Forest fire watchtower takes to air
Forest officials shift fire surveillance from tall towers to airborne monitoring across Southern Illinois Shawnee National Forest. Director James Menzie notes towers were outdated and costly amid vandalism while planes from Paducah and Olney patrol at speed. Fire risk peaks February to April and October to November with windy, dry conditions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Union State Forest
Union County
Menzie
Cypress
Little Black Slough
Johnson County
Royalton
Illinois
State Forest Service
Paducah
Olney
Jackson jail fight leads to inmate transfers amid damage
Two Jackson County jail inmates Jerome Mower and Kenneth Rettig caused about 300 dollars in damage during a disturbance on the third floor of Murphysboro courthouse. They were moved to Randolph County jail in Chester and Williamson County jail in Marion after refusing to cooperate in a shakedown. The damage included a broken water line, a broken light, and four concrete blocks removed from a segregation cell. Sheriff Don White said there was no riot and only the two were involved among 15 inmates.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tony Stevens
Jackson County
Murphysboro
Jerome K. Mower
Streetsboro
Ohio
Kenneth Rettig
Mower
Randolph County
Chester
Rettig
Williamson County
Marion
Don White
White
Inmate disturbance at Murphysboro jail leads to arrests
The incident around 2:35 a.m. ended with inmates Mower and Rettig surrendering about 4 a.m. Charges of criminal damage to state property will be filed. Mower, nicknamed Mad Dog, held on an Ohio armed robbery case awaiting extradition after a Carbondale surrender. Rettig faces check forgery charges. Repairs followed a February disturbance that damaged water and electric lines totaling about $3,000. Police and multiple agencies assisted.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
White
Mower
Rettig
Mad Dog
Murphysboro
Ohio
Carbondale
Fifth District Appellate Court
Mt. Vernon
Cook County
Murphysboro hikes sewer fees and parking fines
Murphysboro city council approved ordinances raising sewage rates and increasing overtime parking fines. The sewer schedule shifts from 71 cents to 1.50 for the first 1,000 gallons with a 1.11 per 1,000 additional gallons. water rates stay at 1.18 for the first 1,000 and 0.40 thereafter. Parking fines rise from 50 cents to 1.00, with penalties up to 25 dollars for unpaid tickets after 24 hours.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tony Stevens
Southern Illinoisan
Murphysboro
Mike Bowers
Environmental Protection Agency
Marion renames DeYoung and Main to Marion signage on I-57
The Illinois Department of Transportation will change signs at Marion interchanges on I-57 this summer. The DeYoung St and Main St exits will be replaced with Marion signs to prevent drivers from missing the city. Chamber president Dennis Doelitsch says the change will reduce confusion after travelers mistook exits for other towns despite reservations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marion
DeYoung St
Illinois 13
Main St
DeYoung and
Main
Judge Upholds School Board Authority in Student Suspension
In Pulaski County Judge Peyton Kunce ruled the Meridian Unit District 100 may suspend an 11 year old pupil for misconduct while retaining a statutory duty to provide special education regardless of cost. The decision followed protests by parents and a bid for a 10 day injunction pending a permanent injunction. The judge cited Goss v. Lopez for due process and urged the district to ensure special education for the pupil.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tony Stevens
Southern Illinois
Pulaski County
Mounds
Jackson County
Peyton Kunce
Meridian
Board of Education
Michael R. Garrett
Nancy Garrett
Kunce
United States Supreme Court
Murphysboro Sets Special Session on New Federal Housing Units
Murphysboro City Council will meet at 8 p m Thursday to review proposed federal housing units for low income families. Jackson County Housing Authority seeks a cooperative agreement as part of HUD funded plans for 283 units across Murphysboro Carbondale Grand Tower Elkville and Ava with 134 in Murphysboro and 97 in Carbondale. The authority aims to file a pre application with HUD by Monday and expects not all units to be funded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Murphysboro
Jackson County Housing Authority
Jim Seed
The
Housing Authority
Seed
Carbondale City Coun
Grand Tower
Elkville
Ava
Carbondale
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Downstate
Jackson County Authority
HUD
Long distance visitor stuns Murphysboro council
Frederick G. W. H. Plettenberg, a farmer and businessman from Olsen, West Germany, traveled about 6,000 miles to attend the Murphysboro City Council meeting. He serves on his hometown council and observed an American city council in action on Tuesday night.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Murphysboro
Tenberg
Olsen
West Germany
Plettenberg
Herrin Pilot Aided Air Rescue Before Korean Crash
A Herrin man Lt Geory Bauman 26 died when an Army Cobra helicopter crashed on a hill in Korea Monday He radioed distress about 20 minutes before wreckage was found Another Ohio man aboard the helicopter also died Bauman a 1976 West Point graduate had been in Korea since February 27 Funeral arrangements are incomplete The cause of the crash remains under study by Army officials
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herrin
Korea
Geory Bauman
Ohio
Cobra
Bauman
U.S. Military Academy
Army
The Spring Count Birds at Crab Orchard Refuge
A bird walk at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge yielded over 100 species in about nine hours. The statewide spring count date May 6 coincides with mid migration. Notable sightings included an Osprey, Long-billed Marsh Wren, and a single Double-crested Cormorant amid a large shorebird flock.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ben Gelman
Southern Illinoisan
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Illinois
Chicago
Birds at refuge host diverse shorebirds flock
A field near the west end of the refuge hosts hundreds of sandpipers and plovers including Wilsons Phalarope a rare find at the site. The flock also includes six Dewitchers yellowlegs various sandpipers and Killdeer plovers while Carolina Wren remains absent after harsh winters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North America
Also Mentioned on This Page
Charles Roberts
Associated Press
Forest
James Menzie
State Forestry
Benton
U.S. Forest Service
Shawnee National Forest
Ilinois
Jackson
Murphysboro Police
Murphysboro Firemen
State Police
DeSoto
Jackson County Ambulance Service
Chamber of Commerce Retail Interest Committee
Walnut Street
10Th
11Th Streets
North 11Th Street
Murphysboro Key Club
City Hall
Spruce Street
South 15Th Street
South Street
Rules Board
Kance
Council
Frederick G. W. H. Plet
Killdeer
Southern
Byline
B.G
Wilson