Edward “Butch” Akes joined the Xenia Volunteer Department in 1964. At the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees on Wednesday May 2, 2012 he submitted his resignation/retirement after 48 years of service.
The attending firemen and the audience gave him a standing ovation and many warm wishes were extended.
Not only had Butch served faithfully, honorably and bravely to protect the residents of the Xenia Fire Protection Service District, he had also taken it upon himself to maintain the housekeeping of the Fire House after each rental event. In this way the rent paid by the renters could go directly to the Volunteer Firemen with no deduction for custodian service.
In Clay County Circuit Court news, Jonathan D. Hanson, age 40, was sentenced to serve a sentence of three (3) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by a two-year mandatory supervised release program. That sentence was entered by Judge James J. Eder.
Clay County State’s Attorney Marilyn D. Brant has released information regarding the criminal case, stating that Hanson committed the offense of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors on or about the hour of 2:49 a.m. on March 7, 2011 at 1104 South Locust Street in Flora, Illinois. The charge alleged that he possessed less than fifteen grams of pseudoephedrine, a substance containing a methamphetamine precursor in standard dosage form, with the intent that it be used to manufacture methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
James D. Mulligan, age 53, of Louisville, has been sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections in Clay County Circuit Court by Judge Erika Sanders, according to Clay County State’s Attorney Marilyn D. Brant.
Mulligan was ordered to serve a three-year sentence for the offense of Delivery of Controlled Substance, a Class 2 Felony, followed by a one-year period of mandatory supervised release.
In the Village of Xenia, one thing is certain: Anything that involves the wonderful Volunteer Fire Department will get the community’s attention. Be it the Annual Fish Fry or the Fund Raising Breakfast, the citizens of Xenia and those in the surrounding rural fire protection service district come out in force to support their volunteers. The evening meeting on Friday April 20, was no exception.
News had been heard that fourteen of the eighteen volunteers had resigned because of differences with one of the members of the Board of Trustees. There would be no, or very limited, emergency protection for the district; the meeting at the firehouse had been hurriedly called to find answers.
Many people were inside the firehouse and outside the firehouse thirty minutes before the meeting. The mood was angry. The resigning firemen were unwilling, before the meeting, to give much information. They had a problem with the newly appointed trustee. At the time of the appointment they, as a group had written to the County Board suggesting a different person. As far as they knew then, the County Board had ignored them. The trustee in question, Daniel Edgington, stood alone in the meeting room and, when asked what he had to say about the problem, he merely said: “No comment at this moment”.
The Xenia Fire Department Auxiliary is hosting a Mother Daughter Banquet on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. There will be a catered meal provided with $10 tickets, children three and under are free.
Come by the Xenia Fire Station and purchase your tickets on Saturday, April 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., cash only or by contacting Bonnie Sue Allen at 618-678-2660 or Rebecca Odle at 618-678-2494. Last day to purchase tickets is Saturday, April 21, 2012.
At Monday afternoon’s meeting of the Flora City Council, Guy Durre of the Flora Police Department was sworn in as the Department’s new Assistant Chief of Police.
Durre has been with the department for 12 years. Before that, he spent 10 years as a member of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.
Durre has served as the Department’s Sergeant in the past. He is the Department’s TASER and firearms instructor.
Sheriff James C. Sulsberger, Clay County Sheriff, announced that the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association is extremely proud to once again be named as a principal sponsor for the annual Illinois Teenage Institute on Substance Abuse.
Illinois Wesleyan University will host this program. The dates are from July 22-26, 2012.
The Illinois Teenage Institute is open to anyone who meets the following qualifications:
Sheriff James Sulsberger would like to announce that the Sheriff’s Office recently update his fleet by replacing two older squad cars with two new ones. The Sheriff traded 2-2006 Chevrolet Impala squads (both totally approx. 300,000 miles) and 2008 Ford F-150 for 2-2012 Chevrolet Tahoe (2WD).
The Sheriff’s Office had acquired the Ford F-150 in 2009 at no cost to county, as a result of three felony Driving While License Revoked arrests in 12 months. The Sheriff’s Office was allowed approximately $25,000 on trade for the 2008 Ford F-150, which was the main factor in allowing the Sheriff to purchase the new squads. The new squads will replace the two squads with the highest mileage and highest maintenance cost, but still leave the Sheriff’s Office with two cars with over 200,000 miles on them.
The Sheriff hopes that the heavier duty Tahoes will hold up better to the rural driving, that is required due to the duties of the Sheriff’s Office.
Over ten years ago, James E. Freeman was savagely attacked in his Xenia home by three youths; he died of his injuries.
This tragedy led the Freeman family along with citizens of the Xenia area to form the Xenia Community Safety Corporation which polices the townships of Xenia and Songer. Dependent upon voluntary contributions, the Safety Corporation held a Barbecue Dinner on Saturday, March 24 at the Xenia School.
The menu was a choice of pulled pork or grilled chicken breast, cheesy potatoes, baked beans and coleslaw. There was an incredible choice of pies and cakes with tea and lemonade available.
Clay County has been chosen to receive $7450.00 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
A National Board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency made the selection. The National Board consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide. The Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
It was an afternoon of thrills, spills, dunks, and capering this Sunday evening as the Harlem Wizards played against the Shop With a Cop all-stars at Flora High School’s Conley Gymnasium.
The game was a fundraiser for Shop With a Cop, which took over 150 children Christmas shopping for 2011. While the game’s organizers do not yet have any hard figures, Chief John Nicholson of the Flora Police said that the game raised between $3,500 and $4,000 profit for the cause.
The game itself was secondary to the entertainment as the Wizards took to the court with ball spinning, juggling and bravado.
A fire Monday evening on Cherrybark Lane outside of Flora got even hotter for the Flora Volunteer Fire Department than usual when live power wires fell to the ground around fire fighters and onto one of the Department’s trucks.
The call for the fire went out at 8:15 p.m. bringing the Fire Department to the residence of Ken Windle at 2517 Cherrybark.
Upon arrival, the garage of the home was already engulfed in flames, which spread to the house.
The following cases were recently filed in the office of the Clay County Circuit Clerk
Traffic Cases
• Geoffrey C. Dunnigan, No window treatment adjacent to Driver
• Crickette A. Guinn, No window treatment adjacent to Driver
• Levi C. Krantz, Seat Belt required by Driver....
Chief John Nicholson releases the following information:
Wednesday, February 15 at 9:47 a.m. Ashley C. Belcher, 24, of Flora was issued a local ordinance citation for Dog Running at Large following an incident in the 200 block of E. Scudamore.
Sheriff James C. Sulsberger released the following:
February 17, Clay County Sheriff’s Offie arrested Breeanna M. Kemper, 20, Louisville, for Passed School Bus Unloading/Loading. Kemper was given a Notice to Appear and released.
February 17, Tiffany N. Marsh, 24, Fairfield, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Driving
While Driver’s License Suspended. Bond set at $1,000.00(10%) plus $75.00 cash for failure to appear warrant fee. Marsh posted $175.00 cash and was
released.
Shop With a Cop, the local charity where area law enforcement members buys Christmas presents and essentials for underprivileged children has helped hundreds, perhaps thousands of children in the years it has been around. Now, Shop With a Cop is trying to do even more.
This weekend, Shop With a Cop will be presenting a basketball game where they (meaning local law enforcement, city employees, students and teachers, and others) will be facing the Harlem Wizards (a trick-shooting New York Basketball team with a fifty-year history of “Trick Hoops and Alley-Oops”).
This game will be at Flora High School’s Conley Gymnasium this Sunday, February 26 at 2 p.m. (doors open at 1 p.m.) and will cost $10 to $12 for admission, for youth or adults respectively, at the door; or $8 and $10 for the same admission purchased in advance.
When the children at Xenia School ran into the hallway Tuesday morning at 10:15 a.m., pretended the building was shaking, and kneeled down and covered their heads, they weren’t the only ones.
The Xenia School students were taking part in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, an earthquake preparedness drill.
According to Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Director Jonathon Monken, The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut was, “The perfect opportunity for families, businesses, schools and other groups to practice the ‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’ protective actions they should take during an earthquake.”
The following cases were recently filed in the office of the Clay County Circuit Clerk
Traffic Cases
• Brandon S. Giddens, Operation of Uninsured Motor Vehicles
• Misty W. Hill, Child Restraint Violation, Driver Seat Belt Violation
• Michael Dean Grant, Driving 15-20 MPH Above Limit
• Will R. O’Leary, Failure to Reduce Speed
• Mindy A. Brown, Driving 11-14 MPH Above Limit.....
Chief John Nicholson releases the following information:
Wednesday, February 1 at 10:40 p.m. Jerome F. Pride, 54, of Flora was issued a local ordinance citation for Open Alcohol on Public Property following an incident in the 300 block of Park.
Thursday, February 2 at 12:42 p.m. the department investigated an accident at U.S. Route 45/50 and N. Olive Road involving a 2006 Ford F150 operated by Kenneth R. Pearce, 84, of Flora and a 2003 Buick LeSabre operated by Martha L. McHenry, 86, of Flora. McHenry and a passenger Velda L. Lambirch, 66, of Rinard reported minor injuries.
Sheriff James Sulsberger released the following:
February 2, Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested Brandon S. Giddens, 18, Xenia, for Violation of Order of Protection. Giddens appeared in Clay County Court Friday, Feb. 3, bond was set at $10,000.00. Giddens posted $1,000.00 cash and was released.
