KIDNAPPING/MURDER SUSPECTS MAY HAVE BEEN IN BOND COUNTY
An Amber Alert was issued this Tuesday afternoon after alleged kidnapping and homicide suspects from a Kentucky case were possibly seen in Smithboro. Henderson Kentucky investigators say nine-month-old Saige Terrell was allegedly abducted from his mother's residence and that a social worker taking part in a supervised visit there was found dead. Kentucky State Police believe the developmentally disabled child was taken by his non-custoidial mother 33-year-old Renee Terrell and 23-year-old Christopher Wayne Luttrell. Terrell is a white female, 5'5" tall, weighs 240 pounds and wears glasses. Lutrell is a white male, 6'2" tall, weighs 150 pounds with a shaved head and tattoos on his arms. The three may be on their way to Evansville or Ft. Wayne, Indiana where Renee Terrell has family.
Investigators are looking for a white 2000 Daewoo, 4-door station wagon with Kentucky plates 675DRV. In the Amber Alert, it was reported that the homicide victim's credit card was used to purchase gasoline Monday evening around 7:32 at TNT Gas Mart in Smithboro. Randy Tevis of TNT Gas Mart told WGEL that the security camera tape confirmed that the Kentucky vehicle was at their business but neither suspect entered their store as a credit card was used to pay at the pump. Bond County Sheriff Jeff Brown told WGEL that anyone who has seen this vehicle and has a possible direction of travel needs to contact his department at 618-664-2151.
DISTRICT NEWSLETTER, AUDIT REPORT, AND ACT SCORES AT UNIT 2 BOARD MEETING
The Unit 2 Board of Education met Monday night at the Pocahontas Center. Superintendent Melanie Allyn reported to the board on a new district newsletter aimed towards employees that will be published monthly. It will provide job-related information including health insurance, retirement, state testing and academic events. She also said that the unit office has recently received materials for next year's school board elections. The information will be available to the public on November 7. Allyn then commented on a new superintendent-appointed-subcommittee that is working on how to best address the needs of children in the district. Networking has started with Greenville College, Bond County Health Department and representatives from the Regional Office of Education.
Fred Becker, CPA from Glass and Shuffett, presented to the Unit 2 School Board the FY06 Annual Audit Report. Becker said that since the Education Fund is doing better than last year, things are looking good for the district. Carol Knight, head of the Character Education Program reported they are now part of the national "Character Plus" program. This will allow access to better workshops for teachers and staff. High School Principal Kevin Cochrane presented the College Readiness Report based on ACT scores. Unit 2 students ready for college courses were shown to be just above state levels in English, Social Science and Biology.
The Unit 2 Board of Education then voted to continue the joint agreement with the Okaw Area Vocational Center. Over 1,000 Unit 2 students have benefited from the program since its inception in 1967. In other business, the board approved the consent agenda, which included two resignations, one retirement, and nine high school seniors whom will graduate early.
UPGRADES CONTINUE AT PATRIOT’S PARK
The Kingsbury Park District has purchased fifteen heavy duty plastic picnic tables for the Patriot’s Park pavilions. At Monday night’s KPD board meeting, Director Jerry Sauerwein said there is always a need for picnic tables at Patriot’s and he hopes to purchase more in the next year or two. The Clean Lakes Grant-funded work at Patriot’s is about to move into other phases. Sauerwein said the dam is now wider and easier to mow. The district is finalizing the paperwork for additional EPA grant money to cover more dredging at the lake. And plans for constructing wetlands on property north of Route 127 owned by Jay Young are being reviewed. Sauerwein reported that he is still awaiting the plans for the new boat ramp on Patriot’s Park Lake.
Kingsbury has been selected for nearly $18,000 in grant money for reseeding the pavilion area of the Nature Preserve with native prairie grasses. Sauerwein also announced to the board that he has been elected to a one-year term as President of the Southern Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.
After a forty minute closed session, the park board approved Sauerwein’s salary for the coming year and gave him a $1,000 performance bonus citing the number of grants he has secured for the district. The board then ratified a three-year contract calling for a 5% annual increase and 2% bonus based on the grants received.
