FORMER TRENTON WOMAN CONVICTED
A woman, formerly of Trenton, was convicted recently in Clinton County of the offense of unlawful financial exploitation of an elderly person. Heather Shearer entered a plea of guilty to the Class 1 Felony. A cashier's check, payable to the victim, in the sum of $39,814, was immediately handed over to the victim's legal representative on November 30, which was part of the plea agreement. The victim was a 90 year-old family member of the defendant. The Trenton Police Department, aided by other family members, was able to uncover the financial exploitation. Shearer was arrested in North Carolina and returned to Clinton County. In addition to paying restitution, Shearer was sentenced to 120 days in jail, ordered to pay fines and court costs of $1,782 and was placed on probation.
ASIAN CARP MAY HAVE INVADED GREAT LAKES
The recent discovery of Asian carp D-N-A just seven miles south of Lake Michigan has scientists, federal officials and conservation groups on the offensive. It means the giant fish have made their way past electrical barriers that were erected to keep them out of the Great Lakes. If the massive fish make it into Lake Michigan, they could bring down an already fragile ecosystem and disrupt the region’s 7-billion-dollar sport fishing industry. As an emergency measure, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced plans to deploy a fish-killing chemical into a stretch of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal as an effort to stop the Asian carp. The canal between Romeoville and the Lockport Dam will be treated in December, while one of the two electrical barriers is turned off for maintenance.
GREENVILLE FIREMAN PAGED TWICE TUESDAY
The Greenville Fire Department was called out Tuesday afternoon around 12:30PM to 1459 Mt. Zion Road for a field fire. Upon arrival it was determined that a trash fire had spread to a nearby fence line and brush had caught on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished and firemen were on the scene for approximately 20 minutes.
Greenville Firemen were dispatched again at 2:48 Tuesday afternoon to Mount Auburn Cemetery to a report of a lawn mower on fire. According to Fireman Denny Wise, the fire was extinguished by the time firemen arrived. There was reportedly minor damage to the mower. Firemen were on the scene for about 15 minutes.
