CARLYLE FARMER PLEADS GUILTY TO BANKRUPTCY FRAUD
The delayed federal trial of Carlyle area farmer Joseph Diekemper will now not be necessary. On Wednesday, 60 year-old Joseph Diekemper plead guilty in federal court on charges of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, on one count of making a false statement to the US Department of Agriculture and one count of perjury. All offenses happened in Clinton County.
The investigation included the FBI, United States Postal Service and the US Department of Agriculture. Diekemper now faces up to 20 years in prison, and or a $250,000 fine and up to 5 years supervised release. Sentencing is schedule for March 9, 2009. How, if at all, this plea impacts the state murder investigation into the killings of George and Linda Weedon is unclear. The Weedons were killed and their rented home was burned to the ground just a few days after George Weedon contacted the FBI about a tractor being hidden in a barn on the property where they lived. The tractor belonged to Diekemper and was part of the bankruptcy fraud investigation. No one has yet been charged in the double murder case.
MOVIE TAX CREDIT FOR ILLINOIS
State Senator Frank Watson's office recently released a statement that the Illinois Senate passed a number of bills. Among them: A movie tax credit which extends a tax credit to encourage making movies in Illinois, increased hunting fees for pheasant hunters, and a housing bill that allows borrowers up to a 90 day grace period before foreclosure, if they seek HUD approved counseling.
GREENVILLE HOSPITAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
The Greenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary 51st Holiday Bazaar is Saturday, December 6. 28 booths will offer a wide variety of unique items this year, including Christmas decorations, crafts, gift items, jewelry, antiques, wreaths and of course the Auxiliariy's famous apple butter. The Holiday Bazaar auction starts at 11:30 AM with many donated items such as quilts, autographed sports memorabilia, St. Louis Cardinal tickets, antiques, furniture and much more. It starts at 9:00 AM and lasts until 2:00 PM with an early-bird admission at 8:30 AM at the Greenville First Christian Church. Since 1957, the Bazaar has raised more than $3 million dollars. For more information call 664-1230.
