1-21-2010

COUNTY BOARD TABLES REQUEST FROM CITY

The bOND County Board meet Tuesday night at the Bond County Courthouse. The board discussed a request from the City of Greenville for part of the money collected through tipping fees at landfills in the county.  Those tipping fees are meant for promoting and providing recycling opportunities.  The city requested the money to help subsidize the city recycling program that will go into effect soon.  At a previous meeting, the county board had favorably discussed the possibility of using some of the money to help recycling inside the City of Greenville, but no specific amount was set.  At Tuesday night’s meeting, the board heard from County Recycling Coordinator Emily Hartman who recommended tabling the request until the county receives a yes or no answer to a recycling grant.  It’s hopeful that the grant will be approved and that the grant money could then pay for recycling bins to be bought, painted and placed around the county.  A firm decision could then be made regarding the city’s request.  The time table on the grant is around 45-60 days, so a decision could be made in February or March.  The board voted unamiously to table the request.

 

SHAWNEETOWN MAN BRINGS GUN TO VETERANS FACILITY

 

Mark A. Harmon, age 29, of Shawneetown, Illinois, pled guilty recently to one count of attempted possession of a firearm in a federal facility with the intent to commit a crime.  Evidence established that in the early morning hours of October 9, 2009, Harmon issued threats to employees of the Veteran's Affairs Hospital in Marion, Illinois.  He then drove to the VA facility where law enforcement officers stopped Harmon's vehicle, detained and handcuffed him.  Inside Harmon's vehicle were a handgun, a fully loaded magazine and loose ammunition.  Harmon faces a sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to three years supervised release.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 19.

ILLINOIS TO AID HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORT

 

Members of the 183^rd Fighter Wing in Springfield have been activated to support relief efforts in Haiti.  Five members of the Springfield-based unit are en route to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona where they will support the 612^th Air and Space Operations Center in coordinating the delivery of relief supplies to Haiti.  Twelve additional members of the Springfield unit have been alerted and will soon be joining their fellow Guard members in Arizona.