Courthouse Fixture John Boyd 89 Observes Jackson County
From his bench beside the courthouse, John Boyd 89 watches Jackson County conduct its business. A lifelong observer with deep local ties, Boyd greets officials, travels on foot, and recalls a family with 1876 legislative roots while remaining a fixture among courthouse regulars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Boyd
Jackson County
Ann Schottman Enol
Boyd
CIA
Sheriff's Department
Pinckneyville
Richard E. Richman
Richman
Randolph County
SIEG drops informant accused of drug delivery
Perry County informant Robert Eldridge, 21, of Wallisville, used in about 25 drug indictments, was dropped from SIEG after he allegedly provided drugs to defendants and refused a polygraph. Cases for six defendants remain pending, with two trials next week. State's attorney and public defender comment on the irregularities and potential impact on entrapment rulings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Evan M. Davis
Southern Illinoisan
Perry County
Southern Illinois Enforcement Group
Rick Pariser
Robert Eldridge
Wallisville
Department of Law Enforcement
de Soto
Pariser
SIEG
Eldridge
Lloyd Middleton
Middleton
Gerald Sims
Perry County Public Defender
Sims
Terry Stout
Ava
Robert Bastien
Stout
Trail
Illinois Supreme Court
Supreme Court
Illinois
Perry
Saline County board member seeks county clerk post
Wilbur Fowler of Eldorado announces candidacy for Saline County clerk as a Republican. He owns Eldorado Locker Co and leases a 600 acre Rector Township farm. Fowler is former Saline Valley Water District chair and 10 year Hill Crest School Board member. Maynard Cannon recently retired after 25 years as county clerk.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Saline County
Wilbur Fowler
Eldorado
Eldorado Locker Co
Fowler
Saline Valley Water District
Hillcrest
Rector Township
Maynard Cannon
Rent refund may go to same county office
Johnson County treasurer Claude Harper said a three month rent refund from commissioner Jerry Pippins could be credited to the county’s share for the Regional School Superintendent Jerry Johnson’s office expenses. Pippins returned 675 to Johnson after a complaint over possible conflict of interest.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joanne Wood
Southern Illinoisan
Johnson County
Jerry Pippins
Claude Harper
Pippins
Jerry Johnson
Johnson
Harper
Board of Commissioners
Mary Jane Webb
Max Ray
Cypress
Ed Treat
Republican Committee
Treat
Trent
Sesser seeks quorum as mayor vows nightly sessions
Sesser’s newly elected mayor Ned Mitchell says he will call meetings every night until two thirds of the six aldermen attend and a quorum can be reached. Four members are needed to conduct city business, and absent lawmakers and resignations have stalled sewer and hiring actions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sesser
Ned Mitchell
William Schettler
Franklin County
Mitchell
Lawrence Winemiller
Winemiller
West Frankfort Looks to Cut Spending After Overbudget
West Frankfort officials agree to reduce expenditures after reports show a $60,610.02 overrun on a $795,150 May 1 to Oct. 31 budget. The water department led overruns with $43,555.56 on materials and $13,141.76 on salaries, while police and fire departments came in under budget. City officials may lay off workers to save funds as audits continue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cathy Saxenmeyer
Southern Illinoisan
West
Frankfort
Fred Harkins
John Pellew
Pellew
Water Department
Harkins
Jim Bernhard
Fire Department
Bernhard
Schools in the Region Split on Releasing Test Scores
Seven Southern Illinois districts largely refuse to publish individual school results. Officials say averages show nothing about a district’s schools and that small class sizes and student backgrounds distort comparisons. Only Anna District 57 would release per school scores, arguing the data guide curriculum.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ella Reilly
Harry Revelle
Herrin
Revelle
George Edwards
Carbondale
Edwards
Dren
Kathleen Miller
Murphysboro Community Unit
Miller
Jim Parker
Marion Community Unit District
Parker
Loel Verble
Anna Community Consolidated District
Verble
West Frankfort Clerk Resumes Duties After Expense Dispute
West Frankfort City Clerk John Pellew returned to work after a settlement over expense reimbursement for June travel to Washington DC. Pellew had suspended himself Tuesday amid disagreements with Finance Commissioner John Simmons and the city over entitlement to the expenses. A meeting with Mayor Mike McClatchey and Simmons, attended by City Attorney Don Lucas, confirmed Pellew was entitled to the funds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Frankfort
John Pellow
Pellow
John Simmons
Washington, D.C
Mike McClatchey
Simmons
Pellew
Don Lucas
Also Mentioned on This Page
Don White
Shirley Booker
Arnold Jochums
Robert Schwartz
State’s Attorney’s Office
Jan Brown
Joe Jines
Murphysboro
Sam Dittmer
William Auten
Benton Community Consolidated District 47
Benton
Auten
Jacob Whitecotton
du Quoin
Elmentary
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!