CAR FIRE CLAIMS LIFE IN POCAHONTAS

Pocahontas-Old Ripley Firefighters responded Sunday, at 2:18 a.m., to a car fire that resulted in a fatality. According to information from the Pocahontas Police Department, a volunteer firefighter happened upon the burning car in the driveway of a residence on Railroad Street in Pocahontas, on his way to work. He immediately called the Bond County Sheriff’s Office and began putting out the fire. The body of 28 year-old Michael Keyes of Pocahontas was discovered after the fire was extinguished. The Illinois Fire Marshall and Illinois State Crime Scene Investigators were called to the scene and determined the fire was a result of a mechanical malfunction in the engine compartment. According to investigators, there were no signs of foul play. The Bond County Coroner is still investigating the cause of death of 28 year-old Michael Keyes of Pocahontas.

LOCAL TEEN GOES ON HUNTING TRIP WITH TED NUGENT

Brent Schneider, age 14, of Carlyle, recently participated in a pretty interesting event.  We spoke with Brent who said he went up to Ted Nugent’s 315 acre ranch called Sunrise Safaris.  While there, Schneider joined other kids in a hunt for Russian Wild Boar.  He told WGEL there were a lot of people there who shared his interest in hunting.  Schneider enjoys deer hunting and also does a little quail hunting.  The hunt was made possible through a foundation.  Schneider’s parents kept it a secret so Brent was very surprised when he found out he could go.  Schneider said the experience was a lot of fun.  He enjoyed sitting around the campfire and said Ted Nugent was pretty cool.

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PUBLIC FINANCING SYSTEM FOR ILLINOIS POLITICAL CANDIDATES

Illinois elected officials may soon have a public financing system to fund their campaigns.  A task force has been created to consider the measure and we spoke to State Senator Kyle McCarter who said Illinois cannot pay it's bills right now.  He did not understand why the state would put money aside to fund campaigns.  McCarter told WGEL he does not believe money has as great an impact as it did in the past.  He said he has a group of people who don’t have a lot of money but who are passionate about what he is fighting for in Springfield.  They don’t mind knocking on doors and calling their friends to spread the word about what he is doing.  McCarter says with technology today, there is no reason why campaigns should not become less expensive.  He believes you win races today on the ground, with people who are passionate about what they believe.  He understands campaigns cost money but ultimately taxpayers should not have to foot the bill.

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K-9 UNIT HELPS CATCH ROBBER

The Greenville Police Department’s K-9 Unit recently helped stop a burglary in progress.  We spoke with Greenville Police Chief Lou Lorton who said they received a call from neighbors who were being very attentive while their neighbors were out of town on vacation.  They noticed a suspicious person at the house and notified the police right away.  When the officer arrived, the suspect fled out of the front of the house and into a wooded area behind the home.  They were able to set up a perimeter with the help of Bond County Sheriff’s Officers and they contacted their K-9 team.  The dog was able to pick up the scent of the suspect and found the suspect in a ravine covered with leaves.  According to Lorton, everything worked out exactly as it should have; the neighbors were watching, called police right away, and the K-9 unit located the suspect.