5-15-2007

WOMAN IDENTIFIED IN HOUSE FIRE

The Illinois State Police have identified the woman found inside a burned residence last month as that of Linda J. Weedon. She was identified through forensic DNA analysis. According to police, the autopsy results show that Weedon had been shot. Her body was found after firefighters extinguished a house fire on Town Hall Road, just north of Tamalco, on April 23rd. Her husband, George Weedon, was found earlier that morning in a car about 100 yards from the home. He was also shot. Firefighters initially responded to a report of the house on fire around 7:45am that morning. The house was fully engulfed when they arrived.

George Weedon

George and Linda Weedon had rented that house since the first of the year. Police are asking that anyone who has information in the killing of George and Linda Weedon to call Illinois State Police Special Agent Dave Bivens at 618/346-3769 or the St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. Callers to CrimeStoppers may remain anonymous and are eligible for cash rewards.

Linda Weedon

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RWANDAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS VISIT AG BUSINESSES

Over the past few days Greenville has served as host to a group of seven Rwandan citizens, most of whom are government officials. Dwight Jackson, a former Greenville College faculty member who is now head of Food For the Hungry in Rwanda, has returned to Greenville with the group. Together, they have visited several places focusing on the agricultural business of farming. WGEL spoke with the Governor of the Eastern Province of Rwanda, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, who said that over the years, they have worked very closely with Food For the Hungry in helping the citizens of Rwanda.

Mutsindashyaka commented that the group was very interested in the different aspects of the farming community that they have seen while on their trip. With 4 growing seasons in Rwanda, the prospect of producing huge crop yields is high, however, due to the lack of machinery and good seed, crops don't produce as much as they could. In a country where 92% of the over 9 million citizens are farmers, most rely on their crop to feed their families. Rwanda officials and Food For the Hungry are hoping to show Rwandans that not only can these crops provide food to their families, but they can also make them money.

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FALLEN TREE LIMB HAS GREENVILLE FIRE CALLED OUT MONDAY

Greenville firemen were called at 2:34 Monday morning to a report of a tree on the power lines at 4th and North Streets in Greenville. A tree limb had fallen across power lines and the lines were arcing to the limb. Ameren IP personnel also responded to help remove the limb and make sure the lines were safe. All units were back in service in a little more than an hour at 3:43 AM.

KC BOARD MAY MEETING PREVIEW

The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees will meet tonight Tuesday at 7PM at the KC Campus. Items on the agenda include the election of board officers, the appointment of college treasurer and the selection of various representatives. Other topics to be discussed are approval of several purchases for KC, the 5-year plan for the KC Children's Learning Center, and the Pilot Project for textbook rental. A dinner will be held at 5:30PM in the Student Center prior to the meeting.

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BUFFALO GNATS CAUSING PROBLEMS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

The latest bug to pester Illinois is a nuisance for people but can be deadly for animals. According to Metro News Source, Illinois Agriculture officials say they are tracking reports of buffalo gnats. The biting-bugs are being blame for hundreds of chicken deaths this spring. Department of AG officials say the bug's bite is dangerous to small animals, but there have also been reports of gnats swarming chickens and smothering them. The state says people have probably noticed the annoying bugs, but no one has been seriously hurt. The good news, hotter weather over the next few weeks should mean the end of the gnat swarms.