05-20-2009

LARGE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR CITY OF VANDALIA

 

The Vandalia City Council held a special meeting Monday night to enter into a development agreement with Motown Technology and Sports Facility Inc. of Michigan.  The agreement is to construct a two million square feet sports, recreation and retail facility.  The development would include a 9,000 seat arena, restaurants, I-Max theater, 300 room hotel, sports facilities and retail shopping.  According to the City of Vandalia, the project would invest an excess of $300 million and provide 900 full time jobs to the region along with 2,000 construction jobs.  When a financing commitment is received, the city will establish a 1% business district sales tax, special service area tax and rebate a portion of the city sales tax generated at the facility, which will allow for a return of $98.5 million in incentives, based on future revenue streams generated by the project.  The facility will be located off I-70 on 150 acres, and construction could begin as early as spring 2010.   

Provided by Prime Design Systems, Inc., prepared by Architectural Illusions, L.LC.

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SORENTO MAN CHARGED

 

A Sorento man was charged Monday in Madison County Circuit Court with driving while license revoked. Kerry L. Birchmier, age 47, was traveling westbound on Chain of Rocks Road when a Madison County Deputy followed him. Without being signaled to stop, Birchmier pulled over to the side of the road. The deputy then arrested him for alleged driving while license revoked. Birchmier has previous convictions for DUI and driving while license revoked. His bond was set at $10,000.

FISHING DERBY AT PATRIOTS PARK

 

The 12^th Annual Fishing Derby, sponsored by Illinois Free Fishing Days, will be held at Patriots Park on Saturday, June 6. Registration is from 9:00 - 9:30 AM at the park lake pavilion with short training sessions on fishing topics. The derby starts at 9:30 and ends at 10:45. Awards will be presented at 11:00 at the park pavilion. A group photograph will be taken of all the fishing derby winners. Derby rules state that there is to be one parent for every five children, participants must be 15 years old or under and you must bring your own equipment, bait and lawnchairs. To register before the derby call 664-3665.

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SORENTO BLOOD DRIVE

 

The Assembly of God Church in Sorento hosted an American Red Cross blood drive Friday, May 8. Ten units were collected. A one-gallon pin was awarded to Donald Wall and blood-drop pins were presented to Dennis Cruthis, Cortney Richards and Jonathan Elliot as first-time donors.

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PURPLE TRAPS USED TO DETECT EMERALD ASH BORER

 

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is placing purple traps in trees along Illinois' western border and across south central Illinois to Indiana, to help detect the emerald ash borer, a beetle that has devastated tens of thousands of ash trees since 2006.  Approximately 5,000 of the box kite-looking devices will be hung before the beetle's flight season from May through August.  You should watch for metallic-green beetles, about half the diameter of a penny, on or near ash trees.  If you suspect a tree has been infested, call your county Extension office.