GREENVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGE

A Greenville man has entered an open plea of guilty to Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault and Domestic Battery.  27-year-old Matthew A. Neumann pled guilty to the charges on Monday, which was to have been the first day of his jury trial.  In exchange for this plea, the prosecution agreed to a fifteen-year cap for the sentencing on the Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault charge and a three-year cap on the Domestic Battery charge.  Both charges date back to an April 2005 incident.  Two counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and one count of Violation of an Order of Protection were dismissed.  Sentencing for Matthew A. Neumann has been set for July 28.

GREENVILLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL TO OFFER VITAL STIM THERAPY AS PART OF SPEECH THERAPY PROGRAM

Greenville Regional Hospital recently introduced a new therapy, Vital Stim, which can be beneficial to people experiencing difficulty swallowing.  Greenville Regional Hospital Senior Manager of Diagnostic and Treatment Services, Darlene Harnetiaux said that Vital Stim can be beneficial to people who are affected by dysphagia.  Dysphagia is a condition that causes discomfort or difficulty with swallowing and can cause a person to completely lose his or her ability to swallow.  It is common with stroke survivors, patients with neurological disorders like Parkinson's Disease, and patients with head and neck cancer. It is more prevalent among the elderly.  Vital Stim is backed by clinical data and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.  The therapy is safe and painless.  Vital Stim uses small electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing.  Many facilities in the United States are reporting success with Vital Stim therapy.  There are also documented cases in which patients who previously required feeding tubes are able to eat normally after receiving Vital Stim

BOND COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETING

The Bond County Fair Board met Wednesday night and a note at the bottom of the Bond County Fair meeting agenda reminded board members that it is only 48 days until the fair. 

Secretary Judy Debatin informed the Board that she will be sending in the rehabilitation claim to the state for $57,500 plus some labor. The Board received a report from Denny Potthast that the bill for the same liability and workers compensation insurance coverage will be about $600 less than last year.  The Board decided to add $30,000 coverage on electric poles and lines at a cost of about $450.

Improvements on the outside of the community building are now complete and the Fair Board voted to offer to renew the contract for use of the building for tumbling classes for another year with some modifications.

Leroy Brave reported the antique machinery club will need a tent erected on the end of the antique machinery building during the fair. Board members will be meeting at the fairgrounds Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. to decide on the location of the horse arena for the 2006 fair.

Virgil Schoen was for many years an exhibitor and assisted at the Bond County Fair and the Board approved a request by his family to erect a suitable memorial for him at a location on the fairgrounds.

The Fair Board recently received the Fair Board minutes for the years 1948 to 1986.  The next Fair Board meeting is July 12.

NEW ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGE FOR 3RD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

A general practice lawyer from Alton, who is also a member of the Madison County Board, has been named to fill a new associate judge position in the 3rd Judicial Circuit.  38-year-old Steve Stobbs of Godfrey, IL will become the third Republican of the 21 judges in the circuit, which includes Bond and Madison Counties, when he is sworn in on June 19. Stobbs was selected on the first ballot in a secret vote of this circuit's nine judges.

He is a principal partner in the Alton law firm of Stobbs and Sinclair where his primary focus is in the areas of probate and estate matters, elder law matters, and civil litigation.  Stobbs is currently serving his third term on the Madison County Board where he serves as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Stobbs said that he is honored by this appointment. 

Associate Judge Clarence W. Harrison II has been spending his time in Bond County on Fridays, but that will change once Stobbs is sworn in.  Harrison will now spend five days a week in Madison County and Richard L. Tognarelli will be in Bond County in court on Monday afternoons and all day on Fridays.

HIGHLAND MAN CHARGED IN GREENVILLE BURGLARY

A 20-year-old Highland man has been charged in Bond County court for his alleged role in a break-in at a Greenville church.  Joshua D. Frith was charged with Burglary, a Class 1 Felony, for the March 13th incident at the Greenville First Christian Church.