VANDALIA AWARDED GRANT FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

The City of Vandalia was awarded over $1.2 million in grants from the Illinois Department of Transportation for roadway projects in support of Economic Development activities.  The improvements will provide access to the proposed National Ethanol, LLC facility; a 100-million gallon per day plant with intentions of breaking ground in October 2007.  The facility will invest approximately $75 million for construction and create 40 full time positions.

The State funds, being provided through the Truck Access Route Program (TARP) and Economic Development Program (EDP) will be used to improve both Main Street and VanSant Avenue to support truck traffic for the National Ethanol Project.  The total road project cost is $2.3 million.  The City of Vandalia via the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration has applied for matching funds of $1.5 million.

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GOVERNOR SIGNS LEGISLATION TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE IN ILLINOIS

Governor Rod Blagojevich signed Senate Bill 1268 recently, increasing the minimum wage to $7.50 per hours in July 2007 and to $8.25 an hour by 2010. Under the terms of legislation, the state’s minimum wage will rise by $1 to $7.50 per hour beginning July 1, 2007. Beyond that date, the legislation includes annual increases for three years and by the year 2010, minimum wage will be $8.25 or $17,000 a year for a full-time employee. This is the second time the Governor has signed legislation raising the minimum wage.  He first increased the wage in 2003 above the federal level of $5.15 an hour to $6.50. The federal minimum wage level remains at $5.15.

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NEW BADEN WOMAN REPORTED MISSING

Alison Stahl, 24 of New Baden has been reported missing to local authorities.  According to New Baden Police Sergeant Scott Meinhart, family members filed the missing persons report after not being able to locate Stahl since last seen at her residence on December 13.  Alison Stahl is described as a white female approximately 5'7" tall, weighing 150-165 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes.  She has two young children who are with family.  Anyone with information is asked to call the New Baden Police Department at 618-558-7741

FEDERAL PRISONER HOUSING GENERATES 70K FOR BCSD

Bond County Sheriff Jeff Brown has released his report of annual income for the period December 1, 2005 through November 30 of this year.  The department submitted a total of $129,242 to the Bond County treasurer during the fiscal year.  The largest portion of this was due to federal prisoner housing at the jail.  The Sheriff’s Department generated nearly $72,000 in revenue from the federal prisoner program.

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DONNELLSON MAN INJURED IN ACCIDENT

Early Friday morning Greenville Police and the Bond County Sheriff's department responded to an injury accident at the bottom of Mill Hill at the intersection of Route 127 and Route 140. 31-year-old William Schatte of Donnellson was taken to Greenville Regional Hospital and then transferred to St. Louis. Schatte's vehicle struck the guard rail but additional details on the accident have not been released.