(Walshville)--One person was killed and two others were injured in a single vehicle accident Saturday afternoon near Walshville. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, a pickup driven by 33 year old Shawn Durbin of Alhambra was driving eastbound on Mt. Olive Trail.

Durbin's pickup left the road at a curve near Heeren Road. The pickup went into a ditch, rolling over, ejecting Durbin and passenger 40 year old Dan Kovaly of Mt. Olive. Another passenger, 37 year old Michael Whitworth of Alhambra, had to be extricated from the truck.

Durbin was taken to St. Francis Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Kovaly was airlifted by helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital. Whitworth was taken to Staunton Community Hospital, where he was then transferred to Barnes Jewish Hospital. The accident remains under investigation.

(Macoupin County)--Two people were seriously injured in a two vehicle accident Thursday morning on Route 108, near Atwater Road. According to Illinois State Police, a vehicle driven by 51 year old Laurence Hull of Waggoner was southbound on Atwater Road. He was stopped at the intersection of Atwater Road and Route 108.

Another vehicle driven by 25 year old Vanessa Mulch of Raymond was westbound on Route 108. Reportedly the two collided at the intersection. Both were taken by Dunn's Ambulance Service to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield for treatment of serious injuries. Hull was cited with failure to yield at an intersection.

(Macoupin County)--Two people were seriously injured in a two vehicle accident Thursday morning on Route 108, near Atwater Road. According to Illinois State Police, a vehicle driven by 51 year old Laurence Hull of Waggoner was southbound on Atwater Road. He was stopped at the intersection of Atwater Road and Route 108.

Another vehicle driven by 25 year old Vanessa Mulch of Raymond was westbound on Route 108. Reportedly the two collided at the intersection. Both were taken by Dunn's Ambulance Service to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield for treatment of serious injuries. Hull was cited with failure to yield at an intersection.

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A May 28,2011 storm brought golf ball size hail near the WSMI studios. The picture below is one of several stones brought in by Paul Pershing of Hillsboro.

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(Carlinville)--Senator Sam McCann's district will see significant changes as a result of the Democrat proposed redistricting map. McCann says that's the last of his concerns. He says he still has a year and a half to serve the people of the 49th District, and that is what he plans to do.

The proposed senate map still needs to be adopted by the full Senate. McCann says he will examine it closely and then make an election decisions.

(Hillsboro)--During the Hillsboro City Council meeting Tuesday night, retiring Commissioner Connie Hill reported that the Hillsboro Police Department received a thank you from the Gillespie Police Department for their help in the recent shooting in Gillespie.

City Pool
Commissioner Chris Sherer reported that a group effort is taking place to get the city pool open. According to Sherer, the target date for the pool is Memorial Day.

Resignations
The Hillsboro City Council accepted the resignation of Terry Baker from the Library Board, and Damon Leisure from the Fire Pension Board.

Farewell
Retiring Mayor Bill Baran thanked everyone who has worked with him since 1979. Baran said people have been very good to him, because they put him in office. Retiring Commissioners Connie Hill, Geoff Trost, and Dennis McCammack also expressed thanks to the citizens and employees of the city.

State Representative Wayne Rosenthal, and State Senator Sam McCann gave retiring Mayor Bill Baran, and Commissioners Connie Hill, Geoff Trost, and Dennis McCammack a certificate of appreciation for their work on the city council.

New Council Seated
The Honorable Jim Roberts then gave the oath of office to new Mayor John Downs, and Commissioners Bruce Holcomb, Paul Smith, Chris Sherer, and Richard Small.

Commissioners Duties
Mayor Downs then assigned Commissioners duties: Commissioner Richard Small will be over finances; Commissioner Paul Smith will be over Public Properties; Commissioner Chris Sherer will be over Public Safety; and Commissioner Bruce Holcomb will be over Water and Streets.

Downs did state that appointments of department heads will be announced during the May 24th city council meeting.

(Raymond)--During the Panhandle Board of Education meeting Monday night, a long discussion regarding the possible consolidation of the Panhandle, Pawnee, and Morrisonville School Districts took place. According to Panhandle Superintendent Connie Woods, the three Superintendents involved got together earlier in the day and wanted to set up a meeting with all three boards to further discuss the issue. Woods said, if agreed, the meeting would be held in June in Morrisonville. Panhandle Board of Education President Mike Meisner stated that alot of questions still need to be answered regarding the reorganization issue. He also added that comments he has heard from the community has went from one extreme to the other. The Panhandle Board of Education did approve to meet with the Pawnee and Morrisonville School Boards in June.

High School Roof

The Panhandle Board of Education also had another long discussion regarding the high school roof. Representatives from Termco presented their observation of the roof. According to the presentation, the roof is in need of repair and damage will worsen if something isn't done soon. The cost of the roof project is projected at 500 to 750 thousand dollars. The district is hoping to apply for an energy assistance grant to help pay for the project. Superintendent Connie Woods stated that bonds can not be sold until next year, pushing the project could until next summer. The Panhandle Board of Education approved to check with other roofing companies to compare costs. Further action is expected at the board's June meeting.

Football Co Op

The Panhandle Board of Education also approved to enter into a football co-op agreement with the Nokomis and Ramsey School Districts. The agreement is for two years.

(Litchfield)--Two people were seriously injured in an accident on Interstate 55 Sunday morning. Illinois State Police reports a vehicle driven by 25 year old Darrell Bryant of St. Louis was southbound on the interstate, just north of Litchfield. Bryant and passenger, 31 year old Tamekka Cannon, also of St. Louis, told troopers that two semi trucks passed their vehicle. Bryant said the second semi hit his vehicle forcing him off the road.

Bryant's vehicle skidded across the southbound lanes, went into the median where it hit a culvert. The vehicle then became airborne, and rolled over before coming to rest. Bryant and Cannon were both taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The identity of the semi driver, which made contact with Bryant's vehicle, is not known.

Bryant was cited with driving too fast for conditions, illegal transportation of alcohol, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, and driving while suspended. The accident remains under investigation.

(Clinton County)--One person was killed in a motorcycle accident Sunday evening in Clinton County. According to Illinois State Police, a motorcycle driven by 52 year old Glen Marquard of Venedy was southbound on Route 160, south of New Memphis when he struck a deer. Marquard was thrown from his motorcycle, coming to rest in the middle of the road.

Another vehicle driven by 72 year old Andrew Surmeier, also of Venedy, was southbound on Route 160. Surmeier reportedly ran over Marquard who was lying unresponsive in the middle of the road. Marquard was pronounced dead at the scene by the Clinton County Coroner's Office.

(Hillsboro)--Two people were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday evening near Shoal Creek Trail. According to information released Thursday by the Illinois State Police, a vehicle driven by 21 year old Jacob Perry of Hillsboro was northbound on Route 127, near Shoal Creek Trail. A motorcycle driven by 27 yaer old Matthew Coulter of Sorento was traveling southbound.

Reportedly Perry was attempting to make a turn onto Shoal Creek Trail when he failed to yield at struck Coulter's motorcycle. Matthew Coulter, and passenger 27 year old Sarah Coulter, also of Sorento, were ejected from the motorcyle.

Another vehicle, driven by 39 year old Ronda Sipes of Taylor Springs, was traveling southbound on Route 127 when she struck the motorcycle that was laying on the roadway.

Matthew Coulter, and Sarah Coulter were taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield for treatment of serious injuries. Jacob Perry was cited with failure to yield while turning left. Ronda Sipes was cited with operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

(Jersey County)--A Granite City man was killed in a motorcycle accident Saturday evening in Jersey County. According to Illinois State Police, a motorcycle driven by 24 year old Dustin Pierson was southbound on Route 100 when he veered off the road, and struck a guardrail.

Pierson was ejected from the motorcycle, and was thrown into the river. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

Yesterday agents of the South Central Drug Task Force along with assistance from the Macoupin Montgomery County Sheriffs Departments, Litchfield, Staunton and Gillespie Police Departments served early morning arrest warrants in Macoupin and Montgomery Counties.
Arrested:

In Litchfield:
Matt Butler - Delivery of Cannabis.
Kevin Jett - Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
William Anglin - Delivery of a Controlled Substance within 1000 Ft of a School.
Travis Birkenkamp - 2 Counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance within 1000 Ft of a Church.
George Foster - 2 Counts of Delivery of Cannabis.
Jenifer Bradburn - Delivery of a Controlled Substance AND Delivery of Delivery of Cannabis.

In Hillsboro:
Andrea Shreeve - Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
Dagen Trailor - 2 Counts of Delivery of Cannabis.

In Nokomis:
Bill Shroedel - 2 Counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.

In Fillmore:
Misty Grimes - Possession of a Controlled Substance.

8 Other Individuales were also arrested in Macoupin County.

(Hillsboro)--A discovery recount for the Alderman Ward 3 Race in Litchfield was held Tuesday at the Historic Courthouse. Ward 3 candidate David Sumpter filed a petition for the recount of North Litchfield Number 2 precinct last Wednesday.

According to Montgomery County Clerk and Recorder Sandy Leitheiser, 153 ballots were cast in North Litchfield Number 2. The recount showed that no changes were discovered since election day, making challenger Tim Hancock the winner of the Ward Three Alderman seat by one vote.

(Litchfield)--Montgomery County Clerk and Recorder Sandy Leitheiser announced that Litchfield Ward 3 Alderman candidate David Sumpter has filed a petition for the Discovery Recount with the County Clerk's Office. The petition was filed on Wednesday, and will be for returns from North Litchfield #2 precinct.

Per Illinois Law, Ward 3 Candidate Tim Hancock, who currently leads by one vote, was notified on Thursday that the Discovery Recount petitition was filed. The recount will be held Tuesday morning at 8:30 in the basement of the Historic Courthouse.