop sign and was ger. They were pronounced incapacitating injuries, police gal speed limit. That is a Class wife were killed in a two- struck in the passenger side dead at the scene. said. 4 felony. vehicle collision in Randolph by a northbound pickup truck Dammermann was taken to Occupants of both vehicles The complaint states that County August 30 at 1:23 driven by Kenneth Dammer- a local hospital and treated. were wearing seatbelts, and Smith’s driver’s license had p.m. mann, 50, of Ava. The Buch However, he later went to all of the airbags deployed. been revoked because of a con- The accident occurred on car was then forced into a Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. The accident is still under viction of operating a motor Route 4 at Schuline Road. streetlight pole on the other Louis. Tuesday he was listed investigation by Illinois State vehicle while under the influ- According to Illinois State side of Route 4, knocking it in critical condition. Police, the Randolph County ence of alcohol, and he had Police, a car driven by Rich- down. The impact killed both A passenger in Dammer- Sheriff’s Department and the previously been convicted of ard Buch, 63, was eastbound Buch and his wife Connie, 67, mann’s truck, Merlin Mast, Randolph County coroner’s on Schuline Road, failed to who was a front seat passen- 36, of Campbell Hill, had non- office. Continued on Page 5_______ Chester to refurbish city council chamber IDOT doesn’t want bridge road 3-way stop By Greg Myers The council approved the The Chester City Council purchase, not to exceed chambers will get a major $2,740, of new city tourism facelift after council action pamphlets from Mariah De- September 3. sign Agency of Chester. Mayor Tom Page presented “The last time we had tour- a new proposal with an item- ism pamphlets printed for the ized list of all costs to the city was 2001,” said Linda council. Sympson, Chester Chamber of The proposal includes a new Commerce executive director. longer city council table that “They are outdated and don’t would have room for all of the reflect well on the city.” aldermen, a hospitality table The proposal calls for 10,000 and countertop, new hard- copies of the pamphlets with wood flooring, 50 removable the Southwestern Illinois guest chairs, 11 council Tourism Bureau paying for 15 chairs, plaster repair and percent of the total cost. painting, new blinds and an In other action, the council under-counter refrigerator approved a $44,603 proposal for the hospitality table. from FilterONE USA to refur- The renovations also call for bish the bar screen at the the new council table to be at sewer treatment plant. the back of the room facing The council voted to solicit Hallelujah the opposite direction it cur- bids in the County Journal for After months of delays and congested traffic, both lanes on the Route 4/150 bridge rently does. the sale of a 1970 Chevrolet over Cox Creek on the east side of Steeleville reopened Friday, August 30. The The estimated cost of the fire truck with a minimum bid bridge was resurfaced and underwent some structural repairs underneath. Work project is $23,715. of $1,275. started in April and kept the 115 coal trucks that use the busy road each day and At the last council meeting, An IDOT resolution was other traffic tied up around Percy and Steeleville. several aldermen expressed passed to shut down portions concern over the price tag of of Swanwick Street for the the project. However, Tues- River City walking tour. Rail crossing work is coming day night the council voted 6- The Keeley and Sons bid of Drivers who use Route 4/ crossing is repaired. A second road closure 2 to approve the renovations. $161,531 for asphalt overlay 150 shouldn’t breathe a It will take place starting will be in Coulterville on Aldermen Donnie Clark and projects was accepted by the sigh of relief with the Cox at 8 a.m. September 10 and Route 153. That Canadian Richard Allison voted no. council. The bid came in 11.2 Creek bridge reopening continue through Thursday, National crossing work In other news, Page re- percent below the engineer’s just yet. September 12. will begin September 24 at ported that he received a let- estimate. Look for some traffic Route 4/150 will be closed 8 a.m. and last through ter from the Illinois Depart- The council accepted a slowdowns, congestion to allow Canadian National September 26. ment of Transportation stat- $1,800 proposal from TCG and detours in September Railroad to complete the In both cases, marked de- ing it does not want to put up Public Consulting for an inde- as the Percy railroad work. tours will be set up. a three-way stop on Route 3 pendent audit for the city’s and the bridge road. police pension fund. Pinckneyville hospital gets loan approval for building With the approval of a $31 weeks,” Hudgins said. “We The current certificate of million loan, plans can pro- have the commitment of funds need from IDPH will expire at ceed for a new hospital in letter from IDPH. I still need midnight September 30. Pinckneyville. Illinois Department of Public a letter from the Illinois De- Hudgins said he is on the Hospital officials learned re- partment of Public Health, IDPH agenda for its next cently that the loan had been which is reviewing construc- meeting in case the hospital approved by the United States Health is still reviewing the tion plans, and a few other needs to seek a 90-day exten- Department of Agriculture. things. Once I have those in sion of the certificate The new hospital will be con- construction plans hand, we can start moving The certificate is required structed along Route 51 east dirt.” before any construction can of Pinckneyville on land that Hudgins said the construc- begin. was purchased by the hospi- tion of White Walnut Road last months while officials waited tion manager, Robbins “I don’t think that will be tal board in 2008. The Illinois year in anticipation of the new on the USDA’s decision on the Morton, will be at the next necessary, but we just want Department of Transporta- hospital. loan. hospital board meeting to to have things in place if we tion put in a center turn lane However, plans were on put “I am hoping we have every- present a guaranteed maxi- do need to get an extension,” on Route 154 at the intersec- hold for the past several thing in place in the next few mum bid. Hudgins said. Page 2 County Journal September 5, 2013 This week’s area police reports... Randolph court Bryant Oettle, 23, of was jailed. was jailed. Bond was set of Pinckneyville was ar- The following cases Chester, resisting a Cutler was arrested Au- **** at $10,000. rested September 1 by have been terminated peace officer, guilty, gust 28 by the Perry Christopher D. **** Sparta police on a Ran- in Randolph County fine. County Sheriff’s De- Murray, 21, of Red Bud Mandy D. Smith, 34, dolph County warrant circuit court. Jason McDonough partment on a warrant was arrested August 27 of Marissa was arrested for failure to appear in Isaiah Duty of Mur- of Ellis Grove, disor- for criminal trespass to by Red Bud police for August 28 by the court on a charge of physboro, obstructing derly conduct, guilty, real property. domestic battery. He Randolph County DUI and on a Perry identification, court fine. He was taken to jail was jailed. Sheriff’s Department County warrant for fail- supervision, fine; con- Tiffany McKenzie of pending bond. **** for possession of a con- ure to appear in court sumption of liquor by Marissa, unlawful visi- **** Carl G. Falkenberry, trolled substance. She on a charge of driving a minor, dismissed. tation interference, Ten underage people 46, of Percy was ar- posted bond. without a valid driver’s Phillip Galster of dismissed. were cited August 25 rested August 28 by **** license, burglary and by Sparta police for Percy police on a Steven W.